CD's not going into Macbook

[umiwangu]

I just got my first Mac, a refurb'd Macbook. I live in Africa, so I asked my aunt to carry it over from the States. I got it just last week and I was so happy with it, but then when I tried to stick a CD in the slot drive, it wouldn't go in at all. When I finally got it in (had to force it), the CD was stuck in there. Hitting the eject button just made the drive make noises until it stopped and remounted the CD.

I looked up the problem on Apple's website, and it said to keep on inserting and ejecting (http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=88275). Well, that worked a bit, since before it could barely eject, and now it can eject CDs, but it still can't 'pull' CDs in. The white 'fuzz' stuff on the bottom of the slot drive has come off.

What should I do? I looked at some other threads here and it seems like the best thing is to return it to Apple. How should I go about doing this, especially since I can't call internationally very easily?

Thanks!!

 

[khunsanook]

Hi,
I realize it's quite far from Malawi , but first try contacting the only Apple Africa contact I know of, Apple South Africa.
http://www.apple.com/euro/cemea/

I've had similar problems regarding service here in Thailand where I live,
so I contacted Apple North America for help with a few problems which I was eventually able to have repaired here in Thailand.

You can try calling Apple North America using Skype and get their advice on how to repair your CD drive. You can make free N. American toll-free calls (1800 numbers) using Skype.
http://www.skype.com/intl/en/

Hope this helps

 

[umiwangu]

Thanks, but...

Sorry, I should have mentioned that my aunt is still here, and she'll be going back to the States this Saturday. I'll probably send it back with her. The only thing is that it might be hard to co-ordinate repairs from here.

I guess my main question is how should I initiate the repair. Should I ask someone to take it to an Apple Authorised Repair Provider or should I ask someone to call Apple directly? I would call from here, but Skype on dial-up is not fun at all.

Since I bought the Macbook in the States, and I have family back there, I feel more comfortable sending it there.

 

[netdog]

Mine won't come out...at least without a great deal of fiddling with a credit card.

 

[umiwangu]

And...

What are you going to do about it? I suppose they have more Apple Stores in the UK than in Malawi.

Do you have any trouble putting a CD in? That's where mine has the most difficulty. Ejecting actually works.

 

[khunsanook]

I guess my main question is how should I initiate the repair. Should I ask someone to take it to an Apple Authorised Repair Provider or should I ask someone to call Apple directly? I would call from here, but Skype on dial-up is not fun at all.

You could do either of those options. If there is an authorized Apple service provider nearby, then your family can take it there, where they will probably replace the drive on-site.

If there aren't any service providers nearby then the easiest for your family is probably to call Apple, explain the problem and have Apple send a shipping box for repair. (You could also do this ahead of time from Malawi - just tell Apple the US address) The box will arrive at their house in 1-2 days. Directions and supplies for packing your MacBook will be in the box, along with the prepaid DHL/UPS mailing sticker. DHL/UPS will pick it up and once the computer has been repaired it will be delivered right back to your family's home. Door to door service.

One downside to option 2 is that calling Apple can sometimes require a 30-40 minute wait on hold.

Good luck!

 

[umiwangu]

Thanks for the great advice! I think there's an authorised place fairly close to my aunt's home, so I'll probably just ask her to take it there. Will I have to pay anything?

 

[deadpixels]

Thanks for the great advice! I think there's an authorised place fairly close to my aunt's home, so I'll probably just ask her to take it there. Will I have to pay anything?

no, should be covered by warranty

 

[umiwangu]

Thanks for the help everyone!

 

[BarryW]

South African online apple store www.apple.co.za
Apple Cart, www.applecart.co.za

Maybe you could DHL/FedEx it to them

 

[umiwangu]

-

 

[umiwangu]

I would send it down to SA if the cost weren't so much, if the reliability were higher, and if I didn't have family going back to the States this Saturday. DHL is the only option here, and they aren't even that good. I once ordered book from the States and they promised two week delivery. After a month, the books still hadn't arrived. After 6 weeks, a friend who had happened to stop by the local DHL office saw a package sitting there for me and gave it to me. Never again.

Thanks for the info anyway.