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My Macbook is falling apart.. (with pictures)

saaborac said:
I repeat again, this dent was present 6 months before there was any problem with the screen.
Click to expand...

In summary what everyone here is saying that:

a) Dents are not common in any of the MBP models, and definitely not in late or early 2008 models. The guy or girl who sold this to you, didn't take proper care of it.

b) The screen falling apart, could be related to the dent or could be because of more misuse. 6 months or not, this type of damage is not common in any MBP models.

c) There's no easy way to "fix" this. So, you have three solutions: i) either sell the parts individually on ebay or something, save some more money and then buy a refurbished. ii) watch youtube or ifixit and see what DIY options are for this type of damage. OR iii) use a duct tape.

There's no other magic to this.
 
I transport my macbook around a lot for school so of course I have a case.
I bought with the knowledge that of the dent, and that it is the previous owner that did that. (and not that it is common in this model - where are you getting this from?? I never wrote that) Again, last summer, I was willing to save 2000 dollars on a dent.

Can we get back to fixing this problem instead of how I could've prevented it? Thanks.

I would be able to afford a new computer this summer, and not before that. It's really important for me in school so I need a computer that works before that point. Not as good as new, but a screen that is attached a bit more than it is now.
This is what it looks like when I use it now:

It still isn't pretty but it's still usable until I can get a new one.

img0074uq.jpg

img0078ct.jpg
 
And, this is why you should never buy a used system you cannot see in person.. Sorry OP :(

From the amount of glue under the hinge/screen, it appears someone did a cheap touch-up job themselves, then got rid of it. Due to the system only being a 2008 model it definitely appears it was physically dropped/smashed or whoever owned it before, was extremely abusive with it.

Sorry, but no normal wear and tear destroys a laptop in 2 years like that. I used to do physical notebook repairs, and this doesn't just "happen" from normal use. Anyone who states it just "happens" to certain models is wrong, it doesn't.

At a glance, it appears you will need to entirely replace the LCD cover/hinge assembly. (2 seperate parts) I'd start scouring eBay for parts to see what you can come up with. My guess would be between $250-400 for parts depending on the auction.

Good Luck.
 
pctomac2011 said:
And, this is why you should never buy a used system you cannot see in person.. Sorry OP :(

From the amount of glue under the hinge/screen, it appears someone did a cheap touch-up job themselves, then got rid of it. Due to the system only being a 2008 model it definitely appears it was physically dropped/smashed or whoever owned it before, was extremely abusive with it.

Sorry, but no normal wear and tear destroys a laptop in 2 years like that. I used to do physical notebook repairs, and this doesn't just "happen" from normal use. Anyone who states it just "happens" to certain models is wrong, it doesn't.

At a glance, it appears you will need to entirely replace the LCD cover/hinge assembly. (2 seperate parts) I'd start scouring eBay for parts to see what you can come up with. My guess would be between $250-400 for parts depending on the auction.

Good Luck.
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Thanks for a constructive reply.

I have been taking care of my computer but now it looks like the previous owner didn't, and I didn't see this before now, 8 months after. Sad panda.

Looks like I am going to be living off bread and water the next couple of months so I can buy a brand new one.
 
http://cgi.ebay.com/MacBook-Pro-15-...413?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3cb3adb0cd

Example of "left hinge assembly" you'll obviously need a right one as well. You do not need the actual cover itself, as it is more cosmetic, unless it is cracked which is hard to tell from your photos. If it is cracked, it would be a wise move to replace that as well (due to dust/dirt able to make its way into it).

That's about $70 (buy it now) if you can find an equivalent right hinge.

The actual damage to the LCD itself is mostly cosmetic, if you can live with that, just replacing the hinges will at least resolve the falling LCD and could be a cheap way of extending its life.

Good Luck.
 
saaborac said:
Thanks for a constructive reply.

I have been taking care of my computer but now it looks like the previous owner didn't, and I didn't see this before now, 8 months after. Sad panda.

Looks like I am going to be living off bread and water the next couple of months so I can buy a brand new one.
Click to expand...

Before doing so, did you try getting a quote for a repair from Humac or Eplehuset? Or, if you live in Kbh, there are a couple of stores that might do the job for cheaper...one of them is on Nørrebrogade just before the corner with Blågårdsgade...
 
Laptop is going to need a new LCD display assembly/hinge. I'm not sure how prices are overseas, and it might be a pain to order and have stuff shipped here from the US. Take it to a authorized Apple service provider and have them give you a quote, might be more easier and less costly that way. Sometimes pictures might not tell the whole story, and there could be other damages that we can't see.
 
you can get the entire housing, glass, and lcd repaired for around $850 US (maybe less if they can salvage your lcd screen

http://www.myservice.com/macbookpro.html


Don't know if they do international, but you can always ship it yourself with a return address label. they are really accommodating and friendly.

Would be way cheaper than $2000

Hope that helps.

I wouldn't try to DIY replace the display assembly yourself...it's a pain
 
Holy crap, that looks bad!

Also, it is good to see another Dane on the forums. :)

Unfortunately, I can't be of much help, but I wish you good luck with whatever you decide to do!
 
OP--That laptop was hit HARD for it to come apart like that.

Your best bet is to follow the very helpful suggestions posted by "pctomac2011" and if that doesn't work to eBay the parts and to get a newer one--even if you get an older/less powerful one due to finances.
 
Nykwil said:
you can get the entire housing, glass, and lcd repaired for around $850 US (maybe less if they can salvage your lcd screen

http://www.myservice.com/macbookpro.html


Don't know if they do international, but you can always ship it yourself with a return address label. they are really accommodating and friendly.

Would be way cheaper than $2000

Hope that helps.

I wouldn't try to DIY replace the display assembly yourself...it's a pain
Click to expand...

No offense, but did you even read her post? She was barely able to afford to buy the $1000 used model on ebay, spending another $1000 would bring it over the cost of a brand new model, hardly worth it.

Further, $850 for repairs seems alot to me. The LCD functions, so it would be a waste to replace the entire LCD. As I posted before, you can buy hinge assemblies off eBay for $30-40 each, for a grand total of around $100 if you include shipping costs. They are not extremely difficult to replace, and just require a bit of patience. It won't fix the cosmetic cracks on the edge of the LCD where it is coming apart (which by the way are seperate parts, including the LCD back cover), but at least the screen won't continuously keep falling on her.

I'm not trying to flame you (apologies if it came off that way), i'm just trying to say due to her situation it would probably be best to come up with a 'functionality' fix for the time being.

Cheers.
 
pctomac2011 said:
http://cgi.ebay.com/MacBook-Pro-15-...413?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3cb3adb0cd

Example of "left hinge assembly" you'll obviously need a right one as well. You do not need the actual cover itself, as it is more cosmetic, unless it is cracked which is hard to tell from your photos. If it is cracked, it would be a wise move to replace that as well (due to dust/dirt able to make its way into it).

That's about $70 (buy it now) if you can find an equivalent right hinge.

The actual damage to the LCD itself is mostly cosmetic, if you can live with that, just replacing the hinges will at least resolve the falling LCD and could be a cheap way of extending its life.

Good Luck.
Click to expand...

My post must have crossed over with this one. Definitely +1 to this. If you can get the parts at that sort of price then it has got to be worth trying. The problem's purely mechanical so as long as you're careful it should be fine.

By the way, you're not the first person to have this issue for no reason, so ignore the sniping. Sign of inadequacy when people indulge in that sort of behaviour.
 
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pctomac2011 said:
No offense, but did you even read her post? She was barely able to afford to buy the $1000 used model on ebay, spending another $1000 would bring it over the cost of a brand new model, hardly worth it.

Further, $850 for repairs seems alot to me. The LCD functions, so it would be a waste to replace the entire LCD. As I posted before, you can buy hinge assemblies off eBay for $30-40 each, for a grand total of around $100 if you include shipping costs. They are not extremely difficult to replace, and just require a bit of patience. It won't fix the cosmetic cracks on the edge of the LCD where it is coming apart (which by the way are seperate parts, including the LCD back cover), but at least the screen won't continuously keep falling on her.

I'm not trying to flame you (apologies if it came off that way), i'm just trying to say due to her situation it would probably be best to come up with a 'functionality' fix for the time being.

Cheers.
Click to expand...


I'm sorry did i pee all over your post or something? Did I offend YOU? I offered a solution. It may not be ideal, but at least it doesn't mean 1. buying a new computer yet. 2. doing it yourself. 3. still not paying 2000-3000 dollars.

OP already suggested they were going to wait until summer to buy a new one, if that's the case, throw on some duct tape and wait it out for a new machine in the summer and sell for parts.

As much as I like opening up my toys and gadgets, it doesnt guarantee that when I put it back it will all work again...the risk for human error and having a non working system vs a broken yet still working system is too risky to spend a few bucks on a "fix"
 
Nykwil said:
I'm sorry did i pee all over your post or something? Did I offend YOU? I offered a solution. It may not be ideal, but at least it doesn't mean 1. buying a new computer yet. 2. doing it yourself. 3. still not paying 2000-3000 dollars.

OP already suggested they were going to wait until summer to buy a new one, if that's the case, throw on some duct tape and wait it out for a new machine in the summer and sell for parts.

As much as I like opening up my toys and gadgets, it doesnt guarantee that when I put it back it will all work again...the risk for human error and having a non working system vs a broken yet still working system is too risky to spend a few bucks on a "fix"
Click to expand...

Sorry for defending people? You proposed a $850 fix. She already stated a few months ago (read she did not buy this new in 2008, it was used), for $1000. Again, a few months ago, she bought this 2008 for $1000. Why would anyone want to spend another $850 when they just paid $1000, to repair an outdated model? You didn't offend me, but I felt the need to clear the air. I've done hardware and software support for well over 10 years, and, I suppose it is part of me to make sure people do not get ripped off, as I've seen people taken advantage of far too often. Again, $850 is WAY overpriced to repair a 2008 model, and whoever is doing this repair, is equivalent to taking your car to a random garage and them reaming you with the price.

Also, why are you even bothering to reply when you obviously have no idea what your talking about? Throwing duct tape on it? That tells me right there you have no idea how "hinges" work, and the mechanics of the LCD. The OP already stated she was willing to do some work herself to at least make it mechanically functional, and holding her off until she can afford a new one.

Hinges are the "mechanical" fix, so the LCD back doesn't keep falling on her. Cosmetically the LCD edges are still pulling away, but again she wanted a functional solution, that's all.

As far as taking apart the hinge cover, you can refer to MANY online documentation sources, and if you are a resourceful person it is not that difficult.
 
saaborac said:
It started with the hinge being loose - which I found was normal for this model of the Pro - and I wanted to get that fixed, but never really got the tools ordered.
I have been taking very good care of my computer and it hasn't suffered falls.
Caroline
Click to expand...

You knew the hinge was coming loose but did nothing yet claim you took care of it? Sorry, you should have dealt with it when you had the chance.
 
I'd be more worried about what else is wrong with it... Who know's what potential damage has been done inside. Maybe none... Maybe a lot!

Imagine if you spend time and money fixing it and then other things pack in/go wrong - it would be soul destroying and bank breaking. Like keeping an old car and spending more money keeping it going than its actually worth.

My brother recently sold an 08 15" pro with a broken battery and hard disk that had been dropped for 400 pounds on ebay... The guy who bought it was a trader and said he would strip it down and sell it for parts.

I realise you're short of money but perhaps you can save for a while/ take on some extra hours at work/ look at finance options/ ask family for a loan (especially if its to help your studies at school).

With a new laptop you know where you stand... Trying to keep your current model could potentially cost you a lot of time, money and stress.

Good luck bud
 
saaborac said:
I repeat again, this dent was present 6 months before there was any problem with the screen.
Click to expand...

There was likely internal damage that you couldn't see when you bought the machine... when the price is too good to be true, it usually is. Sorry for your loss, but I guess you can sell it for parts or try to buy the parts to fix it. :(
 
cdallen said:
Imagine if you spend time and money fixing it and then other things pack in/go wrong - it would be soul destroying and bank breaking. Like keeping an old car and spending more money keeping it going than its actually worth.

My brother recently sold an 08 15" pro with a broken battery and hard disk that had been dropped for 400 pounds on ebay... The guy who bought it was a trader and said he would strip it down and sell it for parts.

I realise you're short of money but perhaps you can save for a while/ take on some extra hours at work/ look at finance options/ ask family for a loan (especially if its to help your studies at school).

With a new laptop you know where you stand... Trying to keep your current model could potentially cost you a lot of time, money and stress.

Good luck bud
Click to expand...

I think it would be worth it in her situation to spend the time fixing it. It would at least give her a laptop to tide her over until she can save that money. But yeah, I'd agree that I wouldn't spend too much fixing it. Even if you fix the obvious problem, you can't be sure there aren't stress points still there that will cause more problems. Or problems that haven't shown up yet.

Unfortunately, the laptop has already been abused so the fact OP has taken care of it after it has been abused doesn't fix the issue that it already has had abuse on it.

But, I would try to fix it yourself for as cheap as you can and save the money for another laptop. I really wouldn't spend too much money fixing up that laptop (basically I bet it's not worth paying some one else to repair). Even if it becomes unusable, it may be worth it to buy a cheap ass used laptop (I know here you can easily find a PC laptop used for 200 dollars. May not be in the best condition or best tech specs but probably cheaper than the repair on that macbook might be if you tried to pay some one to do it) and use that in the meantime til you can afford another macbook.

Even if you have to buy used, make sure you see the laptop first and make sure it's in good condition from the start. You may want to consider compromising and buying a cheaper laptop like a 13" one. The new 13" should be spec wise a lot better than that 2008 anyways so it should do what the OP wants it to do if the 2008 was good enough for her, the only thing you have to sacrifice is screen size which I'd say is a good sacrifice for peace of mind that you know how the laptop has been cared for and you get at least a year warranty on it. Before you say you don't want a smaller screen, you say you are on a budget which means you can't get everything you want. And I'd take more likely to be reliable and last you a long time over bigger screen.
 
Oh gosh! It looks like it was ran over with a car with the lid open! I have a powerbook G4 that was dropped open and ran over by a bike and it's in better shape than that! How....the...heck...does....it... do...that...itself...???
 
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