MBA: Video and Sound Died

[philipperumors]

My Macbook Air suddenly dropped both Sound and Video capabilities:

- Video (Youtube etc.) runs for 2-3 sec. and then comes to a halt.
- The Audio hardware has completely disappeared from the Audio Hardware menu.

Any of you have experienced similar problems? Might it be related to heating issues of the MBA (frying out), we do use the MBA a lot in Bed to watch movies, so the vents are sometimes covered causing the machine to heat up quite a bit.

Thanks for sharing your experiences, also as this machine is still under guarantee we're trying to get it repaired under the (standard) Apple guarantee but they're trying to refuse the repair stating that we didn't handle the machine properly, so any similar cases would be more than welcome.

 

[Cynicalone]

I assume this is a first generation?

If you let it overheat it should have shut off before serious damage is done, but I don't know. Blocking the vents is kinda hard on any laptop.

 

[philipperumors]

Yes it is a first generation MBA.

The vents weren't blocked all the time, most frequently we'd actually hold it in a pretty vertical position most of the time, so the vents could operate optimally.

Also the MBA did shut off several times (due to overheating?) even while just being held on the lap. We also had the fan sometimes kicking in and running on maximum speed while the thing was in standby mode.

 

[chewbaccacabra]

I'd push harder for them to fix this.

My 1.6/80 did something similar last night. I was watching one 20 minute episode of Justice League when the sound muted, came back 2 minutes and shut off again. Sound icon was still there. I restarted and it was gone. I checked preferences and the mute box was "checked" and it would not allow me to uncheck it. So I shut down the computer and everything was normal this morning.

 

[philipperumors]

Yes completely agree with you that they need to fix this, I mean it wasn't stated anywhere that you could only use this machine on a desk.

I think they've been pushing the small form factor too hard and delivered a machine that doesn't really stand the a reality test. I really regret that I pushed my girlfriend to buy this one.

I think the MacBook Air is a viable 'luxury option' meaning for people who already own a primary computer, then a bigger laptop plus a 'optional' MBA for when they want to 'travel light and sleek', but this machine is in no way a option as a main computer.

 

[Ironic]

It can be a main Mac , If you don;t watch videos much, thats a RevA, a RevB has non of the first Revs problems

 

[chewbaccacabra]

Any update? My sound died again last night. Same story as before. And it works this morning.

 

[uniforms]

Same problems on original

I had a MBAir original version. Apple had to replace a cable for the sound and then it all worked fine. Took Apple a week to get the part in. But it was working great once that was fixed. Both the sound wouldn't work and video's would only play for 3 seconds. After they fixed it, all worked fine. I did sell that air for the newest version with SSD. Works great so far.

 

[chewbaccacabra]

Well here in China my fiancee got an early Christmas present today - 2.0GHZ AL MacBook. I had planned to get her some kind of Macbook in the US when we get there (going through the K1 Visa process now, and should be in the US by January if there are no snags) but I just got tired of being stuck with the Air acting up. Oh and this morning the Air's HD was clicking.

Didn't get a great deal. Paid about $75 bucks more than it would be in the US, but nearly $200 less than ordering from the China Apple store. This was at one of Shenzhen's many electronics marts. Full worldwide warranty. Just registered with Apple under my account.

So far I'm impressed with it and so is my girl. The plan is to get the Air repaired back in TX. I still love the thing. Of course I'd love to get the Rev B update, but I think I will wait. I don't really need it since I have the 2.8 iMac at home.

 

[chewbaccacabra]

Just thought I would update even though we have never heard back from the OP in this thread. I am back in the US and took my Air into the Genius Bar. Sound issue was confirmed. They are replacing the logic board under warranty. AppleCare is now purchased. I will be giving the Air to my mom as soon as I have it back and can take it to Austin. Rev B (or C ) in my future someday I hope.

 

[freelancier]

Just thought I would update even though we have never heard back from the OP in this thread. I am back in the US and took my Air into the Genius Bar. Sound issue was confirmed. They are replacing the logic board under warranty. AppleCare is now purchased. I will be giving the Air to my mom as soon as I have it back and can take it to Austin. Rev B (or C ) in my future someday I hope.

how long have you had it? you just bought apple care?

can you ge it if it's out of warranty?

 

[chewbaccacabra]

how long have you had it? you just bought apple care?

can you ge it if it's out of warranty?

I bought my Air in April. They replaced it 2 weeks later because of a bad battery. Yesterday they gave me the new 1.6/120 because they couldn't fix the sound problem. Bought apple care on Saturday but they should replace or fix any Air if it still is under the year long warranty.