Observed problems

1. Unit powers on fine and starts boot process
2. As unit progresses to switch the display in to the native resolution, the screen goes off about 3 seconds after the desktop starts to appear. The machine is running, there's just no video.
3. Track pad allow cursor movement, but buttons don't appear to work
4. Mini DVI out appears to provide nothing

Out of curiosity I wiped the HD and installed Windows. You can get through a full Windows install without issue, but the minute you install the bootcamp video drivers and try to get the display out of 640x480, the LCD screen goes off.

I used ifixit guides to get as far as removing the keboard to see if there was any obvious looking residue over the left side ports, but couldn't see anything. I suspect there may be either residue or damp under the logic board.

I have noticed as the days go by that the duration the screen will run before shutting off, though slightly random, does appear to be trending toward staying on longer.

What are my options? Proceed with a full dismantle and try to clean the logic board? If so, any recommended products?

Failing that I'm prepared to sell it. Memory was upgraded to 4gb a year ago.

Any thoughts appreciated.

⟐ Answer accepted мая 07, 2010 at 16:23 GMT-7

⟐ Answer accepted января 24, 2010 at 23:21 GMT-7

Macbook White a1181 2GHz Core 2 Duo mid 2007.

All keyboard keys are working fine -both uppercase and lowercase- except when I try to write the capital "T".

If I press "shift + T" keys, don't write anything. The only way to write a capital "T" is by pressing the Caps Lock key + "T" key. (the "t" lower-case letter is working fine)

All the other keys and functions on the keyboard are working fine. I have replaced the silver Upper Case Cable, but no success.

Connecting an external USB keyboard everything works fine.

Do you have any idea about this strange issue?

Thanks!

⟐ Answered октября 20, 2023 at 11:37 GMT-7

Early 2008 - MB404LL/A - MacBook4,1 - A1181 -  2242

This machine is in beautiful shape, dropped an SSD in it and maxed the RAM to 6 GB & new battery..

I thought I could upgrade the system beyond 10.7.5 but all the updating procedures seem to be for the MacBook Pros.

Does anyone know if it can be done? I’d like to get it to El Captain.

⟐ Answer edited февраля 25, 2022 at 4:33 GMT-7

put a heat extractor or any other cooling system.

I want to reduce the macbook temperature, I'm most of the time in a Library watching educational videos on youtube.

And also running parallels .

And it makes the cpu to 77º , fans 6200 rpm so it turns too noisy .

For me would be perfect to replace the optical drive with a Fan ,extractor any or cooling system , capable to get the heat out through the slot where normally we insert the dvd. In a silent way of course.

It is posible or I'm just dreaming ?

Macbook 2007 2.2ghz (santa rosa) A1181 4gb ram 500gb hd

⟐ Commented октября 19, 2020 at 10:08 GMT-7

Memory - removed memory, tried one stick at a time, swapped sticks between slots, no change.

Power adapter - LED on MagSafe power connector is green. With a machine this old, I think the battery is probably dead, should it show orange, as in trying to charge the battery?

DC-in board - see above, other than that I don't know how to diagnose this.

Logic Board - see above, other than that I don't know how to diagnose this.

Assuming per the above that it's not the memory, I'm in rural Mexico and don't have access to a known good Power adapter or DC-in board to test with, let alone a good logic board. It's a little expensive to just start buying the parts without knowing which is bad, and hey, what if it's a bad processor or something else. Anyone got ideas as to how to diagnose further?

⟐ Answer edited апреля 12, 2020 at 18:21 GMT-7

System preferences, sound, output, only shows the headphones and doesnt mention the internal speakers.

⟐ Answered апреля 24, 2018 at 19:06 GMT-7

It would appear that after a long time of just answering questions it's my turn to ask a question.

Well so I've noticed that now the female end of the MagSafe connector on my MacBook looks like it has corrosion (or something else) there is discoloration and it looks like the port is "gunked up" or dirty somehow. What I want to no is if anyone can confirm that this is corrosion and/or explain how to clean it. I've heard simple rubbing alcohol and a paper towel will work, but I'm not sure.

I've attached a picture to show the issue.

Thanks for any help whatsoever!

⟐ Answer accepted января 04, 2018 at 10:07 GMT-7

Haven't repaired many of these models (under 10, don't get many of these now) so I don't have a lot of experience with this particular one, and don't know exactly what could cause this.

I have got an LCD cable somewhere which I will try, but I was wondering if a bad inverter could cause an issue like this (don't want the same thing to happen with the other LCD cable) or if I should look out for something on the board? On top of that, the keyboard cable connector fell apart when disconnecting, so I have ordered one of them as well...

⟐ Answer accepted января 09, 2017 at 19:32 GMT-7

It's model A1181.

⟐ Answer accepted января 28, 2014 at 11:54 GMT-7

⟐ Answer accepted января 08, 2014 at 4:46 GMT-7

I'm upgrading my original MacBook HD from 128GB to 500GB.

How and when do I back up and then restore my current hard drive.

Do I need to format the new disc and do I need partitions and if so, how do I do that.

Thanks, Mikie

⟐ Commented января 05, 2014 at 1:55 GMT-7

A few weeks ago the screen went dim on my MacBook. Could see the desktop, and shining a bright light onto it makes it evident it's still fully functional other than the screen. The screen still lit itself up sometimes, usually just for a few seconds.

So I bought an inverter cable. Disassembled the macbook by the instructions here at iFixit (such a very useful resource!). But it was worse. I could still light up the screen by shining a bright light ONTO IT. But it didn't have those few moments now and again where it lit itself up, except when I lowered the brightness to 0 and then STARTED to raise it again, there'd be a brief flash of illumination.

So I bought an inverter board. This brought it back to the former state, where the screen is dim but lights up only sometimes.

I took it to Microcenter, bought a VGA adaptor cable and asked the repair person there if he wouldn't let me hook it up to a screen just momentarily so I could see if my motherboard was the problem.

We hooked it up, and the macbook plus his monitor made a 2-screen setup. I saw my Dock and some icons on his screen, and I saw a second desktop on my macbook's screen. No dimness at all! He said "I'm not seeing a problem here." I said "I know! How disappointing!" Heh. So we figured "Must be cured."

But it was just like when you go to a doctor for some chronic pain, and while you're there the pain's gone and he doesn't see what your complaint is.

As soon as I got the MacBook home, it was back to a dim screen. I can make it illuminate sometimes by just slamming the top shut and opening it. Or by dickering with the brightness control.

I don't know what else it is. Maybe the inverter board had the same problem as the old?

Why did it light up with no issues for several minutes while connected to an external monitor? Maybe because I'd been driving about in the cold and something that was loose "jiggled" for those few minutes into place, and then jiggled loose again when I drove the computer home?

I'm thinking of buying the whole top unit, LCD and frame and all, with the inverter board and inverter cables AND THE OTHER CABLES in it. I'm thinking there's still some cable issue.

Any and all advice is welcome! Thank you!

Chris

⟐ Answer accepted декабря 10, 2013 at 8:18 GMT-7

⟐ Answer accepted октября 27, 2013 at 3:39 GMT-7

In fact my first time in this website :)

I am a PC user in Australia, and now consider giving mac a shot.

But as a uni student I am short of budget, finally I stopped at Macbook black 2008, which is so beautiful...

Anyway here is my question:

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?...

This is the laptop I am mostly gonna buy. And this mac won't be my major laptop, it will be used for email, web, music and that kinda stuff.

So maybe I don't need much capacity.

Can anyone tell me which SSD will suit it? And how much will that be? Is it safe to purchase it on eBay?

Thanks a lot!

⟐ Answer accepted октября 23, 2013 at 7:55 GMT-7

⟐ Answer accepted июня 28, 2013 at 19:35 GMT-7

I suggested disconnecting AC, remove battery and let dry for 4 days. No change. Is it possible that incorrect reassembly could contribute to this? Is it possible that the battery connector has failed? My gut says it's the logic board. I am trying to diagnose this for my daughter and do the fix myself. I have extensive PC experience, but not Mac. I would appreciate your comments and will answer any questions you might have. Thanks!

⟐ Answered сентября 12, 2012 at 6:25 GMT-7

I've replaced the inverter, and I've replaced the inverter cable. Same results.

So it seems like I have three options, from cheapest to most expensive:

1. Replace CCFL

2. Replace backlight assy (I assume he means assembly? recommended here)

3. Replace the LCD Panel

Seems like replacing the CCFL is incredibly complex so I won't bark up that tree.

So I'm left with either buying a cracked panel on ebay to try and extract and replace the assy, or just purchasing an entire new LCD panel.

So my questions are:

#1 - Given my symptoms and what I've done so far, could I be confident an assy replacement or panel replacement would fix my issue (if it's not the inverter or inverter cable, it seems like the only other possible thing would be the logic board. But an external monitor working fine should negate that, right?)

#2 - If I go the route of buying a cracked screen and replacing the assy, how difficult/obvious is that?

#3 - If I go the route of replacing the LCD panel, does it matter which kind? My research shows there are four kinds of displays. I have a LTN133W1. iFixit doesn't mention which one they sell. Am I OK buying any of the four, or do I need to replace mine exactly?

Thanks for your help!

⟐ Answered мая 25, 2012 at 12:03 GMT-7

Or is a "Penryn" board actually the even later A1181 model that has the smaller optical drive connector?

Anyway, just trying to make sense of all the vague and idiotic labels out there that are thrown around constantly but never clearly defined. I always just stick to the model numbers to be safe, but it would be really nice to be able to tell customers, "Yes, this is Penryn!"

⟐ Answer accepted апреля 22, 2012 at 18:14 GMT-7

Is there any way to fix this? I have removed the upper case and let it dry over night. I tested it this morning and nothing worked. In fact, it got worse!

I also tried removing the damaged keys to see if I could see any water underneath them but there was nothing.

I'm hoping only the upper case is damaged and nothing else? From my description is this the case? Is there anything else I could do before buying a new upper case? Thanks

⟐ Commented ноября 14, 2011 at 15:29 GMT-7