Whats wrong with my #A1466?

[fleurxxx]

My macbook air stopped working just a few days ago. whenever I try to turn it on a grey folder with a question mark appears - thats it, freeze. Apparently that means that my mac can't find its system software - well I followed the steps suggested for recovery. didn't work out - disk utility doesn't show me a disk to choose.

Im way out of warranty so my questions are:

how big is the damage ? (all my data is on that laptop- i'd do anything to save it)

can i fix it myself ? (I've read that for a lot of ppl changing the connection "cable" between hdd and the logic board - on older macbook air series- has worked out perfectly. Since I really don't know how the inside of a newer macbook air looks like and if such connection problems still occur- would it work for me?)

how much do you guys think it would cost me to get it fixed?

PLUS how did this happen?

Sorry if I used the tech-lingo wrong. Thanks in advance! I appreciate any help I can get.

 

[DeltaMac]

The flashing folder means that your Mac cannot find a bootable system. That COULD mean that the bootable system has some corrupted or missing files - and you just need to reinstall OS X.
OR, that the drive is failing, or already failed.
Now that you know that Disk Utility doesn't show a disk that you could choose to repair, that probably means the second (drive failing) is the most likely. SO - fixing a failed drive (the SSD) means that you replace the SSD with a new one.

And, If the drive has died, your data on the drive will be gone. If you have kept a current backup of your files on an external drive, then that will be the time that makes that backup worth while. If you never backed up your drive - well, it's all gone. All you can do is reinstall your OS X system once you get a working drive in your MBAir.

You CAN try some other drive repair software, such as Disk Warrior, which MIGHT get your drive working again. It's worth a try - but if the drive is not visible in Disk Utility, then that is not a good sign.

Can you replace the drive yourself? Sure. There's good repair guides showing you all steps to get inside on iFixit.com.
https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/MacBook+Air+13-Inch+Mid+2012+Solid-State+Drive+Replacement/10961
(Your MacBook Air does not have a cable for the SSD, it simply plugs into a socket on the logic board)

 

[Daniva]

I followed the steps suggested for recovery. didn't work out - disk utility doesn't show me a disk to choose.
Im way out of warranty so my questions are:
how much do you guys think it would cost me to get it fixed?

A1466 is an unspecific information because it includes a lot of MBA 13" from 2012 to 2015.

So, if the 128GB flash drive is broken and your MBA was sold between June 2012 through June 2013, you can get the drive replacement for free.
Look at the replacement program: http://www.apple.com/support/macbookair-flashdrive/

 

[fleurxxx]

A1466 is an unspecific information because it includes a lot of MBA 13" from 2012 to 2015.

So, if the 128GB flash drive is broken and your MBA was sold between June 2012 through June 2013, you can get the drive replacement for free.
Look at the replacement program: http://www.apple.com/support/macbookair-flashdrive/

THAT would be amazing!! now how can I check that? Im pretty sure I lost the receipt whilst moving into a new place...
[doublepost=1454947461][/doublepost]

The flashing folder means that your Mac cannot find a bootable system. That COULD mean that the bootable system has some corrupted or missing files - and you just need to reinstall OS X.
OR, that the drive is failing, or already failed.
Now that you know that Disk Utility doesn't show a disk that you could choose to repair, that probably means the second (drive failing) is the most likely. SO - fixing a failed drive (the SSD) means that you replace the SSD with a new one.

And, If the drive has died, your data on the drive will be gone. If you have kept a current backup of your files on an external drive, then that will be the time that makes that backup worth while. If you never backed up your drive - well, it's all gone. All you can do is reinstall your OS X system once you get a working drive in your MBAir.

You CAN try some other drive repair software, such as Disk Warrior, which MIGHT get your drive working again. It's worth a try - but if the drive is not visible in Disk Utility, then that is not a good sign.

Can you replace the drive yourself? Sure. There's good repair guides showing you all steps to get inside on iFixit.com.
https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/MacBook+Air+13-Inch+Mid+2012+Solid-State+Drive+Replacement/10961
(Your MacBook Air does not have a cable for the SSD, it simply plugs into a socket on the logic board)

thank you for answering so quick - I hadn't had a chance to write back. Alright that sounds pretty bad - so as a student, who needs a functioning laptop but has also a very small budget what would be the smartest move to do now?

btw just to be clear- so there is no chance that the SSD is just not properly connected to the socket right?

while we are at it: I have another macbook air which is functioning just fine but the screen just looses all its color and flickers sometimes ...unless it is at a certain angle or something.. whats up with that?

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR HELP!!

 

[DeltaMac]

You could certainly try reseating the SSD in its socket, that won't hurt anything, and you won't make things worse.
Might help...
But, no guarantee that will help at all. Try that if you like.

Your MBAir with the display problem is likely a bad display cable. It passes through the hinge area, and sometimes will get worn/broken, or otherwise just damaged, and might be intermittent, then work when you have the display angle just right. That tends to get worse as time goes on, because of the movement whenever you open/close the lid.
Replacing the display cable should set it right.

For your main question - as there is a service program that might replace your internal drive, at no charge to you - your next best step would be be contact Apple to find out if your MBAir qualifies for that service, and how best to do that.
Keep in mind that replacing the drive in your MBAir might be free, but it also means that you have lost everything that you might have stored there. If you have a previous backup, then that's good. If no backup, then you just get a new drive (Apple could make that free - I don't know that for sure, you have to ask Apple about that), and then you just go from there, reinstalling OS X, and get on with your life.

How far are you from an Apple retail store? You may be out of original warranty, but if there is a repair program in force, then Apple will fix (replacing the bad part) at no charge. But, you do have to ask Apple, and they will tell you what they can do. (Or your MBAir is not part of that program, and Apple will charge you for the repair, but will let you decide if you want to spend money to fix. It will be up to you at that point. Good luck on "free", ask Apple, they will tell you what they can do.

 

[fleurxxx]

You could certainly try reseating the SSD in its socket, that won't hurt anything, and you won't make things worse.
Might help...
But, no guarantee that will help at all. Try that if you like.

Your MBAir with the display problem is likely a bad display cable. It passes through the hinge area, and sometimes will get worn/broken, or otherwise just damaged, and might be intermittent, then work when you have the display angle just right. That tends to get worse as time goes on, because of the movement whenever you open/close the lid.
Replacing the display cable should set it right.

For your main question - as there is a service program that might replace your internal drive, at no charge to you - your next best step would be be contact Apple to find out if your MBAir qualifies for that service, and how best to do that.
Keep in mind that replacing the drive in your MBAir might be free, but it also means that you have lost everything that you might have stored there. If you have a previous backup, then that's good. If no backup, then you just get a new drive (Apple could make that free - I don't know that for sure, you have to ask Apple about that), and then you just go from there, reinstalling OS X, and get on with your life.

How far are you from an Apple retail store? You may be out of original warranty, but if there is a repair program in force, then Apple will fix (replacing the bad part) at no charge. But, you do have to ask Apple, and they will tell you what they can do. (Or your MBAir is not part of that program, and Apple will charge you for the repair, but will let you decide if you want to spend money to fix. It will be up to you at that point. Good luck on "free", ask Apple, they will tell you what they can do.

Ill do it first thing tomorrow! thanks for elaborating.