Questions centering on repair of Apple hardware or software.
12
votes
5answers
3k views
The iPhone home button is sometimes unresponsive. How can I fix it?
I've noticed that my iPhone 4's home button does not work very well. Sometimes I have to press it multiple times, or press it very hard to get it to register a click. Sometimes it will detect a ...
10
votes
9answers
4k views
Can I trust Apple Store's employees with my laptop?
This might be a bizarre but crucial question, can I fully trust leaving my laptop in repairs (Genius Bar) while they have full access to it ?
I recently went to the genius bar to get my display ...
8
votes
1answer
206 views
I know how to repair disk permissions. But… Who broke them?
One of the common Mac troubleshooting steps everyone always seems encouraged to try first is to "repair disk permissions" in Disk Utility.
This process usually finds random odd problems, fixes them, ...
7
votes
2answers
43k views
How to turn off iPhone without power button?
My iPhone's power button is broken. How can I still turn it off to send it in for repairs? I found another answer, but it does not really help.
7
votes
3answers
850 views
Is the lock screen PIN secure enough when sending in for repair?
The button on my wife's iPhone 4 has become unresponsive and I would like to get it repaired. Like most people, the phone contains important emails, documents and photos which she would not like to ...
6
votes
1answer
3k views
Can auto glass chip repair kits fix cracked iOS device screens?
Can auto glass chip repair kits such as this item repair cracked iOS device screens? If so, what should I watch out for?
5
votes
2answers
847 views
What should you do if your OS X system fails to boot, being stuck at gray screen with the moving wheel?
What to do if your OS X system fails to boot, being stuck at gray screen with the moving-wheel?
The system boots from recovery partition, it does check the partition but it will not boot.
5
votes
6answers
41k views
Cracked iPad display - What are my options?
I've had my 3rd generation iPad for only five months, and I've tried hard to keep it in pristine condition. I always had it in its case, and was very mindful of what I did with it.
Unfortunately one ...
4
votes
3answers
1k views
iPhone 3Gs got dropped in water. Is it pretty much done?
My old iPhone 3Gs got dropped into water (completely submerged for a second or two). When I took it out, the screen was barely visible. Then it went off completely, but it appears from time to time ...
4
votes
5answers
836 views
What is the Sixth Step of MacBook Repair?
My Macbook has crashed once or twice daily ever since I installed Lion. I am unable to return to Snow Leopard because my Time Machine is now coupled with Lion.
I went through the sequence:
Reset ...
4
votes
3answers
396 views
Where can I purchase repair parts for Apple products?
I have an old iMac G4 that's well beyond being supported in any capacity by Apple. Two years ago, when taking it apart to upgrade the hard drive and CD drive, I accidentally severed the connector on ...
4
votes
3answers
2k views
How can I keep my fan from staying at full speed after replacing the hard drive?
I replaced a hard drive in a 2011 iMac (Core i7), though it was a standard hard drive and didn't have a location for the S.M.A.R.T. cord. (Or at least I think that's what it was.) Since then, the ...
3
votes
3answers
2k views
My external disk made a clicking noise. What should I do?
I have a USB2+Firewire external disk that made a clicking noise, and Mac OS X immediately unmounted it and put up a dialog box saying that a peripheral is misbehaving. The disk made a clicking noise ...
3
votes
4answers
433 views
When is a MacBook Pro considered at 'end of life' and in need of replacement?
In a standard corporate environment with PCs they are replaced approximately every 36 months on a revolving schedule.
In introducing Macs into the corporation, the IT department appears to be unable ...
3
votes
3answers
5k views
How can I repair an NTFS partition from Lion?
What free tool can I use to repair an NTFS partition under Lion.
I already have Tuxera NTFS on it and I do not want to install windows for this task.
3
votes
1answer
151 views
What is the cable that connects the logic board to the display in a Macbook Air?
My friend asked me to repair her Macbook Air (I swear I'll never touch it again) and while removing the panel surrounding the LCD screen with a razor blade (as shown on iFixit), I inadvertently sliced ...
3
votes
2answers
492 views
Is it possible to use an Apple gift card toward repairs?
I have a gift card whose balance should just about exactly cover the cost of some repairs Apple is doing on my computer. Is it possible to spend a gift card on repairs? I assume so, but I cannot find ...
3
votes
1answer
386 views
Is it possible to buy a replacement iPad screen of the same quality as Apple's?
I've found a few companies that offer replacement iPad digitizers (the digitizer is the glass/touch screen part of your iPad), but I'm worried that they might be different to the official one.
...
3
votes
1answer
652 views
Can I replace the home button on the iPhone 3G without removing the glass digitizer?
My iPhone 3G home button broke so I bought a new one online and all the repair guides require me to remove the glass digitizer, which seems very tough (hair drying glue etc.) and harder than I ...
2
votes
2answers
562 views
Disk diagnostic and repair utility for Mac that works with all kinds of storage devices?
There are some nice and useful utilities for testing disks for bad blocks like MHDD, Victoria, HITACHI Drive Feature Tool etc. But these utilities have some limitations.
For example, MHDD is the best ...
2
votes
2answers
168 views
What is barred circle icon in dock after install to new HD?
I just bought a SSD for my MacBook Pro and installed Lion on it and restored from a Time Machine backup. After a few updates and configuring a few things I am mostly good to go. However, Xcode and ...
2
votes
1answer
549 views
iPhone 4 falling in water - issues after fixing
Two months ago, I accidentally dropped my iPhone 4 into water (for 3 seconds or so). Immediately I turned it off and put it in a bowl of rice. After two days, I took it to a repair shop, in which it ...
2
votes
1answer
921 views
Apple charger port magnet has lost it's pull
My friends laptop was dropped and fell directly on the power charging connector as it was connected to the charger. Now the port still works, but the strength of the magnet that holds the connector ...
2
votes
1answer
371 views
Is there a replacement glass panel for iPad that is “matte”?
I had broken my Unibody MacBook screen and took the opportunity to replace it with a matte screen, via TechRestore. I loved the improvement, as I dislike glossiness in almost every context. Even my ...
2
votes
1answer
196 views
Specification of MagSafe power adapter coaxial cable?
Does anyone know what type/specification of coaxial cable is used from the transformer brick to the MagSafe connector in the A1343 power supply?
The cable from my 85W MagSafe power adapter to my MBP ...
2
votes
2answers
137 views
Is it necessary to disconnect the battery when installing new RAM in the early 2011 MacBook Pro?
I want to install additional RAM to my early 2011 MacBook Pro.
I originally was only looking at the official Apple guide, but then while searching for a better screwdriver I found the iFixit guide, ...
2
votes
1answer
342 views
Prevent automatic removal of the Spotlight index due to low disk space
I am guessing that when disk space runs low, it automatically deletes the Spotlight index to make room for virtual memory. Then when space becomes available it reindexes. But I'm not sure about that. ...
2
votes
1answer
443 views
How can I restore my system, using Snow Leopard, after hard-drive replacement?
I had a nearly full 500GB drive in my MacBook Pro, running Snow Leopard. As the near-full capacity was becoming problematic, I bought two 1TB drives, went home, ran Time Machine on one of them, and ...
1
vote
2answers
110 views
Fixing old G3 and G4 laptops
After I replaced the hard drive in my old iBook G3 (with the help of iFixit guides), it will not boot connected to mains power, only with the battery. It also always returns its date/time settings to ...
1
vote
4answers
562 views
Repairing macports after deleting image folders
I was having problems uninstalling a package in macports (gimp2-devel, to be exact) due to some "directory not empty" errors. I discover from comments made by the maintainer of macports that it's OK ...
1
vote
2answers
433 views
SSD OEM Exact Model, Part Number and Manufacturer in MacBook Pro (Mid 2012)
Does anyone know the exact manufacturer, Apple part number or model number of a 512GB SSD drive in a BTO MacBook Pro (Mid 2012)?
I cannot find any teardown photos or System Information screenshots ...
1
vote
1answer
163 views
Are the 4 LCD screws to fix the LCD replacement in an iPad critical?
I just successfully replaced the front glass of my 3th Gen iPad WiFi, but when I cleaned up my desk, I found out I forget to use the 4 LCD screws:
Is it worth it working another hour to open up ...
1
vote
1answer
732 views
Will the Apple Store replace Macbook Pro keys or other parts if serious wearing occurs?
I have had my first MacBook for around a month now and I'm already beginning to notice some wearing on the keys (especially on the spacebar). The keys are beginning to turn shiny, and at this rate ...
1
vote
1answer
87 views
Options for repairing iPod Touch with broken glass
I've got an 4th-gen iPod Touch with thoroughly smashed glass. What are my options for repair? It sounds like
Apple charges about $200
There are third-party repair-by-mail services that charge ...
1
vote
1answer
397 views
Damage replacement plan / Insurance for Mac Book Pro?
I used to own a Dell with a pretty beefy replacement plan. When I bought my MBP, I asked if there was any similar coverage and the "genius" said no. I search around online and found a company called ...
1
vote
2answers
1k views
iPod 2nd Gen Replacement digitizer not working
So I just ordered a new digitizer and middle frame for my 2nd Gen iPod Touch, wired everything up, and the digitizer is not recognizing any finger swipes.
I have not snapped the frame into place yet ...
1
vote
4answers
2k views
Best replacement for MacBook Air MagSafe 2 cable (OEM or 3rd party?)
My MagSafe 2 cable for my 2012 MacBook Air stopped working. Took it into Apple store where I had bought my MacBook Air, and sure enough it was the excessive cat chew marks that had degraded it*. Can ...
1
vote
1answer
409 views
Broken keyboard: Apple store policy?
One of the keys on my keyboard is non-responsive after cleaning it. I want to get the keyboard repaired rather than buy a new one. What is the Apple store policy for keyboard repairs? My iMac is out ...
1
vote
1answer
421 views
Can the fan in an iMac (model 5,1 “Late 2006”) be replaced?
I have a 21" iMac model identifier imac5,1 (Late 2006). (It's the one with a 2.16 Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo and a max of 4 GB RAM, 3 GB addressable. You know, the white LCD ones)
Starting this weekend ...
1
vote
1answer
443 views
Replacing rubber spring/cup under Tab key cap
To make a long question short: What's the proper way to replace a rubber spring (inverted cup-like thing) under a keycap, specifically the Tab key on a unibody design MacBook Pro or Air?
Details: I ...
1
vote
1answer
59 views
Screen dark except when brightness is stepped off of zero
As shown in this video, the screen is dark, except at the few first steps when the brightness is moved just out of zero.
The notebook works otherwise perfectly fine. The image on the external monitor ...
1
vote
1answer
171 views
MacBook Pro 15 (early 2011) display panel joint is broken, can I get a replacement?
The black plastic casing around the display joint has been broken (has a crack). Is it possible to get a replacement for the same?
1
vote
1answer
2k views
Repair or recover drive from recovery mode
My main HDD is failing to boot. (Neither Normal, Safe mode nor Single User).
I can only boot from Recovery Mode or DVD.
The scenario was the following:
Computer was asleep (lid down).
Lifted the ...
1
vote
1answer
79 views
Refurbishing MacBooks [closed]
I am looking to start refurbishing MacBooks with the intention of reselling them. If they come with the original disks, then I can’t see any problems arising, as I should be able to restore them to as ...
1
vote
1answer
578 views
Dead areas in touchscreen after repair
I cracked the screen of my 3GS so I ordered a repair kit and installed it using some directions I found on youtube.
It seemed to work fine at first, but I've been noticing some dead zones in the ...
1
vote
1answer
415 views
Is it possible to convert a MacBook Pro from the glossy to the matte option?
I have foolishly managed to crack the glass on the glossy screen of my 15 inch Mid 2010 MacBook Pro.
While considering the option to replace the glass, I then remembered I'd always wanted to have the ...
1
vote
1answer
303 views
Recover files from one volume to another on the same Drobo?
One evening we had a momentary power outage, causing sudden shutdown for my Mac mini and the attached Drobo (4 bay). When the system came back up, only one of the two volumes mounted on the desktop. ...
1
vote
2answers
5k views
How do I repair movies with “invalid public movie atoms”?
I've got a movie file that gives me the following error every time it opens in any QuickTime based player:
The movie could not be opened.
An invalid public movie atom was found in the movie.
...
1
vote
2answers
447 views
Ejecting disk from non-booting Macbook
My Macbook does not power up for more than a few seconds, and I have declared it dead. The only issue is that there is still a disk inside of it of Snow Leopard. The MB doesn't power on long enough to ...
1
vote
1answer
568 views
iMac wont startup and won't boot from CD
My 24" 3.06Ghz iMac will no longer fully boot. It constantly gives me the grey "Your machine needs to be restarted" half way through booting. At first I was able to boot into SuperUser mode and run an ...
