Mac As-is Checklist

Work in progress.

Laptop incoming: Instructor sorts as-is machines, currently PowerPC G4 and G5 systems and laptops. Current practice keeps mirror doored G3 systems, temporarily suspended for the time being. Silver G5 towers are still sold with a warranty in the Thrift Store.

Options for data removal: Instructor will evaluate how the hard drive should be dealt with, depending on the process and skill level of the volunteer. For many laptops it makes most sense to wipe the hard drive in the unit. Options are:

• Wipe the HDD using OSX Disk Utility by booting from the network or from an external drive
• Instructor will test the machines to see if they post, while holding the option key to load a boot menu. If the machine POSTs and does not have extensive cosmetic or functional damage, will give to a volunteer to remove the hard drive.
• Whether or not to check RAM if the system doesn't POST. Can be a bit of a task on some models.

iMacs without iSight webcams:

• The systems open easily from the bottom three screws.
• Remove HDD before testing POST.
• As of August 2012 the store seems to only want systems that POST and have a working display.
• Check for bad caps.

iBook G4:

• Instructor will sort damaged/gross systems for instant recycling
• Instructor will boot from external HDD or network using Option key. If the display works and the system boots correctly, start badblocks
• Machines with wiped HDD are taken to the store with As-Is label
• Recycle systems that don't POST or have non-functional displays

iLamp G4 at or above 1.25GHz:

• process needed

PPC Mac Mini/Cube:

• proces needed

PPC Power Book:

• process needed, depending on model

ifixit.com difficulty ratings by model

• PowerBook G4 Titanium Mercury: Easy
• PowerBook G4 Titanium Onyx: Moderate (flexible plastic parts, easy to lose parts)
• PowerBook G4 Titanium DVI: Moderate (same reasons as Titanium Onyx)
• PowerBook G4 Aluminum 15": Moderate to Difficult depending on exact model
• PowerBook G4 Aluminium 17": Moderate
• MacBook Core Duo: Easy
• MacBook Core 2 Duo: Easy
• MacBook Unibody: Easy
• MacBook Unibody A1342: Moderate
• MacBook Pro Unibody 13"(2009 onwards): Moderate

Also see this page MacBuild_Specs