My laptop turns on but the screen remains black. I plugged it into my TV using a HDMI cord since I do not have an external monitor and it works. I called Apple store to see if I can bring it in to have them fix it but they said my laptop is too old. Is this something I can do on my own? I tried my local CSPIRE store since they provide support for Apple products but they were going to charge me $680+ just for the diagnosis.
MacBook Pro 13″, macOS 12.7
This is not likely a user serviceable problem as it may involve any of several components including the monitor panel, the video connector and/or cable, and even the logic board itself.
The laptop is ten years old. That's a pretty good run for any computer. This won't be the last hardware failure that it has. Support is evaporating for hardware and software for the obsolete Mac. If you can use it with an external monitor for the time being, then you should do that. It would be unwise to spend any real money on a repair. Put that toward the cost of a new(er) laptop that is still supported and can carry you forward for the next 5-10 years.
However, if you're willing to give it a go, you can search for repair video and information specific to your MBP model and year and you might find something useful.
This is not likely a user serviceable problem as it may involve any of several components including the monitor panel, the video connector and/or cable, and even the logic board itself.
The laptop is ten years old. That's a pretty good run for any computer. This won't be the last hardware failure that it has. Support is evaporating for hardware and software for the obsolete Mac. If you can use it with an external monitor for the time being, then you should do that. It would be unwise to spend any real money on a repair. Put that toward the cost of a new(er) laptop that is still supported and can carry you forward for the next 5-10 years.
However, if you're willing to give it a go, you can search for repair video and information specific to your MBP model and year and you might find something useful.
Sorry to hear there's trouble with your display. There could be a number of reasons for it to have gone out. None of them are easy fixes.
The simplest possibility is if the display connector has become loose or corroded. You must open the back of the MBPro and carefully unplug the connector from the logic board. It's not a simple "pull it out" however. And if there is corrosion it may not be possible to clean it sufficiently to fix.
Second is if the internal display cable has gone bad (from flexing over the years). While it can be replaced, it requires a very involved, delicate disassembly of your laptop. It's definitely not something for the average DIY'er to do.
Other possibilities may be that either the backlight or the display may have gone bad. That would require the complete replacement of the display unit.
Bottom line is this ... for a 9-year old laptop it's probably not worth the cost to fix. You might get along by using it with an external display, but then you lose portability ... and it's still a 9-year-old laptop with a major problem. Time to consider replacing it.
2015 MacBook Pro
