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User profile for user: maciscool
maciscool Author
User level: Level 3
586 points

Macbook camera not working.

I have a macbook A1342 6,1.

I got it for free because the previous owner spilled water on it, and it completely stopped working.

I got it after sitting in this condition for about 5 months. I took the motherboard out and sprayed it with electronics cleaner and brushed all the green stuff off with a toothbrush. Now it works perfectly EXCEPT, for one problem.

The camera doesn't work at all.

PhotoBooth just says "There is no connected camera."

I can't find the camera in system profiler either.


First thing I did was install a fresh copy of the system with the original install discs, and run all the system updates to get it up to 10.6.8.


As far as I could tell, there's only one cable that goes to the screen from the motherboard, does that include power for the LED backlight and camera along with the data to the screen? I made sure I was very careful with all the connectors and got them all back into place when I put it back together...


What am I missing here?


Thanks.


(PS: What the heck apple... why did you have to go throw tri-wing screws at us?! Out of my box of weird bits and whatnot from fixing electronics over the years, I didn't have one tri-wing small enough for those stupid screws...)

Posted on Jan 21, 2012 11:13 AM

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11 replies
User profile for user: maciscool
maciscool Author
User level: Level 3
586 points

Jan 21, 2012 11:51 AM in response to shldr2thewheel

Tried my test user, different applications, and resetting the (whatever apple calls PRAM these days), and none of that cleared it up.

I've tried all that anyway, but never all at once... So it's more of an issue than that... I fear hardware issue...

If I get the motivation I'll rip the bottom off again and see if I have all the connectors tight.

Can't complain TOO much about a nice free laptop....

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User profile for user: maciscool
maciscool Author
User level: Level 3
586 points

Jan 21, 2012 12:11 PM in response to shldr2thewheel

I didn't realize they still had that. I thought apple hardware test went away with the beloved PPC... I haven't seen it since then.

I dunno if my disc has it, I have the install disk for my mom's macbook, but it's the same model (6,1), same processor, etc. So should be identical.


I started up from it with the C key, I'll try holding down alt when I start to see if it comes up in the menu. At least, that's how it worked in the good old days of PPC... haven't worked much on macs since then. When they went intel and got rid of open firmware I could no longer boot up the version of pong I wrote in forth for openfirmware, and I haven't really touched macs since...

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User profile for user: shldr2thewheel
shldr2thewheel
User level: Level 7
26,003 points

Jan 21, 2012 12:20 PM in response to maciscool

maciscool wrote:


I didn't realize they still had that. I thought apple hardware test went away with the beloved PPC... I haven't seen it since then.


Nope they still have it. It is on the applications disc (disc 2). For macs that shipped with Lion, it is built in.



I dunno if my disc has it, I have the install disk for my mom's macbook, but it's the same model (6,1), same processor, etc. So should be identical.


The discs are machine specific, so a disc that belongs to another mac wont work.

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User profile for user: maciscool
maciscool Author
User level: Level 3
586 points

Jan 21, 2012 12:28 PM in response to shldr2thewheel

I've had issues using machine specific discs on the wrong model, macbook discs on a macbook pro, or different hardware version, etc. It gives a warning, something about not the right disc piracy blah blah.

I didn't think it mattered for the exact same model computer. And the computer is registered for a license of 10.6, I don't see why it matters where I install it from.


Regardless, one of these days I want to try out 10.7, so maybe when I buy that It'll all start working..

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User profile for user: EZ Jim
EZ Jim
User level: Level 7
22,590 points

Jan 22, 2012 8:11 AM in response to maciscool

maciscool wrote: ...Tried resetting the ... PRAM ...

Resetting PRAM is NOT the solution for your Macbook model.


For your MacBook, the Troubleshooting article says to reset PMU, which is called "SMC" in the linked article: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3964.


Confusing, I know, but, for your MacBook, use the second of the three reset processes specified there. For clarity, here is an extracted quote:

  1. Shut down the computer.


  2. Plug in the MagSafe power adapter to a power source, connecting it to the Mac if its not already connected.


  3. On the built-in keyboard, press the (left side) Shift-Control-Option keys and the power button at the same time.


  4. Release all the keys and the power button at the same time.


  5. Press the power button to turn on the computer.
    Note    : The LED on the MagSafe power adapter may change states or temporarily turn off when you reset the SMC.






Message was edited by: EZ Jim

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User profile for user: EZ Jim
EZ Jim
User level: Level 7
22,590 points

Jan 22, 2012 1:12 PM in response to maciscool

maciscool wrote: ... wondering ... if it's something I should try to re-seat.


No. There are no user serviceable parts or components of iSight.


If you are an electronics technician or a do-it-yourself enthusiast who decides to work on it, be careful because you may damage other parts and/or void any remaining AppleCare or warranty. Otherwise, use Apple's final iSight "Troubleshooting" suggestion:


"... contact Apple or an Apple-Authorized Service Provider for service."


Unless you already have a current backup, it is always a good idea to make one before relinquishing your Mac for service.





Message was edited by: EZ Jim

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User profile for user: maciscool
maciscool Author
User level: Level 3
586 points

Jan 22, 2012 1:50 PM in response to EZ Jim

I already said I got the computer with water damage, took it apart, and brushed green corrosion off the motherboard to get it working again. Whether it would be covered or not, it's not covered any more... apple surely doesn't cover spillage. If they did, I wouldn't have a free laptop.


If it doesn't have any user serviceable parts, I guess I'm not a normal user then.

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Macbook camera not working.

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