Mac Repair Guides for Apple Macbook, iPad, Powerbook iPhone & iPod

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Louis S. Diggs 3 years ago	My MacBook Pro Model A1286 will not start up, what do I do?
Louis S. Diggs 3 years ago	My MacBook Pro, Model A1286 stopped while I was using it; now it will not start up no matter how many times I hit the start button. What do I do to start it up?
bob 6 years ago	Not for the A1286 unibody.
Brooke Steimel 7 years ago	@Chris - I have a A1286 2.63ghz mid 2009 MacBook Pro 15.4. Started off with a battery gone bad so I replaced it - worked for a few days and then nothing +then the cord did not show a light when plug in so I got another - then I came to your site and ordered the Mag Safe d c port and I used the video and replaced it. For a brief moment the light came on on the power cord the nothing. I have not been able to get it to power on with the on bottom at all. Nothing. I am currently unemployed and need it to apply for jobs and help my son + daughter with science fair projects - so I broke down to see what it would cost at the only place in town that will work on macs here that was recommended by the Apple Store. Well they were so rude - he told me he wasn't going to waste his time that it was too old and I should just get a new one or get a newer used one from him, but this is the first problem I have had since I got it 8.5yrs ago. Plus I have seen a lot of people say that they love their older models for the fact they can upgrade them. Need your advice - Now I have upgraded the ram to 8gb now which has made it somewhat faster before it quit the last time.
Chris 7 years ago	Need bracket that goes on top of lcd that makes clutch bar close when closing lid
D 7 years ago	Dd
logisticalstyles 8 years ago	I think this video is for a different model. My A1286 has a single piece for the bottom, not the separate pieces.
steve 8 years ago	My mid 2010 macbook pro 15.4 will start up with no desktop for 5 seconds and then it will click and shut down. Is this a battery problem or motherboard?
qmoses 8 years ago	Hi, I am looking to rePlace the toP case keyboard assembly on my late 2008 15" unibody since the 0, P, semicolon, forward slash, and enter keys are not working and the track Pad only clicks in certain areas. My question is for the install on this, is it necessary to do a comPlete disassemble as in the video. Thank you.
Powerbook Medic 8 years ago	@luca - yes they use the same part.
luca 8 years ago	Hi, I'm trying to replace the keyboard on a MacBook Pro late 2008 a1286. I've found a keyboard that fits the early 2009, can I use it?
Powerbook Medic 8 years ago	@Kathy - it is possible the tension screw on the bottom side needs to be loosened or it may have just gone bad.
Kathy 8 years ago	I have a MacBook Pro 2008 A1286 and I just lost the ability to use the click below the trackpad. Can you suggest what the solution might be.
Powerbook Medic 8 years ago	@Carl - It sounds like there is a short somewhere. The airport card is inside the display on these models with the iSight cable carrying the signal to the logic board. It is most likely the iSight cable is getting pinched or is damaged in the hinge area. You'll unfortunately have to open it up to see. You may want to have a professional diagnosis it to be sure.
Carl 8 years ago	I have an A1286 and recently the wifi suddenly stops working being unable to switch it on or off! Then in task bar it shows a greyed out wifi triangle with a X in it and when you click on it it says "Wi-Fi: No hardware installed". It sometimes comes back with a reboot and pram reset but not for long. The ethernet is fine. Is my wifi/bluetooth card fried or could there be a loose connection? Thanks
Powerbook Medic 8 years ago	@Anonymous6467 - it is most likely the optical drive cable is not plugged in well or was torn. I'd check that first, it is a cheap fix, otherwise it may be the drive itself.
Anonymous6467 8 years ago	I Have a Macbook Pro A1286. And The Cd Tray Doesn't Work or There's No Power There. What Can I Do?
Fausto Pruiett 8 years ago	This article is a great example of informational content I enjoy reading. It's just the kind of original content that provokes thought in the reader.
Powerbook Medic 9 years ago	@Dan - all A1286 models are unibodies. The glass must be carefully removed to get to the LCD. It is highly recommended to send this in for repair if the glass is not broken as it is very tricky to remove your first time.
Dan 9 years ago	order # was 275181
Dan Middlebrooks 9 years ago	I have a mid 2010 1286 2.53 i5 but it is not unibody. How do I remove the LCD to replace it. I purchased from you but can't figure it out. other option is send my lcd and laptop to you.
Guy V. 9 years ago	I also have a damaged unibody (15") LCD back cover. Can I swap the whole cover assembly with screen with another earlier unibody 15"? To be clearer' I have two 15" unibody MacBook pros, one has a removable battery' the other does not. The newer one has the damaged case and a few dead pixels, I can use the older model MacBook with an external monitor and would like the better screen and case on the newer base/logic board' etc.
Russ 10 years ago	Nice video showing how to open up case, upgrade memory and remove/replace SuperDrive. Easy enough but after doing so, system showing "Bluetooth not available" and "Airport Card not installed" Had some difficulty reconnecting the long cable to the logic board as to alignment. Might this be the problem if cable connection not fully seated? Now have 8gb in this early 2009 15" MBP A1286 but no Airport.
Mike R 10 years ago	I have scratches on the top aluminum cover of my mac pro. What to do?
DS 10 years ago	There is no latch on the unibody MacBook Pro 8,2 A1286 early 2011 (See EveryMac.com and iFixIt.com MacBook Pro 15" Unibody Early 2011 Battery Replacement
Powerbook Medic 10 years ago	Our guide is just showing how to do a complete disassembly, so if you are confident you can remove the superdrive earlier than we show, that is perfectly fine.
Theresa Preston 10 years ago	Do you have to remove the speaker assemble to replace the superdrive? It doesn't look like it's necessary to remove that just to replace the superdrive.
Powerbook Medic 10 years ago	@Phil - you may have to remove the logic board on some models. For those screws, we only sell complete screw sets. It should be in the part list to the right.
Phil 10 years ago	Wish you had a video for removal/reinstall of trackpad for this model of MacBook Pro. Do I have to remove the logic board? Striped the head of a Phillips screw while trying to remove SuperDrive. Do you sell spare screws?
Omar 10 years ago	I wish you guys had a video showing how to replace a clutch cover
barb 11 years ago	You guy's ROCK! Great service, everything arrived as advertised and quickly. The directions in the manual was exactly what I needed. My mac now has a working keyboard. Thanks a million.
Jason 11 years ago	@powerbook medic - I know that apple does not sell the keyboards by themselves. I am actually looking at replacing just the keyboard. I have found one online but want to make sure it will fit.
Powerbook Medic 11 years ago	@Jason - Apple doesn't sell the keyboards by themselves on the unibody style laptops. We sell individual key caps, but the keyboard itself comes with the top case.
Jason 11 years ago	@powerbook medic- I am actually meaning just the keyboard portion. I know there are differences with the top portion of the case. I just want to replace the keyboard only. Thanks!
Powerbook Medic 11 years ago	@Jagerz - we have an alien life form on staff which makes it easier. there is usually 3 screws. one in the middle and two on the sides which may be under a sticker.
Powerbook Medic 11 years ago	@Jason - there are some differences mostly between the trackpads, you can click on the top case product in the list to the right and see the different versions.
Jagerz 11 years ago	The videos are very well done, how did you capture video so close while working, third hand??:-) As for battery removal, my daughter's A1286 does not have a battery door/cover but is under the full bottom cover and even after screw removal there is something still holding it to case next to hard drive compartment???
Jason 11 years ago	I have a late 2008 a1286 that I need to replace the keyboard in. Are all the a1286 keyboards the same?
CMC 11 years ago	According to EveryMac I have an A1286 but I do not have a lever to open up on the back to remove the battery...
Jacob 11 years ago	@ NotaMacGuru: It looks exactly like my A 1286.
Not a Mac Guru 11 years ago	Wrong Mac guys...this isn't A1286 model.
Powerbook Medic 12 years ago	@superfly - those aren't supposed to come off. if it is lost, you typically have to replace the logic board or find a non-working board you can take it from.
superfly 12 years ago	I lost the black bar that has to be removed before removing the HD. Where can I find it to buy?
WILLiam 12 years ago	don't use magnetic tools, and avoid using your fingers to touch anything inside the case. Static electricity is your worst enemy.
Eugene 12 years ago	Many thanks. Yes, will hv to try new batt and wont be taking the mac apart. Almost no info of PRAM for this model on the net. Yes have tried all the suggested resets and also drained battery. Seems like I buggered the batt for lack of use (only 68 cycles) as leave it plugged all the time. Problem only when boot fr batt (keeps shutting itself down) but after leaving it plugged in awhile it works like normal. All point to some sort of batt problem.
Powerbook Medic 12 years ago	@Eugene - I'm pretty sure the PRAM is built into the main battery on this model. You'll most likely have to replace the battery. You can try a PRAM reset if you haven't already.
Eugene 12 years ago	i have the 2008, A1286. does this have a PRAM battery. i have to plug into mains permanently now as otherwise have problems booting from battery.
Powerbook Medic 12 years ago	@Mac Guru - you should read the previous reply to lindsey's same concern. It may help you.
Mac Guru 12 years ago	Still the wrong video you idiots
Mario 12 years ago	HI there. Quick question. Maybe you might know what the problem is. Have macbook pro uni body 15" early 2011. Half the keyboard is not working, theres no sound card peripherals showing in the hardware info anymore, and keys like to repeat themselves on their own and do all kind of wierd stuff. Left side seems to be the dominant problem area- Is it possible its the Left I/O board? Logic board is fine. Where the heck can I get one for the 1286 model with the i7 processor? Thanks
Powerbook Medic 12 years ago	@lindsey - the split case model is also A1286. We just haven't made a new video for the newer case design yet. It's mostly the same once you get past the bottom case.
lindsey 12 years ago	This isn't the right video this is the older mac book pro that was replaced by the A1286 version in mid 2009. the A1286 does not have a split case on the back and requires a different battery.
david 12 years ago	my unibody a1286 does not have a split case on the back. is this the correct video?
denisi 12 years ago	my apple a1286 does not go to sleep when I close the lid.What might be the problem cheers
Powerbook Medic 12 years ago	@Laurent - actually the first revision that came out had a separate battery cover and not a single piece bottom.
Laurent 12 years ago	not the good video : this is a first 13" unibody macbook, not the 15" unibody macbook pro , the bottom case covers all the bottom of the laptop
tim 12 years ago	@bruce I think some of the parts are different. the cable to the drive looks different
Hal 12 years ago	Do you have to remove the logic board to change the magsafe board? Good video but one is also needed for reassembly. Thanks
Bruce 12 years ago	Thanks. Is it just a matter of removing the screws and then the interior is the same? Not that I am at that point yet, since I bought the computer in April but didn't start to use it until July.
Powerbook Medic 12 years ago	@Bruce - yea Apple changed the design slightly but kept the same model number. The early models had a user replaceable battery, then they changed it.
Bruce 12 years ago	The model number on the bottom of my MacBook Pro is A1286. However, the bottom is a solid piece with NO latch or separate battery cover. Are you sure this is the right video for Model A1286?
nhattamlaptop 12 years ago	hiii your service is actually tuye good, I can buy your parts from Vietnam
Powerbook Medic 12 years ago	@Karl - you can follow our guides to remove the display, then you have to remove the glass. Then, you'll be able to access it.
Karl 12 years ago	How would one get to the airport card in the black part that attaches to the screen? I am having problems with the airport card and may need to replace it.
Al 12 years ago	Boris, no need to buy the lcd. The airport card and antenna is located in the black part the attaches the screen to the laptop. I had the same issue and both parts for under $60.00 bucks. I only needed the airport card. My MBP would not detect the network sometimes and it eventually stops detecting the all wireless network. Be careful working with open covers and only test it when everything is back together. Good Luck!
Powerbook Medic 12 years ago	@boris - is it the actual airport that says not available or is it just a signal problem going in and out? If it is just the signal, you'll need the antennae, otherwise you need the card. We sell both separately used. There is no need to replace the entire display.
boris 12 years ago	my airport goes on and off a1286 the guys at service says I must buy the screen and the airport is charguing $1100 for all
bobby 12 years ago	My 15.4" unibody (A1286) glass screen is cracked, the LCD is fine. I'm going to buy a replacement glass from here but I don't see any video showing how to repair it. Anyone?
Powerbook Medic 13 years ago	@mario - it is in the display.
Mario mex 13 years ago	Hi anybody know where is the wifi card in the mac a1286?????
Matt 13 years ago	Thanks a lot. I may trash this computer middle or end of this year so I'm not keen on spending too much on it. Especially seeing how the logic board may be screwed. Any tips on the epoxy application?
Powerbook Medic 13 years ago	@Matt - you can. we can't really recommend it because it can be easy to damage things by doing it if you use too much or mess up and you need to redo it and its too late. But as long as you are careful, it should be ok. As far as those new issues, those are somewhat unrelated and the logic board is where they come together so it is most likely a logic board issue.
Matt 13 years ago	I also forgot to mention, my battery died about two or three nights ago, and along with it, my airport and ethernet connections. Does it sounds like a logic board problem? The only way for me to get internet now is to connect to wifi via my android, then usb my android to my mac.
Matt 13 years ago	The metal frame that surrounds the lcd in my MBP broke, such that the part at the hinge is separate from the rest, and as it is also no longer attached to the main back case the thing is giving me lots of problems when i try to shut it. Also my glass screen has started to popout at the bottom. Would it be possible for me to just remove the glass, add an epoxy like jw weld to fix the broken frame together to the back cover and then epoxy the glass frame back on as well? Please advise. Thank you.
Powerbook Medic 13 years ago	@Adam - Apple actually switched to the latchless bottom case and kept the same model number, so it's a little confusing. Everything past the bottom case is quite similar.
Adam 13 years ago	Model number (A1286) is wrong. I'm typing this on an A1286, and the bottom doesn't have a latch and is in one piece, not two.
Alex 13 years ago	Stripped a screw replacing one of the fan assemblies and had to dremel it out. Are the fan mount screws the same as the logic board screws?
Powerbook Medic 13 years ago	@Eric - the replacement parts are just to the right on this page. You'll see the LCD screen and the Back Case. The description on each product page should point you to what you need.
Eric 13 years ago	...and one more thing! It's a Unibody.
Eric 13 years ago	Correction: 2.83Ghz!
Eric 13 years ago	...and the back case replacement part,too Thanks
Eric 13 years ago	My MBP 2.83Mhz 15-inch A1286 got caught in the airplane seat as a I was reclining. Result: screen cracked. Exactly, which replacement screen model should I order?
Powerbook Medic 13 years ago	@Brett - you can replace the glass without removing the display, it just makes it a little easier.
Brett 13 years ago	Hey, I need to have the glass panel replaced on my late 2009 model Macbook Pro (15"). The screen replacement video shows the actual display completely removed from the computer, however, I cannot find that particular video. My question is this - Must I remove the logic board and magsafe etc to get to the screen connections? Thanks Brett
Powerbook Medic 13 years ago	@Dick - the headphone jack is part of the logic board
Dick 13 years ago	on the MBP A1286, with an intermittent audio jack, what module is that mounted on?
Powerbook Medic 13 years ago	@Rosemary - the keyboard is built into the top case on this model. Once you get the logic board and the internal components out and remove the display, you are left with the top case.
Rosemary Holt 13 years ago	I clicked on this link to see video of removal of keyboard. Where can I find that?
Powerbook Medic 13 years ago	@PaulG - fan control has always been an issue with mac laptops. Apple leans more towards having the quiet, energy saving experience, than trying to keep the system cool. As far as the sensors, usually when they go out, they go all the way out and cause the fans to go full sleep as soon as you turn the machine on. You may want to take it somewhere or send it off to us.
PaulG 13 years ago	Hi thanks for answering ,do you know by any chance if this specific model, which has a penryn cpu suffers from a bad thermal sensors on the cpu? maybe it's a bad figure from the cpu. I'm not sure if replacing thermal paste would do a big bump in temp , at much I would get 5 degrees down.. but maybe you could help me out and know if they're doing a bad job from the production line when adding thermal paste. Fans are fine. Do you know what's wrong with the SMC controller by the way? thanks again
Powerbook Medic 13 years ago	@PaulG - it could be the thermal paste or it could be the fans. If it is still under warranty, I'd definitely talk to Apple first. Otherwise, you can go in and blow out the fans first, see if it helps, then go in to take out the logic board.
PaulG 13 years ago	Hi do you know if this specific model has an SMC problem regarding fan control? I had to use Lubosfan control otherwise fans are stuck at 2000rpm. I got latest SMC update installed. Besides this CPU temp it's about 54C idle it's a Penryn T9400 CPU, so I'm thinking there must be a bad thermal paste job, so I was thinking on removing the logicboard, then the hetasink and reapplying some thermal compound like IC Diamond ,are these temps normal? I mean is it worth doing the thermalpaste thing?
Powerbook Medic 13 years ago	@Bharwana - black screens can be either the LCD, the display cable, or a bad logic board. You'll just have to investigate each and see if you see anything wrong or take it somewhere to be diagnosed professionally.
Bharwana 13 years ago	MacBook pro A1286 screen is not working , black screen
Powerbook Medic 13 years ago	@Keren - if you are talking about replacing just the display back case, you'll have to take the display off the base and then remove the glass and LCD. It's one of the hardest repairs.
Keren 13 years ago	Is there a way to replace the housing for the display? I got a dent in the outer shell of the display, and though the computer and display both work perfectly, it won't close all the way now because of it. Found the part, but don't know how to take it apart, and I don't want to fiddle with it too much and end up damaging the LCD. Thoughts?
Powerbook Medic 13 years ago	@carl - the procedure is fairly similar once you get the bottom case off. we don't have a video of the newer model yet.
Chris 13 years ago	Mine, which was manufactured in nov 2009, is also different. One piece back. Anybody know where to find the correct procedures for mine?
Powerbook Medic 13 years ago	@Ken - that is a special security bit that is pretty hard to get. You do risk stripping it, but you can typically get it with just a regular phillips screwdriver if you apply good pressure.
Ken 13 years ago	A also have the A1286 model that is different than this one. I need help, because I cant find the right screwdriver for removal of the battery. It is similar to a torx, but is a five sided star instead of six. Is there anyone who knows the name of this scredriwer?
A1286 13 years ago	Where is the video for the A1286 with the back that does not have the easy battery removal? I ID'ed my Mac and got this model but it looks different? What??
Powerbook Medic 13 years ago	@hickory - not far, as soon as you can see the bottom side of the trackpad, you can change it out there.
Hickorystick0 13 years ago	The trackpad on my MBP 15" is not recognizing clicks and I plan to order a replacement. Question - how much further is is necessary to go (following these videos) in order to get to that trackpad - or, do you have a video on that which I'm not finding? Thanks
Melle 13 years ago	This doesn't belong to the 2010 revision
Corey 13 years ago	I think there's 2 generations of A1286. I have a mid 2010 MBP (MacBookPro6,2) and it's model number is A1286. The bottom is different, along with the Airport/BT wiring harness.
Pieter 13 years ago	I have an MBP also with model number A1286 but my back cover is one piece, not two as in the video! It appears that even for the same model number there are still differences.. :-(
Powerbook Medic 13 years ago	@tyler - typically yes. You may want to verify the backlight cable didn't just come unplugged underneath first though.
tyler 13 years ago	the backlight on my keyboard is no longer working, will a replacement keyboard fix it?
Powerbook Medic 13 years ago	@ FrankieG4 - What part exactly did you upgrade?
FrankieG4 13 years ago	hi, my keyboard does not light up anymore from SL upgrade.. any suggest?
Powerbook Medic 14 years ago	@Lennert - replacing the back case requires removing the glass which we did not include in this video as it is a very very tricky procedure. We have a video of the 13" glass removal which is quite similar. Once the glass is removed you'll just need to remove the LCD and it is fairly straightforward.
Lennert 14 years ago	Hi, how to replace the Display Back Case? Regards,
Powerbook Medic 14 years ago	@Nicky - the keyboard is part of the top case. You can remove the individual keys by popping them off, but to remove the entire keyboard is a daunting task with tons of screws which we won't cover.
Nicky Nugroho 14 years ago	Can you post a video how to remove the keyboard on macbook pro unibody after removing the logic board . i have someting stuck on my keyboard .
Koller 14 years ago	What are related backlight issues with this model?
Powerbook Medic 14 years ago	You can view our 13" Macbook video for the Glass removal procedure. It is the same for the 15 and 13" models.
JonnyMcGee 14 years ago	Hey, I also would love to see a video of replacing the glass bezel, need to replace mine soon. It decided to crack in my backpack last week.
Mendez 14 years ago	I need an instructional video on the removal and installation of the glass bezel portion of the display. Any help would be greatly appreciated
peter o'keefe 14 years ago	I have a later model A1286 that has a single back panel like the 13". Once removed, a notice on the battery says:"Do not remove this battery". This prevents me from accessing the trackpad, which is suffering from a coffee spill. The trackpad works fine controlling the cursor, but the click is intermittant. I have hopes that careful cleaning will restore the click function, but I fear that the "do not remove" notice on the battery should not be ignored.
Powerbook Medic 14 years ago	Not yet. If you look at our video of the 13" Unibody display replacement, then the procedure is extremely similar.
DaveL 14 years ago	Looking to replace my damaged screen, have you got the video done yet of a screen swap?
Powerbook Medic 14 years ago	@Matt - Currently there is no way to get new back cases, so it is not a service we offer. The only way to replace the back case right now is with a complete display.
Matt 14 years ago	I would like to see how to do a display backing replacement. I bent the corner on my macbook and now it won't sleep when i close the lid because it's bent down just slightly.
Chris 14 years ago	Cable was in but was not snug. Wiggling it solved the problem. Thanks much
Powerbook Medic 14 years ago	The wireless and iSight cable comes from the display and connects to the logic board near the fan on the left side as you are looking at the board.
Chris 14 years ago	Used video as a guide to replace magsafe board. Now the computer reports that no wireless devices are installed. Guess I may have not connected a cable properly but I am unable to find which one. Can you please point out which is the wireless cable?
taj 14 years ago	is there a video for cleaning under the keyboard
Dragon 14 years ago	I would appreciate seeing a Display removal video as well. Thank You
Powerbook Medic 14 years ago	We'll have a display take apart video up shortly. There are no plans currently for a PDF for this model.
vanessa 14 years ago	I would like to see the display removal as well as I intend to replace the upper body on my model. Could there be a PDF version as well?