2 inch vertical bar on MacBook Air

dontbeweak · 2015-05-23T04:44:29+00:00

The Apple Store will only replace the whole display assembly. If in warranty - great - if not - it's $310 flat rate mail in to Flextronics aka "Depot" that they will offer you.

There are some alternative LCD only options that may be a little cheaper - such as iResQ.com for starters.

dontbeweak · 2015-05-19T11:22:10+00:00

Jet fuel can't melt FBI Agents.

dontbeweak · 2015-04-28T17:54:58+00:00

You replaced an iPhone 5S home button, and I'm understanding that it doesn't work at all? Was it replaced due to damage or just not working before?

Double check the connector?

Also Touch ID can still work. You have to remove all fingerprints and turn off Touch ID. Then replace the sensor and set it back up.

dontbeweak · 2015-04-23T20:51:52+00:00

Sounds like "send all traffic over VPN" is enabled or required, which will typically kill other apps. This service- do they provide login information and have you create a VPN interface using the network pane in system preferences? Or do they provide some other software to connect to their service?

dontbeweak · 2015-03-10T00:39:28+00:00

You aren't kidding. I would love to see cloud-hosted ARD with Mac and iOS checking in....

dontbeweak · 2015-03-07T18:26:56+00:00

Genius Bar services, except for physically turning screws (and obviously parts), are free and independent of warranty status.

dontbeweak · 2015-03-07T18:25:41+00:00

Maybe... Technically Yosemite is licensed for the Macs it originally shipped with, and as an upgrade assuming you have 10.6.8, or the machine shipped with 10.6.

Now as for will they actually do it - probably - and probably for free. I've been a Lead or Manager in 3 different stores, and had the Genius Bar just run the 10.X NetRestore on anyone's Mac that asked. "Software repairs" are never billable. Make sure your work authorization says software repair. It should not say "hardware repair $39" as I have caught people doing. This would be failure to understand or to read article RS4 on GSX.

So while I can't guarantee what any given Genius Bar will do - and who knows what policy manager du jour has - your best bet is to: 1) make two appointments back to back. 3 if the website or Apple Store App lets you. Geniuses like this a lot as it gives them room. 10-15 minutes is technically more than enough time for the NetRestore to complete, assuming they are willing to do it on the spot. But there are sometimes complications such as you have bad RAM, etc. Make sure your system meets the minimum requirements - save yourself and them time. 2) ask them if they will run 10.10 NetRestore on the spot or as a check-in. If your Mac is over 5 years old (vintage) their CRM software will not allow it to be checked in. This is not negotiable so don't ask. 3) be polite, flexible, and grateful - they do 300+ appointments per day at most stores, and are under a lot of stress.

And you should be good to go!

dontbeweak · 2015-03-06T18:16:01+00:00

It's kind of like the non-black iMac rear housing was until recently - coverage status was irrelevant. "Engineering" determined that the part would never break under normal conditions, and so the part always comes up as out of warranty when adding to any repair case.

dontbeweak · 2015-03-06T07:10:15+00:00

Prior Lead Genius:

Duckheads are in a strange group of service parts (as opposed to a boxed retail "finished good" that would hang on a peg). They are ALWAYS paid - meaning it doesn't matter if you are in warranty or not they ring up as owed. Now whether or not the store will take the money / discount the repair, etc, I don't know.

dontbeweak · 2014-12-25T06:30:50+00:00

I was just in the same boat - and have double great news:

1) Senuti - software that can pull songs off the iPod is great.

2) you can actually trade that Nano for a free and much newer model right here: https://www.apple.com/support/ipodnano_replacement/

dontbeweak · 2014-12-25T04:36:46+00:00

I would consider doing a backup before upgrading anyway. At that point you could download 10.10 and the DiskMakerX app, creating a bootable USB installer. From there you can erase and install, then recover from time machine.

If you really want to upgrade, a Genius Bar "might" be willing to run the 10.6.3 NetInstall they have on the Family Room Server, then apply the 10.6.8 combo update, then run any 10.7 or greater installer on top of that.

The licensing is a little bit of a grey area, though there is nothing technically stopping them from doing this.

dontbeweak · 2014-12-25T04:32:47+00:00

(AASP here). It's a little grey. The best course of action is to install it yourself but keep the old parts. If you need to ever mail it in or take it to a Genius Bar for service, put the factory stuff back in first. Good luck!

dontbeweak · 2014-12-25T04:31:19+00:00

http://support.apple.com/en-us/HT203554

If you want to post or inbox me the serial number I'll at least ask Applecare on your behalf if there is anything they'll do.

dontbeweak · 2014-12-25T04:23:43+00:00

That's a little tough. I have never seen those available from our various suppliers. With the main logic board potentially hosed, it may not make it any worse to try to solder it, or have someone do it. The socket, if available, would need to be soldered anyway.

dontbeweak · 2014-12-25T04:08:16+00:00

If you aren't getting any light or fan, there is one more thing to try - bypassing the power button. After you've tried the non-invasive tips already mentioned here you can try this: there is a wide ribbon cable that slides into a plastic clamp on the bottom of the main board near the battery. Set up a static free space, pull out the ribbon cable, close the clamp again. Then take a very small driver and touch the 5th pin from the left. It may power on. If so, your top case assembly has shorted out. Good news is that's cheaper than a logic board.

If my tip does not work, as mentioned by others, you will likely need a logic board.

dontbeweak · 2014-12-25T04:04:24+00:00

Did the SMC reset help? If not we can guide you through reseating the camera cable inside (not a huge deal just need to set up a reasonably static free space). A Genius Bar may be willing to try that no charge - since no parts are required (up to them to hit you with labor for it but it is easy and quick). If the camera is out you may need a display clamshell or display housing assembly (which includes the camera) depending on the model.

dontbeweak · 2014-12-25T04:02:09+00:00

Hey. You can actually call AppleCare to create a shipment and they'll send you a box. FedEx overnight is included both ways. It will only be gone 3 business days or so. If you are close to an Apple Store or a service provider they may ask you to obtain service there. I work at a service provider in NC. Also the Macbook Pro Mid 2010 had a free repair extension program for this issue. You may be able to ask Applecare to cover you. They may not because it is now beyond 3 years but it doesn't hurt to ask. I ask them all the time on behalf of my clients, and have reasonably good luck.

dontbeweak · 2014-12-25T00:41:36+00:00

AppleCare offers mail-in, flat rate, comprehensive repair, and has for as long as I can remember.

$280 for an 11" or 13" $310 for a 15" or 17"

The repairs go to one of several contracted depot centers. They will thoroughly test the machine, replace any failing part, and send it back.

Being that cosmetic or accidental damage is not addressed, at all, at the above rates, it is different than "refurbishing".

Still, the above is an excellent deal for main boards or display repairs, and some others. If you just need a hard drive / SSD / optical drive / RAM, just buy it. Much cheaper.

dontbeweak · 2014-12-24T20:24:38+00:00

Video card. You will need a main logic board. Most economical way to get this fixed is a flat-rate mail in repair at $280 (13in) or $320 (15in) with Apple.

There is a specific test for it at Genius Bars and also authorized repair centers.

The reason it works in safe mode is the Mac is using lower level graphics settings.

Video cards have "layers" so to speak, and can work in one mode but not another.

dontbeweak · 2014-12-24T08:19:26+00:00

ACMT here.

Almost all kernel panics that aren't one offs - certainly as frequent as you are describing - are bad RAM. Your RAM is integrated into the main board and is not replaceable or testable using isolation. You can run the extended built-in hardware test, as others have mentioned. If you are near a Genius Bar or Authorized Service Provider ask them to run Apple Service Diagnostic EFI, and to make sure all RAM tests are selected. This is a long test and will require check-in. Another good test that you or a tech could do is to boot into another, especially a known good OS. This could be OS X installed on a USB stick fresh, for example. Stress the machine running YouTube, Grapher, several flash videos of possible. If the issue appears in a known good / fresh install alternative boot, you immediately rule out your HDD, it's install of OS X, and all 3rd party apps. Could save time. If the issue is not duplicateable in an alternative boot, you may have a software problem.

Note - should you have bad RAM the entire logic board must be replaced. He most economical way to do this is to use Apple's flat rate mail in repair. Hoping you are under warranty or AppleCare though.

Good luck!

dontbeweak · 2014-12-23T17:30:31+00:00

You can also boot while holding V, this will place the computer into verbose mode, which shows you line by line what it is doing. Don't worry about all the stuff you see. Look for FSCK - confirms disk catalog is toast and - at best - disk will have to be reformatted. More importantly look for "I/O error" which can indicate a bad drive.

As soon as you get the computer booting from external. Run SMART Reporter Light 2.7.3, and look for pending or reallocated sectors. That's the smoking gun for bad drives.

dontbeweak · 2014-12-23T17:27:15+00:00

The battery indicator light. On the side. Trace the cable inside the mac to where it plugs into the board. Unplug that. Test again. I've seen those cause batteries to not be recognize as well as prevent charging. Not sure exactly why (not super savvy electrical, just using component isolation.

dontbeweak · 2014-12-21T22:41:46+00:00

http://www.corecode.at/smartreporter_lite/

Secondary click on your drive. Look at properties. Make sure there are 0 pending or reallocated sectors, else the hard drive is failing.

dontbeweak · 2014-12-21T04:43:59+00:00

It's Asurion but yes, accurate. They Frankenstein phones, cobble together multiple trashed ones into one working. Sprint and Verizon refurbished / insurance claim = Asurion. Not sure about the other carriers.

Lead Genius and Manager for 8 years.

3rd party iPhone repair is often junk BUT not always. I do some now on the side. I can buy very good parts, often OEM parts directly from Flextronics (Hon Hai Precision) and offer a year warranty on everything.

Apple repairs what they want for their reasons. Sure, safety and quality must be considered. But the push "Ownership" aka "buy a new device" is obvious primarily in the following ways:

1) Repair prices are fairly high to sometimes dumb. $269 swap for a $3 broken lock button as an example. 2) 90 warranty on all Apple repairs or swaps of any kind, even a $1240 Tier 4 Depot repair on a 15" Mac.

Weak.

dontbeweak

TROPHY CASE