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Arch. · May 12, 2003, 11:50 PM

Looks like I have myself a bitchin' 3k dollar paper weight. Early on today the thing started rejecting my hardware keys....causing me to stay on the phone all day with software vendors. I installed the same progs. on an identical PB and everything went fine.....that was at 3pm. Then at 4 when I tried to reload my progs the CD drive started spiting out evey CD or DVD I put in it. Now I am stuck because I cant even run a software restore. What is the deal with Mac Hardware? I am pretty screwed......what a time for this thing to crash out like this.....I guess I can still check my e-mail.....

Arch. · May 13, 2003, 01:33 AM

Well I guess I will just take it to the service center.

mrmister · May 13, 2003, 01:55 AM

Have you repaired permissions, or created a new user to see if it is a user or system issue? Run any utilities?

GENERAL_SMILEY · May 13, 2003, 05:34 AM

Diskwarrior?

AssassyN · May 13, 2003, 06:20 AM

Ouch man, that sounds kind of serious. If you can, run Disk Utility and Permissions Repair, and have you tried rebooting holding Command (open Apple key) + S to enter single-user mode and typing /fsck?

If none of that works, you're 17" PB will probably be on it's way back to Apple for some repair, but thankfully they'll cover the costs. Let us know what turns out, and best of luck man.

Arch. · May 13, 2003, 04:47 PM

I took it in today...so far they are going to change the superdrive...they said they would check the hardware key problems after they restore the OS. Also they might have to send it in to apple to get the bright spots on the screen taken care of. Here is to hoping that it does not get beat up

I am a bit weary about leting the thing out of my sight. I am also paranoid about them letting the screen bezel contact the body and scratching it.....I wish those pads from radtech would have shown up in time.

javabeans · May 13, 2003, 07:10 PM

Originally posted by Arch.:
I took it in today...so far they are going to change the superdrive...they said they would check the hardware key problems after they restore the OS. Also they might have to send it in to apple to get the bright spots on the screen taken care of. Here is to hoping that it does not get beat up I am a bit weary about leting the thing out of my sight. I am also paranoid about them letting the screen bezel contact the body and scratching it.....I wish those pads from radtech would have shown up in time.

Wish you the best man. BTW, do those radtech thingie that people talk about really help protect the screen? I have mine as bare as it can get, without a decent case, I put the machine in my school bag and lug it around...so far so good...but I'm afraid that something will happen if I don't have the right protection for my baby!

Can someone post the URL to that radtech store? Thanks.

threestain · May 13, 2003, 07:21 PM

Can you get the radtech pad things in the UK too? Seems a bit silly to get about �10 of stuff shipped over from the US. But then I already have marks on my screen - only a month old, dammit!

Any ideas for removing them?

AssassyN · May 13, 2003, 10:55 PM

Originally posted by javabeans:
Wish you the best man. BTW, do those radtech thingie that people talk about really help protect the screen? I have mine as bare as it can get, without a decent case, I put the machine in my school bag and lug it around...so far so good...but I'm afraid that something will happen if I don't have the right protection for my baby!

Can someone post the URL to that radtech store? Thanks.

I'll be getting my custom-printed RadTech ScreenSaver for my 17" PB within a few days, and I'll be sure to post pics as well as impressions of how well it works...by the looks of it, it'll prevent the keys from touching the screen perfectly, which is why I wanted it.

Their site is: www.radtech.us and believe me, their tech support is top-notch; I've never recieved quality customer service like I did with these guys.

AssassyN · May 13, 2003, 10:59 PM

Originally posted by threestain:
Can you get the radtech pad things in the UK too? Seems a bit silly to get about �10 of stuff shipped over from the US. But then I already have marks on my screen - only a month old, dammit!

Any ideas for removing them?

To remove marks that are already there, you'll need iKlear .

urrl5201 · May 14, 2003, 06:18 AM

Yeah, too bad your radtech cushions did not come in time. My 17" used to get marks all the time when transporting by backpack. Now there is never a mark on it:

http://homepage.mac.com/bhardy3/PhotoAlbum34.html

I recommend these cushions to whoever is getting marks where the LCD frame is contacting the handrest edges. Great for people like me who want to just forget about putting sheets of paper/screen savers in the 17" before closing the lid.

AssassyN · May 14, 2003, 06:32 AM

Ahhh, those "cushions" are RadTech Wildeepz, and can be purchased here: Click HERE

These are also quite helpful in preventing screen marks.

Arch. · May 31, 2003, 12:08 AM

I just got it back! I got a new superdrive, optical cable, and an LCD assy. w/no dead pixels!

iDORK · May 31, 2003, 01:15 AM

Originally posted by Arch.:
I just got it back! I got a new superdrive, optical cable, and an LCD assy. w/no dead pixels!

Cool! Enjoy!

technocrat · May 31, 2003, 08:58 AM

My Dell Latitude C600, Thinkpad A20P, Presario 2100, Dell Latitude L400 & Dell Latitude Cpia and all of those have adequate pads why are the power books sooo damn small?

AssassyN · May 31, 2003, 09:24 AM

Sounds great Arch.!!! Glad Apple hooked ya up and all is well now!

Moose · Jun 1, 2003, 08:56 AM

Originally posted by technocrat:
My Dell Latitude C600, Thinkpad A20P, Presario 2100, Dell Latitude L400 & Dell Latitude Cpia and all of those have adequate pads why are the power books sooo damn small?

Because PowerBooks aren't 3" thick.

b3b0p · Jun 2, 2003, 10:55 AM

I don't understand why you guys are buying these screen protectors. I have had my 17 inch Powerbook since March 21 and have yet to even see the slightest mark from any keys at all. I have been taking it to work/school just about everyday in my Brenthaven Backpack too. Am I just lucky or something? Are my hands too clean? I remember my TiBook did have that key/screen problem, but this bad boy seems to have no problems. Also, when I had my TiBook, I just used a clean white piece of paper.

Chris