MacBuild Desktop Build
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
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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
- 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
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. |
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Make sure that covers are available for open bays |
If covers are missing, check parts storage for replacements |
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Install battery |
Pay attention to correct position; look for '+' by battery holder |
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Install hard drive (if it has not been wiped in the system) |
Refer to MacBuild Spec Sheet for appropriate size |
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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 |
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Clean/dust inside |
If necessary |
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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. |
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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 |
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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. |
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Install Ubuntu |
Please note that any values not explicitly defined here (HTTP proxies and such) should be left blank.
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Start up Ubuntu |
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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:
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Check for updates |
There are a few ways to do this:
sudo apt-get update sudo apt-get upgrade Install all updates if any are found |
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Set up the environment and install extra apps |
sudo apt-get install vlc
sudo apt-get install b43-fwcutter |
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Test USB/FireWire ports |
USB:
FireWire:
If all ports of one of these types don't work, the machine should be recycled |
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Test CD data and sound |
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 |
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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. |
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Check for software updates |
Open up Update Manager and install any available updates |
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Generate "printme" report for system |
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Clean outside cover |
Clean case monitor face, connector panel, keyboard, and mouse as well |
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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.
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. |
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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:
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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:
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If necessary: adjust the screen display (for systems with built-in CRTs) |
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