How Can I Fix The Graphics Issue...?

Question

After having my computer for a few years, it started getting an artifact around the mouse, and when it did that, everything was frozen, key commands didn't work, and I would have to manually shut it down.
I went to the Apple store, and they couldn't get it to boot, even with their external drive. The guy at the Apple store took my computer into the back, and a few minutes later, brought it out. He said he had gotten it to boot, without their external drive, but wouldn't tell me how. He said there was a problem with my video card. He said $400 to fix it.
Not having the money, I left. A friend told me how to safe boot the computer, and now it will turn on, despite the artifacts and graphics problems. Why didn't the guy at the store tell me this? It's obviously the only way he could have booted it. He wanted to charge me $50 to back up my data, when I could do it myself under the safe boot.
The thing is, when using safe boot, I have no audio or video functionality- the camera doesn't work, the speakers don't work, and the disc drive doesn't work. I've read up on this, and it's an issue for a lot of macs, from about the time I bought mine. They say there was too much glue used somewhere in the computer (2 or 3 little chips with too much glue or something), and over time the glue/ adhesive gets too hot, and spreads to other areas and ruins them (ie. my graphics card). That's my simplified understanding of the issue, anyway.
Why won't Apple replace it for me? They won't let me trade it in, because it won't boot right, but this is an issue they were aware of at some point. I spent a lot of money on this laptop and it's really nothing more than a digital typewriter now.
Does anyone know how I can fix the graphics issue? Aside from shelling out the money I don't have for something that's really Apple's fault? It'd be really nice to be able to, I don't know, watch things and listen to things. That was the whole reason I got this thing.
Thanks for any ideas, feedback, sympathy, empathy or other comments.
<Edited by Moderator>

Answer 1

Ok, you are right, maybe I don't know it for a fact . . . but from all the things I read in various forums, there was a batch (or something similar) of macs (the exact kind I have) that did have too much glue on some parts, and it caused all sorts of problems for different people, most of those problems being with the graphics card. Apparently the excess glue overheats and leaks out of where it's supposed to stay, and whatever it has the misfortune of getting on goes to pot.
I got very brave, thinking my computer was shot- I opened it, and there was, indeed, crusty glue coming out from under some ... things ... three square chip like things ... and it had seeped onto the edges my graphics card. Having seen the inside of other laptops, I know it was not supposed to look like that no matter how old it is.
This whole issue happened just a few months after my (overpriced, unused) AppleCare expired. Irony?
I did backup all my data and files (no thanks to the Apple people; and on safe boot the disc drive won't work, so I had to borrow my friend's external hard drive for backing up), and did a clean install with the original discs. It was a huge hassle, and when it was finally done, I booted my computer normally. It worked for about 10 minutes before it got artifacts all over and froze, at which point I had to force shut it down. I've tried the clean reinstall a few times, but the problem (I think) is that the glue inside already did the damage, and my graphics card is shot. So, I've been running it on safe boot for months. No music. No video. No disc drive. OH- and the best part- on safe boot, the airport won't work. I can't use wi-fi, and I can't take my laptop anywhere because I'm tethered to a modem. It's the worst thing ever. All of it. It's horribly depressing.
I'm just really frustrated and irritated that this happened, and Apple won't do anything. I do realize they don't HAVE to do anything- buyer beware and whatnot- BUT as a reputable company they should at least let me trade in with the discount or whatever. I didn't have to choose Mac, it was the most expensive computer I looked at- but it has so many awesome functions and things . . . that I can't even use . . .
As a poor college student I don't have the option to get a new computer or have Apple replace any parts in this one, so I just kind of feel like Apple screwed me over. Their fault? Maybe not. Their product? Yes, so they should want to keep me as a future customer. At least I think so.
I guess this isn't quite a question. But I would love more feedback, ideas, anything. Has anyone else had this problem? Can I replace my own video card? Will Apple do anything at all? I love macs but I might never get another one, since this could happen again.
And- unrelated- who changed the title of my post, and how, and why?