MAJORLY Swollen MacBook Pro Battery & Issues Getting Pictures Backed Up...

tckaramel wrote:

Hello,

Before anyone tries to lecture me, I have had my old MacBook Pro since I was in high school - I got it for graduating my senior year in 2011/2012 and had no idea about the swollen battery issues, etc.

I used my MacBook for everything for a long time and one day, my MacBook wouldn't turn on (I tried everything I could possibly think of and spent a long time trying to google answers to no avail). I was short on money as a college student and single mom, so I set the MacBook aside and planned to take the computer into someone to have backed up as soon as I had the extra cash.

Randomly, I saw a YouTube video about a fix for MacBook's with the problem I had (it not turning on randomly) and I did it, and it worked!! I left my MacBook to charge overnight and when I woke up in the morning, the touchpad had burst out and it had cracked open on the side. There was a sickly sweet smell emitting from it. I googled what was going on and saw it was most likely a swollen lithium battery. I unplugged it and stored it somewhere away from people and flammable objects.

I have turned it on briefly since and attempted to back the data up on an external usb hard drive (Seagate) and thought I was good to go, but the software on my old MacBook is out of date and wouldn't open iPhoto on my new MacBook so I could see my photos.

I turned on my old MacBook briefly again and tried to update, but was not able to do to it being obsolete software. I turned it on again briefly (for the last time since all of this started), trying to get DropBox to get my files, but was unable to transfer into that as well.

I'm beyond frustrated with myself. I know I should have handled things differently now, but back then - I didn't realize I would be unable to use iPhoto on my newer devices. My daughter's baby photos and videos are all on that computer...

Is there any way to open old iPhoto data on a new MacBook?

Is there any way for me to get those photos off my old MacBook quickly and safely?

What do I do with this swollen MacBook Pro? Is it safe? I am scared of it... and don't know what to do.

I read conflicting information on the internet about this issue and would love some help.

Thank you !!

A 2012 (?) MBP —a few simple specialty tools gets you into the back of the Mac

Possibly with the battery removed, it powers up on the charger only (some do, some don't and need the battery)—

unless you wan to replace the battery: DIY MacBook Pro Battery Replacement Kits - MacSales.com

iphotos.app and associated database library moves to a new Mac. The newer Photos.app when launched for the first time incorporaes the old iPhoto photos. That typically is not an issue....

The most trouble free way to move to a new machine, is using the Setup Assistant on the initial boot of a brand new machine— you have one shot here. Set up your MacBook Pro - Apple Support

The second best way is use the Migration Assistant.

How to move your content to a new Mac Move your content to a new Mac - Apple Support

It's not safe to use on many fronts. Shut it down, place in in a safe place away from combustibles and get it to Apple, or an Apple certified repair shop, before using it again.