-
MacBook Pro LCD Repair…on the cheap.
I had a MacBook Pro with a broken LCD screen…as I told you all about in a previous post. I went to a local Mac authorized repair center and was given a quote of $550 for the repair. This is pretty darn high…my laptop is old, bought in 2008 so 5 years old, and I wasn’t quite ready to sink that much money into an older machine. I mean, all I needed was the LCD replaced, why is that so much money?
So I did some research at the urging of a coworker and found the specific LCD for my computer, available for $199…$208 with shipping. That is a bit less than $550. But the catch is that I’d have to replace it myself. Further research led me to a couple sites with instructions on how to replace the panel. I settled on one at ifixit.com… I read the full step by step and was a bit daunted…I’d have to take out 38 screws, and use a razor to separate my panel from the case. But hey…I replaced a hard drive in a Powerbook, and an iBook. I’ve built a computer or two…so this should be fine. I ordered the panel
It arrived a few days later. Found it on the porch after a trip to Phoenix. It was packed well…wrapped a few times over in bubble wrap. Since my workload was light at work this week, I decided to take it there and do the replacement. I brought along two toolkits I had…one with small regular and phillips head screw drivers, and the other with all the other small screwdrivers I need for electronics…including the T6 Torx screwdriver I’d need for 8 screws. I brought it into work, cleared off a large area of my desk (the desk is one LONG desk that serves two edit workstations, and the area we use to print DVD labels). It was a bit dark, so I had to bring over a lamp, and aim mine at the general area. I set out to taking my computer apart.
I removed the battery, 5 screws from inside that compartment, then four near the lid hinge, then four on each side of the computer. That enabled me to remove the keyboard and surrounding surface. I had to disconnect the keyboard from the logic board. My computer was now in two pieces.
Now, to keep track of what screws went where, I took a large 11x8 piece of paper (too large for the job, really) and wrote down what step I was on, drew a box, and put the screws from that step into that box. This was a trick I learned from the first time I disassembled a laptop. There are a LOT of screws to keep track of, and knowing what goes where is VERY important.
I then removed more screws, disconnected wires from 5 locations, and was able to pop off the whole laptop screen from the computer. (if you want the full blow by blow process, go to the iFixit Link…I don’t feel the need to repeat the entire process). Now my computer was in three pieces.
Now I needed to separate the LCD from the frame. First, four screws on either side, then two on the front… then to tackle taking off the protective cover. This was going to be tricky as I didn’t have the “splurgier,” a plastic piece that helps pry apart the parts you need pried apart, without damaging the parts you are prying. I had to resort to using my smaller flat head screw drivers, but they did the trick. Not TOO much damage. I slowly worked around the case and popped it off.
When I did, I heard the clatter of small metal pieces. I looked inside the cover to see two small mounts just floating free. It took me a while to figure out what they were, where they went. I figured out that they needed to loosely sit tucked into the corners of the panel backing. They were where the screws on the front went into, and those small parts went under the lip of the back to hold the screen in place. Getting this back on will be tricky.
Now came the delicate part. Not that the other parts weren’t delicate. But now came the part where I had to separate the LCD from the metal frame that it was glued to. First I removed the orange static-free tape, and then I had to peel back some black electrical type tape, and then more tape. Carefully remove the iSight camera wire…disconnect that from the camera, disconnect another wire…OK, done. the glue. I tried the razor…wasn’t getting anywhere. It wouldn’t really fit between. So I grabbed an exacto and tried that…it got in there, but I couldn’t maneuver it well. So I ended up using delicate brute force. That seems like an oxymoron…”delicate brute force.” But it was just that…I gently, but FIRMLY, pushed on the back of the panel to push it free of the glue. That was working, and I was able to get the exacto in there to cut a little of the glue. But really, the pushing alone worked best.
I heard cracking, and popping…yes, I was damaging the LCD as I removed it. But it already was damaged, so I wasn’t concerned about damaging it further. But the frame was beginning to bend, and I wanted to avoid breaking that. So I tried to be even more delicate in my brutishness. I did eventually get it out, but one side was bent, and cracked a little…not a lot, but a small amount. Price of doing things yourself, without ALL the proper tools.
OK, time to put in the new panel. I didn’t need to glue this one in place…the instructions just said to put it in place and add the screws. I’m sure some residual glue was there, but not sure if it was important. Don’t’ really need it, the screws held it in place fine. So I slipped it into the frame, added the 8 screws that held it on the sides, attached the Eyesight camera, retaped the wires, and then…oh, yeah…gotta get this LCD backing back on it. With those two floating pieces OK, I tucked them into their corners, snapped the LCD into place and tried to get the front screws in and…they weren’t connecting. Those floaters moved. DAMN! Now what? My co-worker came over with a large push pin and an idea…use that to reach through the screw hole and try to get them back into place. After a few attempts, I was able to do so, and screwed the panel into place
REASSEMBLY!
I reversed the order of the steps, reconnecting wires, putting the screws back in, keyboard connected, back into place…screw screw screw.
Add back the battery, flip it over, open it up and… Press the power button.
Computer chimes…LCD panel lights up…and I see the Apple logo…full screen. SUCCESS!!
Yaay…computer working. Now I have bubble wrap for stress release. Pop pop pop POP POP POP…until my coworkers politely asks me to please stop, he’s trying to work over there.
Fine. And I have this old, and now really cracked, LCD panel. Do I just throw it away? NO! It contains toxic stuff. I need to take it to a facility that takes this sort of trash, and that is in Glendale. So, it comes home with me until I dispose of it properly.
Now that I know how to take apart my computer…I’m thinking of replacing the hard drive with a bigger one. I don’t have many steps…just the part where I take of the keyboard…that gives me access to that…
Next time.
So, the repair would have cost $550+tax if I took it in to the Apple repair center. Doing it myself cost $208.54. A savings of $341.46…plus tax.
OH…and another thing. When I was writing this I closed my laptop lid a little harder than I should. The monitor then would not come on. So I had to repeat the whole process (well, other than separating the LCD from the frame) and tighten the connection. It works again.
How much do you think a family of five can survive on? We're not canceling the kids music and dance lessons or anything. That's the stuff that really makes a life. What we want to do here is cut down all of our unnecessary spending (think coffee at Starbucks, clothes, frequent snacks and meals out) so that we can do more of the things we love and make a really good life for ourselves.
So, here's the plan:
In 2012, the Ross Family is committed to challenging ourselves to be more mindful about our spending. We are going to examine the ways in which we use our money, and try to save as much on the superfluous stuff as possible, so we can do more of the things we love, and achieve some family dreams.
The point is to stop and think about where we are throwing our money, and why; and maybe, as a family, start to make better, more responsible choices that will benefit us all. Why "The Low Life?" We are striving toward low cost, low impact, low stress, low maintenance family living. Being vegetarian, we eat low on the food chain. Some people say we're just a bunch of lowlifes :)
Follow us as we embark on our journey. Will it be an experiment, or will it become a major lifestyle change for us? We honestly don't know. We know it will be tough sometimes, and we know it will be rewarding. Most importantly, we know that we will be doing it together. Wish us luck!
With contributions by Sam, Shane, Justice, Hallie and Kaia.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS:
Sam: Sam (a.k.a. "Mama") is a wife, mother of 3 and part-time elementary school drama teacher. Originally from the D.C./Metro Area, she met Shane on a roadtrip in 1994. When he was crazy enough to ask her to marry him, she agreed, moving with him first to Arizona (to finish earning her college degree) and then to Los Angeles, where he works in television post-production. She has been vegetarian since she was 14 years old. Sam fancies herself a Frugal Fashionista, frequenting yard sales and thrift stores and cutting up crappy old clothes to make fabulous new ones. She loves all things free (samples, books, speech, etc.) and has been known to rescue abandoned furniture from the side of the road in order to give it a happy new home. In her spare time, Sam likes to point and laugh at people who think mamas have "spare time." When she manages to steal a minute or two, she enjoys good, loud, live music, dancing (yes, she's that person who dances in L.A.) and not looking very cool. She is learning to knit, and enjoys sewing, gardening, cooking, graffiti, body art and dyeing her hair unusual colours. She wears combat boots. To church.
She would like to waste less food and save up enough money to put a down payment on a house and get health insurance for her family, as well as pay off the family's debt. In her dreams, she imagines taking another family vacation to Amsterdam, but will settle for planting tulips in the backyard.
Shane: Shane Ross is a television editor who specializes in documentaries, but been known to dabble in children's programming on occasion. He is from Western Montana, and Western Oregon, and then moved to Phoenix, AZ in the name of love. After a short while he relocated to Los Angeles, CA forcing his wife to move, in the name of love. He is an avid bicyclist, movie fan, and TV junkie…who skis on occasion (on the mountains, not the water). Been known to consider a can of corn "dinner."
He is hoping to save money so that he can buy a house, and a motor scooter…in that order.
Hallie (age 11): Hi, my name's Hallie Kay Erin Ross. I love writing, drawing, performing, and writing comics. I am also fascinated by ancient Egypt, and when I grow up I want to write comics and novels, but I also want to become an Egyptologist. When I perform I like to do plays. I am a drummer, and I play a little violin, flute and guitar, too. I want to learn how to play every instrument in existence and I like to make my own clothes, because no stores have exactly what I like, or alter my old clothes and turn them into new ones. I think the idea of trying to live off a $50 budget is a smart idea, and a good way to save money. I want to be able to buy a house, but I also hope we can save enough money to take a family trip to Egypt, and maybe to go to Berlin's Neues Museum in Germany to see the Bust of Nefertiti.
Justice (age 14): Hey there, world! I’m Justice Camille Noel Nem Sitscuit “Peanut Butter” “Kisa-chan” “Justi” Ross, and a whole lot of other things, too. I’m 14 years old and am in 9th grade as of spring 2012. I play the acoustice and electric bass, and I plan to pursue music proffessionally, in teaching, performing, or music therapy. I pass my time listening to music, dancing, playing bass, singing, reading, and making TONS of crafts. I am craft crazy. I especially making my own jewelry, usually made out of my own clay beads. I started making clay beads in about 5th grade, and I hope to open an etsy page to start selling, so keep an eye out! Plus, I love making anything to do with duct tape. I’m working on a skirt and plan to make a dress.
Also, I am a complete fashionista and I play by my own rules. One day, a turtleneck and slacks; the next, a plastic necklace, saddle shoes rock-n-roll gauntlets and a dress. I’m obsessed with accessories and interesting haircuts: right now my hair is in a very steeply angled bob, before that I looked like Ramona Flowers (in book one). I also love restyling clothes, which is part of how I plan to contribute to our project. If I see a cute skirt or shirt in a boutique, chances are I can get a thrift store T-shirt and make something that looks practically identical. This would save loads of money.
Another thing I’ve been cutting down on is snacks from the student store – I used to spend maybe $10-$15 per month, which is just a whole lot of cash down the drain. And I’m trying a lot of cheap brands with my family – you wouldn’t believe how good cheap food can be. Or how bad it can be. So, here’s to a sense of adventure and a picky pallette!
One thing I’m working on: tomatoes. They fit right into our budget we ca even grow them, abundantly, in our own backyard. And I like them! But ever since I was little, I’ve convinced myself that they are disgusting, and so now I gag every time I come near them even though I enjoy the taste. It must be a food aversion or something. Don’t laugh, this is serious! So, yeah, just thought that would be an interesting tidbit there.
And about that – our garden. We grow a bunch of food, and I plan to help the family effort a lot by weeding and planting (and digging and tilling and burying and picking. . .). not long ago I cut a bunch of rosemary. We probably won’t use it all in a year. Lettuce too. Anyone want to trade? Pretty pretty please with a dozen cherries? Same if you want lemons or oranges, let my mom know!
I really hope that with this money, we can do a lot of things we’ve been wanting to do. I want to take my family to Magic Mountain, Hallie and Daddy would love Tatsu. And maybe Seaworld, too. I haven’t been to the zoo forever, and Disneyland, or Universal Studios, are also definately on my list. But in addition to that, I found a few charities that I really want to be able to help out. One is called Gifts of Hope. There, you can donate money and chose where it goes, you can give a family a goat, a grove of mango trees, baby blankets, disaster kits, or even school uniforms. I also would love to be able to give to MEND – Meet Each Need with Dignity. It helps people in need. . . do what the name implies. (Even if you can’t donate, you can volunteer – check it out!) NRDC, the National Resources Defence Council, has been sending me petitions since I was ten, but sometimes they need donations – and we just haven’t had enough to spare. And I also hope that one day, if I get asked to prom, I can get a nice dress without breaking the bank. The last one seems silly, and of course I don’t plan to buy a thousand dollar dress anyway, but it is true. The same goes for college funds, assuming I’d have to take a huge loan otherwise.
So, that’s the down and dirty. Who I am, what I do, what I want to do. How I plan to help. And how I plan to spend my time livin’ The Low Life.
Charity Sites:
http://www.mendpoverty.org/ - MEND
http://www.planusa.org/giftsofhope/search.php - Gifts of Hope
http://www.nrdc.org/ - NRDC
Kaia (age 8) My name is Kaia (KI-uh) and I am 8 years old. My favorite subjects are Math & Science; my favorite color is purple.I play the trumpet and I have a purple hippo that I've had since I was 1 year old. I think The project is a good idea because we won't be spending so much money. The big thing we're all aiming to save enough money for is a house. One of the things I want us to save up for is 5 tickets to Disneyland. We all agreed to sometimes have Sunday Treat at home. I think how I could help is by donating my allowance toward what we're aiming for. It wouldn't exactly be SAVING UP, but it would help the cause.
