Hardware and Software

 Install Disk / Mac OS X


Network Utility
System Profiler
 Disk Utility
 Console.app and Verbose Start (Apple+V)
 Safe boot (Shift), Single User Mode
(Apple+S)
 F2 or Install Disk: For running AHT
 Tech Tool (Pro or Deluxe)
 Target Disk Mode (and another Mac)

 PRAM issue (Apple+Opt+P+R)
 File System issue


Try single-user mode or safe boot.
If that doesn’t help, see HD slides.
 Driver / kext issue, startup item issue
(try safe-boot)

Hard Drive Failure – Best
Practice
Backup important stuff ASAP!
 Target disk mode.
 External USB adapter (if CRU).

Hard Drive Failure - Symptoms
- reseating HD does not help (if CRU)
- no single user mode
- circle with a line
- pinwheel keeps spinning
- stuck at blue screen or aurora

Hard Drive Failure - Symptoms
- HD not visible in boot manager
- tech tool or AHT do not detect a hard disk
- Install disk does not detect a hard disk
- Disk Utility (install disk) “SMART” error
- HD not visible via target disk mode

Hard Drive Failure - Symptoms
- fails tech tool tests
- fails AHT tests
can’t repair with disk utility
- recurs after Erase and Install (but run
TT or AHT first)

 Best case: have backup, have Apple
Care.
Call Apple. Apple replaces HD for free.
 No Apple Care?
 Apple
 Small Dog
 DIY
 You can try Erase & Install or Archive &
Install, but…

 Computer beeps (lookup beep codes)
 Power light flashes a pattern (lookup pattern)
 Fails Tech Tool RAM test.
 Fails AHT RAM test.
 Issue reproduced when booted from another location (target disk mode, install disk) – no video corruption.
 System Profiler shows failing RAM module.

 Test each DIMM separately.
 Determines which DIMM is faulty.
 Test each DIMM slot separately.
 Determines which slot is faulty.

 Reseat RAM.
 Best case: Has Apple Care. Call Apple.
CRU.
 No Apple Care?
 Apple
 Small Dog
 DIY

Graphics Card Failure – Best
Practices
 Use an external display to test (attach before powering on Mac).
 Reset PRAM.
 Backup!
 Boot from install disk.

Graphics Card Failure -
Symptoms
 No video (external or internal) but can hear startup chime.
 Distorted video.
 Intermittent distorted video.
 Distorted video during HD video playback or screen saver. Computer crashes during these actions.

LCD/backlight Failure – Best
Practices
 Use an external display to test (attach before powering on Mac).
 Reset PRAM.
 Backup!
 Boot from install disk.

LCD/backlight Failure –
Symptoms
 No LCD video (or interm.), but external display works.
 Screen very dim.

LCD/backlight/GPU Failure -
Solutions
 If no Apple Care, extremely expensive
($400+).
 Very difficult to DIY.
 Small Dog can be cheaper than Apple.

Try buying Apple Care…

Can sell on Ebay…

Can backup via TDM or USB adapter…

Keyboard or Trackpad Failure –
Best Practices
 Test when booted from install disk.

Keyboard or Trackpad Failure –
Solutions
 Vacuum (gently!) or blow canned air
(vacuum in SR can blow, too).
 Covered under Apple Care (unless accidental damage).
 Very difficult to DIY, but affordable via
Apple, Small Dog.

Small Dog can be cheaper…

Network Card Failure – Best
Practices
 Test on multiple jacks (DIRECTLY TO
WALL!).
 Test with multiple cables.
 Test with multiple wireless connections
(midd_u vs midd_s).
 Boot from install disk.
 Check Network Utility, System Profiler,
Network preference pane.
 Create a new location.
 Safe mode.

Network Card Failure – Solutions
 Covered under Apple Care (unless accidental damage).
 Very difficult to DIY (but see below).
Airport replacement affordable via
Apple, Small Dog.

Small Dog can be cheaper…
 Can purchase USB adapter 

AC Adapter or Power Related
Issues
 Reset PRAM.


Reset SMC or power management.
Try known good appropriate AC adapter – must verify Wattage.
 Test AC with battery removed (older models).
 Test without AC and a charged battery
(older models).
 If system board issue, service call is expensive (unless covered by Apple Care).

 Older models – only covered for 1 year.
 Newer models – covered for 3 years w/
Apple Care. Not CRU!
 Affordable.
 Can try fully draining then fully charging…
 System Profiler can be very helpful.

 Test from install disk.
 Check System Profiler.
 Target Disk Mode can help w/ Firewire testing.
 Service call expensive (unless covered by Apple Care).

 Test from install disk.
 Test internal speakers.
 Test audio port with headphones.
 Check System Profiler.
 Red light on audio port!?


Headphones
Canned air
 Service call expensive (unless covered by
Apple Care).
 USB headphones/mic are cheap.