Logic board serial swap desperately needed

I just got the logic board replaced on my Mac Pro, and here's my problem: Over the years I purchased hundreds of plugins: VST plugins, Photoshop plugins, Final Cut Pro plugins etc etc, plus tons of apps. There is NO WAY I can spend a week reauthorizing and reserializing all this software without going broke. I absolutely need to replace the new logic board's serial number with the old logic board's serial number. My Mac Pro is from 2007, and I will stop using it as soon as Apple releases the new Mac Pros in 2013. In the meanwhile I still have to pay the bills with this old system and I don't care if the warranty is blown since soon it will just sit there for backwards compatibility (loading old projects in 2015 etc). Can anyone help? I know about Blank Board Serializer, but that only works with Logic Boards with no serial numbers. If I need to I will pay the money and buy another logic board and serialize myself if I need to, but I'm not sure it will work and I don't want to waste another $600.00.
This isn't fair. I shouldn't be penalized for being honnest and buying all this software. If I had nothing but cracks on my computer, I wouldn't need to change the LB serial number since all the software would just work anyway. So why are the Apple folks and tech support guys so unwillig to help people like me?
Does anyone have a solution? Is there a way to replace a serial LB number?
Thanks,
Jeeve

Cloning the drive works beautifully, as long as the logic board is the same. Over the years I've used 3 different startup drives on the same computer. CCC has allowed me to save the weeks of re-serializing everything all the time.
The dufus at the repair shop was lazy and told me he couldn't flash thew new logoic board. Now that I learned it is possible I will take my system back to the show and make a scene, even if I have to pay for another blank logic board.
I will contact Apple if this approach doesn't work.
I never got an answer regarding softraid mirror, but that was before I realized CCC did the trick.
I understand if it was possible for anyone to flash their logic board and change the serial number there would be mass fraud, but ironically in my case, I need to duplicate the old serial number specifically because all my apps were purchased. If I had cracks this would not be an issue because they would just work with any system;-) If the repair shop doesn't want to do it I'l have to get my money back and go to Apple. I have a few friends who had the same problem and Apple transferred the old serial number to their new logic board.
In the meanwhile I'm just losing money because I can't work. So annoying!

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Can you figure out from a G4 logic board serial number what it is?

Can you figure out from a G4 logic board serial number what it is? for example if it is single or dual processor support, and the speed, i know you can check the case serial number in the apple site, but can't for the life of me figure out the logic board serial number, if any one could help identify what G4 it comes form that would be great, Can you figure out from a G4 logic board serial number what it is? KD30405K1P3UA
many thanks

Hi, Forrest!
The Chipmunk site was my first thought when I read the initial post, but although it returns a manufacturing date of the fourth week (Jan) of 2003, I'm not sure that's even accurate, since Chipmunk couldn't return any more info than that.
I wonder if an Apple Store Genius would/could look it up for him...
Regards,
Gary

Logic Boards, Serial Number, and iCloud

I'm posting this because I want others who run into the same problem to find a solution - I had some difficulty pinpointing why I was having the following difficulties. Hopefully, if you're reading this, my experience will help!
So, I have two iMacs - one is a mid-2011 model, one is the model before. I upgraded both to Mountain Lion with no difficulties. However, yesterday I began tooling around with iCloud on the newer model, and found that while some iCloud features worked - like Notes and Calendar - others did not, specifically, iWork. I have had no problems syncing files between my iPhone, iPad, and other iMac, so I've been able to retrieve Pages / Keynote / Numbers files with no problems. However, with the mid-2011 model, I was getting just an empty iCloud page.
I did the basic stuff - ensured that I was signed into iCloud with the correct account, ensured I had fully-updated software, and the like - but still, I was getting no love from iCloud. I searched a few forums and checked out some ~Library folders, but everything looked correct - everything was mirroring my older iMac's setup.
I initiated a call to Apple and the front-line rep had me create a test admin login to see if there was something wonky with my user file, but the problem persisted. (By the way, talking to a rep on the phone while they initiate a screen sharing program and following their red pointer around was great). The rep quickly bumped me up to a senior person, who investigated more files. And then we hit on the solution, one I didn't think to check out because it was so obvious.
A few months back this iMac wouldn't boot up, and Apple replaced both the power supply and the logic board. However, the folks at the Genius Bar forgot to "re-serialize" my iMac - the computer was nearly fully functional, but didn't have an internal serial number after the logic board swap. It's like a two-minute step that someone forgot to do.
I brought the iMac to the Apple Store today and in two minutes they had re-serialized the iMac. When I got home, everything was working as it should - the computer has its original serial number, and iCloud worked perfectly.
So there you go. If you have some parts of iCloud working, but not others, check that serial number - iCloud uses it for some, but not all, functions. And if you're getting a logic board swap, verify that your iMac has been re-serialized. It'll save you a trip later on.

Great that you found the solution!
Make sure you unmark this as a question though.
Regards!
Ri-dog

How do I get the logic board serialized?

I had the logic board replaced a year ago in my iMac. Ive been having some problems sharing maps with my other mobile devices. Someone suggested to check to see if the logic board is serialized. Anyone know how to do this?

Go to About this Mac in the Apple menu.
Tap the version number twice. If you see a serial number, it has been set. If not, then take it to an Apple Store or Service center and have them fix it.

Logic Board Serial Number

I have a question. My MB recently had the logic board replaced. My Serial Number no longer appears in the system profiler. I was just wondering if there is any way to restore the number. Thanx

There is no way to restore serial number in the new logic board replacement because by default apple erase serial number to all logic board replacement.
As service technician there is no sutility to write serial number in the firmware section as of today. Don't know in the future if Apple/intel release the utility.
I've change many logic boards and all of them the serial number is blank in the system profiler. But basically you still have serial number in physical unit which located inside battery bay when you take the battery out you will see the serial number and that's what I use usually to confirm the serial number of the unit.
So if you have macbook make sure that when you get top case replaced the technician move your serial number to new top case.
Hope this help
Flippo

Serial No Mismatch - logic board and battery compartment

Hi,
I ordered a 1GHz G4 Titanium Powerbook as soon as the first SuperDrive model was announced in Nov, 2002, without any add-ons. I received it in early December, 2002. I have just discovered that the serial number on the logic board (next to the memory bays) is completely different to the serial number in the battery compartment. The serial number in the battery compartment is the same as on the box and as reported by 'About this Mac'. I discovered this the first time I ever took the machine in for service - random system crashes/software failure/occasional panics when booting (not fixed by new RAM).
Does anyone know how this serial number mismatch could possibly happen on a brand new model that came from Apple via an AppleCentre?

A follow-up on this:
I spoke to Apple Australia who said it was not uncommon, even though AppleCare (in India) had said it was not something they had heard of and that I should speak to Customer Relations.
The repair person at the second Apple Store then advised me that the logic board serial no on some machines is in fact the factory's serial no, not Apple's, and therefore it is normal. There is confusion, though, since many newer machines have eg iBooks have Apple's serial no under the key pad.

Can logic board die slowly, or is it black'n white?

My Macbook Pro 15" i7 of early 2011 seems to have a major problem related to the logic board.
in a nutshell, in case you don't have time to read the details:
The computer stopped starting up after quite a few restarts, AHT, PRAM reset, safe boots, new RAM and new SSD. This all happened withing 3 days.
Apple service guys will look at it tomorrow, but they already said it's most likely logic board failure and will need replacement.
the long story:
symptoms I faced along the way:
- less than two weeks ago, screen started freezing forcing me to force-shut down.
- started repeating within hours, occasionally giving Kernel Panic message.
- within a day, frozen screens had several varieties which would either come after a few minutes of working or at startup: blue screen with vertical bars of different shade blue, or same with yellow tones, or the last seen screen with a couple inches of the of the right side of screen having shifted to the left side with a thick black bar in between the two (i could still move the mouse for a while but not able to click).
- started also having sessions where the computer would not start up at all (blue screen or gray screen with wheel turning)
- in between these steps I ran the computer on safe mode mostly successfully, did Apple Hardware Test 3 times with nothing wrong diagnosed (took 18 mins each), I did PRAM reset a few times too
- i tested these with different peripherals and power cable attached and not attached (normally i have a USB external and one or rarely two firewire drives attached for my video and photo work).
I realized that the computer would still be working after the freeze too. I use the MBPro to share internet for my iPhone and while it was frozen I still had internet.
I was following the suggestions on these forums to diagnose the problem.
Some suggested that it could be the RAM.
Coincidentally, the new 16 GB RAM that i had ordered came with the 246GB SSD just then.
As warranty ended already some months ago, I did the replacement with my dad who is an electrician and would know where to touch where not to.
The computer came back to life, super fast with the new SSD. I installed Mac OS X on it, set up the older HDD which I placed in place of the old DVD drive and started moving files around to configure my stysem.
after several hours the screen freezing came back again.
then after repeating the above steps of AHT (which took 2 hours), PRAM etc, it stopped starting up. It won't start anymore. Freezes in the early blue screen.
Just before new year's, I took it to Apple Service in a local store. They said they will have to look at it thoroughly after the 3rd (tomorrow). But the guy said the symptoms which I wrote above pretty much tell already that the logic board is dead.
Can it die in a slow manner like this?
It will cost me at least 750$ and I am not even sure if shipment and labor is included in this (I live in Cyprus). This is a very expensive price to pay for a relatively new machine for which I already paid over $2000 when I bought it 18 months ago.
I read Apple has a tendency to call all such symptoms a 'dead logic board' and just rip people off unfairly. I am aware this was mostly for 2007 and 2008 models but I worry they would still do it. I just spent my savings for the SSD and new RAM. So this is a major bummer.
What would you all suggest for me to try? How should I talk to the Apple Service guys?
is it better to just sell this 'as is' and try to get a new or properly working pre-owned one?
Message was edited by: incagraphy

seems like I wrote too long and no-one bothered to read and reply
Sometimes some posts just seem to slip through the cracks... if you're taking your machine to an Apple Authorized Service Provider, and they simply 'reconnected' the logic board and you're still having problems, it sounds as if you need to get the logic board replaced. Since you're out of warranty and you, apparently didn't purchase the AppleCare extended warranty, the repair folks will charge you for a logic board replacement.
$750 sounds a little steep, but if that's what it costs then it doesn't seem as if you've an alternative but to pay the price. I don't know about Cyprus, but I do know that in the US there is an Apple flat rate repair pricing scheme in which Apple will repair anything on the machine for less than $350. You might want to look at the article and ask one of the managers about this program and whether or not you could get the 'deal'.
Good luck - sorry that you're having such a bad experience. Just let it be a lesson to always purchase AppleCare - particularly with Apple notebooks.
Clinton

My logic board has failed, and I'm having to buy an external hard drive. Can someone walk me through thr process of how to do this?

My logic board failed, and I need to buy an external hard drive. Can someone walk me through the process of doing this? Will the Genius Bar do it for free?
Also, I have a borrowed Mac right now. If I put the new hard drive on this computer will it erase the computer's current hard drive? Do I have to put the hard drive on another Mac?
Any help is greatly appreciated!

if your logic board failed then connecting an ext. drive will be non productive.
if you take your hdd out of the failed mac and replace it into the borrowed mac you can then extract everything from that hdd. simply connect the external hdd, go into time machine preferences select your new ext. drive as the destination.
the external drive has to be formatted to mac os extended journaled. however you can purchase ext. drives already formatted for mac.
if you are having the logic board replaced then just put the old hdd back in, it will boot up normally.
you can rest easy knowing that if anything goes wrong, you have the ability to use your fresh backup to produce the same operating environment that you were using before things went wrong.

Has anyone ever installed a G4 logic board into a G3 iBook?

I was just wondering if it was at all possible to install a G4 logic board in a G3 iBook. To be specific, I have an iBook G3 900MHz with a faulty logic board. I could have it replaced under the Apple Logic Board Replacement Program, but I'd hate to replace a bad part with a part that will most likely go bad in the future. Also, trying to find an affordable (in the $100 range) replacement logic board on eBay or anywhere else is proving impossible.
So, could I buy a 1GHz or similar G4 logic board and swap it into the G3 iBook? I'm sure someone out there has tried something like this, right?
I'm intrigued by the possability.

I doubt it. They don't even take the same kind of RAM.
What makes you think a replacement "will most likely go bad in the future"? Some have had to go back more than once; many haven't. (And many have not gone in at all.) There are many iBook users out there, happily iBooking away without any knowledge of the iBook Logic Board Repair Extension Program because they've never had a problem.
Get it replaced, free, NOW, and worry about the future when it gets here.
http://www.apple.com/support/ibook/faq/
P.S. When you make an error in a post, there is a little edit-pencil icon next to the "Reply" icon in your post. The edit pencil stays there for about 15 minutes to allow you to edit your post. Just click on it, and it takes you back to your message box so you can edit it to your heart's content.

Putting 4S covers onto 4S guts: OK to just replace logic board not the rest?

I have 2 Iphone 4s': A black non-working iPhone 4S in perfect physical condition, and a white cracked-screen-but-working iPhone 4s. I want to put the black's front and back covers onto the white phone. I have followed tutorials closely and have the black phone taken apart as far as getting the logic board out. Before I go further -- and there are a number of additional steps still -- I'm wondering: Can I just take the white phone apart down to its logic board, then swap that logic board into the black phone , then put the black phone back together, using its existing parts? Or do all the parts from the white phone have to go together into the black's covers? (This is assuming -- which I'm pretty sure is correct after much advanced troubleshooting -- that the problem with the black phone is in the logic board and its attendant parts.)
The point of this would be to prevent taking the black phone all the way down to its covers, which involves a number of steps past where I am. Currently I have the logic board out of the black phone (and the preceeding parts of the procedure involved in getting to it), and ready to receive the white phone's logic board (if this would work), then go back together.
Would this work, to just swap logic boards?
Or do all the parts in the white phone have to go together into the black shells?
Hope this makes sense, I'm waiting tools in hand, thanks very much for any help.
Please be sure of the answer or I'm screwed :-).
Thank you!
Neil

Try asking on ifixit.com's forums. You're not going to get much help here.
The iPhone is not cosidered user servicable.

Bad video=Bad logic board in new iMac?

Just had 2 less than fruitful phone call with Apple; my one month old imac has suddenly developed horrible video problems. (pixelated screen, messed up images, missing info/icons from desktop)
Apparently the logic board is bad and needs to be replaced. Our local mac shop is with the university and is closed until January 17, so we are without the computer until then?
We can't send it in, and the other nearest store is 150 miles away.
Tech people said they've been hearing this... but I thought the problem was resolved before this new line came out? Plus no support for a month?
Sorry quite frustrated by the non-options right now. Is anyone else in the same boat or familiar with this situation? Thanks.
iMac G5 isight Mac OS X (10.4.3)

I received my isight mid-November and within a couple of hours, my screen started having problems. Required new logic board. Logic board installed by my local Apple store. Haven't had a problem since -- perfectly quiet too!
iMac (isight) Mac OS X (10.4.3) 2.1 Ghz, 1.5 Mg, 250 HDD

Logic board failure after 3 years - the experience

My MacBook Pro was bought in September 2010. It has been running smoothly until January 2014. Then from 1 day to the next, the MacBook restarted itself randomly 1-2 times / day. Bringing it to the Apple store in Frankfurt, Germany revealed that the Logic Board was broken and needed to be exchanged.
The person at the Genius bar was very friendly and sympathetic. He told me that this should not happen to an Apple product, ie it should have a much longer life time. He mentioned that the logic board problem is very well known to Apple, but usually manifests within the first 2 years, which is why Apple extended its guarantee to 2 years. In my case however, the failure happened later and he would therefore need to consult with the store manager Roland.
To my surprise, I learnt that Roland was neither willing to extend the guarantee period, nor was he even willing to speak with me in person. The genius bar person was quite ashamed about this and excused his boss. He advised that I could either exchange the logic board for ~470 Euro or , recommended, buy an entirely new MacBook Pro for which he'd give me a 10% discount.
Because I needed the laptop urgently for travels to the US with several talks at academic institutions, I reacted quickly and initiated the logic board exchange.
The repair time took twice as long as originally indicated and it is my impression that the repaired laptop is somewhat slower than the original one.
I left a message at Apple feedback, so far without a reaction.

Hi! Does anyone had problems regarding logic board failure on Macbooks Pro 13''?
I don't have the problem, but it's been percolating on another discussion for several years now:
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/2675881?start=0&tstart=0
You might think about posting there, too, so others can read about your issue.

HT1349 I received a new logic board and now my computer has no serial number under 'about this mac', and I need it to submit questions to apple. What do I do?

I can't find the serial number for my mac after getting a new logic board on recall for my macbook pro.

You can open System Profiler and see if it contains your serial number.
Or have the computer near a previous connected Wifi or on a Ethernet cable to your router.
Reboot holding the D key down for like what would appear to be 10 minutes until Hardware Test appears on the screen.
You can run a test if you wish.
There is a pane at the top if selected will give you your new serial number.
You also can use Terminal
You can quickly retrieve any Macs serial number via the command line by using the following command string:
system_profiler |grep "r (system)"
The command results will look something like this:
$ system_profiler |grep "r (system)"
Serial Number (system): C24E1322XXXX
If that fails you can give them your MAC address which is unique to each machine and there are records at Apple with it.
Open Utilities > Terminal. Copy, paste and press enter:
For your computers Ethernet (wired) MAC address: ifconfig en0 | grep ether
For your computers Airport (wireless) MAC address: ifconfig en1 | grep ether

Imac G5 needs new logic board

Hi,
My imac G5 was revving up quite a bit and acted like I was downloading something all the time. I thought it might just need the fans to be cleaned but I took it into the genius bar and was told that they guy "thinks" that I need a new logic board but isn't positive and would I like to look at the new imacs. ( I love looking at the new imacs but it's not in my budget). He said it would cost close to $800.00 to repair my imac. I edit video on it and it's also become the family computer. Any suggestions? Do I put the money into replacing the logic board? Do I put money into expanding the memory on my macbook pro that only has 2 gb of memory?

Has it been shutting down unexpectedly?
There was a repair extension program for some of these iMacs which suffered from defective capacitors on the Logic Board and the Power Supply. It's been closed since Dec. 08, but I've heard of people appealing to Apple Customer Service anyway and getting the repairs covered. First you should open the computer and determine if the capacitors on the Logic Board are swelling or leaking at all. If so, you might be able to convince Apple to do the repairs. 1-800-275-2273. If at first you get turned down, ask to speak to a higher level rep.
Tell them how unfair you think it is that those who had the problem before the program closed were covered, and it was just your bad luck that your computer lasted a bit longer. You can also say that had you opened it up earlier, you probably would have seen the bad capacitor issue developing before the program closed. They are numerous little cylinders about 3/4 inch tall. The tops should be perfectly flat. No brownish gunk. Inspect it very carefully.You won't be able to look inside the Power Supply easily, though. If your iMac is not an iSight, it's very easy to open up. Just three screws at the bottom. Have a look here for illustrated instructions for your model. If it is an iSight, probably best not to try; a bit too complicated. Or you might just call the repair service and ask exactly why they thought it needed a new Logic Board. Did they see bad capacitors?
http://www.ifixit.com/blog/?p=1892
These were the covered serial #'s
* iMac G5 Repair Extension Program for
Video and Power Issues - September 2005
Computer model: iMac G5, 17-inch and 20-inch
iMac Serial number range, first 5 digits:
W8435 - W8522 or
QP435 - QP522 or
CK435 - CK522 or
YD435 - YD522
Message was edited by: WZZZ

Why would they just replace the fans when it needs a new logic board?

Went to see a "genius" at the Apple store with my Week 12 MBP. Complained about excessive heat and it whining when unplugged, ever since I got it. He sent it off, three days later I got it back in the mail. But when I looked at the repair doc all it says is they replaced the "FAN ASSY, LT, M1" and also the "RT" one. So now I have two new fans (which worked fine before), and that's it. It still get hot enough over the F keys to burn my skin, and it still whines like a baby when unplugged.
All they have to do is look at the serial number (8612) to know it needs a new MLB, right? What do I do now, call them back and go through this all over again?
MacBook Pro 2GHz Mac OS X (10.4.8)

Went through the exact same thing with my week 17 MBP. The first repair came back with new power inverter and fan assemblies even though my noise was clearly coming from below the keyboard. The noise continued and if anything was actually worse so I was starting to regret ever sending the computer back in the first place. So I called again and sent it back in. This time, the laptop came back untouched and declared "within spec". Now I was really fired up. I told them I would use it for a week and if the problem continued it will come back. So back it went a third time and this time the logic board was replaced. I have to say, the difference is very noticeable and completely worth it in hindsight. I was almost ready to live with it and am so glad I did not. Be persistent and let them know you are prepared to send it in as many times as it takes.

Logic board serial swap desperately needed

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