MacBuild Intel Checklist

This checklist is in progress.

OS X Triage

Getting Started

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Install components for triage

• If working on a standard desktop system (PowerMacG4 and PowerMacG5):
  • Install a tested/wiped HDD
  • Install tested RAM in each available memory slot
  • Install a tested battery
• If working on a system with a built-in display (Laptop, iMacG4, iMacG5):
  • Install tested RAM in each available memory slot
    • NOTE: certain models (iMac G4s in particular) use SODIMMs (laptop memory) instead of/in addition to standard desktop memory. Go ahead and use untested memory for the SODIMM slot, as we'll test that memory later in the process
  • Install a tested battery if it is easily accessible (if the system uses a 3.6v battery, it can be done while installing RAM)
  • Install an AirPort/AirPort Extreme wireless card if not already present
• If working on an oddball system (e.g. Mac mini):
  • Ask an instructor for further direction

You may need to install more parts than specifications require in order to test the system (e.g. you may need to install more RAM in a system than we'd actually need for building because we want to test all the RAM slots at once). If that's the case, remember to remove any excess components after the triage is complete.

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Hardware Testing

Reset the NVRAM

To reset the NVRAM type 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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Wipe the Hard Drive

If it isn't easy to replace the hard drive with one that is wiped we'll need to wipe the hard drive that is in the computer. This specifically applies to all Mac laptops and iMacG5s with iSight: Boot to the network by starting the computer and holding down the N key. At he first boot prompt choose w (ltsp disk wiper). When the computer stops at a log-in prompt, change to alternate terminal 7 by selecting the control-alt-F7 keys simultaneously. When you get the tty7 prompt, type disktest and select return. This should start the S.M.A.R.T. test. If the drive passes the S.M.A.R.T. test it will automatically start the badblocks test which will wipe the disk.

The badblocks test usually takes 4 or more hours to run.

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Boot into OS X

There are a few different ways to boot into OS X in MacBuild. Pick the appropriate option from the following, or ask an instructor for help.

From an external FireWire HDD (for PPC systems)

• Connect the OS X 10.4 FireWire HDD to the system
• Connect the FireWire HDD to a power source
• Make sure the FireWire HDD is turned on (there's a power switch on the back of the drive)
• Hold the Option key on the keyboard while system starts up to enter the Startup Manager
• Select the FireWire drive from the Startup Manager to boot into OS X 10.4

From an external USB HDD (for Intel systems)

• Connect the OS X 10.5 USB HDD to the system
• Connect the USB HDD to a power source
• Make sure the USB HDD is turned on (there's a power switch on the back of the drive)
• Hold the Option key on the keyboard while system starts up to enter the Startup Manager
• Select the USB drive from the Startup Manager to boot into OS X 10.5

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Log into OS X

• The username is oem, and the password is freegeek.

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Confirm hardware

• Click on the apple icon 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 ATA and Memory sections of System Profiler to confirm that it matches what you've added to the system so far
  • If it fails to see the HDD or reports the amount of memory incorrectly, the system may have a bad logic board and end up getting recycled. Ask an instructor for troubleshooting assistance
• Check the Disc Burning section of System Profiler to see what the optical drive in the system can do

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Test CD writing and erase hard drive

If you determined that the optical drive in the system can write CD-RWs, do the following:

• To erase a rewritable disk
  • Insert a CD-RW disk
  • Open up Disk Utility (Click on the Disk Utility icon in the dock)
  • Click on the optical drive on the left sidebar of the Disk Utility window
  • Click on the Erase tab that comes up on the right side of the window
  • Confirm that it will perform a quick erase, and click on the Erase button
  • When the erasing is complete you'll get a dialog box. Choose Open Finder from the drop down menu and click OK. This will mount the disk on the desktop. Quit the disk Utility application.
• To write to a blank rewritable disc
  • Double-click the Burn Folder icon on the desktop
  • Click on the Burn button near the upper-right corner of the window
• To erase the hard drive so that the Mac OSX installer will recognize it
  • Select the hard drive in the left hand pane
  • Choose the Erase tab
  • Clock on the Erase button at the lower right

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Check if WiFi works

• Click on the AirPort icon near the upper-right corner of the screen
• Check to see if the Freegeek wireless network shows up on the list
• If you are netbooted, do NOT select a wireless network out of the list. If you are booted from an external HDD, disconnect the wired network, select Freegeek from the list, open up a browser, and navigate to any web page. If you see the Free Geek click-through page, it works.

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Label the system

• Check off what worked and what didn't on a label, and attach the label to the system. You can print the system information by using system profiler. Make sure to choose 'mini' from the View menu in system profiler and set up a printer. Eventually we will devise a way to populate the database and generate a printme.

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Shut down and remove excess components

• Ask an instructor to confirm what, if anything, should be removed from the system

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Preparing Computer for End User

Generate "printme" report for system (we can do this yet. soon!)

1. Set up the printer by selecting System - Administration - Printing. When the printers window opens, select server and then settings and click on the top box (access printers shared by other computers). Close the printing window.
2. In a terminal, type printme
   • Enter your volunteer ID in the Volunteer ID field
   • Job should be changed to Builder
   • Type should be changed to Apple
   • Choose whether the computer is covered or not (if it has an Uncovered Electronic Device sticker on it somewhere, it's NOT covered. If it does NOT have a Uncovered Electronic Device sticker, it's covered)
   • Choose whether the computer is an FG-PDX system or not (if it has a FG-PDX sticker, it's covered. If it does NOT have a FG-PDX sticker, it's NOT covered)
   • Notes should include the following information:
     • 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
     • If WiFi or disc burning work in OS X but not in Ubuntu, note it here
3. When asked where to print the report, select the printer Double.

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