Those are TR drivers, and he wants TX. You can't get the TX drivers anywhere other than Wiha, Camcar, and one other manufacturer.
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Where to buy Torx Plus Tamper 6 screwdriver for new MacBook Pro?
- Thread starter sammc
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Those are TR drivers, and he wants TX. You can't get the TX drivers anywhere other than Wiha, Camcar, and one other manufacturer.
Going by a picture I found of the screw it looks like it is raised a little. Would it be possible for you to grab it with some needle nose pliers? Also if you have a small precision screwdriver set with a good selection of flat head screw drivers. You may be able to wedge the blade between the center post and one of the slots to remove the screw.
On another note what does it take to be an "authorized purchaser" for these screw driver bits? Is a business license and computer repair service sufficient?
On another note what does it take to be an "authorized purchaser" for these screw driver bits? Is a business license and computer repair service sufficient?
Eventually somebody is going to reverse-engineer torx bits from the heads of these new torx screws themselves. I really don't see the point in this, unless they are going to continually try to issue new versions to stay ahead of that curve (good luck with that)...
Consumers must be protected from themselves. Owning the computer
does not give its owner the right to tamper with things best left alone.
does not give its owner the right to tamper with things best left alone.
Can you post a picture of what screw exactly you're talking about?
I looked throught the ifixit.com guide, and it seems that the battery is held down by two tri-wing screws, not tamper-resistant torx screws:
See step 5's pictures: http://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/MacBook-Pro-13-Inch-Unibody/814/1
I looked throught the ifixit.com guide, and it seems that the battery is held down by two tri-wing screws, not tamper-resistant torx screws:
See step 5's pictures: http://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/MacBook-Pro-13-Inch-Unibody/814/1
I hope you are being facetious. Many forum members here including myself are more than qualified to replace one of these batteries. But we do not qualify as an approved service center or oem.
Basically this is a move by Apple to rip off the customers since they will have no option to replace the battery themselves without exorbitant fees at third party repair centers since Apple would consider the MacBook vintage in five years. This also rules out the option of getting a cheap third party battery via eBay which usually run half the price of brick and mortar stores. Adding this screw seems more an attempt to force customers into buying a new Macbook after five years. Though for most uses it the hardware will likely still be more than powerful enough.
I guess we will just wait until some foreign manufacturer starts making these screwdrivers and they make there way around the world.
According to our AASP documentation from Apple, the battery replacement is $149, the same cost as a current OEM battery, and includes the warranted installation.
The battery is rated for 1000 charge cycles, which is more than double the current 2-year lifespan. And the further probability of there being cheap ones on ebay is even smaller.
Further, I'm pretty sure in four years, the torx will be out of patent protection and you'll be able to buy the d**n screwdriver.
Given that Apple charges $129 for a MacBook battery which I can get new on eBay for $45 to $55. I would take their pricing claims with a grain of salt.
I have bought generic lithium ion batteries for several laptops each had the same performance as I would expect from the manufacturer's. Just make sure the milliamps and voltages match, or if given the wattage.
I did find one claiming to be for the current 13" and 15" Macbook for $95. Since they are not easily replaced I could only guess what the pricing would be if they were more easily replaced thus giving a greater demand for generic batteries for those models. Though I would venture that suppliers will start providing those batteries in greater volume once the current ones start wearing out and are no longer under warranty.
Unfortunately not in the case of the MacBook Pro 15" Mid 2009 model. I have quoted from the service manual, and you need a specific 5 point driver.
Hmm, and then what are you going to do with it?
Keep it and put it in the new, insurance replaced unit when the battery dies... crazy, I know...
The post doesn't make them tamper resistant unless you've not got the right tool. Otherwise service shops with the right tool still wouldn't be able to remove them... With the right tool they are easily "tampered with", just like any other screw head. That's why they don't describe them as tamper-proof. They are going on the basis that the average person will not have access to the tool.
Exactly. The only place these screws are used is to hold in the battery. Every other single screw is either Philips or regular torx, but most folks are not going to attempt to replace a motherboard or display for example, but would likely want to replace the battery. For some reason, replacing the hard drive is considered "user-serviceable", but not the battery.
Keep it and put it in the new, insurance replaced unit when the battery dies... crazy, I know...
If this is the case I hope you realize that by the battery just sitting around at room temperature it will likely fail long before the battery that will come with your new Macbook. Unless you store it properly.
If you are planning on long term storage. You should drain the battery to a 40% charge and keep it in a cold temperature controlled environment. A refrigerator, not a freezer, is ideal. Place in a sealed plastic bag to prevent condenstation.
Source: Battery University
I was planning to swap batteries every 3 months or so to keep them both in good shape. It's easy to do... with the right screwdriver of course...
Really? Why not replace it when it needs replacement? Seems like quite an undertaking for what I see as a marginal benefit (if any).
Use the battery. When in some time it is no longer of a capacity to your liking, replace it. I would not stick a laptop cell in the refrigerator to open the possibility of building up condensation on the charging/regulation circuity inside.
This may be true of the 13" model, but the 15" Mid 2009 model uses 3 screws of the kind I describe in the original post. If you click on the catalog link and go to the page I mention in a later response, you'll see exactly what I'm talking about. They are most certainly NOT tri-wing screws.
Because the second battery, as described earlier in the thread, is essentially free as the laptop is an insurance write-off. But until I get the right driver, it's a lump of heavy plastic inside a nice aluminium case...
Unless your insurance company has given you permission to salvage parts, you cannot remove any parts from any computer that an insurance claim has been made for without committing explicit insurance fraud. The computer is at that point property of the insurance company and any salvageable parts are theirs to recover and sell to recoup their payout.
http://www.apple.com/batteries/notebooks.html
It isn't necessary to keep batteries in the fridge.
Source: Apple
Irrelevant. If you know where I can obtain the screwdriver in question, then I'd very much appreciate your contribution. Otherwise, you're degrading the Signal to Noise ratio of the thread...
The hard drive uses standard Philips screws, so it's not a problem. The new, 15"mid 2009 MacBook Pro battery (and only the battery) is secured in place with these non-standard screws.
It is not necessary but it minimizes lost capacity by about 1/2 over room temperature. Especially since I was thinking of three to four years of storage. Assuming the op would swap out the battery once the new Macbook's battery lost too much capacity.
Since the op later revealed that the intention is to swap batteries every three months then room temperature storage is fine.
On another note. Why didn't Apple just make the battery swap-able? Was the additional 1/8" thickness too much? I suppose the point is moot. Sales and customer requests will determine if Apple holds this course.
No, I do mean Philips - in the MacBook Pro 15" Mid 2009 model, the hard drive is held in by Philips size 00 screws. I assume that in other (earlier?) models Torx has been used perhaps.
Here is a picture of the 'tamper proof' 5-point battery fastener in the June 2009 MBP 15"
http://solardriftwood.com/macbookprobattery.html
Without the torx security driver, you cannot replace the case or repair/replace the trackpad (which I need to do, because I am 300 miles from the nearest Apple service center and my trackpad button has stopped working).
Snap-on do sell the 5-point bits, but with the same 'only to authorized technicians' rule. I'm not sure if they sell the right size, but I am going to try and talk my local Snap-on salesman into it.
Be careful when searching for drivers/bits, since torx, torx plus, tamper-resistant torx, tamper-resistant torx plus, are all different things.
http://solardriftwood.com/macbookprobattery.html
Without the torx security driver, you cannot replace the case or repair/replace the trackpad (which I need to do, because I am 300 miles from the nearest Apple service center and my trackpad button has stopped working).
Snap-on do sell the 5-point bits, but with the same 'only to authorized technicians' rule. I'm not sure if they sell the right size, but I am going to try and talk my local Snap-on salesman into it.
Be careful when searching for drivers/bits, since torx, torx plus, tamper-resistant torx, tamper-resistant torx plus, are all different things.