Difference between revisions of "MacBuild Laptop Build"

Latest revision as of 13:55, 16 February 2014

Building a laptop in MacBuild is a fairly freeform process. Aside from the Laptop Build Checklist, there is no standard method for resolving or repairing laptops with issues. It is not uncommon to swap optical drives and displays in an effort to turn two broken laptops into one working one. We presently only build up a few different models, so it's easy to learn the basics of working with each type.

Laptop Build steps

The idea behind the steps in the Laptop Build process is to provide volunteers with an easy, worry-free way to acquire the skills they need to successfully build Apple laptops. The step sequence is as follows:

Harvesting
Evaluation
Build

Harvesting

The idea behind harvesting is to get volunteers used to working with Apple laptop hardware by having them disassemble and pull out reusable parts that can be put to use in other Apple laptops. Given the intricate nature of these systems, volunteers can cut their teeth on machines destined for recycling or as-is sale without worrying about damaging machines.

We should only harvest components from laptops when we have a need for individual parts and don't have a backstock, as it's easier to get rid of laptops when they're in one piece.

When there is no need for additional parts, only the HD, RAM, and AirPort card should be removed, and all screws and adapters removed from the HD should be taped to the inside of the HD cavity in the laptop.

Evaluation

The Evaluation process involves sorting through the incoming stack of Apple laptops and determining whether or not they should be built or have parts pulled from them. The Evaluation flowchart documents the procedure.

Build

What we build

We only build out Intel systems. All PPC systems are subject to the as-is process.

What we don't build

We don't build anything below the specs listed above.

As-Is Procedure

Before running a system through the as-is process, look at what we don't build to make sure it should be tested through the as-is process. If you are uncertain, please ask an instructor.

Fill all RAM slots with RAM
Boot the system into OS X:
- Connect the OS X 10.4 FireWire HDD to the system
- Make sure the FireWire HDD is turned on (there's a power switch on the back of the drive)
- Hold the Option key on the keyboard while system starts up to enter the Startup Manager
- Select the FireWire drive from the Startup Manager to boot into OS X 10.4
When at the desktop, insert a CD into the optical drive and check if it mounts on the desktop
Click on the apple icon in the upper-left corner of the screen
Select the About this Mac option from the menu
Click the More info button to launch the System Profiler
Check the information for ATA and Memory in System Profiler to ensure that the system can see all devices on IDE channels and each memory module in each memory slot
- If it fails to see the HD or reports the amount of memory incorrectly, the system should be recycled
Eject the CD
Power the system down and remove components
- Leave only 256 MB of RAM in the system
Fill out the appropriate information on an As-Is sticker and attach it to the system
For the HDD:
- Run it through our HDD wiping procedure before continuing the as-is process
  - If the HDD wiping procedure tells us the system has a bad HDD, let an instructor know so we can either replace the HDD during a less-busy day or use it as a training tool for newer volunteers
  - If the laptop has a bad HDD, the HDD MUST be removed before it leaves the area
Take it to the store

Wiping HDs in laptops

If you've just received a Mac laptop from TARDIS and need to wipe its drive without opening the laptop up, refer to the Hard drive wiping checklist for wiping instructions.

Tips

Use a guide - some procedures for removing/exchanging parts are very complicated, so it's always good to have documentation. iFixit's guides for laptops are particularly good, as they provide not only fairly easy steps to follow but also make note of the different types of screws and parts removed in each step, which makes it easy to keep track of.
Keep track of your screws/part - it is not uncommon to end up removing 50+ screws from a system when swapping a HD in a laptop. You can use either an ice cube tray or a screw guide from iFixit (it should be linked in PDF form to whatever guide you reference) to keep track of what came from where.
Allot sufficient time for a project - working on Apple laptops can be very time-consuming due to the level of deconstruction one has to go through to swap parts. For example, swapping a hard drive in an iBook can easily take over an hour and a half if you've never done it before (or if you don't do it on a regular basis). If you decide to start a project, make sure you have enough time to at least put the system back together before you leave or develop a good system for keeping track of your progress.

Laptop Build Checklist

Please refer to the MacBuild Laptop Checklist for build instructions.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-=Laptop Build Procedure=
+Building a laptop in MacBuild is a fairly freeform process.  Aside from the Laptop Build Checklist, there is no standard method for resolving or repairing laptops with issues.  It is not uncommon to swap optical drives and displays in an effort to turn two broken laptops into one working one.  We presently only build up a few different models, so it's easy to learn the basics of working with each type.
-{| fontname="Helvetica" fontsize="12" border="1"
+==Laptop Build steps==
-|-
+The idea behind the steps in the Laptop Build process is to provide volunteers with an easy, worry-free way to acquire the skills they need to successfully build Apple laptops.  The step sequence is as follows:
-|width="40%" align="center"|Steps
+# Harvesting
-|width="53%" align="center"|Notes/Detailed Instructions
+# Evaluation
-|width="7%"  align="center"|Done
+# Build
-|-
-| Make sure that covers are available for open bays ||
+===Harvesting===
-If covers are missing, check parts storage for replacements
+The idea behind harvesting is to get volunteers used to working with Apple laptop hardware by having them disassemble and pull out reusable parts that can be put to use in other Apple laptops.  Given the intricate nature of these systems, volunteers can cut their teeth on machines destined for recycling or as-is sale without worrying about damaging machines.
-||
-|-
+We should only harvest components from laptops when we have a need for individual parts and don't have a backstock, as it's easier to get rid of laptops when they're in one piece.
-| Install hard drive ||
-Refer to MacBuild Spec Sheet for appropriate size
+When there is no need for additional parts, only the HD, RAM, and AirPort card should be removed, and all screws and adapters removed from the HD should be taped to the inside of the HD cavity in the laptop.
-||
-|-
+===Evaluation===
-| Install RAM ||
+The Evaluation process involves sorting through the incoming stack of Apple laptops and determining whether or not they should be built or have parts pulled from them.  The [[MacBuild_Laptop_Eval|Evaluation flowchart]] documents the procedure.
-Refer to MacBuild Spec Sheet for appropriate amount
-||
+===Build===
-|-
-| Clean/dust inside ||
+==What we build==
-If necessary
+We only build out Intel systems. All PPC systems are subject to the as-is process.
-||
-|-
+==What we don't build==
-| Attach network cable and power cord ||
+We don't build anything below the specs listed above.
-||
-|-
+==As-Is Procedure==
-| Install Ubuntu ||
+Before running a system through the as-is process, look at [http://wiki.freegeek.org/index.php?title=MacBuild_Laptop_Build&action=submit#What_we_don.27t_build what we don't build] to make sure it should be tested through the as-is process.  If you are uncertain, please ask an instructor.
-# Attach network cable
-# Push power button; immediately press keys '''Option+Apple+o+f''' at the same time
+# Fill all RAM slots with RAM
-# When OpenFirmware prompt appears, type:
+# Boot the system into OS X:
-#* '''boot enet:0,yaboot'''
+#* Connect the OS X 10.4 FireWire HDD to the system
-# At '''''boot:''''' prompt, press Enter; eventually the install screen will appear
+#* Make sure the FireWire HDD is turned on (there's a power switch on the back of the drive)
-# When the display pauses for entering the machine name, replace whatever is already there with '''macbox'''
+#* Hold the ''Option'' key on the keyboard while system starts up to enter the Startup Manager
-# When installation is complete, the computer will reboot automatically
+#* Select the FireWire drive from the Startup Manager to boot into OS X 10.4
-||
+# When at the desktop, insert a CD into the optical drive and check if it mounts on the desktop
-|-
+# Click on the apple icon in the upper-left corner of the screen
-| Set HW date/time to UTC ||
+# Select the '''About this Mac''' option from the menu
-# In a terminal, set system clock with command
+# Click the '''More info''' button to launch the System Profiler
-#* '''''date -u MMDDhhmmYYYY
+# Check the information for ATA and Memory in System Profiler to ensure that the system can see all devices on IDE channels and each memory module in each memory slot
-#* '''MM''' month, '''DD''' day, '''hh''' hour, '''mm''' minute, '''YYYY''' year
+#* If it fails to see the HD or reports the amount of memory incorrectly, the system should be recycled
-#* hour and minute are GMT(UTC) time in 24-hour clock format; GMT time is locak (Pacific) time plus 7 hours (summer, PDT) or 8 hours (winter, PST)
+# Eject the CD
-# Set CMOS clock from system clock
+# Power the system down and remove components
-#* '''''clock -uw'''''
+#* Leave only 256 MB of RAM in the system
-||
+# Fill out the appropriate information on an As-Is sticker and attach it to the system
-|-
+# For the HDD:
-| Enable the Ubuntu startup splash screen ||
+#* Run it through our [[Hard_drive_wiping_checklist | HDD wiping procedure]] before continuing the as-is process
-# In a terminal, edit the file ''/etc/usplash.conf'' as root
+#** If the HDD wiping procedure tells us the system has a bad HDD, let an instructor know so we can either replace the HDD during a less-busy day or use it as a training tool for newer volunteers
-#* ''sudo nano /etc/usplash.conf''
+#** If the laptop has a bad HDD, the HDD '''MUST''' be removed before it leaves the area
-# Change the xres value to 1024
+# Take it to the store
-# Change the yres value to 768
-# Save and close the file
+==Wiping HDs in laptops==
-#* '''Ctrl+o''', then '''Ctrl+x'''
+If you've just received a Mac laptop from TARDIS and need to wipe its drive without opening the laptop up, refer to the [[Hard drive wiping checklist]] for wiping instructions.
-# Update the startup files with the changed resolution values with the command
-#* '''''sudo update-initramfs -u'''''
+==Tips==
-#* The command takes a couple of of minutes to complete
+* Use a guide - some procedures for removing/exchanging parts are very complicated, so it's always good to have documentation.  [http://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Mac/ iFixit's guides for laptops] are particularly good, as they provide not only fairly easy steps to follow but also make note of the different types of screws and parts removed in each step, which makes it easy to keep track of.
-||
+* Keep track of your screws/part - it is not uncommon to end up removing 50+ screws from a system when swapping a HD in a laptop.  You can use either an ice cube tray or a screw guide from iFixit (it should be linked in PDF form to whatever guide you reference) to keep track of what came from where.
-|-
+* Allot sufficient time for a project - working on Apple laptops can be very time-consuming due to the level of deconstruction one has to go through to swap parts.  For example, swapping a hard drive in an iBook can easily take over an hour and a half if you've never done it before (or if you don't do it on a regular basis).  If you decide to start a project, make sure you have enough time to at least put the system back together before you leave or develop a good system for keeping track of your progress.
-| Install extra apps, as necessary ||
-* Use System -> Administration -> Synaptic Package Manager
+==Laptop Build Checklist==
-* If the machine has a CD-RW or DVD-RW drive, select package '''k3b'''
+Please refer to the [[MacBuild Laptop Checklist]] for build instructions.
-||
-|-
+[[Category:Macintosh Archive]]
-| Test USB/FireWire ports ||
-USB:
-* Plug in a USB mouse
-* See that the cursor moves and can interact with things
-* Repeat with all USB ports
-FireWire:
-* Plug in an external FireWire drive
-* Insert a data CD in FireWire drive
-* See if it mounts on the desktop
-* Repeat with all FireWire ports
-If all ports of one of these types don't work, the machine should be recycled
-||
-|-
-| Test PCMCIA slot ||
-If avaliable
-* Plug in a PCMCIA wireless card
-* See if it lights up
-* Repeat with all PCMCIA slots
-||
-|-
-| Configure/test sound control ||
-# Open sound preferences
-#* Place cursor on sound icon in top menu bar
-#* Press F12 key
-#* Select Preferences
-# In the Preferences window upper drop-down menu, make sure the '''''Alsa mixer''''' item is selected
-# In the lower combo-box menu, select '''''PC speaker'''''
-# In the oem home directory, open the Examples sub-directory
-# Select the 'Ubuntu experience.ogg' file
-# When the video starts, verify that the sound slider (click sound icon) varies the volume.
-||
-|-
-| Test CD data and sound ||
-# Insert, play, and eject a music CD
-# Insert data CD, inspect directory contents
-# If machine has a DVD drive, insert a data DVD, inspect directory contents
-# If machine has a CD-RW or DVD-RW, use '''k3b''' to erase a CD-RW disk, and create/burn a new data project.
-||
-|-
-| Test battery life ||
-To start the battery test:
-# Make sure battery is fully charged
-# Open a web browser and go to '''''http://llama.freegeek.org/~serge/batterytest.sh'''''
-# Save file to disk
-# Insert an audio CD into optical drive
-# Launch audio player, play disc, and set on repeat
-# In a terminal, navigate to the directory you saved batterytest.sh to and run:
-#* '''''sh batterytest.sh'''''
-# Disconnect power supply
-# Leave the system running until it powers off
-To check the results of the battery test
-# In a terminal, navigate to the directory you saved batterytest.sh to and run:
-#* '''''sh batterytest.sh'''''
-# Record the results on the "printme" report generated in the next step
-||
-|-
-| Generate "printme" report for system ||
-# Make sure you are on the local wired network
-# Configure system so it can use network printers
-# In a terminal, generate a lshw XML file for the printme process
-#* '''''lshw -xml >> printme.xml'''''
-# Open a web browser and go to '''''http://data/spec_sheets/new'''''
-# Fill out the form, upload the XML file, and print out the report
-||
-|-
-| Clean outside cover ||
-Clean case monitor face, connector panel, keyboard, and mouse as well
-||
-|-
-| Attach "printme" report to system ||
-||
-|-
-| Bundle system with power supply || ||
-|-
-| Take it to store || ||
-|}