Dropped MacBook Pro

[spaceghost21]

My MacBook Pro got knocked off my desk. It was my fault, it was placed precariously, I know. Anyway, now the CDROM appears to be broken, it won't read the CDROM that was in it and won't eject it. Anyone have any experience/idea how much it fill cost to have it fixed? That asked, the drive makes a horrible grinding noise every few seconds, anyway I can disable and keep it from doing this for the next few days until I can send it off to be repaired?

 

[aleckz]

most likely a billion dollars... how else will apple stay afloat

 

[spaceghost21]

Originally posted by: aleckz
most likely a billion dollars... how else will apple stay afloat

:brokenheart:

 

[TheStu]

A new optical drive will cost you about $80-120 depending on where you find it, and if you want the SuperDrive (DVD burner) or ComboDrive (CDRW/DVDROM). Replacing it in the MacBook Pro is a bit of a challenge, but not too hard if you use the guides on ifixit.com.

 

[mmntech]

What kind of MBP is it? A new replacement drive costs $199.95 from iFixIt. I think this is too much though. You can probably find a used one for cheaper off eBay or other stores. It's $150 on Powerbook Medic for example. On the unibody 15'' it's a strait forward DIY job that just requires removing the bottom panel. It's a little more work on the older models since you have to remove a couple more panels, but it's not too complicated. I'm not sure about the 17'' unibody. Just follow Ifixit's guides to see how to do it.
www.ifixit.com

 

[spaceghost21]

It's a 17":

Model Identifier: MacBookPro4,1
Processor Name: Intel Core 2 Duo
Processor Speed: 2.5 GHz

 

[spaceghost21]

Thanks for the tip on ifixit, think that is what I'll do.

 

[umrigar]

$95 here
http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Apple/UJ857CP/

check with them to see if it also works in a 17"

 

[aphex]

http://www.centrix-intl.com/details.asp?productid=6757 - $60

 

[TheStu]

I think the drive that Aphex linked to should work. IIRC, the MacBook Pro 17" uses a traditional 12.7mm optical drive instead of the 9.5mm drive on the MacBook and MacBook Pro 15.

 

[umrigar]

from XLR8yourmac.com:

Reviewer's Name: John
Date Submitted: 4/4/2008
Drive Type: DVD+R/RW + DVD-R/RW Drives
Drive Interface: IDE
Drive Brand: Matshita
Drive Model Number: UJ-875-S
Driver Used: Apple Standard
Mac Model: Apple MacBook Pro
Mac OS Version: OS X 10.5
Reader Comments: I replaced my worn-out UJ-846-C CDR/DVDR-DL with a new UJ-875-S CDR/DVDR-DL.
(Did the original drive fail? (you said worn-out) or did you just see issues with it (or wanted some new features with the new drive? ) Any speed differences w/new drive? (see reply below)-Mike)

It is completely compatible - all screws and mounting brackets line up, cables fit, it boots, it burns, it's working well and has caused no hiccups of any kind.

Here are the vitals:
Macbook Pro 17" 2.16 Core Duo, running OS 10.5.2
Removed: Panasonic ( Matshita ) UJ-846-C
Installed: Panasonic ( Matshita ) UJ-875-S
(Panasonic drives usually filed under Matshita brand name here as that's the brand reported by Apple system profiler)
I purchased the UJ-875-S new from Meritline.com

(What's the drive speed rating? (I suspect 8x max DVD, 24x max CD?) Any support for DVD-RAM or Lightscribe? Just good to note that sort of thing if present.-Mike)
Yes, it's 24x and 8x, it supports dvd-ram, but not lightscribe. My original UJ-846 just became so flakey - it couldn't recognize any of the media I had burned in the past, it couldn't recognize any of my verbatim blank media, and couldn't recognize commercial dvd's and cd's about 50% of the time.

I suspect some kind of alignment issue, or maybe a dirty lens - maybe someday I'll open it up and clean the lens and see if it helps, but for $75 it seemed like a great time to replace it. I like the speed increase, especially burning DVD's, but I didn't feel that the UJ-846 was lacking in features at all. So I guess I upgraded to solve issues rather than to gain features.