My MBP is starting to fail

Question

Level 1

40 points

My MBP is starting to fail

For some time now I have had an intermittent problem with my optical drive. Sometimes when I put in a disk nothing happens. No icon on the desktop, nothing in the finder. Today the problem got a little worse. I tried to insert a disk and the Superdrive would not pull it in. It was as if the power was off. After a little research around this site I tried the trick where you unplug and computer and remove the battery then press the power button for a few seconds. It is a bit early to tell if the problem will happen again since it was intermittent, but it has been working fine so far.

I now have a new problem. My keyboard is completely unresponsive. I am using a bluetooth keyboard to type this. None of the keys on the MBP are working. I just bought this computer last summer and have the Apple Care plan, but I don't live anywhere near an Apple store.

Does this sound like a computer that is in need of a technician?

MacBookPro, Mac OS X (10.5.2), Aperture 2.1

Posted on May 27, 2008 7:20 PM

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Answer 1

LukeD

Level 4

3,153 points

May 27, 2008 7:27 PM in response to DavidMadsen

For the optical drive, a replacement would be the best answer.

As for the wireless keyboard, I would not blame it on your MacBook Pro. I would investigate the wireless keyboard further. Wireless keyboards can fail for many different reasons. It could be as simple as cordless phone interference.

I would not say that your MacBook Pro is starting to fail. It might just need a new optical drive.

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Answer 2

DavidMadsen Author

Level 1

40 points

May 27, 2008 7:32 PM in response to LukeD

It is not the wireless keyboard that isn't working, that is what I am tying on now. It is the keyboard on the MBP that is dead.

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Answer 3

LukeD

Level 4

3,153 points

May 27, 2008 7:36 PM in response to DavidMadsen

I apologize for misreading your comment.

If it is under warranty, take it into the Apple Store.

You can also do it yourself with solutions from http://www.ifixit.com or http://www.powerbookmedic.com.

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Answer 4

May 27, 2008 7:48 PM in response to LukeD

He doesn't live anywhere near the Apple Store! (read the post again and again) Anyway, I would run the AHT!

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Answer 5

DavidMadsen Author

Level 1

40 points

May 27, 2008 8:03 PM in response to needsomeihelp

AHT??

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Answer 6

LinkRS

Level 2

160 points

May 27, 2008 8:50 PM in response to DavidMadsen

Hi David,

AHT = Apple Hardware Test. Check this link:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=303605

Good luck!

Rich

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Answer 7

DavidMadsen Author

Level 1

40 points

May 27, 2008 9:28 PM in response to LinkRS

Thanks for the info, that was very helpful. Unfortunately the test didn't show any problems. Or maybe that is fortunate. I only ran the short test. I started the long one but my computer seemed like it was going to overheat so I cut it off. I have also run TechTool Deluxe and it found no problems. I have also repaired permissions, run all periodic scripts and used the install disk to run a repair in Disk Utility. At this point I am ready to reinstall Leopard in hopes that something is broken in software instead of hardware.

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Answer 8

sig

Level 8

35,862 points

May 27, 2008 11:30 PM in response to DavidMadsen

For either or both issues, in as much as you don't live near an Apple store, you need to call AppleCare and explain the issue/s. For repair they send out a shipping package to you to pack the MBP in, have a shipper pick it up and deliver it after the repair. So why knock your head against the wall?

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