“Leave it to the experts”: Computer hardware issues you probably shouldn’t repair by yourself

Some computer repairs are pretty easy and can be done by a beginner. Repairs like hard drive replacements on most Windows laptops don’t require many tools or a high skill level to complete. These kinds of computer repairs are the kind that we encourage a lot of computer users to do, as they won’t take you too long and can save you money.

Repairs that need a lot of specific tools and parts are a little bit more complicated. Some might even require a high skill level in computer repair. Professional technicians can take better care of your common computer hardware issues. That’s because repair techs have all the tools needed at the ready, and work in a safe and organized environment.

If you’re looking to get into computer repair, pc hardware problem detection, or even PC building, getting a sturdy set of tools would be a great investment. Take a look at a few guides on sites like ifixit to learn more about tech repair while you’re at it. But if you’re not looking to continue in computer hardware troubleshooting and repairing all by yourself, you probably don’t need to buy all the tools just for one repair project. It might not be worth it for a single repair project.

For complicated repairs that call for specific tools, we recommend just bringing them to a professional, especially if the situation involved computer hardware related issues and solutions. Let’s take a look and the kinds of computer hardware issues that you probably shouldn’t try to resolve by yourself.

If you’ve ever wondered how professional computer repairers diagnose computers, and execute a safe computer hardware troubleshooting ,you can see 7 best tools to test computers (The best one is FREE). It’ll amaze you.

1. Faulty laptop battery replacement

First off, laptop batteries are considered hazardous products and should only be handled by professionals. Faulty batteries can expand and leak poisonous liquid or gas. As experienced technicians, we’ve seen a fair share of batteries spontaneously getting very hot and catching on fire while replacing them. There’s also a chance that a faulty battery can fry the motherboard.

There’s also a chance of accidentally breaking other parts of the laptop while disassembling the laptop. This is especially for slim Ultrabook models. The battery packs are a lot slimmer and the parts of the laptop are tightly compressed together. This makes it harder to repair, when you have to be so careful in case you break something.

2. Motherboard failure

Motherboard issues are, to say the least, difficult to deal with. They are both hard to diagnose and repair. This is because the motherboard as a circuit board, has no direct way to test for faults. It has to be confirmed by testing for and eliminating other possible hardware faults in parts like the hard drive, RAM, or video card. This can take a while if your computer is completely dead and you need to take the parts out to test them.

Another thing is that when you need to get your motherboard fixed, you’ll usually need to replace the whole thing. This requires you to almost completely disassemble everything on your computer. The motherboard is the main circuit board of the computer, where everything is connected to each other. As you have to disconnect everything and put them back together, the process is very tough, even for an experienced technician.

One thing that some computer repair technicians do for dead motherboards is a component-level repair. This is a repair process that replaces small parts of the motherboard, instead of the whole board. Because of its high difficulty, only certain computer repair services offer such repairs.

3. MacBook and Ultrabook keyboard replacement

A lot of MacBook and Ultrabook models feature slim and portable designs that are great for working on the go. This however, comes with the cost of lowered repairability. There’s a higher risk of accidentally breaking something while disassembling the laptop to get to the keyboard.

Apple MacBook laptops are also often made with Apple’s proprietary pentalobe screws. This requires specific tools. If you already have a set of regular computer screwdrivers, they won’t cut it. You’ll need the tools specifically for Apple computers.

4. Laptop screens

A lot of modern laptop screens, especially Ultrabooks, are made slimmer and slimmer to match the whole sleek look of the device. As we can expect with these delicate and slim parts, they are quite fragile even when they are brand new.

The trend with modern laptop screens is using glue and double-sided tape to put things together, rather than screws. Without an accessible way to disassemble the laptop’s screen, you’ll need tools like an opening pick and a heat pad to remove the glue.

Like most laptop repairs, you’ll also need to disconnect the battery when you’re replacing the laptop screen. This is for your own safety and to eliminate the chance of blowing the motherboard. The extra tools and effort you need to put into fixing the screen isn’t quite worth it for a DIY project.

5. Most iMac repairs

iMac desktop computers are all-in-one computers. There’s no separate tower, everything’s just inside the whole thing. That makes repairs a little bit complicated, when you have to open up the entire screen to get to anything. It’s especially complicated when some parts are assembled under the logic board. RAM repairs or upgrades fall under this shortcoming, as the RAM is only accessible under the logic board.

To get under the screen of an iMac, you’ll need the specific opening pick and suction cup tools, then the double-sided tape designed only for iMacs to put it back together. This tape is pretty hard to find online, so you might want to get help through a repair technician.

So that’s 5 computer hardware issues that you probably should leave up to the experts. We’re not just advising you as repair techs who offer a service, but also as repair techs who understand the difficulty of certain issues. Indeed, pc hardware maintenance, troubleshooting, and repair is no joke!

A lot of times we get clients with computers displaying pc hardware failure symptoms, causing them to try and fix the problem all by themselves, but made the situation even worse. Understanding what you can do and what you should do with these repairs are very important. When accidents happen during a DIY repair project, they can often make things even harder to fix. There are a few common mistakes that amateur home repairers make while trying to fix a problem on their computer.

We’re always here to help. As a highly-rated computer repair service in Sydney, we can help you diagnose and repair any computer issue. From Apple Macbooks to laptops and desktop PCs, we’re experts in the field. Our friendly repair technicians can also offer advice on computer upgrades, virus removal, and more. Give us a call at 1800 85 83 82 or come on down to our Inner West store today!

What to do with an old MacBook laptop

Consider what you want to do with your old MacBook

Does the MacBook still work?

If the MacBook still works, you can choose to upgrade its hardware. This is a great cost-effective way to breathe new life into an old laptop. Sometimes you only need to upgrade a small part of the laptop just for it to work like new again.

If that’s not the case and the MacBook doesn’t work nor turn on at all, you can consider getting it repaired, upgraded, or recycled. It all just depends on what you’d like to do with it.

Repair and upgrade costs

The repair costs of each MacBook can differ. If you only need the hard drive replaced, or you want to put more RAM in, it shouldn’t cost a lot. What you can definitely be sure is, these repairs or upgrade costs won’t cost more than buying a new MacBook laptop.

A new entry-level MacBook Pro costs at least $2000, but if you just put in some useful upgrades to an old MacBook, you might be able to get great performance from it. This is only the case for Mac users who use their laptops for basic stuff like internet browsing and general word processing. If you do more than like, say things like graphics or video editing, then repairing or upgrading this old MacBook would probably be not that useful for yourself. Still, you could get a bit of cash if you upgrade and resell the Mac.

If you don’t want to go through all this hassle, you might as well trade the MacBook in at a computer repair shop. Most computer repair shops do this, so they can refurbish and resell the laptop, or they’ll just take it in for spare parts.

So now you have a few options for your old MacBook: upgrade it for better performance, repair or upgrade to resell it, or recycle the laptop as e-waste. Before you do anything to the Mac, you might want to check the MacBook with Apple Diagnostics, to test for any possible hardware faults. Backing up any important data would also be helpful. You might not be able to do much if the Mac doesn’t turn on or boot up properly, but you could still try it out.

Apple Diagnostics

As a simple hardware testing tool, Apple Diagnostics can help you quickly review your Mac’s hardware. So you can be aware of anything you need to fix up. Sometimes even if the Mac turns on and seems to work well, something could be wrong with it and you might not even be aware of it. It’ll only take a few moments, and could also inform your decision on what you want to do with the Mac.

To start Apple Diagnostics, restart your Mac and press the “D” key to trigger it. After a language selection page, it should automatically start testing your hardware. The test will look into hardware such as the hard drive, battery, and RAM. Any problems found will be reported with some support solutions.

Backing up data

Whether you’re upgrading the MacBook for yourself or to resell, or simply throwing it out, backing up the data on the hard drive is an important step. It’s also a great computing habit to keep, for any of your devices.

You can choose from an external hard drive, or just put it all up in the cloud. This keeps your data safe, and makes the upgrade process much smoother as you won’t have to worry about data loss or recovery.

Useful upgrades to boost your MacBook’s performance

Replacing the hard drive with flash storage

Flash storage, also known as a solid-state drive (SSD), is pretty much the standard on new MacBook models these days. They are much faster and more durable than traditional hard drives (HDD). Performance wise, flash storage can get you speeds up to 16x faster than an HDD.

Replacing a hard drive with flash storage is one of the easier computer repair jobs, so much so that you can even do it yourself. Older MacBooks are often more repair-friendly than the newer ones, so you should manage just fine. Remember to choose a flash storage model that is compatible with macOS, or else the drive might not work.

Adding more RAM for better multitasking functions

RAM (Random-access memory) is essential for even computing performance. Information that you need while you’re working is stored temporarily on the RAM, so it is readily available whenever you need it.

These days for most computer users, the minimum required amount of RAM is 4GB. It should get you through basic computing tasks. The recommended amount of RAM for a relatively smoother experience is at least 8GB.

Adding more RAM to an old Mac could also give you a better performance, for multitasking purposes. So this option could also be a way to refresh your old Mac. Just make sure that your RAM isn’t embedded on the logic board. If that is the case, you might not be able to add RAM capacity to your Mac. You can check this by opening up the Mac and look for where the memory chips are set.

Battery replacement

The battery pack on a MacBook doesn’t have an effect on its performance, but a battery replacement could be beneficial to the Mac’s lifespan.

Laptop batteries can be charged over and over without losing their capacity, but they are still a consumable part. Once it reaches more than 400 charging cycles, the battery can start to fail. It may lose charge, or carry no charge at all. In some more serious cases, these lithium-ion batteries can become extremely volatile and leak hazardous liquid or catch on fire.

So you might want to check the Mac’s battery status to see whether it needs a replacement. You can check this by going to System information, and clicking the battery tab. There you can find the battery charging cycle count. If your Mac’s battery needs replacing, it should show you a warning saying “service battery”, “replace soon”, or “replace now”. Either way, getting a battery replacement for your old MacBook can add to its lifespan substantially.

Recycling or trading in your old MacBook

If you don’t really need the Mac anymore and want to get rid of the clutter in your house, you could consider recycling the laptop as e-waste. Alternatively, you could also trade in at a computer repair shop.

In Australia, e-waste can be recycled for free. Check with your local council to see when the next e-waste drop off days are. Or you can also book a free pick-up service for any of your unwanted electronics. This includes laptops, desktops, and household appliances.

Trading in a laptop at a store could also be an option if you don’t want to go through the trouble of having to list your laptop online yourself. Computer repair shops like us are able to take in old computers for refurbishment or for its spare parts. If you just want to get rid of the Mac quickly and possibly get some cash out of it, then trading in at a computer repair shop is your best bet.

Before you recycle or trade in your old MacBook, make sure you take out the hard drive, or destroy it. That way there’s no chance that others can access your data. Simply take out the hard drive and give it a few whacks with a hammer. Then you can make sure that it’s completely safe to say goodbye to the Mac.

Professional repairs at Safemode Computer Service

Got an old MacBook laptop that you still don’t know what to do with yet? You can take it right down to us. At Safemode Computer Service in Inner West Sydney, we can offer the right advice for your old devices. We can help you access the laptop and see what we can do to suit your needs. If you’d like to trade in the laptop, we also offer tech recycling services. Even if the laptop is beyond repair, certain spare parts might still be viable.

As a trusted computer repair service in Sydney, our friendly technicians are always happy to help with any computer problem that you have, from desktop PCs to MacBook laptops. Come by our Enmore store or call us today!

What to do if your Mac won’t boot up: fixing Apple startup issues

A lot of things could cause a Macbook to stop booting up properly, or not even start up at all. It could be a software or hardware problem. Either way, you’re probably looking to boot it up normally again.

Here’s a few things you could run through to fix the problem and get your Mac working again. This includes some simple checks and software resets as a first step. Then we can move on to checking on your hardware and repairing any possible faults.

Having said that, Apple computers have sophisticated designs. Fixing Apple computers is a challenge even for a computer technician who is only specialized in Windows PC. DIY repair for a novice user is often not possible. After you’ve gone through the tips below and your computer still doesn’t work, it’s most likely that you need professional computer repair services.

Mac not turning on: How to troubleshoot a dead desktop Mac

There are many reasons why your Mac isn’t turning on. Apple Mac computers are powerful and advanced machines, but they will fall to hardware issues. In this guide we’ll be looking at how to fix a desktop Mac that isn’t turning on, this includes the iMac, Mac Mini, or Mac Pro. Running a few checks on your system can help you find out what’s causing the problem and get the right solution.

Though, fixing an Apple iMac that is not turning on is difficult. If all of your attempts bear no fuit, seek professional repairs instead.

Why isn’t my Mac turning on?

When your Mac doesn’t turn on at all, you most likely have a hardware issue. For the computer to boot up properly, essential parts work together to deliver a smooth computing experience. Once one part starts acting up or dies completely, the entire process may be disrupted. The computer won’t be able to turn on at all, or may take a long time to power up.

These essential parts include the hard drive, logic board, video card, RAM, and power supply unit. Without even a single part, the computer may start having trouble turning on, or even stop working properly.

But is it really not turning on? Sometimes you simply can’t get your Mac to boot to MacOS, and assume that it’s not turning on. This means that it could also be a software issue. You might be able to get your Mac to turn on but it seems to be taking forever or gets stuck on a blank screen. If this is the case, you can try doing some software resets first. This would be either an SMC reset or PRAM reset. This can help fix software issues and reset certain boot up settings.

Our technical understanding of a “desktop Mac not turning on” is when the Mac appears to be completely dead and doesn’t respond to anything. It could be a sign of a serious hardware failure. This is only one of the few MacOS start up issues that you can run into. We’re talking about start up issues like the question mark folder or infinite loading bar. These would bring you to other diagnostic and repair solutions, so it’s important to know how to tell them apart.

How to test and repair a desktop Mac that won’t turn on

Once you’ve identified the problem, you can start with a few tests to find out what’s causing the problem. This involves testing the parts essential for starting up your Mac: the hard drive, logic board, video card, RAM, and PSU.

It seems like a lot of work, but when a Mac appears to be completely dead and doesn’t show any signs to which part is failing, it’s the only way to thoroughly diagnose the problem this way. As we’ve learnt from above, a single component failure can cause a total computer shutdown. So to bring your Mac back to life, we have to do a little digging to find the right repair solution.

Again, considering the scope of the Mac’s failure, there aren’t a lot of ways to test the system for errors. When you can’t power up your Mac, you’ll have to take out the specific parts to test on a different desktop Mac.

Of course, it would be easier to just use Apple Diagnostics or run diagnostic software on the Mac itself. If you can get your Mac to even fire up to a black screen, you can enter Apple Diagnostics by holding down the “D” key. This is a simple built-in diagnostic tool to help you find errors in components like the hard drive, RAM, or video card.

When we’re left with less options, all we can do is testing out the part on a different Mac, preferably a desktop as well. Let’s look at how to test different parts to diagnose the problem. If you’re keen on DIY, you might be able to fix them yourself.

Hard drive failure

A hard drive failure is a very common cause of various start up issues. As the boot drive, it contains boot files and the MacOS that is used to boot up your Mac and runs the whole show. So when a hard drive malfunctions, the necessary files cannot be accessed and could halt the entire boot up process.

It can be a surprise to some to learn that hard drive failure can happen to most computer users. Hard drives have a limited lifespan and are prone to damage from bad sectors. This can happen to all sorts of hard drives, including traditional hard disk drives, flash storage, or fusion drives.

Bad sectors caused by physical damage or software errors can cause permanent damage on small parts of the drive. This is an unavoidable thing that will happen to all storage drives, every new drive ships with a tiny amount of bad sectors. As you use the drive it will eventually accumulate more and more bad sectors. The drive will work as long as they are limited to a small area of the drive.

When they do spread out and get to an intolerable amount, the drive will start to show signs of failure. You may notice that your computer is running slower than usual, or find that some files have been corrupted or completely lost. That is when you should look into replacing the drive.

How to repair a faulty hard drive

The only reliable and true fix for a hard drive failure is by replacing the drive itself. While some disk repair utilities can repair certain soft bad sectors, this solution may only buy you a little more time before the drive does ultimately fail. But first, we have to do a little testing to confirm the issue.

To test a hard drive for issues, take out the drive from the Mac and connect it to a different desktop Mac via a SATA to USB enclosure box. Then, test the drive with hard drive analysis software like WD Data Lifeguard. The drive is powered by the enclosure box instead of the computer, so it ensures isolation to thoroughly test the hard drive. Now for all-in-one desktop Macs like the iMac, it would take a little more disassembly to get to the hard drive, compared to Mac Pro or Mac Mini. You’ll need to start from the screen to get to the hard drive.

When your hard drive does in fact need replacing, you can replace it with an exact same drive, or upgrade to a better hard drive or flash storage. Just make sure that the drive is compatible with your Mac. Learn more about Apple hard drive repairs here.

Logic board, GPU, and RAM failures

Another thing that can kill your Mac is a logic board failure. The logic board is the circuit board that spans across your Mac. It is the communication channel where components receive signals from the CPU to work accordingly. Even a small failure on a part of the logic board can break up the communication channel between components. When this happens, components won’t know what to do even if they are fully intact and can work properly.

Overheating and liquid damage are one of the few causes of logic board failure. So it’s important to keep your system dust-free and can cool itself effectively. Similarly, the video card and RAM can also fall to overheating and liquid spills.

The GPU and RAM are also essential for the MacOS start up process. The video card generates the visual feed that puts images on the screen. Start up settings and boot information are also stored on the RAM for easy access to fire up the Mac. Without either, it could cause the Mac to be unresponsive when you turn it on.

How to repair a faulty logic board

The logic board is an intricate and complicated piece of computer hardware to navigate around. On top of this, there is no direct way to test and diagnose a logic board failure. This makes a logic board repair one of the most difficult computer repair jobs to perform.

To test a logic board for errors, we’ll have to diagnose it by eliminating other hardware errors to reach a conclusive result. This involves testing the hard drive, GPU, and RAM. Like a hard drive, we can test the video card and RAM by taking it out.

For the video card, plug it in a different desktop Mac and test it with GPU analysis software (we use Furmark). Then for the RAM, swap it out with a spare stick of RAM to see whether the issue persists. If both work fine, then you can conclude that you have a logic board issue.

To repair a logic board, the whole board will have to be replaced. The board is usually under everything else, so it will need some careful navigation to take everything out to reach it. This is why logic board repairs require quite experienced hands to make sure you don’t break other parts while you’re fixing the logic board. Learn more about repairing an Apple logic board here.

PSU failure

Sometimes a faulty power supply unit can be keeping your Mac from powering up. The PSU is the only power source to power up your Mac, so when it fails, the Mac may become unresponsive. This kind of failure can appear similarly as a logic board failure, but the problem is quite different.

Unlike laptops that can use a battery and don’t need to be plugged in to turn on, a desktop Mac solely depends on the PSU for power. The PSU converts power to a steady current that powers up components.

Like most computer hardware, the PSU can fail due to natural wear and tear, overheating, and accumulated dust. Power surges can also overload the unit and kill it. In some rare cases, bugs (yes, actual insects) get inside the unit and block the fans or damage the parts.

How to repair a faulty PSU

A sign of a faulty PSU might be the fans not firing up when you press the power button. Detecting a PSU does take some special tools. You can try using a multimeter or power supply tester to check on the PSU’s performance. Then replace the PSU entirely if you do find that it is malfunctioning.

Professional repair

Sometimes you might not have all the tools to repair your desktop Mac. After all, desktop Macs may need more tools to open up. Moreover, Apple computers may also contain proprietary screws that you might not have the right tools for. With that said, that’s where a professional repair can help you.

That’s where we can help you! At Safemode Computer Service, we can help you diagnose your dead desktop Mac. Save yourself the hassle of taking apart your Mac by bringing your desktop Mac to our store. We are conveniently located in the heart of Inner West Sydney. Our experienced technicians can help you find the right repair solution to bring your Mac back to life. Give us a call to make an appointment at our Enmore store today.

How to fix an Apple Macbook that won’t turn on

You might think it is the end of the world when your Apple Macbook doesn’t seem to turn on and appears to be completely dead. Turning to the internet for help might be what you’re doing at this time of need. Don’t worry, it’s not the end of the world. We have the definitive guide to why your Macbook isn’t turning on, and how to fix it yourself. At the end of this post, if your MacBook is still dead, it’s recommended to take it to professional repairers.

What to do when your Macbook isn’t turning on

Let’s get things straight. Mac users can come across all sorts of startup issues, like not being able to boot to MacOS, the question mark folder at boot up, or ultimately not being able to turn on their laptops at all. Different kinds of Apple Mac startup issues can call for different approaches and repair solutions.

When your Macbook doesn’t respond at all when you press the power button even while it is plugged in, this is what we refer to as “not turning on”. The computer would then appear “dead”, and not powering on at all. While it does sound pretty obvious, this issue can sometimes be mixed up with other MacOS startup issues. To some, “not turning on” can mean simply not being able to successfully boot to MacOS. If this is the case, it is actually a different problem that can be solved differently.

Check out our guides to Apple MacOS startup issues to learn more! We show you how to fix the question mark folder error, infinite loading bar error, and how to replace a failing Apple hard drive.

How to find out why your Macbook won’t turn on

A computer that won’t turn on can get pretty frustrating to deal with, because there really isn’t much you can do with it. But, we still have to find a way to find out what’s wrong with it. We can narrow it down to errors that involve either the hard drive, logic board, video card, RAM, keyboard, or the screen.

To be fair, it isn’t that narrowed down, but it’s a start. When a Macbook doesn’t show any sign of life, it can be from various hardware failures that are essential in the startup process. Once a component of the startup process doesn’t work, the whole thing can pretty much fall apart. So by testing each of these components, we’ll be able to find out the right repair solution to bring the Mac back to life.

Now with a dead Macbook, you can’t really do thorough testing on it when it doesn’t turn on. If you can get it to boot, or even get to the Apple logo splash screen, you can use Apple Diagnostics (D key at startup) to test your laptop. There you might be able to detect issues on hardware across your Mac that’s causing your problem. Otherwise, the testing process for a dead laptop would usually involve taking out the part and testing it out on a different device, preferably a Mac desktop.

Let’s take a look at the different component failures that could be the cause of a dead Macbook laptop. You can also fix the problem yourself, after detecting the issue.

Hard drive failure

As a very common cause of Mac startup issues, the hard drive should be one of the first things to test for issues. Hard drive errors can happen to almost every computer user, as they tend to have a limited life span and will fail eventually. This can happen to drives like traditional hard disk drives and flash storage, the two types of storage drives that can be found on Macbook laptops.

Hard drives will inevitably accumulate bad sectors that can physically damage the drive. This sort of physical damage can corrupt files and files might also be permanently lost. When the drive gets to a point where bad sectors are spread out across the drive, it will fail. This affects the normal startup process of your Macbook.

Corrupted boot files or an inaccessible operating system could then be what’s stopping your Mac from turning on. To fix this, we’ll have to test and repair the hard drive in question.

How to fix a faulty hard drive

To fix any computer hardware issue, we need to first test and confirm the issue. Otherwise, a misdiagnosed problem could cost you money and unnecessary labour.

Test your hard drive by taking it out from your Macbook and test it on a different desktop Mac. You may use free hard drive analysis software like WD Data Lifeguard to do so. To ensure that the hard drive can be thoroughly checked, use a SATA to USB enclosure box to connect it to the desktop computer.

If you do find that the drive is faulty and needs to be replaced, great! Hard drive replacements are one of the easiest repair jobs to do. You can even do it yourself at home with some simple tools. Upgrading to a better drive or flash storage might be also something to consider, if you’re looking for a performance boost. Just make sure that your hard drive replacement is compatible with your Macbook. Read more about Apple hard drive replacements here.

Screen failure

Laptop screen failure can sometimes make the device look like it is dead. When the laptop screen has completely failed, it might not show any image and remains blank. So it’s understandable to think that your Macbook isn’t turning on when the screen is blank and unresponsive.

Sometimes the screen can also appear to be incredibly dim and almost completely dark. For older models of Macbooks that use an LCD screen, this could be a sign of a faulty inverter. This is what lights up the screen, and will need to be replaced if damaged.

When this happens to newer models that have transitioned to LED screens, it would be a sign of a faulty logic board. The logic board is used instead of an inverter to light up the screen in newer Macbook models.

To find out whether your screen is broken, hook up your Macbook to an external monitor. You should be fine if the monitor shows a display image of your Macbook. Then, all you need is a screen replacement. If this isn’t working, you might have to look into more testing.

Curious about screen failures? Check out our guide to display issues here and see why screen failures and video card failures are often mistaken for each other.

Logic board, video card, and RAM failures

The video card (GPU) and RAM components of a Macbook laptop are usually embedded on the logic board, and all three parts are essential for the Mac to boot up properly. When either part is malfunctioning, the Mac may not pass POST (Power-On Self Test), or not be able to turn on.

A logic board failure is a very common cause of a dead laptop. Every part of the Mac is connected to the logic board and is the channel of communication between the CPU and other components. So once this channel is broken up by a logic board failure, signals won’t reach their respective components. Ultimately, nothing will work.

GPU and RAM failures also could disrupt the startup processes, as they both play a part in the process. The video card generates an accurate display feed that shows images once the Mac is turned on. Your Mac’s RAM stores data like system settings and startup information. These settings and information can be quickly accessed while the Mac is booting up.

Fixing logic board issues

As we’ve mentioned above, accurate testing and diagnosis is generally required to treat any computer issue. But because there is no direct way to diagnose a faulty logic board, and when both the GPU and RAM can’t be removed from the board for testing, this part is a little bit more tricky. We’ll have to deduce a logic board failure by eliminating other possible hardware faults. So after testing the hard drive and Macbook screen, we can get a more or less clear idea of what’s wrong with the laptop.

This is why logic board repairs are known to be quite difficult to test and repair. The whole board may need to be taken out entirely for a replacement. This kind of repair requires very careful and experienced hands to do so. It is an unpredictable part as well, as logic board repairs don’t have a high success rate. We cover more about logic board failures and repair in our guide here.

Keyboard or power button failure

While this is less likely to be why your Mac isn’t turning on, there is a chance that a malfunctioning power button is not letting your Mac power on. Pretty funny, right?

For Macbook models with power buttons integrated onto the keyboard, unresponsive or jammed keys may come in your way when you try to turn your Mac on. While this will not happen with Macbook models that have a separate power button (e.g. Macbook Pro Retina 2016 with touch bar), a faulty power button could also do the same. However, chances of a power button failure happening are pretty slim. This is because newer models turn on automatically when you open the lid.

A final word

With all this testing, you might be able to find the culprit behind your Mac startup issue. Depending on the faulty component and the scope of damage, you may or may not be able to fix your Macbook yourself. Fortunately, with the help of a little research and online guides, you might be able to change this.

After learning about all these hardware issues, you should be more prepared to face them when they do happen. This is also why backing up your data is a very important computing habit to keep. You never know when tragedy can strike, and a complete computer failure could cost you documents, photos, and projects.

Regularly backing up your data to an external hard drive or an online cloud service could be a lifesaver when it comes down to it. You won’t have to worry about your data when you decide to take your Mac to a repair service as well.

Professional repairs at Safemode Computer Service

When you can’t get help from the Apple store, or if you’re not bothered to go all the way there, consider coming to us! We at Safemode Computer Service are also happy to help with any computer issue. A Mac that won’t turn on is understandably quite a lot to handle. Not to worry, we can take that trouble right off your hands. We are comfortably situated in the Inner West, a quick stop from surrounding suburbs of Newtown and Marrickville. Our expert technicians can help you diagnose your Mac and offer our highly rated service. Call us to make an appointment or come by our Enmore store today.

Reported Problems:

One of the biggest challenges we have ever done! An Apple MacBook Pro 13 inch A1278 year 2011 laptop was booked in for repairs. The laptop was soaked with water (lots of water, inside a bag) and was no longer booting up.

The Repairs:

This laptop may have suffered multiple water damages. The mission of rescuing this laptop won’t be an easy ride. More than one part will need to be replaced. For this laptop, after extensive testings, we have determined that its logic board, heatsink and screen need to be replaced.

We first have a look inside this laptop.

Now let’s remove the logic board from the computer. Make sure to disconnect other parts first.

Now we can have a look at the logic board.

Testing has confirmed that this logic board is damaged and will need to be replaced. We can now take out a replacement logic board and replace it.

Here we encounter an unexpected problem. This logic board, for some reason, is different from common MacBook Pro A1278 logic boards, it’s nowhere to be found in the market.

Unable to use the common A1278 logic board, we talked to our suppliers to source for an alternative Apple logic board with the same specs.

Now we have the replacement board, installing it brought up another issue. The board’s heatsink was not compatible and had to be replaced too.

Now we have replaced both logic board and heatsink for this MacBook Pro laptop, next is to replace the screen.

Replacing screen for Apple MacBook Pro unibody laptops is never an easy job. The screen is behind a glass cover, replacing the screen means we need to remove the glass cover first. The glass cover is fragile and may break when you attempt to take it out.

Heat up the glass cover with a heat gun and remove it with a suction cup.

Carefully remove the glass cover and make sure not to damage or burn anything underneath.

Have a replacement glass cover in case you broke the original one. Always wear gloves and safety glasses to avoid injuries.

Now we should have access to the screen.

Let’s replace it with a new screen.

With new screen, new logic board, new heatsink installed, the rest of this job is simpler. Reassemble the laptop and test it out.

The laptop turns on fine and booted into Mac OS X normally. Try out other functions such as wireless, keyboard, touchpad to make sure it’s working properly.

All are working perfectly as they should be. Mission accomplished.

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