MLB - Has it really been replaced ! ?

[Sam Ash]

I have a MacBook Pro (2.16 GHz Intel Core Duo) that went in for repair and the technician charged me an exorbitant amount to replace the MLB (Main Logic Board).

Is there anyway I can check or verify whether he really did replace the MLB ?

I did some research on the internet and found an old forum posting with the following information:-

When you have the original logic board, you can go to apple menu, about this mac (system profiler) and get the serial no. When the logic board is replaced, it will not show the serial number. In older macs it used be some dummy number 12345... and in my MacBook Pro it says "SystemSerialNumb"

(it becomes a pain when u call AppleCare because after the logic board replacement u have to remove the battery to read the original serial no)​

After the repair my machine is working, however a proper serial number appears clearly under the system profiler which you access from under the Apple pull down menu in the top left corner, when you choose "More Info..." in the "About this Mac" window.

I checked this number against the serial number that is physically imprinted on the back of the machine under the battery - you have to remove the battery pack to see it. The number on the back of the machine is exactly the same !

I have an uncomfortable feeling that the technician is being dishonest with me and may not have replaced the MLB in my machine.

Can someone who is technically well versed with such stuff please help me ?

The Apple technician is pushing for payment and I need help fast otherwise I will be left with no option but to pay him for something that was not even replaced or installed in my machine.

 

[Pressure]

Call Apple Support.

They will know the correct answer.

 

[Sam Ash]

Call Apple Support.

They will know the correct answer.

Thanks for your reply, but I am based in Africa where Apple has no serious presence. There are a few Apple resellers who I know will not be helpful in this particular case. I need some way or some procedure I can follow to be certain.

I'm hoping an Apple techie or someone with excellent knowledge about such stuff can give me a solution, I need one fast or I'll be forced to pay USD $1,000. Paying for legit work is not a problem but being cheated is.

 

[S.B.G]

Why did it go in for service and was whatever problem you had fixed?

 

[devilstrider]

Let us know the out come because that's a lot of money to get shafted on.

 

[Sam Ash]

Why did it go in for service and was whatever problem you had fixed?

Thanks for your reply Sandbox. Water got spilt on it by mistake and so I had to send it in.

Yes, it has been fixed. Just need to verify that my MLB was really replaced. Is there any way of doing that ?

 

[MacFAQ]

I could very well be wrong here, but, when a logic board is replaced does it not reset some settings to their defaults? For example, if you have a setting that locks your screen when you open the MBP before the replacement do you not have to recreate that setting with the new Logic Board?

 

[Sam Ash]

Let us know the out come because that's a lot of money to get shafted on.

I totally agree !!! - I'm currently caught between a rock and a hard place unless someone here can give me a solution.

 

[Sam Ash]

I could very well be wrong here, but, when a logic board is replaced does it not reset some settings to their defaults? For example, if you have a setting that locks your screen when you open the MBP before the replacement do you not have to recreate that setting with the new Logic Board?

Well the technician is charging me a separate fee (on top of that $1,000 for the MLB) for a new internal hard drive which he said needed replacing. So the OS had to be reinstalled from scratch.

Ok, I'm not to bothered about the cost of a new hard drive but the MLB is really expensive.

 

[HLdan]

I don't know when and if he'll be online soon but you could send a PM to i.LogGenius. He's a former Apple customer service rep/tech. He may be able to help you. He frequents the forums a lot but he may not see your thread. You may want to PM him with this question, hopefully he can help.
https://forums.macrumors.com/members/285191/

 

[Sam Ash]

Would have probably made sense to buy a new machine !!!

 

[Sam Ash]

I don't know when and if he'll be online soon but you could send a PM to i.LogGenius. He's a former Apple customer service rep/tech. He may be able to help you. He frequents the forums a lot but he may not see your thread. You may want to PM him with this question, hopefully he can help.
https://forums.macrumors.com/members/285191/

Thank you very much HLdan - I will certainly try and PM i.LogGenius and seek his advice.

 

[MacFAQ]

Well the technician is charging me a separate fee (on top of that $1,000 for the MLB) for a new internal hard drive which he said needed replacing. So the OS had to be reinstalled from scratch.

Ok, I'm not to bothered about the cost of a new hard drive but the MLB is really expensive.

Looks like I'm wrong since the reasoning behind my thinking that is apparently incorrect. https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1039373/

 

[Sam Ash]

I don't know when and if he'll be online soon but you could send a PM to i.LogGenius. He's a former Apple customer service rep/tech. He may be able to help you. He frequents the forums a lot but he may not see your thread. You may want to PM him with this question, hopefully he can help.
https://forums.macrumors.com/members/285191/

Apparently, his profile does not allow PMs. I've replied to one of his recent posts and am hoping he will come to this one to offer some help.

The pressure to pay up is mounting so time is not on my side at the moment.

 

[Sam Ash]

New Development

The technician has suddenly agreed to give me the old MLB that he removed from my machine. On my initial request to the same, he was hesitant.

I still have doubts about this whole issue, something just does not feel right.

Even if I get an old damaged MLB, how would I confirm that it was in fact the one that was removed from my machine ?