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URGENT 1 week left of warranty + broken Macbook

P

pirate pete

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Jun 14, 2008
4
0
Hey guys, I have a black Macbook 2.16ghz core 2 duo, 160gb HDD, 2x1gb (upgraded from the original 2x512mb sticks that I bought it with).

So, here is my problem. Last night, I was using my macbook at a friends house, everything was fine. Then suddenly, web browser crashed, I tried to force quit but I couldn't get the 'apple' menu up - and other programs were now crashed - the whole machine had effectively frozen.

The Macbook started making clicking noises from what sounded like the top right corner of the keyboard (but which I have now realised is actually the HDD)

So anyway, I held the power button down to turn off, left it off for about five minutes. I then restarted and I got the usual hardware chime followed up by the apple symbol and the rotating progress bar.

It stayed like that for about 3 minutes when, surprise surprise, I got the question mark folder icon - which I have never seen before, but knew it meant HDD problem.

Anyway, I've reseated the hard drive, attempted booting with mac os x installation CDs (the Tiger ones that came with my macbook) and when it asks where the installation should go I have no hard drive - just network boot and the tiger CD icons in disk utility (when booting from the CD).

So now, on boot, the clicking and squeaking noises are still there (coming from the HDD) and the question mark folder icon is still up. Everything is saying dead HDD right?


Well, here is the rub, I bought this macbook on the 20th June 2007 - that means I have until Friday for the repairs warranty, and I have not renewed applecare.

I am prepared to buy more applecare for 199GBP considering the tight time frame I have here. However, I am wondering if this is possible - does buying applecare from the applesite require a working macbook to install and register on?

What is the best course of action here...?

Thanks guys, I'm really freaking out a bit.

UPDATE: Having just searched a bit more around this forum and others I got through to an apple site page where I could check my warranty - this is what i got.


Apple said:
Our records indicate that your product is covered under Apple's Limited Warranty which is estimated to expire on 19 June 2010.

Your product is not eligible for complimentary phone support.

If you believe that this information is inaccurate, learn how to update your coverage status. Please put your sales receipt in a safe place. You will need it for warranty validation.

Extend your service and support coverage for your product with the AppleCare Protection Plan. If you have already purchased an AppleCare Protection Plan, make sure you have registered it.
Click to expand...
 
pirate pete said:
I am prepared to buy more applecare for 199GBP considering the tight time frame I have here. However, I am wondering if this is possible - does buying applecare from the applesite require a working macbook to install and register on?

What is the best course of action here...?

Thanks guys, I'm really freaking out a bit.
Pete
Click to expand...

Hey, Pete. I feel your pain. I really do recommend you go ahead and get the Applecare coverage. You do not need to register it FROM the Macbook you're using it for. You can log in to the Apple website from any computer and enter the Applecare registration information.

But the eligibility for Applecare IS exactly one year from the date of purchase so you should get it ASAP.

In the meantime you could call Apple and schedule a repair. The Macbook is already covered under the one year limited warranty so they can get started on that. There is no need to wait.

Best of luck!
 
If you phone them with the problem now, they will fix it under AppleCare even after the warranty is over, if you explain that you are unable to get it to them in the next few days.
 
SaSaSushi said:
Hey, Pete. I feel your pain. I really do recommend you go ahead and get the Applecare coverage. You do not need to register it FROM the Macbook you're using it for. You can log in to the Apple website from any computer and enter the Applecare registration information.

But the eligibility for Applecare IS exactly one year from the date of purchase so you should get it ASAP.

In the meantime you could call Apple and schedule a repair. The Macbook is already covered under the one year limited warranty so they can get started on that. There is no need to wait.

Best of luck!
Click to expand...

Hey I was going to say all that!, sound advice;)
 
There's something extremely rotten in Denmark. Are you sure you didn't make a typo and the site reported coverage until June 19th, 2008?

Because it clearly states "under Apple's Limited Warranty" which is the one year warranty and not Applecare. Another reason it cannot be Applecare is that it also states no complimentary phone support which means it is past the 90 days on the one year warranty. Applecare extends the phone coverage for a full 3 years.

Sorry, but that has to be a typo. There is no way that can be possible as June 19th, 2010 is over a year from now and the rest of that clearly indicates a limited warranty which is one year only.

You also wouldn't be seeing that advice to buy or apply Applecare at the bottom if it was already registered under the coverage.
 
Thanks so much for the replies guys - it means alot.

With regard to that clipping, it is definitely not a typo - I just tried again and the same message came up...




I know I have not got applecare - after the 3 months, an applecare sales person called me up and tried to persuade me for a good 30 minutes before I said no to it.

Surely, as it is a 'limited warranty' and there is no more phone support that is just default apple policy to not leave their customers entirely alone....

In the mean time, I'm thinking I will go ahead and extend the real applecare coverage by 3 years before it runs out and wait until my exams are finished in two weeks before sending for repairs - I could do without the hassle in this period...is extending applecare literally a case of registering and paying online? There is nothing they need to send you, correct?

The HDD is definitely completely dead - just tried knoppix and it can't detect it either.

Thanks again for the support, please keep any suggestions about the strange warranty issue coming, as my wits are diseased over it.

Pete
 
Wow! I did not know that. :eek:

Yes, I am a student - and I bought my macbook last summer with a student discount...although they never told me the warranty was 3 years instead of 1.

I think that must explain it though. That is a huge weight off my mind.

As I need to get a repair carried out still, I think I will just wait until after my exams - I was so worried about running out of time for it.

Thanks for all the help guys - you've been the best community of 3 mac forums...I'll definitely spend more time here than other places in the future.

With gratitude to all, Pete
 
Eraserhead said:
Are you a student? Students get 3 years of warranty cover for free.
Click to expand...

Whoa! I didn't know that either! :eek:

Is that a UK-only deal?? I bought my iMac on an educational discount from the Apple online store here in Japan (I'm a teacher). I know I didn't get but the one year limited warranty. I went ahead and purchased Applecare for the full 3 years.
 
SaSaSushi said:
Whoa! I didn't know that either! :eek:

Is that a UK-only deal?? I bought my iMac on an educational discount from the Apple online store here in Japan (I'm a teacher). I know I didn't get but the one year limited warranty. I went ahead and purchased Applecare for the full 3 years.
Click to expand...

Its UK only and only applies to the full HE Discount. It also makes full AppleCare only £50+VAT when you buy it.
 
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