Friends have owned Macs longer than I have, and I haven't heard of any major problems with their PPC machines. The newer ones seem to have more problems, but laptop batteries and SuperDrives are kind of like repairing tie rod ends in my opinion. Its unfortunate that people are having graphics controller problems.
On Wed, Dec 21, 2011 at 2:18 PM, Dan Penoff <lwb...@yahoo.com> wrote: > It is going to have to have the battery installed for testing. The > battery would have no effect on the graphics issue, but they will want to > test everything as a unit, so the battery is a must. > > I must be living right, as I have yet to own a Mac that required repairs. > And this is over 15+ years of Mac ownership of a lot of different > machines, nearly all I purchased as refurbs. The only new machines I > bought new were an early 2006 20" iMac (which I just upgraded with a C2D > CPU, hard drive and a total of 4GB RAM) and an early 2006 17" iMac that my > youngest son continues to use. > > I have a 15" MBP CD I bought in late 2005/early 2006 as a refurb, and > other than swapping a hard drive from a 160GB to 320GB and adding an > 802.11n AirPort card, it's never missed a lick. I did have a failed battery > in it covered by a recall, but I don't consider that a defect, as it was > working just fine but the battery was covered under a recall despite > working just fine. > > I have two 20" PPC iMacs out in the garage I got from Mac buddies - one > needs a reflow on the GPU, a simple repair, and the other needs a set of > caps on the logic board ($35 for a set.) > > These will be repaired over the holiday break, with the best of the two > set up as a terminal in the kitchen since the PPC iMacs have VESA mounts, > something later models do not have... > > Dan > > On Dec 21, 2011, at 3:54 PM, andrew strasfogel wrote: > > > I just bought a new battery. Should I remove it before sending it > > along with the computer if I do need to ship it for repairr? I think > > I know the answer - they would need the battery to rule out a battery > > problem, right? > > > > On 12/21/11, Brian Toscano <brian.tosc...@gmail.com> wrote: > >> The flat rate option which requires shipping was about $300 for my > buddy. > >> In-store repair was about $900-1000. > >> > >> Since the free motherboard replacement, all I've had to do is replace > the > >> battery & SuperDrive. For as much as I use the laptop, I really can't > >> complain. Upgrading the hard drive and memory gave it a speed boost. > If > >> this one craps out, I'll probably buy another. If it doesn't crap out, > >> I'll probably get another sometime after the 5-6 year mark. Thunderbolt > >> would be nice, if it works more reliably than eSATA. > >> > >> Brian > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> On Wed, Dec 21, 2011 at 1:21 PM, andrew strasfogel > >> <astrasfo...@gmail.com>wrote: > >> > >>> I hope that the SN is engraved into the case and not part of the Mac > >>> info on the hard drive that can only revealed by viewing it on the > >>> display! > >>> > >>> On 12/21/11, Dan Penoff <lwb...@yahoo.com> wrote: > >>>> Worst case if it's not something covered under a campaign would be to > go > >>> the > >>>> flat fee repair they offer if you want to keep it. > >>>> > >>>> If I had a serial number I could look up the part on GSX and tell you, > >>> but > >>>> rest assured, it won't be cheap. > >>>> > >>>> Dan > >>>> > >>>> On Dec 21, 2011, at 3:11 PM, andrew strasfogel wrote: > >>>> > >>>>> "He" being me, I am curious as to what it will cost for a new > >>> motherboard. > >>>>> > >>>>> On 12/21/11, Brian Toscano <brian.tosc...@gmail.com> wrote: > >>>>>> Dan, > >>>>>> > >>>>>> I'm not sure if they changed the procedures since my motherboard was > >>>>>> diagnosed and replaced, but back then they used a FireWire hard > drive > >>> to > >>>>>> boot externally and it generated a light pattern that told the tech > >>> "bad > >>>>>> graphics controller". > >>>>>> > >>>>>> Troubleshooting procedures should be followed to correctly diagnose > >>>>>> the > >>>>>> problem, but I can say that from personal experience that he > probably > >>>>>> needs > >>>>>> a new motherboard since the graphics controller cannot be changed > >>>>>> independently and that it may or may not be covered under the > recall. > >>>>>> > >>>>>> > >>>>>> Brian > >>>>>> > >>>>>> > >>>>>> > >>>>>> > >>>>>> On Wed, Dec 21, 2011 at 11:50 AM, Dan Penoff <lwb...@yahoo.com> > wrote: > >>>>>> > >>>>>>> The resets are part of the troubleshooting process, and are > >>>>>>> documented > >>>>>>> in > >>>>>>> the Apple service literature. While they don't always yield a > change > >>> in > >>>>>>> the > >>>>>>> issue, they are valid steps that the Genius or repair personnel > will > >>>>>>> enlist > >>>>>>> before moving forward. > >>>>>>> > >>>>>>> The nVidia issue is clearly documented on Apple's Support site, > which > >>> I > >>>>>>> believe also includes a serial number check utility that will tell > >>>>>>> the > >>>>>>> user > >>>>>>> if their machine is included in the replacement campaign. > >>>>>>> > >>>>>>> Dan (GSX certified Apple Tech) > >>>>>>> > >>>>>>> > >>>>>>> On Dec 21, 2011, at 1:02 PM, Brian Toscano wrote: > >>>>>>> > >>>>>>>> In my experience, all of these resets are a waste of time. > >>>>>>>> Basically > >>>>>>>> the > >>>>>>>> graphics card will flake out a couple of time and then its just > >>>>>>> completely > >>>>>>>> dead. My buddy went through all of the resets, battery swaps, as > I > >>> did > >>>>>>> and > >>>>>>>> in both cases a new motherboard was the only fix. If his computer > >>> was > >>>>>>>> subject to the nVIDIA issue, they didn't know that or didn't tell > >>> him. > >>>>>>>> > >>>>>>>> > >>>>>>>> On Wed, Dec 21, 2011 at 10:55 AM, andrew strasfogel > >>>>>>>> <astrasfo...@gmail.com>wrote: > >>>>>>>> > >>>>>>>>> Thanks. Apple support told me the same thing so I will do this > >>> when I > >>>>>>>>> get home tonight. > >>>>>>>>> > >>>>>>>>> What puzzles me is why the screen came back to life the first > time > >>>>>>>>> - > >>>>>>>>> after I removed the battery for several hours and then > reinstalled > >>> it. > >>>>>>>>> Could this have been a coincidence? > >>>>>>>>> > >>>>>>>>> > >>>>>>>>> On 12/21/11, Dan Penoff <lwb...@yahoo.com> wrote: > >>>>>>>>>> Even before you reset the NVRAM and the power controller, which > is > >>>>>>>>>> the > >>>>>>>>>> procedure you describe, try resetting the PRAM, which you do by > >>>>>>>>>> holding > >>>>>>>>> down > >>>>>>>>>> the P + R + Command + Option keys during startup until you hear > >>>>>>>>>> the > >>>>>>>>> "bong" > >>>>>>>>>> sound - keep holding them down and let the machine restart 3 > times > >>>>>>>>>> with > >>>>>>>>> the > >>>>>>>>>> "bong" sound and then let it start up. > >>>>>>>>>> > >>>>>>>>>> This won't hurt anything and will reset the machine back to > >>>>>>>>>> default > >>>>>>>>>> settings. Try your display after this and if no joy, try the > >>>>>>>>>> procedure > >>>>>>>>> you > >>>>>>>>>> have. Again, it won't break anything. > >>>>>>>>>> > >>>>>>>>>> Dan > >>>>>>>>>> > >>>>>>>>>> On Dec 21, 2011, at 11:52 AM, Dan Penoff wrote: > >>>>>>>>>> > >>>>>>>>>>> Unlike a Windows based PC, Macs do not require that the > external > >>>>>>> display > >>>>>>>>>>> port be toggled on and off. There is no "Fn + F4" function on > a > >>>>>>>>>>> Mac. > >>>>>>>>>>> When you plug in the external display, you get it. > >>>>>>>>>>> > >>>>>>>>>>> I checked, and the NVidia graphics issue went through late 2008 > >>> with > >>>>>>>>> MBPs, > >>>>>>>>>>> so there might be a possibility that your machine is one of the > >>>>>>>>> affected. > >>>>>>>>>>> If you take it to the Apple Store they will check it out and > see > >>> if > >>>>>>> this > >>>>>>>>>>> applies. If so, they'll fix it for free. > >>>>>>>>>>> > >>>>>>>>>>> Dan > >>>>>>>>>>> > >>>>>>>>>>> > >>>>>>>>>>> On Dec 21, 2011, at 11:39 AM, andrew strasfogel wrote: > >>>>>>>>>>> > >>>>>>>>>>>> Thanks! Fortunately, there is an Apple Store in nearby > >>>>>>>>>>>> Bethesda, > >>>>>>>>>>>> MD. > >>>>>>>>>>>> > >>>>>>>>>>>> My son said to toggle the external screen display setting on > and > >>>>>>>>>>>> off, > >>>>>>>>>>>> using a combination of keystrokes that I may have > inadvertently > >>>>>>>>>>>> triggered. Does anyone know what those keystrokes are? > >>>>>>>>>>>> > >>>>>>>>>>>> > >>>>>>>>>>>> On 12/21/11, Allan Streib <str...@cs.indiana.edu> wrote: > >>>>>>>>>>>>> Even if you don't have a local apple store, you probably have > >>>>>>>>>>>>> an > >>>>>>> apple > >>>>>>>>>>>>> authorized repair shop. I'd go with Best Buy only as a last > >>>>>>>>>>>>> resort, > >>>>>>>>>>>>> based on the one here nobody working there has a clue about > >>>>>>>>> technology. > >>>>>>>>>>>>> > >>>>>>>>>>>>> Allan > >>>>>>>>>>>>> > >>>>>>>>>>>>> > >>>>>>>>>>>>> On Wed, Dec 21, 2011, at 11:13 AM, Dan Penoff wrote: > >>>>>>>>>>>>>> Before you panic, try connecting it to an external display > and > >>>>>>>>>>>>>> see > >>>>>>> if > >>>>>>>>>>>>>> you get a signal. If so, your graphics card is OK, you have > >>>>>>>>>>>>>> an > >>>>>>> issue > >>>>>>>>>>>>>> with the display. > >>>>>>>>>>>>>> > >>>>>>>>>>>>>> If you don't have an adapter for an external monitor, swing > by > >>> an > >>>>>>>>>>>>>> Apple Store or a Best Buy and see if they will check it for > >>> you. > >>>>>>>>> Apple > >>>>>>>>>>>>>> Store = free, Best Buy will nick you for a bench fee, I'll > >>>>>>>>>>>>>> bet. > >>>>>>>>>>>>>> > >>>>>>>>>>>>>> Dan > >>>>>>>>>>>>>> > >>>>>>>>>>>>> > >>>>>>>>>>>>> _______________________________________ > >>>>>>>>>>>>> http://www.okiebenz.com > >>>>>>>>>>>>> For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com > >>>>>>>>>>>>> To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ > >>>>>>>>>>>>> > >>>>>>>>>>>>> To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: > >>>>>>>>>>>>> > http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com > >>>>>>>>>>>>> > >>>>>>>>>>>> > >>>>>>>>>>>> _______________________________________ > >>>>>>>>>>>> http://www.okiebenz.com > >>>>>>>>>>>> For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com > >>>>>>>>>>>> To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ > >>>>>>>>>>>> > >>>>>>>>>>>> To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: > >>>>>>>>>>>> > http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com > >>>>>>>>>>> > >>>>>>>>>>> > >>>>>>>>>>> _______________________________________ > >>>>>>>>>>> http://www.okiebenz.com > >>>>>>>>>>> For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com > >>>>>>>>>>> To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ > >>>>>>>>>>> > >>>>>>>>>>> To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: > >>>>>>>>>>> > http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com > >>>>>>>>>> > >>>>>>>>>> > >>>>>>>>>> _______________________________________ > >>>>>>>>>> http://www.okiebenz.com > >>>>>>>>>> For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com > >>>>>>>>>> To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ > >>>>>>>>>> > >>>>>>>>>> To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: > >>>>>>>>>> http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com > >>>>>>>>>> > >>>>>>>>> > >>>>>>>>> _______________________________________ > >>>>>>>>> http://www.okiebenz.com > >>>>>>>>> For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com > >>>>>>>>> To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ > >>>>>>>>> > >>>>>>>>> To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: > >>>>>>>>> http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com > >>>>>>>>> > >>>>>>>> _______________________________________ > >>>>>>>> http://www.okiebenz.com > >>>>>>>> For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com > >>>>>>>> To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ > >>>>>>>> > >>>>>>>> To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: > >>>>>>>> http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com > >>>>>>> > >>>>>>> > >>>>>>> _______________________________________ > >>>>>>> http://www.okiebenz.com > >>>>>>> For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com > >>>>>>> To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ > >>>>>>> > >>>>>>> To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: > >>>>>>> http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com > >>>>>>> > >>>>>> _______________________________________ > >>>>>> http://www.okiebenz.com > >>>>>> For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com > >>>>>> To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ > >>>>>> > >>>>>> To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: > >>>>>> http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com > >>>>>> > >>>>> > >>>>> _______________________________________ > >>>>> http://www.okiebenz.com > >>>>> For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com > >>>>> To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ > >>>>> > >>>>> To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: > >>>>> http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com > >>>> > >>>> > >>>> _______________________________________ > >>>> http://www.okiebenz.com > >>>> For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com > >>>> To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ > >>>> > >>>> To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: > >>>> http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com > >>>> > >>> > >>> _______________________________________ > >>> http://www.okiebenz.com > >>> For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com > >>> To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ > >>> > >>> To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: > >>> http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com > >>> > >> _______________________________________ > >> http://www.okiebenz.com > >> For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com > >> To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ > >> > >> To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: > >> http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com > >> > > > > _______________________________________ > > http://www.okiebenz.com > > For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com > > To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ > > > > To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: > > http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com > > > _______________________________________ > http://www.okiebenz.com > For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com > To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ > > To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: > http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com > _______________________________________ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
