MacBuild Eval

MacBuild's evaluation process presently consists of three flowcharts, both of which are posted in the Eval area:

• MacBuild Shelf Eval
• MacBuild CED Eval
• MacBuild Built-In Display Eval

In addition, there is a display test for incoming systems and an occasionally updated list of Old Macs that are set aside for volunteers that have experience working with them.

Display Test

There is currently a FireWire HD in the MacBuild Eval area that is bootable.

To run the display test:

1. Turn the FireWire HD on
2. Connect the FireWire cable from the HD to the system
3. Connect a power cable, keyboard, and mouse to the system
4. While powering the system on, hold down the Option key on the keyboard to bring up the Startup Disk menu
5. Select the FireWire HD from the menu, and click on the Restart (right arrow) button
6. Adjust the monitor's geometry, if necessary
   • 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
7. Check the color bars on the desktop. Make sure you can see the discrepancy between the three black bars in the middle
8. If it is a CRT monitor, let it sit for at least 15 minutes, and check the color bars again

If the display is too dark, is not adjustable to a reasonable geometry, does not provide enough contrast to distinguish between the three color bars, or does not display a desktop/picture, it doesn't work properly and should be dealt with appropriately.

Swap/wipe procedure

Several Mac systems with built-in displays require a significant amount of time and effort to remove HDs for wiping. For many of them, it's much easier to wipe the drive while it's still in the system. We use the same process for wiping disks in-system that Advanced Testing uses, so it's just as effective for both completely erasing data and checking the drives for errors.

How to swap: remove the system's current drive, place in the HD incoming bin in the System Evaluation/Case Management area, and replace with a wiped drive of an appropriate size according to build spec.

How to wipe: take the system to the MacBuild area.

If you'd like to swap a drive out of a system that would normally be wiped, you're more than welcome to. Keep in mind, though, that you should allow a good amount of time (anywhere to 15 minutes to 1.5 hours, depending on the model) for the swap. If you run into trouble, you can always ask a MacBuild instructor.

Desktop systems w/ CRT displays

• iMac G3: Swap
• eMac: Wipe

Desktop systems w/ LCD displays

• iMac G4: Wipe
• iMac G5: Wipe

Laptops

• All models: Wipe

Old Mac Keeper List

• Macs w/ 9" CRTs
• All Mac II models
• All Mac LC models
• All Quadra models
• All PowerMac 6100 models
• All PowerMac 7100 models
• All PowerMac 8100 models
• PowerBook 180c