Q: 2011 MacBook Pro and Discrete Graphics Card

I kept the original HD (actually a 128GB SSD) and replaced only the DVD (optical) drive with the 256GB SSD. Didn't wanna loose the original SSD so I just removed the optical for the new SSD. This was almost 3 years ago.

OK, thanks.  It's hard to say whether an Apple Store or an Apple Repair Center (i.e., where one mails a machine to be repaired, not an Apple Service Provider) would have accepted an SSD in the optical drive bay.  Maybe instructions to ASPs are not clear on this matter.  So, with respect to having a machine repaired under the program, a recommendation in light of this report might better be:

• If you take your machine to an Apple Store, be advised that Apple has been rejecting machines as "unrepairable" (see my previous replies for a definition of this technical term) whose optical drives or Airport/Bluetooth cards have been "tampered" with (i.e., upgraded).  So far, upgrades to the HDD and RAM seem to pass.  So, to be on the safe side, undo optical drive and Airport/Bluetooth card upgrades before taking or sending the machine to Apple.
• ASPs seem to present more of a mixed bag.  Some customers have appealed to Apple after an ASP has rejected their machine for repair under this program.  In some of those cases, Apple has successfully interceded on behalf of the customer.  In the worst case, you will have to mail your machine to an Apple Repair Center.  In that case, see the previous point.  In one case (redon2's), the ASP applied more lenient conditions than Apple regarding hardware modifications.  Your mileage may vary in this regard.
• If you want to be on the safe side and if applicable reinstall the original optical disc drive and the original Airport/Bluetooth card regardless of which repair option you choose, bring-in to Apple Store or ASP, or mail-in to Apple.

I'm curious if anyone who recently had the logicboard/motherboard replaced still experiences the audio popping issue discussed in this thread?

The audio portion of my 15" Early 2011 MBP is unusable in Yosemite, even after a clean reinstall of the OS. No issues with audio in Windows 8.1 (via Boot Camp).

redon2 wrote:

 

I kept the original HD (actually a 128GB SSD) and replaced only the DVD (optical) drive with the 256GB SSD. Didn't wanna loose the original SSD so I just removed the optical for the new SSD. This was almost 3 years ago.

Did you check the bus speeds when you did that ?

You would probably have got a better boost by putting the bigger SSD in place of the original drive, and put the original in place of the optical - especially if it was a more recent one…

Just saying…

Just wanted to share my experience. I have a Late 2011 17" MacBook Pro and my issue with the graphics card happened in one instance and the computer shut down. I never experienced any issues with video playback or any graphics glitches at all. I was working in Photoshop and the screen pixelated and then froze and eventually shut down.

I took it into Apple and they tried to run a diagnostic on it but it was not successful. They accepted my computer under the repair program and it was fixed in 3 days. Although my laptop was 100% cosmetically fine the insides were a wreck. When I got my MacBook back, Apple had replaced:

1. Clamshell and Screen

2. Right Speaker

3. Left Speaker

4. Wireless Card

5. MagSafe Board

6. Logic Board

All was done free of charge. I just wanted to thank everyone who has been fighting for these replacements for so many years fortunately for me it happed just now and was resolved in a matter of days. Although it took Apple too long to address this issue, I'm glad they have acknowledged it and are making things right for their customers. Apples customer service is head and shoulders above any other PC company.

redon2 wrote:

 

For the record, the computer had additional 8GB ram and the optical drive was replaced with a 256GB SSD.

Richard Liu wrote:

 

Was it the hard disk drive that was replaced by a 256 GB SSD, or was it the optical disc (DVD) drive?

Seems pretty clear that the optical drive was replaced to me.

Csound1 wrote:

 

redon2 wrote:

 

For the record, the computer had additional 8GB ram and the optical drive was replaced with a 256GB SSD.

Richard Liu wrote:

 

Was it the hard disk drive that was replaced by a 256 GB SSD, or was it the optical disc (DVD) drive?

 

Seems pretty clear that the optical drive was replaced to me.

It is customary when quoting to neither add nor omit anything without indicating that you have done so.  Redon2 did not underline "optical drive" and "replaced", you did.  Likewise, I gave the reason for my question even though I had understood what he wrote, and you chose to omit it.  You thereby give the impression, intentionally or not, that I was either posing a rhetorical question or do not understand English.  I assure you that neither is the case.

Richard Liu wrote:

 

Oh dear!  (I hereby apologize to my "dead horse.")  I do believe we have some insurmountable cultural differences here:

Apple is doing the government agency thing, creating the regulations, judging the compliance and handing out the penalties with no outside monitoring.

 

...............

 

1. Apple is rejecting as "unrepairable" (see next point) machines that have something other than a Superdrive in the optical bay and machines whose Airport/Bluetooth cards have been upgraded.  So, if you want your machine to be repaired under this program, simply undo such upgrades.
2. "Unrepairable" means, in this context, that it cannot ("government agency" slant:  will not) be repaired by Apple in its present condition.
   • Argument:  One report in this thread mentions that a technician told a customer to put the original optical drive back into the machine and it would be repaired, since the work order had already been prepared.  I do not recall whether this incident occurred at an Apple Store or at an ASP.
   • Conclusion:  It would seem, therefore, that "unrepairable" is a technical term that indicates the presence of an obstacle to applying Apple's SOP for repair, and that such machines can be repaired if the obstacle(s) are removed.  The conditions of being "unrepairable" is evidently reversible.
   • Remark:  Hospitals generally do not have the option of declaring as "unrepairable" in this sense people whose original teeth, arms, legs, etc. have been "upgraded."
3. Upgrades of the original HDD and the original RAM seem to be alright.

First the political reference "government agency".  Any organization that can make the rules and then determine compliance and then determine the penalty and cause the penalty to be implemented without outside monitoring is historically of questionable character and intent.  Company warranty programs are examples of such behavior as were some the administrations of historic figures like Hitler, Mao, Lenin and such.  The common characteristic is lack of checks and balances.

Unrepairable..  Prior to the warranty program Apple and third party repair shops were equals in that they both were willing to accepted the customers payment for swapping the mother board.  Prices varied between  different Apple facilities and between different third party shops for doing this exact repair.

Since the warrant program Apple has taken the position that it lacks the flexibility it once possessed when Apple was paid to do the same repair. 

There are all kinds of machinations involving paying for the repair and for the diagnosis with written report.  Then having the machine repaired to determine  value of "not economically feasible".  Apple quoted me $603 for the motherboard plus labor and never mentioned anything about my hard drive or memory nor did they talk about testing the DVD player. 

There is a lot of smoke and mirror schemes, anyone of which can generate of an impressive list of excuses replete with magic words like "standards"

"company policies" and "standard procedures".

We know if one person can do something, so can others.  For $325 there is a shop in New York City that will repair any machine Apple refuses.  The shop in New York City is not living down several years of comeback repairs for this simple problem.  Their business demands their repairs are one and done.  Otherwise they will be out of business.  That is how free enterprise passes out education.

Finally, someone on the same boat. This started to happen after my second logic board replacement. The audio stutters so badly, you can hardly make out the sound. Did a clean OS reinstall too. Nothing happened. The ASC just did the same thing.

You reckon it's got something to do with the new logic board?

Company warranty programs are examples of such behavior as were some the administrations of historic figures like Hitler, Mao, Lenin and such

Really?

Godwins law is still holding sway I see.

Csound1 wrote:

 

Company warranty programs are examples of such behavior as were some the administrations of historic figures like Hitler, Mao, Lenin and such

Really?

 

Godwins law is still holding sway I see.

Poor day when you can't learn something.

My study of history goes a bit further back than 1990 Godwin.  Thanks for the information, I had never heard of him before. 

My study has more to do with the historical characteristic of human nature to look out for number one, first and the tension between virtues/morals and wants.  A characteristic common to each person mentioned, to any person, company or agency that is not subjected to checks and balances imposed by a power greater than them.

In a obscure way Godwin is suggesting some level of shame for using certain alarmist words. Shame being a power greater than.  Another version is using politically correct shame to curtail honest conversation.

Mean while back to the subject at hand. 

The company that repaired my MBP sent a followup email yesterday asking how my machine is running because they were about to close out my repair ticket.  Feedback the breakfast of champions of free enterprise.

jimoase wrote:

 

Poor day when you can't learn something.

I shan't disagree with that

I'm having the same boot problem and I want to send my MBP early 2011 to an Apple Store, but I want to know if there is any problem to have it repaired if I have replaced my DVD reader with a SSD and changed RAM with 16GB Patriot.

MrNeedle wrote:

 

I'm having the same boot problem and I want to send my MBP early 2011 to an Apple Store, but I want to know if there is any problem to have it repaired if I have replaced my DVD reader with a SSD and changed RAM with 16GB Patriot.

Here is an idea, your mileage may vary. If the worse you could do is break even would you bet? 

Before going to the Apple Store call Apple to get a case number.  Tell the Apple representative on the phone your situation to see if it makes a difference.  If not your on your way, if either of the upgrades make a difference ask to speak with a supervisor to plead your case. 

Prior to the warranty program when Apple was getting paid to make the same repairs no one has reported Apple turning down cash because someone upgraded their machines with plug in devices.  Since the warranty program some Apple stores have bulked and others do the repair, smile, return the repaired machine and move on to serve the next customers.  There are interesting arguments for either path.  Unfortunately us owners are only interested in the repair path and some Apple shops are motivated by something other than a happy customer.

I had my machine fixed by a third party repair shop prior to the warranty program.  My machine has several upgrades.  The repair was successful and Apple recently sent me a refund check for the repairs.  Apple never asked if my machine had been upgraded, they were just interested in the serial number, my name, who did the repair, what was repaired, when and the cost.  Check is in the bank.

Since the warranty program, Apple is now the only acceptable repair shop. There are some Apple stores that are taking advantage of their unique position to become agents of power and control.  Call around to find one in the customer service business, then reward them with your business.

jimoase wrote:

 

MrNeedle wrote:

 

I'm having the same boot problem and I want to send my MBP early 2011 to an Apple Store, but I want to know if there is any problem to have it repaired if I have replaced my DVD reader with a SSD and changed RAM with 16GB Patriot.

Here is an idea, your mileage may vary. If the worse you could do is break even would you bet?

 

Before going to the Apple Store call Apple to get a case number.  Tell the Apple representative on the phone your situation to see if it makes a difference.  If not your on your way, if either of the upgrades make a difference ask to speak with a supervisor to plead your case.

 

Prior to the warranty program when Apple was getting paid to make the same repairs no one has reported Apple turning down cash because someone upgraded their machines with plug in devices.  Since the warranty program some Apple stores have bulked and others do the repair, smile, return the repaired machine and move on to serve the next customers.  There are interesting arguments for either path.  Unfortunately us owners are only interested in the repair path and some Apple shops are motivated by something other than a happy customer.

 

I had my machine fixed by a third party repair shop prior to the warranty program.  My machine has several upgrades.  The repair was successful and Apple recently sent me a refund check for the repairs.  Apple never asked if my machine had been upgraded, they were just interested in the serial number, my name, who did the repair, what was repaired, when and the cost.  Check is in the bank.

 

Since the warranty program, Apple is now the only acceptable repair shop. There are some Apple stores that are taking advantage of their unique position to become agents of power and control.  Call around to find one in the customer service business, then reward them with your business.

There have been no reports of an Apple Store  or an Apple Repair Center refusing to accept a machine into the program only because the RAM alone has been upgraded.  As far as I can recall, all reports in this thread indicate that Apple Stores and Apple Repair Centers are rejecting as "unrepairable" machines with something other than a SuperDrive in the optical drive bay.  One person reported that his machine was repaired at an Apple Service Provider even though he had installed an SSD in the optical drive bay.  The most promising strategy therefore seems to be, replace the SSD in the optical drive bay with the original SuperDrive.  If you no longer have the SuperDrive, your best bet might seem to be approaching an Apple Service Provider first.  If they accept the machine with the SSD in the optical drive bay, OK; otherwise, you can always complain to Apple.   Just tell them that the ASP is refusing to repair your machine despite the fact that it demonstrates the symptoms described in the announcement of the repair program extension.  Don't mention the SSD, just hope that Apple encourages the ASP to repair the machine and he does not mention the SSD in the optical drive bay to Apple.  If that fails, you still have the option of approaching Apple once again, divulging this time that the ASP refuses to repair the machin because of the SSD where theSuperDrive should be.

As jimoase pointed out, Apple is the only one offering to repair qualifying machines for free, so it pays -- so to speak! -- to exhaust all your options for free repair before turning to a third party like the one with which he is so satisfied.

At any rate, you must decide what is more important to you, getting your machine repaired or training Apple to fulfill your expectations of responsible corporate citizenship.  If you want it repaired free, it's best to leave or to reinstall the original SuperDrive in the optical drive bay.  Machines have not been being rejected because of SSDs in the hard drive bay or RAM upgrades.  If your goal is the latter, by all means do provoke Apple (I.e., an Apple Store or an Apple Repair Center) to reject your machine, then argue that, since Apple and others have proven themselves willing, if not always able, to attempt a repair for money, the machine is certainly not unrepairable.  As you can probably guess, Apple will probably prepare an estimate for the repair, and, if you accept it, repair it for that price.  Youn satisfaction for having proven that the machine is certainly repairable will cost you about $600, if not more.  Of course, if you decide to turn to a third-party, you will have to clarify whether they have access to the revised motherboards.

Good luck!