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#1 2009-08-06 8:41 am
- skamen
- Member
- From: Big Rapids , MI , USA
- Registered: 2001-04-21
- Posts: 284
Best Place to Get Optical Drive on MacBook Replaced?
Hi,
My combo drive on MacBook has died on me. At first it failed to burn CDs, which was annoying but something I could deal with as I don't burn CDs all that often. Now the drive won't read CDs or DVDs either. I am living in College Park, Maryland (Metro DC area) and am a grad student at the University of Maryland. Unfortunately, Maryland does not do repairs on computers they didn't sell. I am not comfortable with working with the insides of laptop and would like to find the cheapest place to install a replacement combo drive (I don't really need a Super Drive) into my MacBook. Does anyone have any suggestions and an idea of what I might have to spend?
Thanks,
-Scott
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#2 2009-08-06 9:06 am
- sturner
- Royal High Poobah
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- From: Carrollton, TX USA
- Registered: 2000-01-31
- Posts: 13816
Re: Best Place to Get Optical Drive on MacBook Replaced?
Moved from On the Go to Everyday Tech.
I'm not dead yet.
There are 3 types of people, those who can count and those who can't.
"There are few things graven in stone, excepting your date of death."
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#3 2009-08-06 10:18 am
Re: Best Place to Get Optical Drive on MacBook Replaced?
I had the same issue with mine, but caught it just before the AppleCare expired. I'd say take it to Apple, but if you're out of warranty, that may be costly. You could try a mail-in service like Other World Computing, but you have to contact them to get an estimate for the replacement. IIRC, it's not terribly cheap.
If you don't mind not having a pristine notebook and don't need the optical drive while on the go, you could get an external FireWire or USB 2.0 drive.
It is an odd thing, but every one who disappears is said to be seen at San Francisco. It must be a delightful city, and possess all the attractions of the next world.
- Oscar Wilde
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#4 2009-08-06 10:47 am
- sturner
- Royal High Poobah
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- From: Carrollton, TX USA
- Registered: 2000-01-31
- Posts: 13816
Re: Best Place to Get Optical Drive on MacBook Replaced?
You might also look at the iFixitsite for what goes into it and what the cost for parts is.
I'm not dead yet.
There are 3 types of people, those who can count and those who can't.
"There are few things graven in stone, excepting your date of death."
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#5 2009-08-06 1:21 pm
- Nefarious
- Tuning Fork
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- From: 45°22"N 84°57"W
- Registered: 2002-09-30
- Posts: 7998
Re: Best Place to Get Optical Drive on MacBook Replaced?
The Myservice people right here in the forums will help http://www.maclife.com/forums/topic/111266
In Michigan, try the Grand Rapids Apple Store http://www.apple.com/retail/woodland/
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#6 2009-08-08 11:09 am
- skamen
- Member
- From: Big Rapids , MI , USA
- Registered: 2001-04-21
- Posts: 284
Re: Best Place to Get Optical Drive on MacBook Replaced?
I've looked at estimates it's pretty pricey to get the drive replaced. Could I boot from an external DVD drive? Does anybody know of a cheap external firewire DVD drive I could buy to use as my optical drive and use to boot from if I need to?
Thanks,
-Scott
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#7 2009-08-08 6:25 pm
- Nefarious
- Tuning Fork
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- From: 45°22"N 84°57"W
- Registered: 2002-09-30
- Posts: 7998
Re: Best Place to Get Optical Drive on MacBook Replaced?
If you're looking to re-install the OS, use Target Disk Mode. Turn your laptop into a Firewire drive. You install from a 2nd Intel Mac to the "firewire disk" which is actually your laptop.
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1661
As for booting from an external DVD drive, don't know. Somebody get the answer for us, plz.
EDITED to reflect what mrreet2001 said
Last edited by Nefarious (2009-08-08 8:44 pm)
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#8 2009-08-08 8:13 pm
- mrreet2001
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- From: NW Ohio
- Registered: 2005-05-25
- Posts: 4335
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Re: Best Place to Get Optical Drive on MacBook Replaced?
That won't work if the number 2 mac is a PPC ... Just a heads up
2.66Ghz QuadCore-Nehalem w/24"LED CD ---2.2Ghz BlackMB---15" 2.4Ghz MBP(work)
Dual 2.3Ghz G5 (4G Ram, 2x 250G HD)(10.5 server)--- 400Mhz G4 PM (10.4 Server)
1.5GHz Powerbook---1.6Ghz G5 iMac
"So he fels down in a poisoning gas."
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