Back again, liked the de_script_ion of taking apart a laptop.  Not   everybody's cup of tea and even experienced technicians are taxed to   do every-time.  Note that Oakbrook Genesises send equipment to another   building at Oakbrook for actual repairs and transfers of entire   contents into new Macs.  Don't know for sure but suspect this is a   third party contract shop with fixed price lists which may include   common troubles found in say CDDVD malfunctions.  Also shops are   unlikely to do simple basic internal part bends or fixes when   replacing new is most likely not to return.  (some observations of   corporate 3rd party repairs of 13,000 employee _base_) Now back to the optical drive in question.  Apple store is best bet   for completing repair with some warranty assurance, BUT another to   consider is OtherWorld Computing with replacement drive and video   guidance to making the repair.  They also have external super drives   in their offerings. (absolutely I have no connection but being a   devoted customer to OWC [and am not a congressperson or governor who   will be found by the press of _link_ in any form to OWC]) Billy http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/superdrive/MacBook_Pro_17