this crap just happened to mine.... is their any way to fix it through applecare? did any one have any luck?
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MacBook Pro Kensington Lock Slot: Reamed!
- Thread starter cormandy
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A user I support had this problem. Though it is not normally covered by Applecare, the tech I spoke with on the phone was very helpful and got approval for an exception to go ahead and cover it at no charge. They replaced the entire case (including the display, which I wasn't expecting). I shipped it in and had it back within a week. Don't know how easy it will be normally to persuade a rep (mine was at the Higher Education phone number), but make your case that you've simply been making normal use of the security slot. Best of luck!
Now I need to find a new lock that won't do this to the new case. Does anyone have any suggestions? We were using the Kensington MicroSaver T-bar lock with the rubber ring and the two metal prongs that rub against the outside of the case.
Now I need to find a new lock that won't do this to the new case. Does anyone have any suggestions? We were using the Kensington MicroSaver T-bar lock with the rubber ring and the two metal prongs that rub against the outside of the case.
Maybe the new Macbooks require a kensington lock with a special chip installed in the lock due to Apple licensing requirements. 
your answer is right there. you've had 6 years of experience with 4 well known brands never having gone through the security lock reaming...compare that with the "precious" MBP? how can a security slot be a secure anchor for something if it is going to fail by the expected, constant abrasion from a lock? might as well gift wrap the thing and attach a tag that says "Pull here for a sweet new laptop."
i'd complain to apple if others bring up the same problem. the structural integrity of the slot area should be reinforced and if it was overlooked then apple has a major blunder on their shoulders.
Chris, could you provide more info? As I wrote about 8 months ago I did not succeed in persuading them and they laid down the responsiblity at Kensington (who do not accept it).
I don't really think I did anything special. Perhaps I just got lucky with the guy who took my call and his supervisor who approved the exception.
okay, I'm gonna try to call them again. Maybe it will make a difference that I bought applecare in the meantime
I have the same problem with the same lock. Seems like eventually I won't be able to lock this computer unless I get some kind of a safe...
Solution! - Unable to lock MB late 2008 with Kensington
In case you are unable to lock your MB late 2008 with a Kensington lock, here is a solution I found on the web that works perfectly fine for me:
If you look into the Kensington slot on the new Macbooks youll see a small door which must be opened (by pressure from the lock T piece). My locks spring, when set to the correct combination, was weaker than the doors spring and would therefore not open it -> lock wouldnt enter computer.
I bet the reason some are able to use the locks and others arent is that different lock models have varying spring tensions- some strong enough to push open the door and others a little to weak.
To get around this problem, set the Kensington lock to a wrong combination. Insert the lock so that it opens the door in the Macbook, THEN change combination to correct one. The lock will work perfectly. Hope this helps.
In case you are unable to lock your MB late 2008 with a Kensington lock, here is a solution I found on the web that works perfectly fine for me:
If you look into the Kensington slot on the new Macbooks youll see a small door which must be opened (by pressure from the lock T piece). My locks spring, when set to the correct combination, was weaker than the doors spring and would therefore not open it -> lock wouldnt enter computer.
I bet the reason some are able to use the locks and others arent is that different lock models have varying spring tensions- some strong enough to push open the door and others a little to weak.
To get around this problem, set the Kensington lock to a wrong combination. Insert the lock so that it opens the door in the Macbook, THEN change combination to correct one. The lock will work perfectly. Hope this helps.
Ok. I got my Microsaver DS lock in the mail just now. I don't know what you guys are doing wrong, but it must be something you're doing wrong.
After reading this thread I used the lock very carefully. The instructions that come with it are useless because the actual locking mechanism is never shown. At first I put it in wrong, with the t-bar perpendicular to the two metal rods thinking that the rods pressing against the frame would make the lock tight. Fortunately I did it nice and slow because that wrong.
The two small rods must be aligned parallel with the t-bar when inserting. Then you lock it when both the tbar and rods are all the way in. I locked and unlocked it 5 times to see the effect. No damage, smooth as silk.
Please make sure you're doing this right before you lock it up. It does have the potential to hurt the casing, but done correctly there's no way.
After reading this thread I used the lock very carefully. The instructions that come with it are useless because the actual locking mechanism is never shown. At first I put it in wrong, with the t-bar perpendicular to the two metal rods thinking that the rods pressing against the frame would make the lock tight. Fortunately I did it nice and slow because that wrong.
The two small rods must be aligned parallel with the t-bar when inserting. Then you lock it when both the tbar and rods are all the way in. I locked and unlocked it 5 times to see the effect. No damage, smooth as silk.
Please make sure you're doing this right before you lock it up. It does have the potential to hurt the casing, but done correctly there's no way.
I also have a kensington lock for work. We sometimes run stalls at shows, and we use ibooks for video displays, locked with the kensingtons. The rule we have is never to expect the kensington lock to stop any thefts.
The only reason it's there is to stop someone running off with the ibooks when the stall holder is talking to someone else or has their attention temporarily diverted.
It's obvious on looking at the locks that a good yank will bust them out, maybe 10 seconds of twisting will do it. Easy if you're alone with the computer. Harder with the stall-holder next to you.
If the stall-holder isn't there, then the ibooks have to be packed away securely. End of story.
I'm thinking of buying that for our office laptops. What do you think of it? Am trying to work out which is better : Undercover vs LoJack vs MacPhoneHome vs MacTrak ...
The only reason it's there is to stop someone running off with the ibooks when the stall holder is talking to someone else or has their attention temporarily diverted.
It's obvious on looking at the locks that a good yank will bust them out, maybe 10 seconds of twisting will do it. Easy if you're alone with the computer. Harder with the stall-holder next to you.
If the stall-holder isn't there, then the ibooks have to be packed away securely. End of story.
I'm thinking of buying that for our office laptops. What do you think of it? Am trying to work out which is better : Undercover vs LoJack vs MacPhoneHome vs MacTrak ...
well since my laptop hasn't been stolen I don't think I can really comment on it
UPDATE: I was just called back by apple customer relations and they are going to give me a new bottom plate without charging me!
I e-mailed them the pictures I took and explained that Kensington wasn't going to do anything about it. The main difference with last time I guess is that I have applecare now.
So everybody out there with the same problem: get applecare, it's about the same price as having it fixed yourselves, but also gives you 3 years of full warranty.
I just looked back at your pics and judging from the damage to the top and bottom of the case I'm right, you inserted the lock in the locked position. The case is crushed just above and below the lock where the two cylinders would touch if it was inserted wrong. This is such an easy mistake to make because, 1) the instructions don't show the mechanism, and 2) for the key to be removed the lock needs to be in the locked position (as seen in your picture of the lock itself). That means you have to unlock it and then lock it again to take the key out. Its easy to assume that since the locked position is the default thats the way you insert it into the computer.
I'm glad you're getting a free replacement because its not really your fault. You used the lock wrong, but there is no indication from the company that you WERE doing it wrong. You did what was logical and what I did on the first try. Glad this thread was here to make me cautious.
Exactly right. Last office I worked in we had several laptops stolen that were tied down with Kensington locks. It was embarrassingly easy to nick them, especially when the thieves came back and did it again on another day AND we had CCTV. Serves them right for having an open-door policy with no security checking though...
My macbook pro has been repaired and they gave me the old bottom-casing.
Kensington also sent me a new lock.
I can now see from the bottom-case that the kensington hole in the MBP is simply poorly designed. The new lock that Kensington sent me is probably not a lot better, since the 2 pins are actually wedges here, so if not properly alligned they will do even more damage.
Anyone care for some pictures and a review? Didn;t get to it yet as I'm extremely busy..
Kensington also sent me a new lock.
I can now see from the bottom-case that the kensington hole in the MBP is simply poorly designed. The new lock that Kensington sent me is probably not a lot better, since the 2 pins are actually wedges here, so if not properly alligned they will do even more damage.
Anyone care for some pictures and a review? Didn;t get to it yet as I'm extremely busy..
Just reamed my Macbook Pro lock slot!
Well, if you don't read these forums in advance of buying a new Macbook Pro accessory, you lose out on good feeback. I'm sorry I didn't read this thread before buying a Kensington MicroSaver lock. Upon my first attempt to insert the lock, it tore the heck out of the plastic liner.
I was going to take it to the Apple store for a repair consultation, but I see that it's going to require the replacement of the whole underside casing.
I guess what makes me mad is that this problem was reported almost three years ago and I just bought this lock on Amazon. Why is Kensington still selling this lock (or at least not providing warnings to Macbook Pro users about it's propensity to damage the slot!).
I'll still take it to the Apple store to see what they say. This is a work-purchased laptop and I will see if they have any Applecare coverage on it. I'll let the forum know what the latest positions between Apple and Kensington are.
Well, if you don't read these forums in advance of buying a new Macbook Pro accessory, you lose out on good feeback. I'm sorry I didn't read this thread before buying a Kensington MicroSaver lock. Upon my first attempt to insert the lock, it tore the heck out of the plastic liner.
I was going to take it to the Apple store for a repair consultation, but I see that it's going to require the replacement of the whole underside casing.
I guess what makes me mad is that this problem was reported almost three years ago and I just bought this lock on Amazon. Why is Kensington still selling this lock (or at least not providing warnings to Macbook Pro users about it's propensity to damage the slot!).
I'll still take it to the Apple store to see what they say. This is a work-purchased laptop and I will see if they have any Applecare coverage on it. I'll let the forum know what the latest positions between Apple and Kensington are.
Hello, the original poster here...
I have enjoyed following this particular post for the past year-and-a-half. I am still of the opinion that this is an Apple design problem and not a problem with the Kensington lock itself or an "end user" problem as has been suggested. The Kensington lock/slot design has become an industry standard and has been around for years, although I would agree that the lock mechanisms themselves have become more "brutish" over time.
I continue to lock up the same Thinkpad t60p with the same Kensington lock (pictured in the earlier post) without issue. In fact I have locked and unlocked this same laptop for about two years day-in and day-out at work and at home and there remains no issue with the Thinkpad Kensington slot. I have 4 of these locks on hand, of 3 different styles as well: 2 Microsaver Pros, 1 Microsaver Twin (had to get a free replacement as the barrel tumbler/lock seized up on one of the two locks) and an older generation one at the office.
How about some more empirical evidence? I have also been using these same Kensington locks on the following items without issue:
- a Motion Computing LE1600 tablet computer
- a Tektronix MS2032 Oscilloscope
- a NEC LCD monitor (yup, even these things come with a Kensington slot now)
I agree with some earlier posts that the locks may not discourage some thefts. A client of mine had a couple of crackheads get into the office and steal a pair of laptops that were locked up with Kensington locks. They simply used brute force to rip the laptops away from the locks. Presumably if in need of crack, one is less concerned with the cosmetic marketability of a second-hand laptop. (This Central London office had patrolled security as well, believe it or not...)
I never bothered dealing with Apple no-care. I would have had to take the MacBook Pro into the London store and frankly I have been too busy. As such I had given up securing my wife's computer. I am at least backing it up with Time Machine (thx fr this one Apple) on a regular basis and like a responsible firearms owner, I keep the backup disk in a separate location from the laptop.
While on the subject of design flaws, this same MacBook Pro experienced the "swelling battery" problem earlier this year (about 26 months into its life) and Apple Care did replace it for free even though it was beyond its warranty period.
Consider that it is OK to blame Apple for some of these problems!
I have enjoyed following this particular post for the past year-and-a-half. I am still of the opinion that this is an Apple design problem and not a problem with the Kensington lock itself or an "end user" problem as has been suggested. The Kensington lock/slot design has become an industry standard and has been around for years, although I would agree that the lock mechanisms themselves have become more "brutish" over time.
I continue to lock up the same Thinkpad t60p with the same Kensington lock (pictured in the earlier post) without issue. In fact I have locked and unlocked this same laptop for about two years day-in and day-out at work and at home and there remains no issue with the Thinkpad Kensington slot. I have 4 of these locks on hand, of 3 different styles as well: 2 Microsaver Pros, 1 Microsaver Twin (had to get a free replacement as the barrel tumbler/lock seized up on one of the two locks) and an older generation one at the office.
How about some more empirical evidence? I have also been using these same Kensington locks on the following items without issue:
- a Motion Computing LE1600 tablet computer
- a Tektronix MS2032 Oscilloscope
- a NEC LCD monitor (yup, even these things come with a Kensington slot now)
I agree with some earlier posts that the locks may not discourage some thefts. A client of mine had a couple of crackheads get into the office and steal a pair of laptops that were locked up with Kensington locks. They simply used brute force to rip the laptops away from the locks. Presumably if in need of crack, one is less concerned with the cosmetic marketability of a second-hand laptop. (This Central London office had patrolled security as well, believe it or not...)
I never bothered dealing with Apple no-care. I would have had to take the MacBook Pro into the London store and frankly I have been too busy. As such I had given up securing my wife's computer. I am at least backing it up with Time Machine (thx fr this one Apple) on a regular basis and like a responsible firearms owner, I keep the backup disk in a separate location from the laptop.
While on the subject of design flaws, this same MacBook Pro experienced the "swelling battery" problem earlier this year (about 26 months into its life) and Apple Care did replace it for free even though it was beyond its warranty period.
Consider that it is OK to blame Apple for some of these problems!
id say this is a loose use of "empirical evidence" but i understand what your trying to say. seems like you live around a high theft area lol
A friend recently was told by several Genius Bar staff that the damaged Kensignton slot was not covered under the AppleCare warranty. The plastic grommet has disintegrated & now the lock won't stay in place. Although this does appear to be a manufacturer defect, Apple is saying that it's wear related. An alternative is to purchase a replacement bottom cover, which is costly & time consuming
Cheers !
Cheers !