MacBuild Desktop Build

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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

Processor: G4/1.25 GHz
RAM: 512 MB internal, 512 MB SODIMM in base
Hard drive: 40 GB or better
Optical drive: DVD ROM/CD-RW combo or better
Wireless: Airport or Airport Extreme if available

Note: Auto Recycle everything < 1.25 GHz.

iMac G5 (integrated LCD) Specs

Processor: G5/1.6 GHz - 2.1 GHz
RAM: At least 1024 MB
Hard drive: At least 80 GB - SATA
Optical drive: DVD ROM/CD-RW combo or better
Wireless: Airport Extreme

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) are presently tested to see if they post and sold in the store as is. 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

  1. Install a tested battery
  2. Populate all memory slots with tested memory modules
  3. Install optical drive, if necessary
  4. Connect a wiped HD to primary IDE channel
  5. Connect a mouse, keyboard, and monitor to system
  6. 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)
  7. When at the desktop, insert a CD into the optical drive and check if it mounts on the desktop
  8. Click on the blue apple in the upper-left corner of the screen
  9. Select the About this Mac option from the menu
  10. Click the More info button to launch the System Profiler
  11. 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
  12. Eject the CD
  13. Power the system down, remove the HD, and leave only 128MB of RAM in the system
  14. 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.

Desktop Build Checklist

Steps Notes/Detailed Instructions Done
Check for blown capacitors (if system can be easily opened)

Visually inspect motherboard capacitors for bulges/leaks. If you find one, check with your instructor.

Make sure that covers are available for open bays

If covers are missing, check parts storage for replacements

Install battery

Pay attention to correct position; look for '+' by battery holder

Install hard drive (if it has not been wiped in the system)

Refer to MacBuild Spec Sheet for appropriate size

Install/swap RAM

If the system has a built-in display, remember to swap out any old untested memory in it for new tested memory. Refer to MacBuild Spec Sheet for appropriate amount

Clean/dust inside

If necessary

Attach keyboard/mouse, monitor, network cable, and power cord (as necessary)
Clear the PRAM

While starting up, hold the Option+Apple+p+r keys. Continue holding the keys until the system chimes three times. Release the keys after the third chime is heard.

Set the system clock in Open Firmware

While starting up, hold the Option+Apple+o+f keys. Release the keys when the Open Firmware prompt comes up. Run the following command: 

decimal dev rtc [sec min hour day month year] set-time

All values aside from the year should be two-digit numbers in 24-hour format. The year should be a four-digit number. Additionally, the clock needs to be set to UTC, so remember to add 7 hours to the current time if on regular time or 8 hours during Daylight Saving Time. For example, to set the clock to 1:58 PM on September 18th, 2009, the command would be 

decimal dev rtc 00 58 20 18 09 2009 set-time
Reset the NVRAM

While starting up, hold the Option+Apple+o+f keys. Release the keys when the Open Firmware prompt comes up. Run the following commands in the specified order: 

reset-nvram
set-defaults
reset-all

The system will reboot after the reset-all command is entered.

Install Ubuntu

Please note that any values not explicitly defined here (HTTP proxies and such) should be left blank.

  1. Make sure network cable is attached
  2. Insert Ubuntu CD
    • Use 8.04 for iMac G5s
    • Use 9.04 for all other systems
  3. Start up the system while holding the C key on the keyboard
  4. At boot: prompt, press Enter; eventually the install screen will appear
  5. Select English as the language for the installation and United States as the country
  6. Enter No for keyboard detection, and select USA for all keyboard language options
  7. If prompted for which network device to use, select the wired network
  8. When prompted for a hostname, delete the current entry and enter macbox in its place
  9. Select Pacific as the time zone
  10. When prompted for HD partitioning, select the Guided - use entire disk option, and confirm the HD the changes will be made to (there should only be one option available unless there are multiple HDs in the system)
  11. When asked about writing the changes to disk, select Yes
    • At this point, the base system will begin installing, so prepare to wait for a few minutes
  12. When prompted for the user's full name, enter oem
  13. When prompted for a username for the account, enter oem
  14. When prompted for a password, enter freegeek. You will be asked to verify the password after entering it. Enter freegeek again. If the passwords don't match, it will prompt you for a password again
  15. If asked to provide a HTTP proxy, leave it blank and press Enter
  16. If asked to download additional language support, select Yes
  17. If asked to encrypt the user's home directory, select No
  18. When asked if the system clock is set to UTC, select Yes
  19. When installation is complete, select the Continue option to reboot the system
Start up Ubuntu
  • Let the system use its default options in the bootloaders during the startup process
  • If the system has problems starting up, refer to the Special Configurations list
Verify hardware in the system

To verify the hardware in a system, open up a terminal and run: 

sudo lshw|less

This runs a command called lshw (which stands for "list hardware") and sends the output to another command called less, which is a simple reader that allows you to scroll through lshw's output. The items to pay attention to are:

  • Amount of system memory
    • You should be able to find this under the memory heading in lshw. It should be the same as the physical amount of memory in the system.
  • Type of optical drive
    • This can be found under the cdrom heading in lshw. To determine the actual capability of the drive, search for the information under product in Google.
  • Presence of wireless card
    • This should be under one of the network headings. You should look for an entry that mentions something about "Wireless interface" or "Broadcom". If that exists, the system has a wireless card.
Check for updates

There are a few ways to do this:

  • From the desktop, go to System -> Administration -> Update Manager
  • From the command line, run:
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get upgrade

Install all updates if any are found

Set up the environment and install extra apps
  • Add the Terminal to the panel so it can be launched quickly
  • If the machine has a DVD drive, open up a terminal and run:
sudo apt-get install vlc
  • If the machine has a wireless card, open up a terminal and run:
sudo apt-get install b43-fwcutter
  • Restart the system after installing b43-fwcutter in order to get the change working properly.
Test USB ports
  • Plug in a USB mouse
  • See that the cursor moves and can interact with things
  • Repeat with all USB ports

If any port doesn't work, the machine should be recycled

Test CD data and sound
  1. Insert, play, and eject a music CD
  2. Insert data CD, inspect directory contents
  3. If machine has a DVD drive:
    • insert a data DVD, inspect directory contents
    • insert a video DVD and play it using vlc
  4. If machine has a CD-RW or DVD-RW, use brasero to erase a CD-RW disk, and create/burn a new data project.

Note: Brasero has problems with versions of Ubuntu before Karmic (9.10). For Hardy (8.04LTS) and Jaunty (9.04) you may want to install and use k3b instead: sudo apt-get install k3b

Check if wireless works (if the system has a wireless card)

Use Network Manager to see if you can connect to Free Geek's wireless network. If you can, the wireless card works.

Check for software updates

Open up Update Manager and install any available updates

Generate "printme" report for system
  1. Make sure you are on the local wired network
  2. Configure system so it can use network printers
  3. In a terminal, generate a lshw XML file for the printme process
    • sudo lshw -xml > printme.xml
  4. Open a web browser and go to http://data/spec_sheets/new
  5. Fill out the form with the following:
    • Enter your volunteer ID in the Volunteer ID field
    • Job should be left as Quality Checker
    • System ID should be left blank
    • Type should be changed to Apple
    • Keeper label type should be set to No Sticker
    • Notes should include the following information:
      • Version of Ubuntu installed
      • Any components that show up in lshw (modems, certain wireless cards) that aren't supported by Ubuntu should be listed
      • Any special issues the machine has
      • Whether the computer is covered or not
  6. 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 tested keyboard/mouse and power cord
Take it to store

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.

  1. For the first-stage Ubuntu bootstrap, enter l for Linux
  2. For the yaboot boot prompt, enter Linux for the Ubuntu install that was just completed (it's case-sensitive, so make sure the L in Linux is capitalized)

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.

If necessary: 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:

  1. In a terminal, edit the file /etc/yaboot.conf as root
    • sudo nano /etc/yaboot.conf
  2. Locate the line that reads image=/boot/vmlinux
  3. Move the cursor to the end of the line that starts with append
    • The line, in its unaltered state, should read append="quiet splash"
  4. Add video=ofonly to the end of the append line (make sure to add it within the quotes of the original append entry
    • The line should now read append="quiet splash video=ofonly"
  5. Save and close the file
    • Ctrl+o, then Ctrl+x
  6. Update the bootloader with the changes to yaboot by running the following in a terminal:
    • sudo ybin -v
  7. Restart the system to test the change
If necessary: 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:

  1. In a terminal, edit the file /etc/usplash.conf as root
    • sudo nano /etc/usplash.conf
  2. Move the cursor down to the first empty line
  3. Type xres=1024, press Tab, and type yres=768
    • So the line should read: xres=1024 yres=768
    • If you happen to know the native resolution of the display, you can try using that instead
  4. Save and close the file
    • Ctrl+o, then Ctrl+x
  5. Update the startup files with the changed resolution values by running the following in a terminal:
    • sudo update-initramfs -u
    • The command takes a couple of of minutes to complete
If necessary: adjust the screen display (for systems with built-in CRTs)
  1. 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
  2. Power down the system you are working on
  3. Connect a FireWire cable from the OS X system to the system being worked on
  4. 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
  5. Select the OS X FireWire drive from the menu, and click on the Continue arrow
  6. Once the desktop loads, click on the blue apple in the upper left corner of the screen
  7. Click on the System Preferences option in the dropdown menu
  8. Click on the Displays icon in the System Preferences window
  9. Click on the Geometry tab in the Displays window
  10. Select the kind of adjustment you'd like to make, and drag the edges of the monitor icon to adjust the screen display
  11. Once you're done, click on the blue apple in the upper left corner and click on the Shutdown option in the dropdown menu
  12. Disconnect the FireWire cable once the system powers off, and turn off the OS X system
  13. Repeat as necessary
    • If the screen display cannot be adjusted to an acceptable state, the system should be recycled
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