How do you recycle an old dead white macbook?

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How do you recycle an old dead white macbook?

I have an old white Macbook (A1181) (2006-2012) that is completely dead and won't turn on or charge. I would like to recycle the computer but Apple's recycling program at https://www.apple.com/shop/trade-in requires a product serial number. Since the computer is dead I obviously can't access the serial number in system preferences and on this model Mac the serial number is not engraved on the back. Is there another way I can recycle this old Macbook with apple? Perhaps should I just hit the "other" option and recycle it anyway even though it is an apple product?

Posted on Oct 2, 2021 6:44 PM

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Answer 1

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HWTech

Level 9

68,726 points

Oct 3, 2021 11:02 AM in response to ecomosquito

The serial number on the older laptops are found within the battery bay beneath the battery.

You may want to remove the battery and try powering on the laptop. A bad or completely discharged battery can prevent an Apple laptop from powering on. Make sure to press the power button several times and perhaps even holding the power button an extra second since these particular Macs are a little harder to power on without a battery.

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Answer 2

HWTech

Level 9

68,726 points

Oct 6, 2021 4:35 PM in response to ecomosquito

The sticker with the serial number and system information is supposed to be there on the right side. My guess is that the Top Case/Keyboard Assembly was replaced at some point and the tech forgot to transfer the sticker to the new part. The only two ways to get the serial number now is to power on the laptop (not an option I know) or possibly get the serial number from a sticker on the Logic Board which would require opening up the laptop further. I know some of the older laptops used to put the system serial number on a sticker on the Logic Board, but I don't recall if this was one.

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Answer 3

HWTech

Level 9

68,726 points

Oct 8, 2021 11:55 AM in response to ecomosquito

I think the serial number is on the sticker on the base of the memory slot "W87xxxxxxxx" plus it lists the system specifications next to it. That definitely looks like a serial number that would have been used on that model laptop at that time. Unfortunately none of the websites recognize the serial number (maybe because they no longer support computers that old). I know I tried a known good serial number from an old Mac a few years ago and could not get any information.

I doubt Apple allows a Trade-In on a computer from that era anyway.

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Answer 4

ecomosquito Author

Level 1

5 points

Oct 4, 2021 10:30 AM in response to HWTech

I tried removing the battery and powering on the laptop with it plugged in but I was not successful. I was also not successful in finding a serial number underneath the battery. I think somebody might have removed the sticker for one reason or another. There appears to be a serial number on the battery itself but this was not accepted in the trade-in portal as a s/n for the computer.

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Answer 5

ecomosquito Author

Level 1

5 points

Oct 8, 2021 10:31 AM in response to HWTech

I opened the macbook up and I see the logic board but I don't see anything that looks like a serial number. I tried the number above the "Apple Computer Inc. Copyright 2006" label that 's etched into the board under the bottom right memory slot but that was not accepted. What do I do if I can't access a serial number? Is there still a way to recycle this device through apple?

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