Macbook pro 2011

AstroTurf

AstroTurf

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So I got one of these that has been off for a year and obviously that means the battery is kaput.

What should I do with this thing?
I am tempted to load windows on it....

Not really an apple fan (although I now have said macbook and an ipod, both inherited).

Oh, specks seem ok.
I7, 4GB ram, 512GB drive
 
You apple guys are not friendly :(

btw, anyone know what a battery replacement would cost for this thing?
 
You'd be looking at around $190, including shipping to South Africa, from a place like iFixit, plus 14% VAT and courier processing fees (probably another R200). They provide installation instructions.

AstroTurf said:
You apple guys are not friendly :(
Click to expand...
You said you weren't a fan, so you hurt everyone's feelings.
 
AstroTurf said:
So I got one of these that has been off for a year and obviously that means the battery is kaput.

What should I do with this thing?
I am tempted to load windows on it....

Not really an apple fan (although I now have said macbook and an ipod, both inherited).

Oh, specks seem ok.
I7, 4GB ram, 512GB drive
Click to expand...
Try charging it?

What size screen?
 
Do you need to run anything that the OS X environment can't? Just curious why'd you'd soil it with Windows (no disrespect to MS, just seems pointless to hobble an OS to run on different hardware)?

My advice: load Mavericks or Yosemite and see if you like it.
 
bwana said:
Try charging it?

What size screen?
Click to expand...
15" and the battery says not charging and suggests I replace it.

I'll try freeze it first.

I see there are plenty cheapish on eBay (R400 more or less) and simple enough to replace.
 
Last edited:
lupedelupe said:
Do you need to run anything that the OS X environment can't? Just curious why'd you'd soil it with Windows (no disrespect to MS, just seems pointless to hobble an OS to run on different hardware)?

My advice: load Mavericks or Yosemite and see if you like it.
Click to expand...
Osx is freaking slow on this device as it is at the moment. Lots of beach balls.

I'll likely try reload it first even though all I got was a bag, charger, macbook and pretty funky apple Bluetooth mouse.

Possibly a ram and hard drive upgrade will also be in order but is it worth it?
 
AstroTurf said:
Osx is freaking slow on this device as it is at the moment. Lots of beach balls.

I'll likely try reload it first even though all I got was a bag, charger, macbook and pretty funky apple Bluetooth mouse.

Possibly a ram and hard drive upgrade will also be in order but is it worth it?
Click to expand...

You should do a clean install of the os anyway - and seeing as it takes standard ram upgrading that won't be too expensive. An SSD or hybrid drive speeds up any computer.
 
AstroTurf said:
15" and the battery says not charging and suggests I replace it.

I'll try freeze it first.

I see there are plenty cheapish on eBay (R400 more or less) and simple enough to replace.
Click to expand...

Have you reset the SMC?
 
bwana said:
You should do a clean install of the os anyway - and seeing as it takes standard ram upgrading that won't be too expensive. An SSD or hybrid drive speeds up any computer.
Click to expand...
Yea, I kinda want to leave it as is at the moment. A small slither of an amazing persons life.
I am in no hurry, just wish I could make the beachballs go away faster. I also do not have any administration rights as I do not have his password.
 
AstroTurf said:
Yea, I kinda want to leave it as is at the moment. A small slither of an amazing persons life.
I am in no hurry, just wish I could make the beachballs go away faster. I also do not have any administration rights as I do not have his password.
Click to expand...

Replace the drive then. :)
 
bwana said:
Replace the drive then. :)
Click to expand...
Yea I think I will do that.

Another thing I noticed that I will try fix, this being the only thing physically wrong with the device. The touch pad is at a very slight angle. Around .5mm skew.
 
AstroTurf said:
Yea I think I will do that.

Another thing I noticed that I will try fix, this being the only thing physically wrong with the device. The touch pad is at a very slight angle. Around .5mm skew.
Click to expand...

Could be a bloated battery.
 
Btw when they first came out I was very much trying to get someone to buy so I could try it out and see how grand they are. Amuses me that I now have one in my favourite condition. "needs fixin"
 
AstroTurf said:
Osx is freaking slow on this device as it is at the moment. Lots of beach balls.

I'll likely try reload it first even though all I got was a bag, charger, macbook and pretty funky apple Bluetooth mouse.

Possibly a ram and hard drive upgrade will also be in order but is it worth it?
Click to expand...
Put in an ssd if you don't need the space or a hybrid if you do
 
battery:
does the led on the magsafe adapter remain green when you start the laptop or does is it initially orange then switched to green ?
download this: http://www.coconut-flavour.com/coconutbattery/ it will give you some idea as what is going on with the battery.
try reset the smc - instructions at part 3 here: http://osxdaily.com/2014/02/04/magsafe-wont-charge-mac-fix/

slow:
if it is really slow and constantly displaying "beach balls" reinstall the os. (fresh install)
you may want to clone the existing drive beforehand in order to preserve it's current content.
before reinstalling the os, try booting into safe mode (press power button to start up, and hold down the "shift" key while it boots (you will see a progress bar appear under the apple logo on the screen as it boots)

password:
there are a few methods to get around this
 
oh, and wow, taking that bloated thing out seems to have the thing running about 20x faster.
 
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