Lower RAM Slot Repair

how long does it take to repair the PB with RAM slot problems?
Thanks Matthias, Germany

PB 15, 1,25Mhz Mac OS X (10.4.9)

It takes 1 day after they receive the powerbook.

I had my ibook sent to Apple a few times and the turnaround getting it back was awesome.

I took my PB to an AASC and it was returned to me after about 10 days with a new logic board, seems to be good as gold now. Glad I had Applecare because by the looks of it the repair would've cost about as much as my computer's worth!

Hi All ---

--- looks like my last post has been deleted - considering I was trying to help other users with this same problem - I thought that was the idea around here. edited version below.

I am now curious if this is the same as a car with two wheels, bike with one wheel, etc... how much strain and workload is the remaining top RAM expected to deal with? How long will it last? hmm. maybe this will be deleted.


"...yep. me too. -- got the same prob. here on P.B. 1.25 -- think its created an additional creaking noise during simple tasks. I hope this aint serious. opening folders, moving window scroll bars, cursor noise when typing, lifting dock, etc...?? anyone else getting this? am taking advice from others who got fixes out of ser. no. range to write in....."


good luck to all --

J.

My suggestion for everyone who has the problem, regardless of whether you are under warranty or not, if you aren't covered by the program to call AppleCare directly. Only by your voicing your concerns to AppleCare directly, will Apple be able to guage how widespread the problem is. Give them your serial number and ask them to open a case number for you. In the meantime, you might want to consider one of these places for repair if your machine is out of warranty and not in the program:

http://www.dttservice.com/
http://www.powerbookresq.com/
http://www.microdocusa.com/
http://www.macspecialist.com/
http://www.techrestore.com/

And see if they charge less than Apple.

Message was edited by: a brody

My PB 15 had the same problems too. Once I start my PB, it comes with 3 beeps and nothing goes on. So I took my PB to Apple service station, they changed my mainboard for free.

Hey Brody ---

i agree -- eveyone needs to register a case number/complaint to apple ASAP.

SNAILMAIL preferrable!

I really hope Apple are working to help rectify this -

good luck everyone.

J.

I have the same problem: The lower RAM slot died a week ago. My PB 15" 1.67 GHz is 2 years old. The guy from the Apple store initially pulled out the 512 MB card and wiped it with his T-shirt. That helped for one day. I did the same a few more times until I figured out that maybe changing the RAM slot might help. Only after doing that I found out that there was a recall (mine does also not fall in the serial number range) and that it is always the lower slot that dies first. Could this be a heat problem?

I hope Apple will read this forum and eventually recall all models with this problem.

Yes i am too. I was running the factory 512mb of ram fine. Three days after upgrading my powerbook to 2gb it crashed and the lower memory slot was not recognized and completely dead.

What a waste of money to purchase RAM only to not be able to use it and not be able to return it...

I been an avid Apple customer since their OS sucked (8.1) and to their credit this is the first factory defect I have encountered. However, I find it appalling that this is such a widely known issue and totally ignored.

I will certainly think twice before purchasing products from Apple in the future, and I will be very hesitant to make long term investments in their company or their products.

I am wondering if others have had positive experiences with this repair. On the web I read some not so flattering review of Wegener albeit on a different issue. Makes me a bit worried about sending my computer to them.

My PB would be under the extended repair program, but it is now too old. Anyone know if Apple is strict about the two-year limit?

I've just installed an extra 1gb of ram to my already existing 512mb. Everything worked fine for a while and both memory modules registered the memory. Unfortunately now, the lower slot will not recognise either of the memory cards. If I put memory in in the lower slot I get the beeping. I have put the 1gb card in the upper slot but I'm pretty ****** off that I can only use one slot now that I have forked out good money for extra memory. My serial number does not fall under the ones that apple are prepared to fix. I read someones post where they said they have zapped their PRam and the slot started working again - has anyone else tried this and found it to work?
Why was the memory originally recognised and then stopped working. I had my powerbook plugged into my homes mains electricity and it tripped the electricity and the memory slot has'nt worked since. Why would this happen - surely the apple logic board should not trip an entire houses electricity? Has anyone else had their electricity tripped at the mains?
Please help!

Pehr

I noticed your post here-actually having just answered the same question for somebody else!

Actually, I've sent two of our Powerbooks to Wegener, and wouldn't hesitate to send another 2 in.

Both had the RAM slot issue. They (Wegener) did both quite well, and had faster service than even Apple. I received one system back 36hrs after sending it, and the other took 3 days (including transit). I had them 'pimp out' my second Powerbook as well: HDD, more RAM, and a superdrive.

My experience with them has been one of stellar service. I saw an unhappy posting, but I wonder if it isn't somebody with a motive doing 'anonymous' postings as other people. I don't know-just a guess-cause it certainly wasn't my experience!

I read one time that every unsatisfied customer WILL tell 10 others, and every happy customer MAY tell 1 other. So I'm guessing that somebody one time somewhere wasn't happy with something, and is doing their bit to make sure everybody knows.

My opinion is that one should take everything on the internet with a grain of salt. For instance: look at the BBB reports of B&H camera-they have HUNDREDS of complaints. But they do a great job too.

All I know is this->Wegener saved me $1000+ in repair costs on my Powerbooks, and they did a good job fast. Hard to complain about that.

I have had an old post on here for a year with the same issue. I've been running my 1.25 with 1 gb in the upper slot. Not worth the price of a motherboard. It is infuriating that Apple recognizes this in the 1.67, but not the 1.25.

BD

I, too, have had the same problem pop up. My lower 512 ram slot didn't show up. I have 1 Gig in the upper, so things have been working OK.

I just got the repair done an hour ago and my 1.5 Gigs showed up in system profiler (I have AppleCare). The first time I opened Safari the machine froze. Did a forced restart, and what do you know- only 1 Gig of ram again! Well, it worked for about 10 minutes.

Should I get the logic board replaced again?
Can I get a killer discount on a MacBook Pro instead?

The repair process was fast and painless, but come on. How many times is this going to happen again? Sounds like there's not a great success ratio.

Robin