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alon99 · May 28, 2006, 12:21 AM

Hello Everyone,

I recently bought a white 2.0GHz Macbook. I love this system! I ordered 2GB of RAM for it, and tried to install it today. Removing the 00 Phillips screws and the metal plate was no problem, but one of the levers that ejects my RAM does not work. I can press it all the way to the left, and it doesn't engage the "ejector" mechanism. In the end, I was able to pry out the original module and drop in the new one, and I'm back up and running with 2GB now.

Do you think I should take the system back to Apple for service on this issue? I'm just in the process of switching all my files over to this comptuer, and I don't really want to lose it for several weeks if it needs to be serviced. On one hand, I'm thinking that since I've maxed the RAM anyway, this won't be a problem in the future... the other part of me wants the system to be perfect, even if the flaw is with something I'll never use again. Plus, I'm a bit ticked off that it was broken in the first place.

Any recommended course of action? I only bought the system last Wednesday, so I'm sure they'll do something for me at the Apple store... I just don't want to be without it for long.

Alon

mavherzog · May 28, 2006, 02:03 AM

Go into the Apple store and have this same conversation with them. If the repair time is acceptible, do it. If it isn't, pass on the service.

brokenjago · May 28, 2006, 03:48 AM

^^Agreed. A lot of the time, the reapir time is only a couple of days. Then again, the MacBook was just released, so you never know.

Also, It's possible this issue could lead to some later problems involving the connection your RAM has to the Logic Board.

It's always better to be safer than sorry.

icruise · May 28, 2006, 06:05 AM

Personally, if it were me, I would probably wait and see. I sent in an iBook for a minor repair just after they first came out and ended up waiting for 2-3 months. And they told me it would only be a few days, so you can't really trust what they will say as to how long the repair will take. Since this has no effect whatsoever on your use of the machine, I don't think it's worth the risk.

If your computer develops any other problems, you can send it in and say "by the way, I noticed that a RAM lever doesn't work" and have them fix that too. And if nothing happens, you could always send it in before your warranty expires. By then, they should definitely have enough parts and whatnot to do the repair quickly. Of course, having a full backup of your files would be a good idea while breaking in the new machine.

andreas_g4 · May 28, 2006, 06:08 AM

I agree with Icruise, since it doesn't affect the machine I'd not take the risk of having my machine in repair for weeks.

Simon · May 28, 2006, 06:38 AM

Originally Posted by andreas_g4

I agree with Icruise, since it doesn't affect the machine I'd not take the risk of having my machine in repair for weeks.

Seconded.

megasad · May 28, 2006, 08:30 AM

Originally Posted by alon99

I recently bought a white 2.0GHz Macbook. I love this system! I ordered 2GB of RAM for it, and tried to install it today. Removing the 00 Phillips screws and the metal plate was no problem, but one of the levers that ejects my RAM does not work. I can press it all the way to the left, and it doesn't engage the "ejector" mechanism. In the end, I was able to pry out the original module and drop in the new one, and I'm back up and running with 2GB now.

Take it in for service! A couple of days ago, my own MacBook died a horrible death due to what sounds like the same issue, only for me it was both levers.

Like you, I eventually managed to swap the RAM, and I thought all was well. However, my lever poking shenanigans led to my logic board dying just a couple of days later.

Initially, Apple said I would need to foot the £525 fixing bill myself, so I spoke with the Genius Bar manager and he said he would try his best to get Apple to fix it for me for free (my argument being that I'd simply followed the instructions on the inside of the battery bay; move the levers to the left).

I wait to hear back from them after the Bank Holiday weekend as to what's going on with that, but my point is this; take it in now, make sure they know the lever was broken when you got it. Otherwise, should the logic board die later, they might try and say it's something you did whilst fitting the RAM.

icruise · May 28, 2006, 08:47 AM

Yes, but unless I am misremembering, you actually broke the levers yourself, which is somewhat different from one of them not working from the beginning.

galarneau · May 28, 2006, 09:09 AM

Personally, I wouldn't be screwing around with prying anything out of a new machine.

If you can't get it to work properly
1) Stop
2) Bring it to the store where you bought it
3) Let them deal with it

If you have to pry something out with a screwdriver, you're just asking for trouble

megasad · May 28, 2006, 09:26 AM

Originally Posted by Icruise

Yes, but unless I am misremembering, you actually broke the levers yourself, which is somewhat different from one of them not working from the beginning.

Except now I think that there must have been something wrong with the levers in the first place. I watched that MacWorld YouTube video yesterday and it seems like the RAM is meant to be really easy to remove; just move the levers to left, yes? Well, that's what I did. But the RAM didn't pop out easy, like it does in that video. Instead, it stayed put. It took repeated lever-pressing-ins to get it out, and that repeated lever-pressing seems to be what has caused all my woe. Which leads to...

Originally Posted by galarneau

Personally, I wouldn't be screwing around with prying anything out of a new machine.

If you can't get it to work properly
1) Stop
2) Bring it to the store where you bought it
3) Let them deal with it

If you have to pry something out with a screwdriver, you're just asking for trouble

galarneau speaks the powerful truth. If I ever find myself in a similar situation, I will heed his advice to the letter. £525 is too much to pay for impatience. I work just 20 minutes from the Regent Street store! I could have gone there during my lunch break, had them fit the RAM for me, all would have been well!

I'm just trying to make sure the original poster lets Apple know about the levers, so as they do not cause him any issues in the future. I shut up about my own foolishness now.