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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

#21

Post by jmpe »

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-xbox-360-repair-repa...

When it's cooled again the contacts join, placing it in the oven applies an even thermal load across the entire board and you basically anneal the cracks.

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

#24

Post by downplay »

I have a friend, that lived in a dodgy part of town. And the day he bought his new Powerbook, he hid it in the oven before he left the house.

Sadly after a visit to the pub, he thought pizza would be a good idea and preheated the oven. Only to suddenly realise his new computer was inside it.

He rescued and cooled it, and oddly, it survived! Only it had shelf marks permanently moulded into the chassis forever more.

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

#25

Post by werid »

WildUtah wrote: post #22

I once had a Toshiba laptop that would work only after spending twenty minutes in the freezer, and then only until it warmed up. I don't think it had the same problem as this MacBook, though.

That sounds like the old harddrive trick where a harddrive refuses to start until it's cold enough.

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

#26

Post by benjamincburns »

andyjohnson0 wrote: post #5
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.

As far as I know, 170C is not quite hot enough to melt solder. It would need to be around 200C.

If you're talking about a $10,000 reflow oven with tight PID control where you set the profile and go you'd be correct. if you're talking about a kitchen oven with cheap setpoint control that has a tendency to waaay overshoot, you're best off to aim a few 10's of degrees low.

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

#27

Post by egeozcan »

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.

> and you will not read Hacker News today

not from your laptop, at least. and most probably not from within your house too.

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Will%20It%20Mic...

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

#29

Post by benjamincburns »

jonmrodriguez wrote: post #18

If you use a temperature hot enough for reflow (200C or more, according to andyjohnson0), is there any risk of heavy components on the bottom side falling off?

Except for extreme cases, no. The cohesive force of molten solder is more than enough to hold your components in place. Also interestingly enough, this is also what causes surface mount components to automagically "settle" over their pads when you have the proper amount of solder/flux.

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

#30

Post by dorfuss »

werid wrote: post #25
WildUtah wrote: post #22

I once had a Toshiba laptop that would work only after spending twenty minutes in the freezer, and then only until it warmed up. I don't think it had the same problem as this MacBook, though.

That sounds like the old harddrive trick where a harddrive refuses to start until it's cold enough.

How do you guys invent this stuff? It wouldn't cross my mind... ;)
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