Apple macbook pro 15 inch late 2008 User Manual

MacBook Pro (15-inch, Late 2008) 81 2010-06-15
Mass Storage
Hard Drive Read/Write Issue
Unlikely cause: LCD, speakers, fan, camera, microphone
Quick Check
SymptomQuick Check
Hard Drive Read/Write Issue 
Bad Sector/Defective 
Drive Formatting Issue
• Cannot save documents
• Read/Write error message
• Hang when accessing or 
saving data
1. Boot from Install DVD. Verify S.M.A.R.T. status of 
drive using Disk Utility.
2.  Repair disk using Disk Utility.
3. Erase disk and reinstall Mac OS using Installer....

MacBook Pro (15-inch, Late 2008) 82 2010-06-15
4. After reseating hard drive SATA 
and logic board connections, 
does known-good hard drive 
boot to desktop?
YesReinstall user’s drive, go to 
step 2
NoSuspect hard drive SATA 
cable, go to step 5.
5. Replace hard drive SATA cable 
and retest with known-good 
hard drive.
YesReinstall user’s drive, go to 
step 2.
X03
NoReplace logic board.M19
6.  Did user’s hard drive start up 
successfully?
YesIssue resolved. 
NoRepair or replace hard drive, 
go to step...

MacBook Pro (15-inch, Late 2008) Symptom Charts — Mass Storage 83 2010-06-15
Deep Dive
CheckResultActionCode
1. Boot from Restore DVD and 
launch Disk Utility.  Is hard 
drive available for Disk Utility 
to repair?
YesGo to step 2.
NoGo to step 3.
2.  Did Disk Utility mount and 
repair hard drive successfully?   
Reseat hard drive if necessary.
YesRestart computer, go to step 
6.
NoIf computer has not been 
verified with a known-good 
hard drive, go to step 3; 
otherwise, go to step 7.
3. Substitute a...

MacBook Pro (15-inch, Late 2008) Symptom Charts — Mass Storage 84 2010-06-15
Hard Drive Noisy
Unlikely cause: LCD, speakers, fan, camera, microphone
Quick Check
SymptomQuick Check
Hard Drive Noisy
• Noise during start up
• Noise during operation
• Noise when drive is copying or 
saving data
1. Start up from Install DVD.  Verify S.M.A.R.T. status 
of hard drive using Disk Utility.
2.  Repair disk using Disk Utility.
3. Check for reported noise and compare with 
Knowledge Base article “Apple Portables:...

MacBook Pro (15-inch, Late 2008) Symptom Charts — Mass Storage 85 2010-06-15
5. After installing new hard drive, 
do you still have drive noise?
YesRemove hard drive and start 
up from external drive to test 
fan noise.  Go to step 6.
NoIssue resolved.
6.  After removing hard drive, 
verify if the system is still noisy.
YesFan noise or optical drive 
noise likely to be the cause. 
See ODD Noisy table and Fan 
failures/Thermal issues table.
NoGo to step 7.
7. Install a known-good hard 
drive and verify if...

MacBook Pro (15-inch, Late 2008) Symptom Charts — Mass Storage 86 2010-06-15
Deep Dive
CheckResultActionCode
1. Is optical drive listed in the 
device tree for serial-ATA 
devices in System Profiler?
YesOptical drive has power, 
inspect disc acceptance. Go 
to step 5.
NoInspect hardware.  Go to step 
2
2.  Verify all connections between 
logic board, flex cable, and 
optical drive are secure.  
Visually inspect cables and 
connectors for any debris, 
damage, or bent pins.  Is 
optical drive now listed in...

MacBook Pro (15-inch, Late 2008) Symptom Charts — Mass Storage 87 2010-06-15
8. Does disc eject properly from 
optical drive?
YesIssue resolved. 
NoReplace optical drive or top 
case that interferes with disc 
ejection.
J02 
X13
9. With replacement flex cable 
and interconnect board, is disc 
now recognized?
YesIssue resolved. 
NoReplace optical drive. If drive 
has already been replaced, 
then replace logic board.
J03
Optical Drive Read/Write Data Error
Unlikely cause: LCD, speakers, fan, camera,...

MacBook Pro (15-inch, Late 2008) Symptom Charts — Mass Storage 88 2010-06-15
2. Can optical drive read both CD 
and DVD known-good media?
YesGo to step 6
NoReading CD only or DVD only 
indicates laser issue, replace 
optical drive.
J03
Optical drive cannot read any 
media reliably, go to step 3.
3. Reseat cable connections 
at logic board and optical 
drive.  Verify that media is now 
recognized and reads reliably.
YesReseat resolved issue.X03
NoGo to step 4.
4.  Disconnect optical drive by 
lifting SATA...

MacBook Pro (15-inch, Late 2008) Symptom Charts — Mass Storage 89 2010-06-15
Optical Drive Not Recognized/Mount
Unlikely cause: LCD, speakers, fan, camera, microphone
Quick Check
SymptomQuick Check
Optical Drive Not Recognized/
Mount
• Discs inject and eject, but do 
not appear in Finder
1. Use Apple System Profiler ATA section to see if  
the optical drive appears.
2.  Serial-ATA section of Apple System Profiler will 
show any media inserted.
3. Check Finder Preferences: General and make sure 
“CD’s,...

MacBook Pro (15-inch, Late 2008) Symptom Charts — Mass Storage 90 2010-06-15
Optical Drive Noisy
Unlikely cause: LCD, speakers, fan, camera, microphone
Quick Check
SymptomQuick Check
Optical Drive Noisy
• Noise during boot
• Noise during operation
• Noise when drive is copying or 
writing data
1. Test optical media in another drive of the same 
type in same type of computer to rule out media 
issue. 
2.  Check with known-good discs. Install discs that 
came with the computer.
3. Check to see if noise...