Apple macbook pro 15 inch late 2008 User Manual

							MacBook Pro (15-inch, Late 2008) Symptom Charts — Communications 61 2010-06-15
3. Verify the antenna connections 
to the AirPort card are not 
reversed or loose. Reseat 
antenna and I/O cable 
connections.
YesLoose connections or crossed 
antenna
N04
NoIf the connectors are secure, 
antenna connections not 
reversed and show no signs 
of damage or wear, go to step 
4.
4.  Try a known-good AirPort 
antenna.
YesReplace AirPort antenna.N14
NoContinue to use known good 
antenna, go to step 5.
5. Try a known-good AirPort card.YesReplace AirPort card.N12
NoContinue to use known-good 
antenna & card; go to step 6.
6.  Try a known-good display 
assembly if available. 
YesReplace display assembly.L16
NoReplace logic board.M11
Bluetooth Wireless Input Device Loses Connection
Unlikely cause:  display assembly, speaker assembly, optical drive, hard drive
Quick Check
SymptomQuick Check
Bluetooth Wireless Input Device 
Loses Connection
Check Bluetooth input device has fully charged 
batteries.
Deep Dive
CheckResultActionCode
1. System Profiler should list 
Bluetooth radio device under 
system hardware.  Is Bluetooth 
device available?
YesBluetooth radio present, verify 
Bluetooth preference settings, 
go to step 2.
NoAttempt Bluetooth repair, go 
to step 5.  
						

							MacBook Pro (15-inch, Late 2008) Symptom Charts — Communications 62 2010-06-15
2. System Preferences has a 
Bluetooth panel. Ensure 
Bluetooth is on and 
discoverable. Are there any 
devices listed in pairing 
window?
YesChoose known-good device 
and establish a connection. 
Go to step 3.
NoAttempt Bluetooth repair, go 
to step 5.
3. Ensure a known-good 
Bluetooth device is on, in close 
range and in discoverable 
mode.  Is computer pairing 
with known-good device?
YesPairing verified, connect with 
user’s device, go to step 4
NoAttempt Bluetooth repair, go 
to step 5.
4.  Is computer pairing with user’s 
Bluetooth device?
YesConnection established, 
continue testing for 
connection loss, go to step 8.
NoCheck for software updates 
for both computer & device.
K07
5. Run Clamshell Service 
Diagnostic utility and check 
for all devices presence. If not 
found, reseat camera cable on 
logic board.  Verify that a USB 
Bluetooth controller is visible 
in System Profiler.
YesLoose cable connection.N04
NoGo to step 6.
6.  Install a known-good 
Bluetooth card.  Verify that a 
USB Bluetooth controller is 
visible in System Profiler.
YesReplace Bluetooth card N15
NoGo to step 7 
7. Install and test a known-good 
display assembly. Verify that 
a USB Bluetooth controller is 
visible in System Profiler.
YesReplace display assembly.L16
NoReplace logic board.M11  
						

							MacBook Pro (15-inch, Late 2008) Symptom Charts — Communications 63 2010-06-15
8. Continue to test a known-good 
Bluetooth device to determine 
if there is a disconnect.  Do 
not allow computer to sleep 
during this test.  Is link lost 
during test?  
YesCheck for software update, 
2.4 GHz radio interference or 
device low battery.  
If still losing link, replace 
Bluetooth card.    
If installed Bluetooth card is 
known-good or was already 
replaced, replace top case (for 
Bluetooth antenna).
 
 
 
N14 
 
 
 
N14
NoKnown-good device passed 
test.
AirPort Card: Kernel Panic
Unlikely cause:  power adapter, battery, speakers, optical drive, hard drive, fan, camera, 
microphone, top case
Quick Check
SymptomQuick Check
AirPort Card: Kernel Panic
• Kernel panic on boot
• Kernel panic or freezing while 
attempting to connect to Wi-Fi 
networks
• Kernel panic while transferring 
data on Wi-Fi networks.
1. Isolate OS by booting from original install media 
(10.5.x). Attempt to connect to Wi-Fi network.
2.  Use Software Update to make sure all AirPort 
software and firmware updates have been 
applied. 
Deep Dive
CheckResultActionCode
1. Use Software Update to make 
sure all AirPort/Bluetooth 
software and firmware updates 
have been applied. Ensure 
MAC address filtering is not 
enabled on the base station.  Is 
kernel panic resolved?
YesSoftware issue.
NoGo to step 2.  
						

							MacBook Pro (15-inch, Late 2008) Symptom Charts — Communications 64 2010-06-15
2. Run Clamshell Service 
Diagnostic utility and check 
for all devices presence. If not 
found, reseat the camera cable 
connection to the logic board.  
Is kernel panic resolved?
YesGo to step 4.
NoGo to step 3.
3. Isolate AirPort card by 
removing the I/O connection 
from the AirPort card. side.  
Reconnect camera cable 
connection to logic board.  Is 
kernel panic resolved?
YesGo to step 4.
NoGo to M06 Kernel Panic / 
System Crashes.
4.  Connect and test with a 
known-good AirPort card.  Is 
kernel panic resolved?
YesReplace AirPort card.N13
NoReplace display assembly.L16  
						

							MacBook Pro (15-inch, Late 2008) Symptom Charts — Communications 65 2010-06-15
Wireless Performance Issue / Slow Connection
Unlikely cause:  power adapter, battery, speakers, optical drive, hard drive, fan, camera, 
microphone, top case
Quick Check
SymptomQuick Check
Wireless Performance Issue / 
Slow Connection
• Slow or stalled data transfers
• Intermittent connection 
dropouts
1. Check for nearby interference sources in the 
2.4/5GHz range such as microwave ovens or 
cordless phones (Knowledge Base HT1365)
2.  (AirPort) Check the number of users trying to 
use AirPort in the area for possible network 
congestion. Move closer to base station to 
improve signal reception.
3. (Bluetooth) Move devices closer together.
4.  Check performance with a known-good system
5. (AirPort) Wireless base station checks: 
a.  Base station is not set to low-power 
transmission mode. 
b.  Base station is not set to a slower protocol 
mode (802.11b). 
c.  Check for possible Wi-Fi channel overlap 
(nearby base stations using adjacent channel).
6. Isolate OS by booting from original install 
media (10.5.x). Attempt to connect to base 
station (AirPort) or pair with wireless keyboard 
(Bluetooth)
7. Use Software Update to make sure all AirPort and 
Bluetooth software and firmware updates have 
been applied.
Deep Dive
CheckResultActionCode
1.  Inspect the display clutch 
barrel for damage.  AirPort 
radio is in display clutch barrel 
area. 
YesRecord damage:  Proceed 
to possibly repair damaged 
parts, go to step 2 
NoNo visible damage, go to step 
2  
						

							MacBook Pro (15-inch, Late 2008) Symptom Charts — Communications 66 2010-06-15
2. Turn off Bluetooth.  Retest 
AirPort performance.    
Refer to Knowledge Base 
TS1809.
YesPossible AirPort interference 
from the Bluetooth card. 
Change AirPort base station 
channel. (Knowledge Base 
TS1809.)
N06
NoContinue by checking 
connections, go to step 3
3. Run Clamshell Service 
Diagnostic utility and check 
for all devices presence. If not 
found, reseat the camera cable 
connection to the logic board.
YesLoose logic board connectionN04
NoAirPort issue, go to step 4,  
Bluetooth issue, go to step 8.
4.  (AirPort) Verify the antenna 
connections to the AirPort 
card are not reversed or loose. 
Reseat antenna and I/O cable 
connections.
YesLoose connection or crossed 
antenna
N04
NoIf the connectors are secure, 
antenna connections not 
reversed and show no signs 
of damage or wear, go to 
step 5
5. (AirPort) Try a known-good 
AirPort antenna and verify that 
issue is fixed..
YesReplace AirPort antenna.N14
NoContinue to use known good 
antenna, go to step 6.
6.  (AirPort) Try a known-good 
AirPort card and verify that 
issue is fixed..
YesReplace AirPort card.N12
NoContinue to use known-good 
antenna & card, go to step 7.
7. (AirPort) Try a known-good 
display assembly if available 
and verify that issue is fixed.. 
YesReplace display assembly.L16
NoReplace logic board.M11
8.  (Bluetooth) Enable Bluetooth 
and try a known-good 
Bluetooth card if available. 
Verify that Bluetooth is pairing 
with known-good device. 
YesReplace Bluetooth card. N15
NoGo to step 9.  
						

							MacBook Pro (15-inch, Late 2008) Symptom Charts — Communications 67 2010-06-15
9. (Bluetooth) Enable Bluetooth 
and try a known-good antenna  
assembly if available. Verify 
that pairing issue is fixed.
YesReplace top case.N14
NoGo to step 10.
10.  (Bluetooth) Enable Bluetooth 
and try a known-good display 
assembly if available. Verify 
that Bluetooth is pairing with 
known-good device.
YesReplace display assembly.L16
NoReplace logic board.M11
Wireless Input Device Doesn’t Pair
Unlikely cause:  display assembly, logic board, optical drive, hard drive
Quick Check
SymptomQuick Check
Wireless Input Device Doesn’t 
Pair
• Can’t get the system to 
recognize the Bluetooth 
keyboard or mouse
1. Check Bluetooth System Preference is set to 
Discoverable.
2.  Check Bluetooth device has fully charged 
batteries.
3. Check for Bluetooth software updates for both 
the device and Mac OS X.
4.  If the Bluetooth pairs with no problems, probe 
about potential interference issue at user’s site.
Deep Dive
CheckResultActionCode
1. System Profiler should list 
Bluetooth radio device under 
system hardware.  Is Bluetooth 
device available?
YesBluetooth radio present, verify 
Bluetooth preference settings, 
go to step 2.
NoAttempt Bluetooth repair, go 
to step 5.  
						

							MacBook Pro (15-inch, Late 2008) Symptom Charts — Communications 68 2010-06-15
2. System Preferences has a 
Bluetooth panel. Ensure 
Bluetooth is on and 
discoverable.  Are there any 
devices listed in pairing 
window?
YesChoose known-good device 
and establish a connection. 
Go to step 3.
NoAttempt Bluetooth repair, go 
to step 5.
3. Ensure a known-good 
Bluetooth device is on, in close 
range and discoverable mode,     
Is system pairing with known-
good device?
YesPairing verified, connect with 
user’s device, go to step 4.
NoAttempt Bluetooth repair, go 
to step 5.
4.  Is Bluetooth pairing with user’s 
Bluetooth device?
YesIssue resolved.
NoCheck for SW update for both 
System and user device.   
5. Run Clamshell Service 
Diagnostic utility and check 
for all devices presence. If 
not found, reseat camera 
cable with logic board.  Is the 
Bluetooth radio present, on 
and pairing with a known-
good device?
YesBad logic board connection. 
Issue resolved.
NoGo to step 6.
6.  (Bluetooth) Enable Bluetooth 
and try a known-good 
Bluetooth card if available.  Is 
pairing issue fixed?
YesReplace Bluetooth card.N15
NoGo to step 7.
7. (Bluetooth) Enable Bluetooth 
and try a known-good antenna 
assembly if available.  Is pairing 
fixed?
YesReplace top case. N14
NoGo to step 8.
8.  (Bluetooth) Enable Bluetooth 
and try a known-good 
display assembly if available.  
Is Bluetooth pairing with a 
known-good device?
YesReplace display assembly.L16
NoReplace logic board.M11  
						

							MacBook Pro (15-inch, Late 2008) Symptom Charts — Communications 69 2010-06-15
Uncategorized Symptom
Quick Check
SymptomQuick Check
Uncategorized Symptom
Unable to locate appropriate 
symptom code
Verify whether existing symptom code applies to  the 
issue reported by the user. If not, document reported 
symptom and send feedback to smfeedback@apple.
com stating that a suitable symptom code could not 
be found.  
						

							MacBook Pro (15-inch, Late 2008) 70 2010-06-15
Display
Display Anomalies
Quick Check
SymptomQuick Check
Display Anomalies
• Incorrect/missing colors
• Distorted/blurred image
• Pixel anomalies
• Vertical/horizontal lines 
• Non-uniform brightness
• Image flicker
• Image persistence
1. Allow display to reach normal operating 
temperature for about 15 minutes before 
evaluating front-of-screen performance.
2.  Check display preferences for use of custom 
display profile.
3. Check brightness setting.
4.  Check for Software Updates.
5. Clean glass panel while checking for dust/debris.
6.  Go to Deep Dive: General
Deep Dive: General
CheckResultActionCode
1. Verify if user’s issue is incorrect/
missing colors.
YesGo to Incorrect/Missing 
Colors Deep Dive.
NoGo to step 2.
2.  Verify if user’s issue is distorted/
blurred image.
YesGo to Distorted/Blurred 
Image Deep Dive.
NoGo to step 3.
3. Verify if user’s issue is bright or 
dark pixel anomalies.
YesGo to Pixel Anomalies Deep 
Dive.
NoGo to step 4.
4.  Verify if user’s issue is vertical or 
horizontal lines.
YesGo to Vertical/Horizontal 
Lines Deep Dive.
NoGo to step 5.
5. Verify if user’s issue is non-
uniform brightness.
YesGo to Non-uniform 
Brightness Deep Dive.
NoLCD functioning OK.