Wife's MacBook went blackscreen: DOA?

[dirkronk]

Hi guys.

I know there are some computer-literate folks on here, so I need some input if you're willing. My wife was recharging her MacBook (top of the line back in 2013 but now?) and when she went to turn it on, it was no go. Screen totally black and the case was kinda hot until we stopped futzing with it. It's already had some issues (built-in left speaker went flooey several months back) but nothing that has affected its actual utility until now. In fact, wife was using it yesterday or the day before and no problem...now we got one. So...

Question 1: have any of you encountered this kind of issue on an Apple laptop of this vintage? Is it fixable...and if so, is it even worth dragging it to the local Apple-approved outlet (MacTLC...not the Apple Store) to see about a repair? Or can they at least retrieve her software & files? Unless it's a common and easily fixable quirk, I'll guess that money would be better spent on a new model. However, my wife likes the larger screen (15") and I'm not even sure they make that size any more, so I may be making a sojourn to the store just to say I tried...

Question 2: Assuming I'm correct that investment in a new Mac laptop is coming (my wife is brilliant in many ways but NOT a techie and Apple is what she knows, so Windows machines are not an option), what do you recommend? She mainly uses it to web-surf, order stuff on Amazon, do email and the occasional Word document...and very little beyond that. Honestly, I'd contemplate a tablet if she weren't acclimated to a full(ish)-size keyboard. Are the solid-state hard drives a proven and desirable thing now? When I had major surgery on my desktop iMac a couple of years back, I browsed the new models and SSDs seemed to be taking over.

Anyway, any help or advice you can offer will be welcome. At least it will help me prepare for my unavoidable trip to the store.

Many thanks in advance.

Dirk (who's probably also going to need a new iMac sooner or later, as well)

[LAPlayer]

The fact that you got 10 years out of it is a tribute ro Apple. There’s simply no way to know without a visit to Apple. They will let you know if there’s any trade value. I would not repair it because it is already incapable of updating to the latest OS.

[Acousticado]

Our MacBook Pro is more than the vintage of yours and is demonstrating similar behavior. Can’t fire it up anymore. We could be wrong, but suspect that the battery is shot which could be the culprit. We haven’t tried yet, but perhaps removing the battery will allow it to power up.

My wife and I each have our own older iPads and iPhones, so since the MB started acting up a while ago and she’d said she likes the screen size of the MB but wishes her iPad had a keyboard, for Christmas a couple of years ago I bought her an iPad Pro with the magic keyboard. She appreciated it, but REALLY misses the MB and wants another.

Soon, we’ll be buying a new MB Pro M3. We think the content of our old MB will be transferable to a new MB. Waaaaay more power than she’ll ever need, but I’ll be using it as I prepare to get back to home recording.

[Jamolay]

Have you tried plugging an external monitor to it?

Then try starting in “recovery” mode.

I had this happen and eventually got it working, but it was so long ago I couldn’t recall.

It also happened after my wife spilled coffee on her keyboard. We had to replace something for about $200, can’t recall what. But no data was lost.

[imwjl]

Originally Posted by dirkronk

Hi guys.

I know there are some computer-literate folks on here, so I need some input if you're willing. My wife was recharging her MacBook (top of the line back in 2013 but now?) and when she went to turn it on, it was no go. Screen totally black and the case was kinda hot until we stopped futzing with it. It's already had some issues (built-in left speaker went flooey several months back) but nothing that has affected its actual utility until now. In fact, wife was using it yesterday or the day before and no problem...now we got one. So...

Question 1: have any of you encountered this kind of issue on an Apple laptop of this vintage? Is it fixable...and if so, is it even worth dragging it to the local Apple-approved outlet (MacTLC...not the Apple Store) to see about a repair? Or can they at least retrieve her software & files? Unless it's a common and easily fixable quirk, I'll guess that money would be better spent on a new model. However, my wife likes the larger screen (15") and I'm not even sure they make that size any more, so I may be making a sojourn to the store just to say I tried...

Question 2: Assuming I'm correct that investment in a new Mac laptop is coming (my wife is brilliant in many ways but NOT a techie and Apple is what she knows, so Windows machines are not an option), what do you recommend? She mainly uses it to web-surf, order stuff on Amazon, do email and the occasional Word document...and very little beyond that. Honestly, I'd contemplate a tablet if she weren't acclimated to a full(ish)-size keyboard. Are the solid-state hard drives a proven and desirable thing now? When I had major surgery on my desktop iMac a couple of years back, I browsed the new models and SSDs seemed to be taking over.

Anyway, any help or advice you can offer will be welcome. At least it will help me prepare for my unavoidable trip to the store.

Many thanks in advance.

Dirk (who's probably also going to need a new iMac sooner or later, as well)

Your efforts for that vintage should be mostly or exclusively getting access to your data and a new computer. I hope you've been making Time Machine backups.

If everything is silent and when plugged in it might be dead. Using an external display could help let you know if it is dead or just a bad display.

As far as new, I have a bias for first tier models if Windows or a Mac and more bias for the M type Mac battery life. Final bargains on original M type MacBook Air models are out there but current Air models are great.

As far as storage, we're getting to 20 years since solid state drives have been mainstream and reliable.

The use scenario you mention is also find for iPads where at this point you can have keyboard and size like laptops but that's much more than buying an entry level iPad also great.

If you are near an actual Apple Store and fully intend to trade or buy new, that might also be your best bet for data recovery if you don't have Time Machine backups.

No one should be using a Mac or Windows computer that old for a lot of tasks if only for security.

[dirkronk]

Originally Posted by imwjl

Your efforts for that vintage should be mostly or exclusively getting access to your data and a new computer.

OK. I was afraid of that.

Originally Posted by imwjl

I hope you've been making Time Machine backups.

Alas, my 3T Time Machine is nearly as old as the laptop and during the covid thing a few years back, connection to her laptop was lost and none of my (well-intentioned but inept) efforts to reconnect worked. She also lost the ability to access our printer remotely from the laptop. We kept talking about getting a tech out to the house to reconfigure everything but that didn't happen. I think the current situation will provide motivation...

Originally Posted by imwjl

If everything is silent and when plugged in it might be dead. Using an external display could help let you know if it is dead or just a bad display.

Still makes noise, so I think it was trying to boot up, but the black screen made it impossible to tell. I hope that's a hint that her software, downloads and assorted files are still salvageable.

Originally Posted by imwjl

As far as new, I have a bias for first tier models if Windows or a Mac and more bias for the M type Mac battery life. Final bargains on original M type MacBook Air models are out there but current Air models are great.

Good input. What battery life should we expect in a new machine these days?

Originally Posted by imwjl

The use scenario you mention is also find for iPads where at this point you can have keyboard and size like laptops but that's much more than buying an entry level iPad also great.

Yeah...I'll check out the iPad thing, but I will guess that my wife will still want a laptop. She keeps talking about finding a new computer tutor (her old one moved away several years back) but that's another thing that hasn't got past the talking stage.

Originally Posted by imwjl

No one should be using a Mac or Windows computer that old for a lot of tasks if only for security.

More good advice. Being 3+ years into retirement and away from daily interaction with IT specialists (boy, was I spoiled!), I need occasional reminders of stuff like that. Once we get on the other side of this issue, my wife and I need to think about getting new iPhones (ours are 8 Plus models, so probably getting close to phase-out for Apple support). And Spectrum is changing our plan, so I really need to get deep into cord-cutting-streaming-service options for home WiFi and TV stuff. Man...this is likely to be a costly and tech-filled time for us barely-reformed Luddites!

Many thanks to you, imwjl, and to the rest of you who've posted.

Cheers,
Dirk

[imwjl]

Originally Posted by dirkronk

OK. I was afraid of that.



Alas, my 3T Time Machine is nearly as old as the laptop and during the covid thing a few years back, connection to her laptop was lost and none of my (well-intentioned but inept) efforts to reconnect worked. She also lost the ability to access our printer remotely from the laptop. We kept talking about getting a tech out to the house to reconfigure everything but that didn't happen. I think the current situation will provide motivation...



Still makes noise, so I think it was trying to boot up, but the black screen made it impossible to tell. I hope that's a hint that her software, downloads and assorted files are still salvageable.



Good input. What battery life should we expect in a new machine these days?



Yeah...I'll check out the iPad thing, but I will guess that my wife will still want a laptop. She keeps talking about finding a new computer tutor (her old one moved away several years back) but that's another thing that hasn't got past the talking stage.



More good advice. Being 3+ years into retirement and away from daily interaction with IT specialists (boy, was I spoiled!), I need occasional reminders of stuff like that. Once we get on the other side of this issue, my wife and I need to think about getting new iPhones (ours are 8 Plus models, so probably getting close to phase-out for Apple support). And Spectrum is changing our plan, so I really need to get deep into cord-cutting-streaming-service options for home WiFi and TV stuff. Man...this is likely to be a costly and tech-filled time for us barely-reformed Luddites!

Many thanks to you, imwjl, and to the rest of you who've posted.

Cheers,
Dirk

If you have iPhones staying with a Mac will get you far superior phone integration in addition to battery life.

My work day is usually sitting at or carrying comparable Microsoft Surface brand laptop with i5, 16 GB RAM and M type MacBook about same age. The M MacBook usually gets 100% to 400% more from a full charge. Some video meetings burn up the Windows battery faster.

I purposely keep at the Windows phone integration options too for the sake of staff. It's coming along for basic stuff but is pretty lame overall such as handling multiple text replies and not differentiating PSTN and VoIP calling.

If you can go to an actual Apple Store you can have low or no pressure hands on with about any option. Some certified partner stores are good but not likely the same stuff to touch.

The Surface brand laptops I like are a but conservative for specs but very high quality build and no extra stuff I find annoying. At work we also buy the first tier laptops from Dell, HP and on occasion Lenovo. Lately HP have kept folks happier.

Our son got one of the historically good Dell XPS with an engineering student spec and had the same problem I see others have had with track pad popping out and after the repair the whole thing has been flakey so that has been a big disappointment. Hopefully Dell will get those back to the good reputation they've had.

If you go to an actual Apple Store you will not only get the free and ethical recycling but good trade credit for some older devices.

My biggest worry here is your data recovery. An Apple Store might be your best bet to have that done without it costing a whole lot and with competence. Don't ask or pay for a data recovery and ask for it part of a new purchase.

[Gee Man]

I agree with others, do what you can to save the files from the current computer and look at one of the new M3 Macbook Airs, will be a nice bump up from your current computer and more than enough computing power for your stated needs.

[latentaudio]

Take a look at what Apple suggests for blank screens on startup: https://support.apple.com/en-us/102575

[Dogma]

I would not consider repairing a Mac of that age. My old (roughly similar vintage) MBP won't hold a charge and will no longer connect to the internet (another common aging device symptom). As I sold my business at about the same time the computer went downhill, I decided I could replace the MBP an MBA. I don't miss the capabilities of the Pro at all. I did download LibreOffice, a free open-source program with the general capabilities and familiarity of MS OfficeSuite, for the infrequent times when I need to create a written document or a spreadsheet. I think the space bar is going away from the Air's keyboard, or may have done so after my version which is the first generation Air with the M1 chip. I have had some glitchy problems with my Air, but hopefully newer editions are/will be better. It certainly performs well for the functions you have described.