Ask The Mac Techie

[ben315vz]

Hey, I just wanted to ask, I have a MacBook, it's a 13.3" and a 2007 model. Is it possible to replace the screen on it? I noticed the other day that there is a crack towards the middle from top to bottom, and it's the actual LCD part itself.

If it is fixable, would it be worth it or should I just save up and get a new one instead.

Thanks.

 

[edals]

Hey Mate.

Yes it is possible to remove and replace the LCD on the macbook. If you have a good set of small screw drivers, and a flat blade plastic tool, you could do it. its quite a long job to do. As it require to remove the whole assembly from the computer first. So pretty much the whole machine has to be dissembled.
A New LCD - http://www.macfixit.com.au/shop/index.php?_a=viewProd&productId=195
So Its 189$ for a new LCD, plus fitting if you can do it your self. Or Just put that money towards a new MacBook Pro. Since its a 2007 Modal its now going on 4-5 years old now.
If you wanted to buy a OEM Apple LCD they are about 700$ :hmmm:
And no there is not short cut way to do this either due to the inverter cables that run into the bottom of the LCD housing.

 

[ben315vz]

Hey Mate.

Yes it is possible to remove and replace the LCD on the macbook. If you have a good set of small screw drivers, and a flat blade plastic tool, you could do it. its quite a long job to do. As it require to remove the whole assembly from the computer first. So pretty much the whole machine has to be dissembled.
A New LCD - http://www.macfixit.com.au/shop/index.php?_a=viewProd&productId=195
So Its 189$ for a new LCD, plus fitting if you can do it your self. Or Just put that money towards a new MacBook Pro. Since its a 2007 Modal its now going on 4-5 years old now.
If you wanted to buy a OEM Apple LCD they are about 700$ :hmmm:
And no there is not short cut way to do this either due to the inverter cables that run into the bottom of the LCD housing.

Hey mate,

Thanks very much for the fast reply. I do have a screwdriver set that I should be able to use to pull it apart, but like you said, it is getting old now and it hasn't got the best hardware (like it only has a 80GB HDD, 1 GB Ram, 2.0GHz Core 2 Duo), so I might save up and just get a new MacBook Pro. Plus for some reason it wont let me update it anymore, gets half way and just freezes.

Thanks for that link, and thanks for your help as well

 

[UW1SH]

Hey..

I want to reset my macbook pro. I bought it second hand and it still has the previous owners name all over the files etc and i want to change it to mine… I want to get stuff from app store etc but cant because its all in the previous owners name..

 

[edals]

Hi Mate.

Sorry the extream delay, Been working 60 hours a week at the moment.

You Really need to to have the OS Reinstall DVDs. Did you get them when you bought the machine ? They will be grey. You need these to wipe and reinstall the OS, This will wipe everything on the drive.
If you dont, You can just create a new User in system preferences, create a New admin account, then once logged in, delete the old user in user system perferences. This will only delete the user data and not applications or files on the root directory.

 

[UW1SH]

Hi Mate.

Sorry the extream delay, Been working 60 hours a week at the moment.

You Really need to to have the OS Reinstall DVDs. Did you get them when you bought the machine ? They will be grey. You need these to wipe and reinstall the OS, This will wipe everything on the drive.
If you dont, You can just create a new User in system preferences, create a New admin account, then once logged in, delete the old user in user system perferences. This will only delete the user data and not applications or files on the root directory.

No worries mate.. Yes i got 2 DVDs when i bought it. one says mac OS X install dvd and down the bottom says mac OS version 10.6.3.. And another dvd applications install..?? Im guessing its the OS X install dvd??

 

[Astranomical]

Yep, that sounds like them. The Mac OS X Install DVD has the OS, the Applications Install DVD has iLife, and whatever else originally shipped with the machine (a demo of Office, and maybe a couple of other things) Boot off the Mac OS X Install DVD and do an Erase and Install. Then put the Applications disc in and install the apps, and you should be good to go.

 

[UW1SH]

Yep, that sounds like them. The Mac OS X Install DVD has the OS, the Applications Install DVD has iLife, and whatever else originally shipped with the machine (a demo of Office, and maybe a couple of other things) Boot off the Mac OS X Install DVD and do an Erase and Install. Then put the Applications disc in and install the apps, and you should be good to go.

Do i need to do a erase first before putting the CD in or do i put the OS CD in and then do a erase and install at once?

 

[Astranomical]

I probably should have linked to this article:

Mac OS X v10.6 Snow Leopard: How to Erase and Install

Has everything you need to do step by step. This will completely restore the machine back to what it was when the first owner got it brand new.

 

[UW1SH]

I probably should have linked to this article:

Mac OS X v10.6 Snow Leopard: How to Erase and Install

Has everything you need to do step by step. This will completely restore the machine back to what it was when the first owner got it brand new.

Ok awesome as thanks heaps.. cheers :spot on: