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


Recycling procedure

Should you come across a desktop system that needs to be recycled, this is what you should do:

  • If it is a built-in CRT system:
    1. Harvest the HD, battery, and RAM
    2. Separate the logic board and optical drives from the CRT and chassis
    3. Reassemble the CRT/chassis and take to monitor testing area in the warehouse for recycling
    4. Place the remaining items in the bins in MacBuild Eval
  • If it is a standard desktop:
    1. Harvest the battery
    2. Place a Recycle sticker on the system
    3. Take system to System Eval and place on the Reject pile

Desktop Build Checklist

Steps Notes/Detailed Instructions Done
Check for blown capacitors

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

Refer to MacBuild Spec Sheet for appropriate size

Install RAM

Refer to MacBuild Spec Sheet for appropriate amount

Clean/dust inside

If necessary

Attach keyboard/mouse, monitor, network cable, and power cord
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.

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.

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:
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
  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
  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. When prompted for HD partitioning, select the Guided: user entire disk option
  10. When asked about writing the changes to disk, select Yes
  11. When prompted for the user's full name, enter oem
  12. When prompted for a username for the account, enter oem
  13. 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
  14. If asked to download additional language support, select Yes
  15. If asked to encrypt the user's home directory, select No
  16. When asked if the system clock is set to UTC, select Yes
  17. When installation is complete, select the Continue option to reboot the system
Enable the Ubuntu startup splash screen
  1. In a terminal, edit the file /etc/usplash.conf as root
    • sudo nano /etc/usplash.conf
  2. Change the xres value to 1024
  3. Change the yres value to 768
  4. Save and close the file
    • Ctrl+o, then Ctrl+x
  5. Update the startup files with the changed resolution values with the command
    • sudo update-initramfs -u
    • The command takes a couple of of minutes to complete
Adjust the screen display, as necessary (for systems with built-in displays)
  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
Install extra apps, as necessary
  • Use System -> Administration -> Synaptic Package Manager
  • If the machine has a CD-RW or DVD-RW drive, select package k3b
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

Configure/test sound control
  1. Open sound preferences
    • Place cursor on sound icon in top menu bar
    • Press F12 key
    • Select Preferences
  2. In the Preferences window upper drop-down menu, make sure the Alsa mixer item is selected
  3. In the lower combo-box menu, select PC speaker
  4. In the oem home directory, open the Examples sub-directory
  5. Select the 'Ubuntu experience.ogg' file
  6. When the video starts, verify that the sound slider (click sound icon) varies the volume.
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
  4. If machine has a CD-RW or DVD-RW, use k3b to erase a CD-RW disk, and create/burn a new data project.
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
    • lshw -xml >> printme.xml
  4. Open a web browser and go to http://data/spec_sheets/new
  5. 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 tested keyboard/mouse and power cord
Take it to store
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