HELP please, Applecare

[Kate]

I have a Macbook Pro, 2.66 dualcore2duo, 8gb ram, running 10.6.8. I have Applecare.

They have already replaced the hard drive, the optical drive (CD/DVD) and recently replaced the motherboard due to a bad usb port.

Now the DVD drive is failing again.

I called Applecare, jumped through the hoops and they say I will most likely get a new machine. I have an appointment tomrrow afternoon.

I am backed up with Time Machine, but should I do another full back up just in case?

And will I probably get a new machine or just an identical replacement? I have a 500 gb HD, with about 200 gb free, would this be a good time to partition an put both Lion AND Snow Leopard on the machine?

Help, kind of freaking out, I've never, in my 28 years with Apple had this much trouble with a machine. And this was the first "new" (not refurb) I've bought in a long time.

And will I only have another 6 months of Applecare on the replacement?

Kate

[Racer X]

It will be a new machine with a new warranty. They will probably offer Applecare at a discount to to compensate for your existing 6 months left.

[Buzz]

If you have another drive, you may as well make a clone prior to taking the old beast in...
and if you get a nice person at the Apple Store, they might even migrate your old MBP over to the new one.
Sounds like you ought to get a 2.2GHz quad i7 as a replacement, and they ought to give you 8GB RAM as well (unless you can sweet talk 'em* into 16GB).
As RX says, SOP is to discount replacement AppleCare..., *but you're better off if you can negotiate the 16GB RAM in lieu of the remaining AppleCare, and then re-up a new AppleCare thru B&H or LACC.
Good luck tomorrow; hope you luck into a 2.4GHz quad as a "silent upgrade" :-).



///

[vicrock]

When I had a similar situation, I was refunded the pro-rated cost of applecare remaining on the machine. Push for it.

[sekker]

I'd make a cloned copy of the hard drive via Disk Utility, Carbon Copy Cloner or Super Duper.

That way, you are set even if there is a problem with AC.

[SteveO]

Unless you know you'll have sw conflicts, why mess with partitions for both Lion and SL?

Yes I'd make an extra backup copy of your data.

Good luck and enjoy!

[Kate]

"Unless you know you'll have sw conflicts, why mess with partitions for both Lion and SL?"

I haven't yet moved to Lion, don't want to move in these circumstances in case there are conflicts

Kate

[modelamac]

I would definitely make a clone of the internal drive .

Why would you consider updating a Mac that is likely to be replaced?

If you get a new Mac, it will have Lion. Don't migrate until you have decided how- do you still want SL as well?

You probably won't have a choice about RAM. You'll get whatever it comes with.

[Panopticon]

vicrock wrote:
When I had a similar situation, I was refunded the pro-rated cost of applecare remaining on the machine. Push for it.

Push for even more!
With a logic board swap and 3 component failures, I'm inclined to believe you got a lemon.
Your time & frustration are worth far more than the value of AppleCare. You really should be compensated.
A new MBP 2.8GHz w/ AppleCare would be a fair resolution.

[Black]

A new machine probably won't boot in Snow Leopard, but even if it did, I've been to partitioning hell and back and would say don't do it.