Forensic Report: Apple Macbook
===============

| Identity of the reporting agency | MDEF |
|----------------------------------------|--------------------------------|
| Case identifier | Forensics of the Obsolescence |
| Identity of the submitter | Ayal Bark, Heba Elidrisi, Ivan Garcia, Beste Cebeci, Erandi Estrada, Madlen von Wulffen |
| Date of receipt | 19/11/2025 |
| Date of report | 21/11/2025 |
| Identity and signature of the examiner | Ayal, Heba, Ivan, Beste, Erandi, Madlen |

## Obsolete Object


:::warning
**Serial number:** 9G8280BTEWY2A
**Brand:** Apple
**Model:** Macbook (13-inch, Late 2009) No. A1181
**Colour:** White
**Made in:** USA, China, International
:::
[Technical Specifications](https://support.apple.com/en-us/112623)
## Examination
Descriptive list of items submitted for examination, including serial number, brand and model:

| Picture | Part Name | Serial Number | Quantity | Model No. | Other Specifications | Made In | Company/Brand |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
|| MacBook Rechargeable Battery | 9G8280BTEWY2A | 1 | A1185 | Li-ion; does not contain mercury (Hg); 10.8V DC 55Wh | China (Assembly) | Apple |
|  | Hard Drive | K43AT88319M4 | 1 | MHY2160BH | 160GB | Thailand | Fujitsu |
| | Super Multi DVD Rewriter | DVDRW S10NA 678-0565A | 1 | GSA-S10N | 5V DC | Korea | |
| | Optical Drive Flex Cable | K36 ODD FPC | 1 | 821-0590-A | 2007 | | Foxconn |
| | DC Brushless Fan | 8909W8R | 1 | KSB0405HBF0D | 5V DC | China | |
| | Keyboard | 815.9751.G FX | 1 | | 922-8359 | Taiwan | |
| | Display | N133I1-L01 | 1 | N133I1 – L01 | Size: 13.3" Resolution: 1280×800 (typical for 2009 white MacBook) Backlight type: CCFL (with inverter), not LED | Manufacturer: CHI MEI Optoelectronics (CMO), China | |
|  | CPU/GPU /heatsink | 80812FoX | 1 | | | China | |
| | LCD Inverter | 287W12604AA | 1 | PWB-IV16112T/C2-AG-LF | Size(mm): 112 x 16 For use with 13.3" WXGA LCD Panel| China (Japanesse company) | Sumida |
|  | Display Sensor | 810-0668-A | 1 | | | China | |
| | 2.26GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor | EC80577T8300 | | | 3MB on-chip shared L2 cache running 1:1 with processor speed | | |
| | SDRAM | W8834C7E0P1 | 2 | | 2GB (two 1GB SO-DIMMs) of 1066MHz DDR3 SDRAM; two SO-DIMM slots support up to 4GB | china | |
|| Exterior Case Screws | Type: Phillips #00 | 8 | | 3 × Phillips #00, 14 mm length (front edge) 3 × Phillips #00, 3 mm length (battery bay area) 2 × Phillips #00, 7 mm length (rear near hinges) | Manufacturer: Lian Li Precision (Taiwan/China) | |
|  | Inside Screws | | 46 | | | | |
| | Battery Exterior Screws | | 4 | | | | |
|  | Battery Inside Screws | | 10 | | | | |
| | Screen Case Screws | | 4 | | | | |
|  | RAM Screws | | 8 | | | | |
|  | Case Screws | | 9 | | | | |
| | Display Screws | | 21 | | | | |
| | WLAN Wifi Card for Apple | 7C83309SDZUFA | 1 | | Model No. BCM94321MC | Assembled in China Designed by Apple Computer, Inc. | |
| | Camera Cable (with connections to camera, airPort, bluetooth and ambient light sensor | | | | | | |
| | Speaker | | | | | | |
| | Inductor with an inductance of \(4.7\mu H\) (microhenries) | | | | It is a passive electronic component that stores and releases magnetic energy, and is crucial for filtering power, stabilizing current, and filtering noise in the laptop's power delivery system | | |
| | Flexures | | | | | | |
|  | Bottom Case | | | | | | |
| | Screen Case | | | | | | |
| | Top Chassis | 815-9599 | 1 | | Apple MacBook A1181 LCD White Back Cover 815-9599 | - | Apple |

Exploded Axonometric of Apple MacBook


## Forensic Questions

**What does it do?**
The MacBook is a portable computing device designed to process information, display visual output, and allow users to interact with digital content through its screen, keyboard, camera, trackpad, and built-in media and connectivity ports.

**How does it work?**
<ins>Mechanical</ins>:
The MacBook’s mechanical systems support and protect its internal components. The hinge allows the screen to open and close, the keyboard uses pressure switches to register input, the trackpad uses a rigid surface over a sensor layer, and the cooling system uses a fan and to move heat away from the processor. The case holds all components in alignment and enables physical interaction.

<ins>Electrical</ins>:
The MacBook operates through interconnected electrical systems. Power flows from the battery and power adapter through voltage regulators to the logic board, where circuits distribute energy to the CPU, memory, storage, display, and other parts of the computer. Electrical signals move between components via buses, connectors, and wiring, enabling communication between sensors, input devices, and processing hardware.

<ins>Digital</ins>:
Digital operation is handled by firmware and software that translate user actions into computational tasks. The operating system coordinates memory, processes input, manages storage, and controls the display. Embedded controllers interpret keyboard and trackpad signals, while system firmware initializes hardware and manages low-level logic. Together, these digital layers enable the MacBook to run applications, process data, and execute user commands.

**How is it built?**
The MacBook is assembled primarily with small screws that secure a plastic top and bottom cases to an internal frame. The top case integrates the keyboard and trackpad as a single unit mounted above the main internal components.

Inside, beneath the keyboard and trackpad, are the optical drive, battery, RAM modules, fan, and hard-drive bay. The lowest layer contains the logic board, wireless cards, and the cooling system, with everything connected through cables and board-to-board connectors. The logic board also holds all external input/output ports, such as USB, audio, Ethernet, power, and video-out, which are accessible along the side of the chassis.

The display assembly consists of the LCD panel, backlight, camera module, and wiring harness enclosed within the lid. This assembly is wired to the logic board through the edges of the computer, which was incredibly frustrating to remove without breaking it.

**Why it failed, or it wasn't used anymore?**
Our best guess is that the computer became obsolete because the batteries stopped working. We weren’t able to get a power cable to try charging it, but when we separated the battery from the computer, we noticed it was slightly swollen. We decided to open it to check the components, and it turned out that only 1 of the 6 cells was swollen. We tried measuring the voltage with a multimeter and, as expected, the cells were no longer functioning. We also found a lot of lint and dust inside the computer, which may have contributed to a decrease in performance.

## Steps taken
1. Cleaned the dust off the laptop and brought it to the MDEF room.
2. Disassembled using screwdrivers present in the classroom toolbox.
3. We started by removing the screws from the back of the chassis, then from the removable battery pack. After that we removed the screws from the screen and the top of the chassis. Once those were out we removed the keyboard/trackpad and started removing the components beneath it layer by layer, and screw by screw...sooo many screws.
4. Laid out all parts individually and documented.

5. Selection and curation of elements to use. Backed with online research on possibilities and restrictions applied to each component.
6. Documentation and inventory as means to a deeper understanding of computer and element integration and application;
7. Testing in multiple fronts: HDD HardDrive, Track Pad, Fan, Display Screen.
8. Recapping on the results and curate courses of action

## Testing

Following the disassembly process, we meticulously documented each element. After some googling, speaking with Ivan and Andrés, and chatgpt conversations, we found out that Apple computers are not very "hacker friendly".

Undetereed, we examined the individual components to see if they functioned. We started with using a multimeter to test the batteries. The result was 0V, as expected.

Afterwards, while looking for potential elements to use in a future prototype, we explored online resources related to each component and its possible applications or “hacks.” Below are details of the items we decided to test:

#### Hard Drive

We began with the hard drive, since research showed it was one of the components most likely to be recoverable and 'hackable'. By connecting it to a newer Apple laptop through an external adapter, we were able to successfully access its contents and examine the data stored on it.


This experiment revealed how much valuable and personal information can remain stored on a discarded device and how easily it can be accessed. It also served as a reminder to clear all data from a device before discarding it, to avoid it being accessed by 'hackers' in the future! We identified whose this computer used to belong to. We're going to try to sell it back to her, and we'll let you know how it goes.



[Comprehensive Component Sheet](https://hackmd.io/@L3g4HxxGRESszjwULqN-VQ/Hk5_Kphe-e)

#### Keyboard & Trackpad
After searching through several forums and websites, we found a tutorial that explained how to convert the MacBook trackpad into a USB trackpad. Following this guide, we separated the trackpad, identified the required pins, and soldered a USB cable directly onto the board. We followed the steps exactly as described, stripping the cable, matching each wire to the corresponding pad, and securing the connection.

Unfortunately, despite completing the full process, the trackpad was not recognized by the computer. Still, this experiment helped us understand the internal structure of the component and clarified what might be needed for future attempts or alternative integrations.

The inside of this computer is very detailed, it have made a good challenge for solding training.

<div style="display: flex; gap: 10px;">
<img src="https://hackmd.io/_uploads/HJsKTJ6gbl.png" alt="IMG_3696" width="45%">
<img src="https://hackmd.io/_uploads/ByQ3TkaeWg.png" alt="IMG_3680" width="45%">
</div>

#### Fan
To hack into the fan, we used a Barduino board and Arduino IDE and connected it to a computer.

The first step was to see if the fan worked. To do that, we had to remove the pins from the connector housing using a small needle to pry them out.

The second step was to plug in the + and the - pins into the ground and 5V power supply of the arduino. The fan didn't turn on at first, so we tried using what we had initially thought were the FG and PWM pins (but turned out to actually be the + and - pins) and it turned on. Lesson learned: Never trust a color coded diagram when you're working with all black wires!

The third step was to use the PWM pin to control the fan's motor with the Barduino. This was the longest and most frustrating step. The first issue was to try to provide the PWM with 3.3V of power (from the Barduino pins). Even though that was "supposed" to work according to the datasheet, it didn't. That meant we had to include a transistor and a bit more complicated wiring setup.

After a few rounds of trial and error, and with much help from Dani and Adai we were able to finally to control the motor using a simple arduino code. You can read more about it in the component datasheet below.
{%youtube kmq2awfl__I %}

[Comprehensive Component Sheet](https://hackmd.io/dpL_RwwtT1ytSJxxy6_43w)

#### Display Screen

Despite knowing through research and advice from instructors that the display screen would be relatively difficult to hack into, we still wanted to give it a try since it was one of the components we were most excited about its potential.
We started by trying to connect the inverter board to a power source in order to attempt to light up the screen.

The inverter board converts low-voltage DC to high-voltage AC, provides constant current to the CCFL tube and controls on/off and brightness.

However, upon attemping to do this, we discovered that the screen uses Cold Cathode Fluorescent Lamp (CCFL) not LED, so the inverter board had 4 identical wires for GND, power input, BL_ENABLE(on/off), and BL_DIM(brightness) which needed 2 power supplies and trial to identify which wire is for which. After connecting the inverter to the power source we tried every cable with 12V, but unfortunately it didn’t turn on.


## Results

**How many motors did we find inside?**
We found several motors inside:

In the fan, for the cooling system of the device.

The DVD reader and the Hard drive also function with motors. It uses a spindle and a precision stepper motor.

**Does it contain a computer or microcontroller?**
Yes, there is an Intel processor in the logic board of the device.

**Did you find any sensors?**
Yes, in this macbook there are:
Sound sensors (microphones),
1. Touch sensors (trackpad multi-touch surface + keyboard matrix)
2. Video sensor (iSight camera)
4. Wireless communication sensors (Wi-Fi + Bluetooth module)
5. Lid/closure sensor (Hall sensor + magnet in the display)
6. Voltage and power-management sensors (battery + logic board)
7. Temperature sensors (on the logic board and near battery/CPU)
8. Motion protection sensor (Sudden Motion Sensor inside the hard drive)

## Conclusions

**What did you learn?**

The disassembly process revealed how much more complex the internal architecture of a MacBook laptop is compared to what is visible to our eyes from the outside. From the large number of screws that are used to secure the casing to the intricate breakdown of each part into even smaller sub-components, the level of engineering detail became apparent.

Despite Apple marketing itself as user friendly and intuitive, the internal composition of their devices proves otherwise.

Through this process, we gained a deeper understanding of the relative 'hackability' of different components of a MacBook and the range of techniques that can enable certain parts to be controlled or manipulated for reuse, including coding, computing, soldering, and other techniques.

**What surprised you?**

> *I had no idea how many screws were inside my computer. So. Many. Screws.* - Ayal
>
> *For having such an intuitive UI design, it surprised me that Apple's approach to hardware was the complete opposite. There was no clear order of operations for the disassembly of the Macbook.* - Ayal

> *Interesting how small technology can be, with high capacity.* - Ivan
>
> *The number of components packed inside the computer was surprising. Computers used to be thicker and had more ports and connectors. Now, I’m really curious to see a modern computer to compare how they have evolved. -Erandi*

> *A deceptively complex internal structure compared to the user-friendly interface. - Heba*


## Component Datasheets

HDD Hard Drive:
https://hackmd.io/@L3g4HxxGRESszjwULqN-VQ/Hk5_Kphe-e

DC BRUSHLESS LAPTOP FAN:
https://hackmd.io/dpL_RwwtT1ytSJxxy6_43w

## References
Apple Inc. (2009). MacBook 13‑inch: Late 2009 service manual [PDF]. https://www.informaticanapoli.it/download/MANUALI/APPLE/macbook_p13_mid09.pdf

Technical Data Documentation of MacBook (13-inch, Late 2009) - Technical Specifications
https://support.apple.com/en-us/112623

Attempted Maker. (2012, October 28). Converting MacBook keyboard/touch pad into USB keyboard/touch pad. Retrieved from https://attemptedmaker.blogspot.com/2012/10/converting-macbook-keyboardtouch-pad.html

Datasheet for Delta Brand DC Brushless Laptop Fan:
https://www.delta-fan.com/Download/Spec/KSB0405HBF0D.pdf

Datasheet for 2N2222 Transistor:
https://www.alldatasheet.es/datasheet-pdf/pdf/888490/SEMTECH_ELEC/2N2222.html

StackExchange post for using 2N2222 Transistor as a switch: https://electronics.stackexchange.com/questions/488337/2n2222-as-a-switch