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Model A1181: 1.83, 2, 2.1, 2.13, 2.16, 2.2, or 2.4 GHz Core 2 Duo processor

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Trackpad Freezing After Replacement & Tests Fine

MacBook "Core 2 Duo" 2.13 13" Mid 2009-MC240LLA -A1181-2330

Symptoms - Trackpad freezes or becomes unresponsive intermittently. When it returns to normal, works just fine. Unit has Win7 installed via Bootcamp. Symptoms are NOT present in Win7, trackpad works fine.

History - Unit was bumped while open and running when my son tripped while going up the stairs. Impact was on the back corner. Resulted in minor crack in lower case, no other obvious damage.

Lower & top cases replaced. Memory and hard drive have been swapped with a "twin" Macbook and the symptoms stayed with the Macbook, confirming it is hardware not software (one would think anyway).

Apple Store tested the trackpad - it tested as good. Told to reinstall the OS. Reinstalled the OS from the recovery partition, leaving the user accounts in tact along with the Win7 partition (bootcamp). Symptoms remain.

Back to Apple who tested the trackpad again, confirming it was fine. Told to wipe the HD and perform a clean install.

Put a blank HD in and installed a fresh copy of OS 10.8. Did NOT migrate any files or settings from the other HD or account (completely virgin install). Symptoms remain.

What next? I'm ready to put this up on eBay and start over with another unit. Only other suggestion I've received is that it is the logic board. Don't want to spend that kind of money and time with 100% confidence.

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Rob - You stated you swapped the top cover, so the problem stayed with the cover or not? If it did then the trackpad is bad.

If the problem persisted with either top cover then I would suspect you have some logic board issue.

Have you made sure the firmware is up to date? follow this Apple TN: EFI and SMC firmware updates for Intel-based Macs

How much RAM do you have in this system Lion & Mountain Lion need lots of memory. I would put in 2x4GB modules (the system reserves 2GB for video) so you'll only have 6GB total of usable RAM. These should be a matched pair (same vendor & lot). While some people put in a 2 & 4 GB module setup I don't recommend doing that as you loose performance having an odd set.

You may consider lowering your OS to Snow Leopard. I know it's not what you want here ;-{

Let us know what you discover - Good Luck!

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OK - So the problem sticks with the system. So we know the cover is not the issue but something in this given system is.

You stated you have other exact systems are you sure? Can you give me a listing of the last four digits of these systems serial numbers so we can compare them. Something is clearly different here.

You prepped and use the exact same OS (10.8.x) & Apps (Mac & Windows) across these systems correct?

Lowering the Mac OS to Snow Leopard might be a possible answer here. Not sure if its the OS or the trackpad driver or the logic board rev thats the issue. I would wait on this angle until we dig deeper.

A good question here is how did you upgrade these systems? Is it possible you did this system differently so it is using a newer driver unlike your other systems which some how held onto the older driver/s which for some reason works better?

Your system is also in that grey space when Apple switched from 32bit to 64bit architecture. So that could be at play here. Just too soon to tell without digging deeper. We may need to get the logic board info of a few of the systems to see if that is different. But, for now lets focus on the S/N's to see what they can tell us.

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The top cover has been replaced and the problem remained with the Macbook.

Thanks for the link on the firmware, I've got many years experience with DOS and Windows, but am new to the Mac world so that was helpful. The update wasn't necessary for this particular Mac, so looks like I'm as current as is available.

Memory - I didn't realize this Macbook would support anything beyond 4gb. My research showed that as max with some references to individuals using the mixed 2gb and 4gb chips to get to 6gb recognized. I didn't see anything about 8gb, but if the OS will recognize it and this Mac supports it I'll definitely bump it up. I just purchased the 2x2gb and upgraded from 2x1gb.

Regarding the OS, this unit that is giving me trouble is 1 of 5 exact units in the household and all are running 10.8 (fully updated) with no issues. Are you thinking the older OS might use different trackpad drivers that would solve/mask the issue without any additional hardware replacement?

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First - The max RAM the system will See is 8GB but it can only Use 6GB. How you get to 6GB is the issue here. Some folks put a 2GB & 4GB module set in the system but when you do that you create other issues as the system was designed to do inter-leafing between the modules. If you put in two exact 4 GB modules in you end up wasting the top 1GB per module (2GB total) but you get inter-leafing of the 6GB you have installed. I know a bit confusing here ;-{ Given the price difference its worth it!

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That makes sense on the memory. In this case I don't believe it has any impact on the trackpad problem though.

So, trackpad works in Win7 under boot camp, but continues to have problems in OS X. Anyone able to pinpoint the issue?

TIA,

Rob

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No it doesn't, wasn't expecting it would change anything with the trackpad problem. As you had asked about what the differences were between the 2+4 Vs 2x4 memory setup.

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Focusing on the trackpad:

You stated you have other exact systems are you sure? Can you give me a listing of the last four digits of these systems serial numbers so we can compare them. Something is clearly different here.

A good question here is how did you upgrade these systems OS's? Is it possible you did this system differently so it is using a newer driver unlike your other systems which some how held onto the older driver/s which for some reason works better?

Your system is also in that grey space when Apple switched from 32bit to 64bit architecture. So that could be at play here. Just too soon to tell without digging deeper. Using the Apple TN I gave you check your other systems firmware levels are they the same version & level (on the other same systems you have)?

Lastly, how does the battery look? is it swollen at all? When the battery gets old it can swell causing it to press against the top case. I discounted this as you stated it works OK under Windows Vs Mac OS-X. That's the only other thing here that could have explained things.

We may need to get the logic board info of a few of the systems to see if that is different. But, for now lets focus on the S/N's to see what they can tell us.

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