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JPamplin

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Mar 12, 2009
321
64
Nashville, TN
Hi folks,

I bought a 2009 MacBook Pro 15" 2.8 Ghz WITH NO SCREEN for $80. The unit boots, I can install the OS on it, it runs fine...

UNTIL - every once in a while, the unit just "kinda" locks up. Ethernet is lost, Finder is unresponsive, and I HAVE to power cycle it to get it to come back. Sometimes the Option to select the video card (9400M or 9600GT) in Power Options shows up - most of the time, it doesn't, and it operates on the 9400M just fine, but when the 9600 chipset thinks it wants to wake up, it locks.

It turns out that the previous owner had tried to connect a new screen and "something sparked" on the motherboard because the genius had not disconnected the battery first.

SO, can I a) disable or unplug the 9600 video chipset, or b) get the mobo serviced, and if so, who knows of services cheaper than eBay $209?

Thanks SO much!

JP
 
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