MacBook Pro sun damage

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MacBook Pro sun damage

Hello,

I had my Macbook Pro inside my backback, in the trunk of my car for the past couple days. I completely forgot to take it out.

The laptop was very hot of course when I retrieved it, and when I went to start it up, there were some issues. The internal clock had reset itself to the year 2000, and the time was incorrect.

I had put the laptop in front of a fan for a few minutes to cool off, and that seemed to help it. Everything went back to normal after a reset, so I then reset it again to make sure it was all good. This is the part that i am having trouble with.

Whenever I try to turn the computer on now, it goes to the screen with the grey apple and rotating cursor. There is a status bar at the bottom that loads to about a quarter of the length of the bar, stays there for about 10 seconds, then the laptop automatically shuts down. I'm 100% sure this was something to do with the heat, but I am wondering if I should give it a few days to adjust? Or if I should take it down to the store and get it examined?

I appreicate the help with this issue.

MacBook Pro

Posted on May 2, 2014 11:20 PM

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Answer 1

cdpeezy Author

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Jun 8, 2014 1:30 PM in response to hisqoz

I guess it doesn't matter what kind of cases you use.. the sun trumps all haha. I was able to take it down to the Apple store soon after and they did a full diagnostic on it. Turns out suprisingly, everything was in working order except for a Software issue. I did in fact have to reset the whole system back to the beginning, and lost all of my files in the process. However, everything was back to normal afterwards. So word to the wise, backup on a consistant basis!

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Answer 2

Melophage

Level 5

7,223 points

May 2, 2014 11:35 PM in response to cdpeezy

cdpeezy,

which model MacBook Pro do you have, and which version of OS X is installed on it? That information will help to determine which step to try next.

For what it’s worth, my MacBook Pro’s little white printed manual states that the computer should not be exposed to temperatures over 212°F/100°C (for the sake of the battery), and should not be stored at temperatures over 113°F/45°C. My guess is that it could have gone over that storage temperature threshold during its time in the backpack in your car’s trunk.

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Answer 3

cdpeezy Author

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May 2, 2014 11:50 PM in response to Melophage

MacBook Pro (13-inch, Late 2011)

MD313xx/A

13.3"/2.4 i5/2x2GB/500-5400

I am currently running OS X 10.9.2

Yes, I believe that the temperature exceeded the threshold. Do you think anything can be done?

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Answer 4

nbar

Level 5

7,037 points

May 3, 2014 12:02 AM in response to cdpeezy

The 212F threshold is for a running processor, not external heat exposure. Completely seperate. Melophage is correct regarding the latter (113 F in storage). Either way, the heat exposure has damaged the hardware. No online troubleshooting exists for this type of issue. Bring your machine into Apple for a definitive diagnosis.

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Answer 5

Melophage

Level 5

7,223 points

May 3, 2014 12:08 AM in response to cdpeezy

cdpeezy,

you can try this, but if your internal disk was damaged by its time in your trunk, then it might not change anything. Boot your MacBook Pro into Recovery mode by holding down a Command key and the R key as it starts up. Once the OS X Utilities menu appears, select Disk Utility. On the left-hand side of the Disk Utility window, select your internal disk’s boot partition (typically called “Macintosh HD”). On the right-hand side, press the Verify Disk button if it’s not greyed out; if it is greyed out, or if it reports that errors were found, press the Repair Disk button. Once the verification/repair is completed, exit Disk Utility and select Restart from the Apple menu to restart in normal mode. Is it able to get to your login screen without shutting down? If so, then you should make a backup of your internal disk at your earliest convenience, so that if you do need to replace your internal disk, you’ll be able to copy your files onto the replacement disk.

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Answer 6

cdpeezy Author

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May 3, 2014 12:32 AM in response to Melophage

Even though the Macintosh HD label was greyed out, I was able to Verify Disk. It came up with bunch of problems in red letter (missing thread record, overlapped extent allocations, volume bitmap needs minor repair, invalid volume free block count, etc), finally saying "Disk Utility can't repair this disk...disk, and restore your backed up files."

A pop up then showed up saying 'Disk Utility can't repair this disk. Back up as many of your files as possible, reformat the disk, and resotre your backed up files."

Should I just give it a rest until the diagnostics?

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Answer 7

May 3, 2014 2:20 AM in response to cdpeezy

I really like HGST, made by Hitachi, although Apple chooses to use Toshiba in their stock drives.

Have a look here -> an 1TB 7200 rpm HGST drive or here -> an 1TB 5400 rpm HGST drive. The 7200rpm drive would be faster but would also run hotter. Not much hotter but it does spin faster so there is going to be a heat increase.

I have 5 of the 7200rpm drives that I use for backup - wonderful drives.

Clinton

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Answer 8

hisqoz

Level 1

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Jun 8, 2014 6:05 AM in response to nbar

Hi,

I just reached this page through a google search as I'm going through a similar issue; although I left my MacBook Pro for only an hour in the trunk!! The thing that disappointed me is that it was in a high quality carrying sleeve from Incase + the hard shell I always use! So what possibly could be better to avoid such a stupid situation???

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