Precautions to take before giving my Macbook for service

I need to give my Macbook Pro for service ( touch pad & battery problem), which may take a couple of days.
What are the precautions I need to take to protect my confdential data on it?
Suggestions are welcome.
Thanks

steve359 wrote:
Anything you can get federal or state sentences for unintentionally sharing with the world should be backed up up and removed.
This guy.......That comment was funny.......Nice going steve359 - you probably scared the guy now....
Jeeves123 - we're just messing with you....You have to admit - the comment was funny....

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While I have nothing against Time Machine (and I do use it on some of my systems), I always make a bootable clone before taking a Mac in for service (2 actually), and I verify that clone boots before I let the Mac leave.
SuperDuper is free for a full clone (you only pay for incremental features).
<http://www.shirt-pocket.com/SuperDuper/SuperDuperDescription.html>
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<https://www.bombich.com/>

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Hello, I'm totally new to the world of Macs. I am for sure going to purchase a Macbook, but I feel it might be better to upgrade ram and harddrive through third party. I have never upgraded ram or a harddrive, but it seems easy enough after watching the video at macworld and reading instructions. My question is:
Should I install the ram and harddrive before I turn on the macbook for the first time? Would this make things any easier? Would this be a bad thing to do?
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Welcome to the discussions!
I agree fully with Ned. You will want to power it up and run the setup and even do your data transfer and maybe even install a program or two before doing any upgrades at all.
Why?
Updating the OS tests your Airport or ethernet connection.
Migrating data over by FireWire or USB tests those connections.
Installing programs from CD will test out the CD drive.
You will also get a feel for the baseline performance and have something to compare it to once you do those upgrades.

When you sent your Macbook for service, did Apple fix the audio pop issue?

I'm experiencing the intermittent audio "pop" problem in my Santa Rose Macbook running 10.5.1. (There are numerous posts on this topic in this forum and elsewhere.)
I'm wondering if this can remedied by a a trip to the Apple repair shop.
For those who have experienced this problem, and who have sent their Macbooks back for repair -- was Apple able to solve the issue? Or is it unlikely to be remedied hardware, and instead be patched with a firmware fix via software update?

bump. anyone?
audio pop thump external speakers hiss crackle leopard

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Message was edited by: iloveska2

Apple will typically allow a return within 14 days of your purchase... which is basically what you would need to do if you wanted to make an exchange. You would basically return your old one and buy the new one. As the previous poster mentioned, at this point, you won't be able to achieve this working directly with Apple. As your machine is 5-6 months old, there is wear to consider... it is basically no longer a new machine. Apple stores are not equipped to "appraise" used machines.

Do I need to take my Apple TV for service?

I have the 3rd Gen Apple TV and have had it since the launch date. Probably 1/3 of the time when I turn the device on, I get the green screen, which is really frustrating. Normally after unplugging the device and plugging in again, it works fine -- but it's still annoying. Is this a common occurence?
Second, every now and then (which has happened at least 10 times since I've had the device but I use it often enough to say it is uncommon), I get static interference with the device. I've tried multiple HDMI ports and multiple HDMI cables, but the problem still occurs.
Is all of this enough to warrant me to take the Apple TV in for service? Does it sound like I have a faulty device? Or could there be something in the way I have it set up?
Thanks everyone for any help.

Hello:
If I were you, I would take it into an Apple store to have them check it out.
Barry

I'm running 10.5.8 on a MacBook Pro and need to update to Java 7 in order to take a software assessment test for a potential job. The Java app will only upgrade from 10.6 or higher. What can I do?

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I would suggest you upgrade your computer's OS minimally to Snow Leopard 10.6.8.
Upgrading to Snow Leopard
You can purchase Snow Leopard through the Apple Store: Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard - Apple Store (U.S.). The price is $19.99 plus tax. You will be sent physical media by mail after placing your order.
After you install Snow Leopard you will have to download and install the Mac OS X 10.6.8 Update Combo v1.1 to update Snow Leopard to 10.6.8 and give you access to the App Store. Access to the App Store enables you to download Mountain Lion if your computer meets the requirements.
     Snow Leopard General Requirements
       1. Mac computer with an Intel processor
       2. 1GB of memory
       3. 5GB of available disk space
       4. DVD drive for installation
       5. Some features require a compatible Internet service provider;
           fees may apply.
       6. Some features require Apple’s iCloud services; fees and
           terms apply.
Upgrading from Snow Leopard to Lion or Mountain Lion
You can upgrade to Mountain Lion from Lion or directly from Snow Leopard. Mountain Lion can be downloaded from the Mac App Store for $19.99.
If you sign into the App Store and try to purchase Mountain Lion but the App Store says your computer is not compatible then you may still be able to upgrade to Lion per the following information.
A. Upgrading to Mountain Lion
To upgrade to Mountain Lion you must have Snow Leopard 10.6.8 or Lion installed. Purchase and download Mountain Lion from the App Store. Sign in using your Apple ID. Mountain Lion is $19.99 plus tax. The file is quite large, over 4 GBs, so allow some time to download. It would be preferable to use Ethernet because it is nearly four times faster than wireless.
     OS X Mountain Lion - System Requirements
       Macs that can be upgraded to OS X Mountain Lion
         1. iMac (Mid 2007 or newer) - Model Identifier 7,1 or later
         2. MacBook (Late 2008 Aluminum, or Early 2009 or newer) - Model Identifier 5,1 or later
         3. MacBook Pro (Mid/Late 2007 or newer) - Model Identifier 3,1 or later
         4. MacBook Air (Late 2008 or newer) - Model Identifier 2,1 or later
         5. Mac mini (Early 2009 or newer) - Model Identifier 3,1 or later
         6. Mac Pro (Early 2008 or newer) - Model Identifier 3,1 or later
         7. Xserve (Early 2009) - Model Identifier 3,1 or later
To find the model identifier open System Profiler in the Utilities folder. It's displayed in the panel on the right.
     Are my applications compatible?
         See App Compatibility Table - RoaringApps.
     For a complete How-To introduction from Apple see Upgrade to OS X Mountain Lion.
B. Upgrading to Lion
If your computer does not meet the requirements to install Mountain Lion, it may still meet the requirements to install Lion.
You can purchase Lion by contacting Customer Service: Contacting Apple for support and service - this includes international calling numbers. The cost is $19.99 (as it was before) plus tax. It's a download. You will get an email containing a redemption code that you then use at the Mac App Store to download Lion. Save a copy of that installer to your Downloads folder because the installer deletes itself at the end of the installation.
     Lion System Requirements
       1. Mac computer with an Intel Core 2 Duo, Core i3, Core i5, Core i7,
           or Xeon processor
       2. 2GB of memory
       3. OS X v10.6.6 or later (v10.6.8 recommended)
       4. 7GB of available space
       5. Some features require an Apple ID; terms apply.

I'm getting my old Macbook fixed, but it will take a few weeks for it to be replaced. How do I backup my entire Macbook for migration to the new Macbook using an external hard drive?

Hello!
I've had my Macbook for about 2 1/2 years now with insurance from PC World here in the UK. I was hesitant at first to hand in my Macbook earlier to be replaced using the insurance as it takes 2 weeks to be fixed (terrible, I know).
But now that it's the end of the summer holidays and I'll be returning to the university, I think that it's the perfect time to hand it in for repair.
I have an external hard drive capable of containing everything (apps, files etc.), but what is the best way of backing up the files, and how would I go about uploading the data onto the new Macbook? I remember on startup that there was an option to extract files from an external hard drive?
Thanks,
Adam.

You can use Time Machine to back up your files and then use the Migration assistant to bring back your files from the Time Machine backup. Other applications such as Carbon Copy Cloner may also do the job for you.

My Macbook Pro is about 4 to 5 years old. I've noticed the last few months that speed was becoming much slower. It slowed to a crawl last week and won't even turn on now. Where do I take this to near Jackson, Michigan for service?.

My Macbook Pro is about 4 to 5 years old. I've noticed the last few months that speed was becoming much slower. It slowed to a crawl last week and won't even turn on now. Where can I take my Macbook Pro for service near Jackson, Michigan?.

Things You Can Do To Keep Your Computer From Slowing Down
If your computer seems to be running slower here are some things you can do:
Boot into Safe Mode then repair your hard drive and permissions:
Repair the Hard Drive and Permissions Pre-Lion
Boot from your OS X Installer disc. After the installer loads select your language and click on the Continue button. When the menu bar appears select Disk Utility from the Utilities menu. After DU loads select your hard drive entry (mfgr.'s ID and drive size) from the the left side list. In the DU status area you will see an entry for the S.M.A.R.T. status of the hard drive. If it does not say "Verified" then the hard drive is failing or failed. (SMART status is not reported on external Firewire or USB drives.) If the drive is "Verified" then select your OS X volume from the list on the left (sub-entry below the drive entry,) click on the First Aid tab, then click on the Repair Disk button. If DU reports any errors that have been fixed, then re-run Repair Disk until no errors are reported. If no errors are reported click on the Repair Permissions button. Wait until the operation completes, then quit DU and return to the installer.
If DU reports errors it cannot fix, then you will need Disk Warrior and/or Tech Tool Pro to repair the drive. If you don't have either of them or if neither of them can fix the drive, then you will need to reformat the drive and reinstall OS X.
Repair the Hard Drive - Lion
Boot from your Lion Recovery HD. When the recovery menu appears select Disk Utility. After DU loads select your hard drive entry (mfgr.'s ID and drive size) from the the left side list. In the DU status area you will see an entry for the S.M.A.R.T. status of the hard drive. If it does not say "Verified" then the hard drive is failing or failed. (SMART status is not reported on external Firewire or USB drives.) If the drive is "Verified" then select your OS X volume from the list on the left (sub-entry below the drive entry,) click on the First Aid tab, then click on the Repair Disk button. If DU reports any errors that have been fixed, then re-run Repair Disk until no errors are reported. If no errors are reported, then click on the Repair Permissions button. Wait until the operation completes, then quit DU and return to the main menu. Select Restart from the Apple menu.
Boot to the Recovery HD:
Restart the computer and after the chime press and hold down the COMMAND and R keys until the menu screen appears. Alternatively, restart the computer and after the chime press and hold down the OPTION key until the boot manager screen appears. Select the Recovery HD and click on the downward pointing arrow button.
Restart your computer normally and see if this has helped any. Next do some maintenance:
Suggestions for OS X Maintenance
For situations Disk Utility cannot handle the best third-party utility is Disk Warrior; DW only fixes problems with the disk directory, but most disk problems are caused by directory corruption; Disk Warrior 4.x is now Intel Mac compatible.
OS X performs certain maintenance functions that are scheduled to occur on a daily, weekly, or monthly period. The maintenance scripts run in the early AM only if the computer is turned on 24/7 (no sleep.) If this isn't the case, then an excellent solution is to download and install a shareware utility such as Macaroni, JAW PseudoAnacron, or Anacron that will automate the maintenance activity regardless of whether the computer is turned off or asleep. Dependence upon third-party utilities to run the periodic maintenance scripts was significantly reduced since Tiger. These utilities have limited or no functionality with Snow Leopard or Lion and should not be installed.
OS X automatically defragments files less than 20 MBs in size, so unless you have a disk full of very large files there's little need for defragmenting the hard drive. As for virus protection there are few if any such animals affecting OS X. You can protect the computer easily using the freeware Open Source virus protection software ClamXAV. Personally I would avoid most commercial anti-virus software because of their potential for causing problems. For more about malware see Macintosh Virus Guide.
I would also recommend downloading a utility such as TinkerTool System, OnyX 2.4.3, or Cocktail 5.1.1 that you can use for periodic maintenance such as removing old log files and archives, clearing caches, etc.
For emergency repairs install the freeware utility Applejack. If you cannot start up in OS X, you may be able to start in single-user mode from which you can run Applejack to do a whole set of repair and maintenance routines from the command line. Note that AppleJack 1.5 is required for Leopard. AppleJack 1.6 is compatible with Snow Leopard. There is no confirmation that this version also works with Lion.
When you install any new system software or updates be sure to repair the hard drive and permissions beforehand.
Get an external Firewire drive at least equal in size to the internal hard drive and make (and maintain) a bootable clone/backup. You can make a bootable clone using the Restore option of Disk Utility. You can also make and maintain clones with good backup software. My personal recommendations are (order is not significant):
1. Carbon Copy Cloner
2. Data Backup
3. Deja Vu
4. SuperDuper!
5. SyncTwoFolders
6. Synk Pro
7. Synk Standard
8. Tri-Backup
Visit The XLab FAQs and read the FAQs on maintenance, optimization, virus protection, and backup and restore.
Additional suggestions will be found in Mac maintenance Quick Assist.
Referenced software can be found at CNet Downloads or MacUpdate.
Additional Hints
Be sure you have an adequate amount of RAM installed for the number of applications you run concurrently. Be sure you leave a minimum of 10% of the hard drive's capacity as free space.
Add more RAM. If your computer has less than 2 GBs of RAM and you are using OS X Leopard or later, then you can do with more RAM. Snow Leopard and Lion work much better with 4 GBs of RAM than their system minimums. The more concurrent applications you tend to use the more RAM you should have.
Always maintain at least 15 GBs or 10% of your hard drive's capacity as free space, whichever is greater. OS X is frequently accessing your hard drive, so providing adequate free space will keep things from slowing down.
Check for applications that may be hogging the CPU:
Open Activity Monitor in the Utilities folder. Select All Processes from the Processes dropdown menu. Click twice on the CPU% column header to display in descending order. If you find a process using a large amount of CPU time, then select the process and click on the Quit icon in the toolbar. Click on the Force Quit button to kill the process. See if that helps. Be sure to note the name of the runaway process so you can track down the cause of the problem.
Often this problem occurs because of a corrupted cache or preferences file or an attempt to write to a corrupted log file.

Mailing off macbook for repair--how long should it take?

Sometime next week I will be mailing off my macbook to have the optical drive replaced under warranty. Since I'm mailing it to some shop in Texas and I'm not taking it to an apple store, I assume they will have the parts on hand and will fix it immediately--by the day after they receive it--right?
For those of you who HAVE mailed off your macbook for repair: how long did it take to get it back? A week? 2? 3?
Thanks!

The place you're mailing it to in Texas is one of the main facilities where Apple fixes portable computers in the US. Their turn around time is typically same day, or usually within 24-36 hours. Factor in shipping to and from (Sundays if involved) and you'll get your machine, barring any shipping incidents within 5-7 days (or less).

Giving your Macbook Pro a "paint job"?

So I was thinking of giving my Macbook Pro a paint job. BUT - not for the whole body or with a different color - NO - I wanna remove my scratches which a "friend" gave me on the bottom of my Macbook a while ago.
Hereby I wanna use a Dull Aluminum Color Spray from the Tools Store.
Now the question - should I go for it? Are there any risks which might come up?
The color is exactly the same as from the Macbook Pro, so this shouldn't be an issue.

It doesn't need to show its looks on its bottom, where no one can see them, so I think you're being way too fastidious. But used replacement parts are available for anything, including MBPs, and new parts are available from Apple. Apple won't sell most parts to end users, though — one has to pay Apple to install them unless they're installed under warranty, which your bottom panel wouldn't be. So you can look for a used bottom panel in perfect condition and easily install it yourself, or you can pay Apple to install a new one, or you can just try to get over the fact that your MBP has some trivial cosmetic damage that no one knows about except you.
Here are some other parts vendors:
http://www.pbparts.com (parts and repair work)
http://www.dttservice.com (parts and repair work)
http://www.powerbookresq.com (parts and repair work)
http://www.tekserve.com (parts and repair work)
http://www.ifixit.com (parts and excellent, illustrated online take-apart instructions)

I have bought macbook air first form other owner from few month,but after i try reinstall back lion os x..its cant reinstall back already..i try ask the owner he keep saying you need send repair..so i decide ask at here before i send to any service..

i have bought macbook air first form other owner from few month,but after i try reinstall back lion os x..its cant reinstall back already..i try ask the owner he keep saying you need send repair..so i decide ask at here before i send to any service..

StoneComputers wrote:
What about the incredable lag time from clicking on a program to the time it opens (or the time till the loading screen starts)? I wish I could record it and play it so I could see if thats normal from other members... the icon just sitting there for over 35 second (I just counted 36 till the loading screen popped up) at first I thought it was me not clicking hard enought cuz the mouse button I have is real stiff (any ideas on that?) but no it takes that long just to get to the app loading screen... this happens every time same amount of time with the 3 programs I use the most, prolly more but I know for a fact world of warcraft, uTorrent, and Google Chrome. I would just chalk it up to slow hardware but they load real quick in windows 7 and once this bad spot is loaded the program runs so fast and nice afterword. Maybe some tweeks? I wonder if this would happen in Snow?
The coment "few outdated programs" Ive seen alot its not just a few its a lot and since games are not Apple's strong point I would think they would want to keep as many as they could...
An example of the rants you will see from a lot here. Don't be put off as these problems are generally user specific, and these same old comments come out after the release of every OSX I can remember. When Lion is upgraded to the next OSX you can gaurentee these forums will be full of people screaming about how great Lion was. Happened with Tiger, Leopard and Snow Leopard.
So come to think of it you may be better off Googling sites that give you unbiased views on Lion, rather than expect any positive comments here. For every one complaint there are probably 100,000 people with no issues.
Cheers

Would Apple exchange my Macbook for a new one for free?

Will Apple exchange my Macbook for another without having to pay the '10% Restocking Fee'? It has been under 2 weeks since I've bought my Macbook. The reason I want to exchange it is because:
Ever since I've installed the latest updates, my Macbook has been performing like a 1980 computer, not a 2007 computer. Since I've installed the updates, it has:
1.) Loading pages on the internet has slowed down by ALOT. I mean it takes about 20 seconds to load the Apple.com page.
2) My download speed has slowed down to about 60/KB per sec. It used to be about 600/KB per sec.
3) Videos take FOREVER to load, as if I had dial-up. I have Cable Internet.
4) Games I play lag WAY more then they did before the updates. A game has even froze. It never used to do this.
Would Apple replace my Macbook for free? And is it worth returning, I mean, Would a HD format or something fix my problems?
I've tried emptying the cache, trying Firefox, resetting my PRAM, and nothing seems to work totally.

This is the returns policy for the apple store online. So provided its within the 14 days you should be able to get a refund. Take a look at the policy below.
Dib.
[7.1 If you are not satisfied with any Product or the terms of any entitlement to Services you have purchased from us, you may return the Product to us or cancel the entitlement to Services and obtain a refund of the price of the returned Product or Service entitlement if you contact us within 14 Calendar Days of delivery of the Product or entering into the contract for the purchase of of Services. If you choose to return a product the transportation charges set out in paragraph 7.2 paragraph D below will apply.
However, you may not return a Product and claim a refund if the Product concerned is:
a) Software which we supplied to you sealed and unused and you have broken the seal or which you have successfully downloaded from the AppleStore website; or
b) a personalized iPod with an engraving made in accordance with your specifications.
You may not obtain a refund for a Service if you have commenced use of the Service.]

I took my computer in for service just before the warranty expired now I have one question and can't get any help. The sound buttons on my keyboard no longer work

I installed the new Mavericks update on my MacBook Pro when it was released and offered free of charge. After that my computer started crashing on a regular basis, upon the realization that my warranty was due to expire at the end of the year I took my computer in to the Apple Store in Green Hills Mall about 5 days before Christmas. To anyone not familiar with Green Hills in Nashville TN the traffic is horrendous at all times let alone 5 days before Christmas. They had to send it off for service and it was shipped back to me on Christmas Eve. Through the holidays I haven't used it much. I usually just use it at work between customers and most of the time just leave it here. Friday evening I played videos with no problems, when I came back in on Monday and played a video the sound had decreased dramatically and the volume control keys on my keyboard would not work. I don't know if they were working before because I don't remember if I used them or not since Monday was the first time the volume was so low. Now my warranty is expired and I am very poor ( The I have a job, a roof over my head and food to eat but a negative balance in checking account and bills still to pay kind of poor) so I am hoping that someone out there knows what's causing this and how to fix it.

Mavericks has had a lot of compatability issues and are slowly being fixed. This is why I haven't upgraded yet.
Either downgrade back to Mountain Lion or just wait for a software fix.

Can I stream a movie from my Macbook to my Apple TV on one display, and still use my Macbook for other things?

I have a Macbook Pro and an Apple TV. What I'd like to do is stream a movie from my CinemaNow Account to my television by using my Apple TV and my Macbook. I know that I can do this my using the mirroring feature, however then I can no longer use my Macbook for anything else because my TV will only display what is on the screen of my Macbook. Now with this is mind, what then is the point of having multiple displays through the use of my Apple TV, if only one display can be used at a time unless they both show the same image? Or is there a way for me to be able to stream the movie to my TV and still use my Macbook for other purposes (multi-tasking)?

To enable a second display over AirPlay, you first need to be connected to the same network as your Apple TV. Next, open System Preferences > Displays, and select your Apple TV from the “AirPlay Display” drop-down menu.
Once you do this, your display may flash as the second display connection is acquired, and the Apple TV takes over as the second display. If the displays are mirrored, then you can correct this by opening the “Arrangement” tab in System Preferences > Displays, and ensuring that the “Mirror Displays” checkbox is unchecked.
In this same “Arrangement” tab, you can move the displays around in the pane to ensure that they're positioned correctly, relative to your physical space (usually side-by-side, or top-down). The primary display here is denoted here by the Menu bar on the display. The arrangement helps with being able to drag windows from one display to the next: if your secondary display is arranged to be to the right of your primary one, for example, you can drag things to it through the right side of your primarcy screen.

Precautions to take before giving my Macbook for service

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