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General discussion

Macbook Clicking Noise

Apr 28, 2007 12:07AM PDT

Problem Computer: 3 month old Macbook

In the past few days I have discovered a very annoying problem with my macbook. The trackpad button (is that what it is called?) seems to be loose, or have some kind of problem. Specifically it's on the left side of the button. When I click it, it makes a clicking sound like a cheap mouse would make, then I push more and it clicks. The sound also reminds me of the sound my teeth make when I click them together, except maybe the trackpad button is more high pitched.

Either way it's really annoying, and I would like it to stop as soon as I could. I do have Applecare, but sending this thing away wouldn't be fun at all.

Any idea what it could be or how I could fix it?

Discussion is locked

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They have a fix for that.
Apr 28, 2007 12:21AM PDT

It's something Apple does cure if you demo it. Here's the home fix.

http://www.joshoakhurst.com/?p=231

Sorry but I didn't find the all too similar article where they put the business cards in just the right spot under the battery to tighten up the mouse pad/button.

The plastic noise you write of is not unknown but the real fix is at a genius bar and getting a demo of it so they see what to fix.

Bob

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Oh man.
Apr 28, 2007 1:08AM PDT

I don't live near a Genius Bar, or any computer place that even works on Macs.

I am kind of uncomfortable doing it myself. I am not all that good with the internal portion of computers, and I have yet to open a laptop to work on it. Desktops are a little more comfortable because I have tinkered around a bit in them.

If I were to send it off to Apple to get fixed, would I be able to expect it back within a week? I am leaving for a week, so it would be perfect timing.

If not it's something I could live with until I can get to a city with a Genius Bar this summer.

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For me the real fix is...
Apr 28, 2007 3:06AM PDT

To use an external mouse. I never did care for the builtin units.

As to repair loop time I guess if you overnighted it back and forth (chaching!) that timeframe could happen.

Bob

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I always go back.
Apr 28, 2007 12:47PM PDT

I have an external mouse, but when I try to use it I always end up switching back to the trackpad. Maybe I should get that out and use it until I can figure something out.

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On the subject of returning the computer
Apr 28, 2007 11:39PM PDT

The first step in the repair process is to talk to Apple support about this problem and get a Case Number for the problem. This establishes you in the system. Unless you speak with Apple Support, you do not have a problem.
You may have to be quite insistent but eventually they will offer to fix it for you if you send your machine in for repair. They will ship you a box, usually overnight, you stick your machine in the box and send it off to them. It's prepaid.
I have shipped one off on Monday morning and had the machine back on Wednesday morning!.
IMPORTANT: Back up ALL your data before you ship this thing off. Don't bother with the OS or the Applications, you should have originals of all that stuff anyway, concentrate on the stuff that you produced. The stuff in your documents folder.

Good luck and let us know what happens

P