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2009 Laptop freezes when I touch or move the display

My laptop freezes when I slightly move the display or close the lid or just try to adjust the screen. Freezes completely, sometimes when I do it really carefully it keeps working, sometimes it goes to sleep but when I try to open it freezes. I can freely move around the laptop itself and everything works fine.

I know for sure it's not my ssd/ram/OS/. If someone happen to know what it could be or at least could name anything that could help me locate the problem it would be great.

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Replace wifi card. Make sure the thermal pad is still there.

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6 Comments:

really? do you think it's a wifi card?

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Start by unplugging the wifi cable. Also remove that pad of foam junk if it is there.

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looked like it worked. I'll test it for a couple of days see how it goes. But how did you know? Can you explain more about it?

I only unplugged wifi connectors, didn't replace the card.

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If I told you how I knew how to fix half of these machines without ever seeing them I'd be giving away all my secrets! :)

Wifi card can cause kernel panics. If you look in the OS logs you'll see kernel panicing related to wifi drivers. Also I am taking a wild guess that you do not have the black tape over the wifi connector so that blob sponge thingie on the wifi cable is shorting pins on the connector. Check and see.

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haha, great guess dude =) there was no tape and that's why laptop was having some difficulties. I wanted to tape it but I couldn't find the tape so just put it together and went to sleep. Anyways now everything seems to be okay. Appreciate your help.

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I suspect your hinge is loose and the wires are getting cut causing the system to freeze.

Follow this IFIXIT guide to check the hinges as well as the wires leading into the display: MacBook Pro 13" Unibody Mid 2009 Left Clutch Hinge Replacement. You should only need to go upto Step 10. If the hinge is loose within the display lid you'll need to pop off the clutch cover to gain access to the lid side screws. Heres the Right side hinge guide: MacBook Pro 13" Unibody Mid 2009 Right Clutch Hinge Replacement picking things up from Step 18 for it.

MacBook Pro 13" Unibody Mid 2009 Left Clutch Hinge Image

Guide

MacBook Pro 13" Unibody Mid 2009 Left Clutch Hinge Replacement

Difficulty:

Difficult

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40 minutes - 2 hours
MacBook Pro 13" Unibody Mid 2009 Right Clutch Hinge Image

Guide

MacBook Pro 13" Unibody Mid 2009 Right Clutch Hinge Replacement

Difficulty:

Difficult

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5 Comments:

I tried to disassemble and then assemble it, everything looked okay. It worked well for a few times but when I thought to accept the answer as helpful it froze again lol. I guess it's one of the cables. Should probably replace it.

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Was either hinge loose? And did you inspect the cables entering the lid if they are damaged?

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No, it was pretty tight. Cables looked okay too.

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mmm .... Is the bottom cover dented or bent? Did you correctly place the screws back some are shorter and others longer.

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no not bent, put everything back in correct order. Ordered a new display data cable, will see it that helps.

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Staso Khirya will be eternally grateful.
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