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How I resurrected my MacBook Pro by putting it in the oven

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Re: How I resurrected my MacBook Pro by putting it in the oven

#141

Post by larrys »

mikeash wrote: post #104
rizalp wrote: post #97

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sorry, but why? Why it is bad to do this with Microwave Oven rather than conventional oven?

Microwaves interact with metal in interesting ways. It will likely induce high voltages in the computer's wiring, causing the chips to release all of their magic smoke.

I grew up in a time when microwave ovens were first released. As such the very first thing you learned is no metal in the microwave oven.

I'm wondering if people who are younger somehow think of this differently or aren't automatically taught the same thing. I mean it seems so obvious (to me) that I wouldn't even think to point it out to someone actually. It's like saying "don't let the car run over you" or "don't play catch with the laptop".

Re: How I resurrected my MacBook Pro by putting it in the oven

#143

Post by gohrt »

larrys wrote: post #141
mikeash wrote: post #104

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Microwaves interact with metal in interesting ways. It will likely induce high voltages in the computer's wiring, causing the chips to release all of their magic smoke.

I grew up in a time when microwave ovens were first released. As such the very first thing you learned is no metal in the microwave oven. I'm wondering if people who are younger somehow think of this differently or aren't automatically taught the same thing. I mean it seems so obvious (to me) that I wouldn't even think to point it out to someone actually. It's like saying "don't let the car run over you" or "don't pl…

This is entirely not true. When microwaves were first released, they were so low powered that microwave cookbooks gave advice like "wrap the edges of the chickin in foil".

http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/281275232630?lpid=82

Also, most microwaves have a large metal rack inside them.

Only certain configurations of metal are dangerous in a modern microwave. A computer has those, though.

http://www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2010/08/why-you-gene...

Re: How I resurrected my MacBook Pro by putting it in the oven

#145

Post by mikeash »

gohrt wrote: post #143
larrys wrote: post #141

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I grew up in a time when microwave ovens were first released. As such the very first thing you learned is no metal in the microwave oven. I'm wondering if people who are younger somehow think of this differently or aren't automatically taught the same thing. I mean it seems so obvious (to me) that I wouldn't even think to point it out to someone actually. It's like saying "don't let the car run over you" or "don't pl…

This is entirely not true. When microwaves were first released, they were so low powered that microwave cookbooks gave advice like "wrap the edges of the chickin in foil". http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/281275232630?lpid=82 Also, most microwaves have a large metal rack inside them. Only certain configurations of metal are dangerous in a modern microwave. A computer has those, though. http://www.todayifoundout.com/index…

I don't think "most" microwaves have a metal rack, although they're not uncommon.

It's also not uncommon to see microwave-safe food containers that contain metal. I've seen grocery store deli soups, for example, that end up with a big ring of metal around the top when you open them, but can still be microwaved.

Still, "no metal" is a good approximation. "Unless it says you can use it" is probably OK to leave implied.

Re: How I resurrected my MacBook Pro by putting it in the oven

#146

Post by larrys »

gohrt wrote: post #143
larrys wrote: post #141

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I grew up in a time when microwave ovens were first released. As such the very first thing you learned is no metal in the microwave oven. I'm wondering if people who are younger somehow think of this differently or aren't automatically taught the same thing. I mean it seems so obvious (to me) that I wouldn't even think to point it out to someone actually. It's like saying "don't let the car run over you" or "don't pl…

This is entirely not true. When microwaves were first released, they were so low powered that microwave cookbooks gave advice like "wrap the edges of the chickin in foil". http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/281275232630?lpid=82 Also, most microwaves have a large metal rack inside them. Only certain configurations of metal are dangerous in a modern microwave. A computer has those, though. http://www.todayifoundout.com/index…

"Came out" refers to when they became in widespread use. That was in the 70's.

As far as low power I can find nothing that indicates that it was ever ok to put tin foil in however I do know that in some cases you might put metal to specifically block cooking. So perhaps with a low power microwave there was no sparking etc. (I can't find anything on that and I don't see the link you sent showing that (which page is it on in the cookbook?).

http://science.howstuffworks.com/aluminum-foil-in-the-microw...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microwave_oven#Metal_objects

http://mentalfloss.com/article/32032/why-cant-you-put-metal-...

Re: How I resurrected my MacBook Pro by putting it in the oven

#147

Post by vacri »

mgkimsal wrote: post #75
chiph wrote: post #68

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have a new board in mine as well. Without AppleCare, it would have been $550. Estimated value of the machine, from CL, eBay, etc: $575. The downside to Macs having become popular is the severe price drop in the used market.

I was always told the benefit of Macs is that they hold their value. I don't think it's terribly true - never felt like it when I've come to sell.

Most of the people making that claim seem to be people who upgrade every year, so they're only selling 1-year-old models.

Re: How I resurrected my MacBook Pro by putting it in the oven

#148

Post by vacri »

rizalp wrote: post #97
Pitarou wrote: post #7

Do NOT try this with a microwave oven. If you do, there will be a bad smell, and lots of sounds and lights, and you will not read Hacker News today.

Sorry, but why? Why it is bad to do this with Microwave Oven rather than conventional oven?

A regular oven provides heat from a heating element (which may be gas, electric, wood fuel etc), which heats the air in the oven. A microwave provides heat by using radiowaves to agitate responsive molecules (water is one) in the food - any warmth you feel when opening a microwave has come from heating the food, not the microwave itself.

When metal is in a microwave, the radiowaves hitting the metal create sparks, and sparks kill electronics.

Re: How I resurrected my MacBook Pro by putting it in the oven

#149

Post by larrys »

mikeash wrote: post #145
gohrt wrote: post #143

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is entirely not true. When microwaves were first released, they were so low powered that microwave cookbooks gave advice like "wrap the edges of the chickin in foil". http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/281275232630?lpid=82 Also, most microwaves have a large metal rack inside them. Only certain configurations of metal are dangerous in a modern microwave. A computer has those, though. http://www.todayifoundout.com/index…

I don't think "most" microwaves have a metal rack, although they're not uncommon. It's also not uncommon to see microwave-safe food containers that contain metal. I've seen grocery store deli soups, for example, that end up with a big ring of metal around the top when you open them, but can still be microwaved. Still, "no metal" is a good approximation. "Unless it says you can use it" is probably OK to leave implied.

I've seen that as well. I'm wondering (from my own experiment) if it has something to do with angles vs. no angles [1] in terms of the metal in addition to the blocking by metal of the actual microwaves.

[1] Same as with stealth airplanes avoiding radar, right?

Re: How I resurrected my MacBook Pro by putting it in the oven

#150

Post by cordite »

jmpe wrote: post #21
jonmrodriguez wrote: post #3

How does this work? Is the idea that there's a loose chip, and you're reflowing the solder to re-attach it? Relatedly, one of my friends successfully revived a bricked playstation by heating up the motherboard with a heat gun.

This sounds like a BGA issue. They also had the on PS3/4 and XBox if I'm not mistaking. The chip has a grid of small solder balls on the bottom instead of pins sticking out. Due to thermal differences during operation some rows can experience mechanical stress due to uneven heating of the device. When there are cracks the contact disconnects from the board. Some images here: http://www.playbackups.com/Playstation3-xb…

For anyone who doesn't know what BGA stands for, it is Ball Grid Array.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ball_grid_array

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