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How to combine 2 broken machines into 1 working one

I have come across 2 Macbook Pro's (2006 models I'm pretty sure based on the year printed on the batteries) and want to see what it would take to combine the 2 and get a working one. They were basically very much mistreated by a teenager and were found in a garage and then given to me.

We were able to get one of the laptops to charge, and I heard the startup chime, the keyboard lit up, the display brightened. However, all we can see on the monitor is weird vertical lines (colored) in the bottom half and in the middle there is a huge, jagged black gash across the screen. The top of it is just white. When I move the mouse using the trackpad, I can see things are "changing" on the screen.

The other laptop we can hear the hard drive coming to life but nothing else happens. We're wondering if it might be possible to use the display from this one on the other one but not sure if the problem with this one is the display.

How would we connect either of these laptops to an external monitor to test this out? And if we do find that the display needs replacing, how do we do that?

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You'd need an adaptor (found at any computer store) to go from the DVI out to whatever "in" your monitor has (VGA or HDMI being common).

If the display problems persist with an external monitor you have major logic board damage. If the external monitor works you can run the AHT (Apple Hardware Test) to identify damage to the display and other components. Common problems for flickering and black displays... liquid damage, inverter or LCD/LED failure.

ID your Mac for complete guides to DIY repair, and, purchase the proper tools (here or elsewhere) as every job is easier when you use the correct tool.

If this answer was helpful please remember to return and mark it Accepted.

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Thanks so much for your help (just now seeing it since I got no notification!). I can't seem to find how to mark it as Accepted!

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Jacki will be eternally grateful.
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