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I've been using a Macbook Pro with an external keyboard for the past year. The builtin keyboard no longer works: 1234567890- qwyuiop asdghjkl; zxcvbnm,./ N

I've been using a Macbook Pro with an external keyboard for the past year. The builtin keyboard no longer works: 1234567890- qwyuiop asdghjkl; zxcvbnm,./ Notice no E, R, T, or F keys. First the R key went out, and I got around that by leaving "r" in my paste buffer and typing Command-V instead of r. But then the T key went out about a month later. Apple wants $600 for a logic board replacement. It's so annoying to lug an external keyboard everywhere I go. Tiny wireless keyboards just aren't as responsive. But it's less annoying than paying $600 on top of a $2k MBP.

RankingMember 9y ago
That is delightfully stubborn of you. I wonder what really goes "wrong" with those logic boards. Could it be as simple as a bad solder joint needing to be reflowed?
reaperducer 9y ago
If it's a Macbook with a removable battery, check it for swelling. I had a Macbook experience similar symptoms and it turned out to be pressure being exerted from the swollen battery. Twice.
- kbenson 9y ago
  I hear about this often, and it happened to my sister's Macbook as well (to the point it was obviously deformed and they tried to tell her she dropped it). Is this a case of people being more likely to complain about it because Macbooks are generally much more expensive than other laptops, or does Apple really have a battery problem with these devices?
  - ghaff 9y ago
    Lithium ion batteries tend to swell when they get old. It's pretty universal. I've replaced the battery in old UPSs as well a very old 4G iPod (in which the swollen battery was keeping the clickwheel from working properly).
  - RandallBrown 9y ago
    Apple has had battery problems in the past where they recalled batteries. Haven't heard of anything lately (last 4 or 5 years) though.
  - reaperducer 9y ago
    I'm surprised that the Apple people tried to make it seem like it was your sister's fault. In both of my cases, I went to the Apple Store and the batteries were replaced without hassle, without charge, and out of AppleCare. Once I didn't even have an appointment; I just walked in with it and they went, "Eeeew! We'll take care of that for you. Stand right there."
    - kbenson 9y ago
      In their defense, it was one manager or something, and the laptop was grossly deformed. I assume it was the battery, as I'm not sure of any other explanation. It was probably 6-7 years ago now, so the details are hazy, but I do recall her being upset and recalling how she actually got into an argument in the Apple store for a good 15 minutes before they finally accepted it. I'm not sure if they finally accepted it because they gave up, or someone looked closer and realized there were no marks on corners/sides to suggest a drop but more towards the center there definitely was deformation of the case. IIRC the tech that initially examined it was fine, but a manager came out after they took it in back.
acomjean 9y ago
Odd that "logic board" replacement is required for a keyboard fix.. The apple repairs timeout. A coworker who was looking at a battery replacement on an "air" was told it was 6+ years old thus "vintage" and no longer serviced by apple.
- Scoundreller 9y ago
  At that point, you can part it out and get about US$500+ without the battery. At least thats what i’m doing now with a mid-2011. Still fetching the same prices for parts as last year.
  - ghaff 9y ago
    Where do you sell them? eBay? I have a 2010 MacBook Pro gathering dust. I'd be happy to get pretty much whatever I could for it. It's never going to be used.
    - Scoundreller 9y ago
      eBay for parts. If you want to sell as a whole unit, do it locally.
Scoundreller 9y ago
Just buy a new logic board off eBay and DIY. You just need a couple torx screwdrivers.
monological 9y ago
If it's a logic board issue, it can most likely be fixed. Check these guys out: https://www.rossmanngroup.com/ https://www.rossmanngroup.com/ They do excellent work.

RankingMember 9y ago

That is delightfully stubborn of you. I wonder what really goes "wrong" with those logic boards. Could it be as simple as a bad solder joint needing to be reflowed?

reaperducer 9y ago

If it's a Macbook with a removable battery, check it for swelling. I had a Macbook experience similar symptoms and it turned out to be pressure being exerted from the swollen battery. Twice.

kbenson 9y ago
I hear about this often, and it happened to my sister's Macbook as well (to the point it was obviously deformed and they tried to tell her she dropped it). Is this a case of people being more likely to complain about it because Macbooks are generally much more expensive than other laptops, or does Apple really have a battery problem with these devices?
- ghaff 9y ago
  Lithium ion batteries tend to swell when they get old. It's pretty universal. I've replaced the battery in old UPSs as well a very old 4G iPod (in which the swollen battery was keeping the clickwheel from working properly).
- RandallBrown 9y ago
  Apple has had battery problems in the past where they recalled batteries. Haven't heard of anything lately (last 4 or 5 years) though.
- reaperducer 9y ago
  I'm surprised that the Apple people tried to make it seem like it was your sister's fault. In both of my cases, I went to the Apple Store and the batteries were replaced without hassle, without charge, and out of AppleCare. Once I didn't even have an appointment; I just walked in with it and they went, "Eeeew! We'll take care of that for you. Stand right there."
  - kbenson 9y ago
    In their defense, it was one manager or something, and the laptop was grossly deformed. I assume it was the battery, as I'm not sure of any other explanation. It was probably 6-7 years ago now, so the details are hazy, but I do recall her being upset and recalling how she actually got into an argument in the Apple store for a good 15 minutes before they finally accepted it. I'm not sure if they finally accepted it because they gave up, or someone looked closer and realized there were no marks on corners/sides to suggest a drop but more towards the center there definitely was deformation of the case. IIRC the tech that initially examined it was fine, but a manager came out after they took it in back.

acomjean 9y ago

Odd that "logic board" replacement is required for a keyboard fix.. The apple repairs timeout. A coworker who was looking at a battery replacement on an "air" was told it was 6+ years old thus "vintage" and no longer serviced by apple.

Scoundreller 9y ago
At that point, you can part it out and get about US$500+ without the battery. At least thats what i’m doing now with a mid-2011. Still fetching the same prices for parts as last year.
- ghaff 9y ago
  Where do you sell them? eBay? I have a 2010 MacBook Pro gathering dust. I'd be happy to get pretty much whatever I could for it. It's never going to be used.
  - Scoundreller 9y ago
    eBay for parts. If you want to sell as a whole unit, do it locally.

Scoundreller 9y ago

Just buy a new logic board off eBay and DIY. You just need a couple torx screwdrivers.

monological 9y ago

If it's a logic board issue, it can most likely be fixed. Check these guys out: https://www.rossmanngroup.com/ https://www.rossmanngroup.com/ They do excellent work.