Difference between revisions of "MacBuild Desktop Build"
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==What we build== | ==What we build== | ||
− | We presently work on | + | We presently work on PowerMac G4s and better, eMacs, iMac G4s, iMac G5s, and any newer models that come in. The specs we build the most common models to are as follows: |
− | + | ===Specs=== | |
− | == | + | ====iMac==== |
− | {{ | + | {{IMac Specs}} |
+ | ====eMac==== | ||
+ | {{EMac Specs}} | ||
+ | ====PowerMac G4==== | ||
+ | {{PowerMac G4 Specs}} | ||
==What we don't build== | ==What we don't build== | ||
− | We don't build anything | + | We don't build anything below the specs listed above. PowerMac G4 Graphites (the ones with dark blue/grey cases) '''with Dual Processors only''' are presently tested to see if they post and sold in the store as is. Single processor Graphites are recycled. Systems on the Old Mac Keeper List in MacBuild Eval are kept on the Old Mac shelf for future processing. Everything else is recycled. |
− | + | ==PowerMac G4 As-Is Procedure== | |
− | + | # Install a tested battery | |
− | + | # Populate all memory slots with tested memory modules | |
− | + | # Install optical drive, if necessary | |
− | + | # Connect a wiped HD to primary IDE channel | |
− | == | + | # Connect a mouse, keyboard, and monitor to system |
− | + | # Boot from OS X external drive (hold the ''Option'' key on the keyboard while system starts up, and select the external drive from the menu) | |
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# When at the desktop, insert a CD into the optical drive and check if it mounts on the desktop | # When at the desktop, insert a CD into the optical drive and check if it mounts on the desktop | ||
− | # Click on the apple | + | # Click on the blue apple in the upper-left corner of the screen |
# Select the '''About this Mac''' option from the menu | # Select the '''About this Mac''' option from the menu | ||
# Click the '''More info''' button to launch the System Profiler | # Click the '''More info''' button to launch the System Profiler | ||
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#* If it fails to see the HD or reports the amount of memory incorrectly, the system should be recycled | #* If it fails to see the HD or reports the amount of memory incorrectly, the system should be recycled | ||
# Eject the CD | # Eject the CD | ||
− | # Power the system down and | + | # Power the system down, remove the HD, and leave only 128MB of RAM in the system |
− | + | # Attach an As Is tag to the system and take it to the store | |
− | # | ||
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==Wiping HDs in systems== | ==Wiping HDs in systems== | ||
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==Building Instructions== | ==Building Instructions== | ||
Please refer to the [[MacBuild Desktop Checklist]] for build instructions. | Please refer to the [[MacBuild Desktop Checklist]] for build instructions. | ||
+ | |||
+ | ==QC Instructions== | ||
+ | Please refer to the [[MacBuild Desktop Checklist]] for QC instructions. | ||
==Special Configurations== | ==Special Configurations== | ||
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Some systems will not boot properly due to video issues. These systems will usually hang with a white or black screen after the yaboot boot prompt. For these systems, providing it with '''Linux video=ofonly''' at the yaboot boot prompt should fix the problem. | Some systems will not boot properly due to video issues. These systems will usually hang with a white or black screen after the yaboot boot prompt. For these systems, providing it with '''Linux video=ofonly''' at the yaboot boot prompt should fix the problem. | ||
+ | || | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | | Enabling video on eMacs || | ||
+ | eMacs rarely end up with a working desktop after a standard install due to the lack of automatic configuration of X, which is the backend of Ubuntu's default display manager In order to fix this, you need to identify the type of video card present in the system and provide it with an appropriate '''xorg.conf''' file. | ||
+ | # Switch the system over to a virtual terminal by pressing '''Ctrl''' + '''Alt''' + '''F1'''. Keep in mind that you can use keys '''F1''' through '''F6''' for multiple virtual terminals. | ||
+ | # Run the following command: | ||
+ | #* <pre>lspci</pre> | ||
+ | # Look for a reference to either nVidia or ATI in the command's results. Make a mental note of which reference you found | ||
+ | # Copy the appropriate configuration file to the system | ||
+ | #* If lspci contained a reference to nVidia, run: | ||
+ | #** <pre>sudo wget -P /etc/X11 http://llama.freegeek.org/~serge/xorg.conf.emac.nv</pre> | ||
+ | #* If lspci contained a reference to ATI, run: | ||
+ | #** <pre>sudo wget -P /etc/X11 http://llama.freegeek.org/~serge/xorg.conf.emac.ati</pre> | ||
+ | # Remove the old xorg.conf file: | ||
+ | #* <pre>sudo rm /etc/X11/xorg.conf</pre> | ||
+ | # Rename the downloaded file to xorg.conf | ||
+ | #* For the nVidia version: | ||
+ | #** <pre>sudo mv /etc/X11/xorg.conf.emac.nv /etc/X11/xorg.conf</pre> | ||
+ | #* For the ATI version: | ||
+ | #** <pre>sudo mv /etc/X11/xorg.conf.emac.ati /etc/X11/xorg.conf</pre> | ||
+ | # Restart GDM by running: | ||
+ | #* <pre>sudo /etc/init.d/gdm restart</pre> | ||
+ | You should now have a working desktop. | ||
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|- | |- | ||
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#* '''''sudo update-initramfs -u''''' | #* '''''sudo update-initramfs -u''''' | ||
#* The command takes a couple of of minutes to complete | #* The command takes a couple of of minutes to complete | ||
+ | || | ||
+ | |- | ||
+ | | Adjust the screen display (for systems with built-in CRTs)|| | ||
+ | # Start up MacBuild's OS X system in transfer mode | ||
+ | #* Hold the '''T''' key on the keyboard while the system is powering on | ||
+ | #* If done correctly, you should see a FireWire icon on the screen of the system | ||
+ | # Power down the system you are working on | ||
+ | # Connect a FireWire cable from the OS X system to the system being worked on | ||
+ | # Hold the '''Option''' key on the keyboard while starting the system | ||
+ | #* This should bring up a graphical menu of all the drives the system sees that it can boot from | ||
+ | # Select the OS X FireWire drive from the menu, and click on the Continue arrow | ||
+ | # Once the desktop loads, click on the blue apple in the upper left corner of the screen | ||
+ | # Click on the ''System Preferences'' option in the dropdown menu | ||
+ | # Click on the ''Displays'' icon in the System Preferences window | ||
+ | # Click on the ''Geometry'' tab in the Displays window | ||
+ | # Select the kind of adjustment you'd like to make, and drag the edges of the monitor icon to adjust the screen display | ||
+ | # Once you're done, click on the blue apple in the upper left corner and click on the ''Shutdown'' option in the dropdown menu | ||
+ | # Disconnect the FireWire cable once the system powers off, and turn off the OS X system | ||
+ | # Repeat as necessary | ||
+ | #* If the screen display cannot be adjusted to an acceptable state, the system should be recycled | ||
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|} | |} |
Revision as of 13:10, 3 November 2010
Building a desktop in MacBuild is a fairly simple process. Aside from occasionally needing specific hardware, building a desktop MacBox is virtually identical to building a standard FreekBox.
What we build
We presently work on PowerMac G4s and better, eMacs, iMac G4s, iMac G5s, and any newer models that come in. The specs we build the most common models to are as follows:
Specs
iMac
iMac G4 (iLamp) Specs
Note: Auto Recycle everything < 1.25 GHz. |
iMac G5 (integrated LCD) Specs
|
eMac
eMac Specs Auto-recycle all eMacs |
PowerMac G4
PowerMac G4 Specs Auto-recycle all PowerMac G4s |
What we don't build
We don't build anything below the specs listed above. PowerMac G4 Graphites (the ones with dark blue/grey cases) with Dual Processors only are presently tested to see if they post and sold in the store as is. Single processor Graphites are recycled. Systems on the Old Mac Keeper List in MacBuild Eval are kept on the Old Mac shelf for future processing. Everything else is recycled.
PowerMac G4 As-Is Procedure
- Install a tested battery
- Populate all memory slots with tested memory modules
- Install optical drive, if necessary
- Connect a wiped HD to primary IDE channel
- Connect a mouse, keyboard, and monitor to system
- Boot from OS X external drive (hold the Option key on the keyboard while system starts up, and select the external drive from the menu)
- When at the desktop, insert a CD into the optical drive and check if it mounts on the desktop
- Click on the blue apple 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, remove the HD, and leave only 128MB of RAM in the system
- Attach an As Is tag to the system and take it to the store
Wiping HDs in systems
If you've just received a system from Mac Eval and need to wipe its drive without opening the system up, refer to the Hard drive wiping checklist for wiping instructions.
Building Instructions
Please refer to the MacBuild Desktop Checklist for build instructions.
QC Instructions
Please refer to the MacBuild Desktop Checklist for QC instructions.
Special Configurations
Steps | Notes/Detailed Instructions | Done |
Starting up Ubuntu on a difficult system |
There are startup options set by default in the bootloader, so startup will usually not require any input. However, the following are the default options that you can enter yourself if you don't want to wait for the bootloader to do it automatically.
Some systems will not boot properly due to video issues. These systems will usually hang with a white or black screen after the yaboot boot prompt. For these systems, providing it with Linux video=ofonly at the yaboot boot prompt should fix the problem. |
|
Enabling video on eMacs |
eMacs rarely end up with a working desktop after a standard install due to the lack of automatic configuration of X, which is the backend of Ubuntu's default display manager In order to fix this, you need to identify the type of video card present in the system and provide it with an appropriate xorg.conf file.
You should now have a working desktop. |
|
Permanently make the video=ofonly addition to yaboot |
If you needed to use the video=ofonly option to get the system to start up properly, you can permanently make the addition to yaboot. This is how you do it:
|
|
Enable the Ubuntu startup splash screen |
Sometimes a system will show a blank screen during startup instead of the normal Ubuntu splash screen. If this is the case, we can enable the Ubuntu splash screen by doing the following:
|
|
Adjust the screen display (for systems with built-in CRTs) |
|