i noticed that my laptop did not sit flat on a flat surface. it had a bulge in the bottom.
hmmm.
that’s probably not good. i should take off the bottom cover to see
what’s up with a bulge. i have a collection of computer tools left over
from replacing batteries and changing from hard drives to solid state
drives, which starts with removing the bottom cover, in two generations
of MacBooks.
tools at top from replacing hard drives with solid state drives and replacing batteries
tools below used for replacing macbook battery
surely
i could remove the bottom cover of my newer laptop to inspect the
battery. after trying every little screwdriver and failing to unscrew
anything i searched the internet for a tool to remove the bottom cover
screws from a MacBook pro early 2015. extra teensy philips? tiny hex
head? no. apple outdid itself. a FIVE lobed screwdriver. i’ll ask the
internet “what could swell up in a computer”?
batteries, the internet replies. with pictures and warnings. batteries
can explode and/or catch fire. best to unplug and turn off the computer
or phone or whatever. i decided to go with battery failure so i went to
my favorite mac hardware supplier at https://eshop.macsales.com/ and
found a battery replacement kit.

as
usual for these kits there is every thing required to put the new
battery into a macbook. the clever five lobe screwdriver, solvent (the
batteries are glued in place), a metered hypo for the solvent, nonstick
plastic cards to pry the batteries free from glue, even eye protection
glasses.
yes. i saw the warning Professional Installation Highly Recommended yes
plunged ahead anyway.
and a 12 min howto video which i watched!
https://eshop.macsales.com/installvideos/macbook_pro_retina_13_inch_2013_2014_2015_battery/MacBookPro11-1/
the
computer sans battery, the just removed bulgy old black battery, the
new battery with adhesive strips still covered with white nonstick
pieces.
i
was without my computer for 7 days. lucky we still had an old macbook
(early 2009)with 2 users, robin and me, each with a an image of our main
computer, to use while i waited for battery delivery and installation.
it is the first macbook in which i put a solid state drive and a
replacement battery.
a garden view to soothe your eyes
there
was a bonus effect too......fretting about the bulge, researching the
cause, more fretting about whether or not the battery caused the bulge,
deciding that it must be the cause, finding the replacement, watching
the video instructions, deciding that i could do it, ordering the new
battery, double checking the order, tracking the shipment, letting the
package sit in the garage overnight to let the covid cooties die,
actually doing the battery replacement.... all took my attention
mercifully off our present situation, the big one, not my health.