How to troubleshoot an iMac computer

Have you run into some trouble with your Apple iMac computer? All-in-one computers like the iMac can seem tricky to deal with, as everything is enclosed inside the device. Still, there are a few ways you can troubleshoot your Mac. Here are a few ways to test your iMac for problems, and solve a few software problems as well.

I hope this post will help you. If your Mac is still struggling, learn more about our Sydney computer repair services.

Restart the Mac

Some computer issues can be easily solved by a quick restart. It is the simplest form of a refreshment for any laptop or desktop computer. You might not expect how much you can achieve by restarting your Mac, but trust us, it can. It resets and removes the cached RAM data and can resolve a number of software bugs. Some might roll their eyes when they hear “have you tried turning it on and off again?”, but there is definitely truth in that advice.

To restart your iMac, just click the “Restart” button after you’ve closed everything. Or you can turn the Mac off as you normally do, then wait a few seconds before disconnecting the power adaptor plug. Wait another few seconds, then plug it back in and turn the iMac on again.

Run Apple Diagnostics

Apple Diagnostics is a great basic diagnostic tool that exists on every Mac computer, from MacBooks to iMac all-in-ones. This gives the user the ability to run checks on their hardware and see what’s wrong with the Mac. So if you’re trying to figure out why your iMac just crashed, or is running slower than usual, you might want to pull up Apple Diagnostics.

The procedure is simple: Restart your iMac, and then press the “D” key at start up. This brings you to a language selection screen, and Apple Diagnostics will start running after you choose a language. It will run tests on hardware like the hard drive, RAM, or fans. After the test, the interface will report hardware issues that it finds, along with support solutions to each problem.

Reinstall macOS

A software reset could also be helpful when your iMac isn’t running normally. Reinstalling macOS could help to get rid of various software bugs by giving the Mac a clean slate. Make sure you back up any important data before you do so, because this process wipes everything out. An easy drag and drop onto an external drive or a Time Machine backup should be enough.

You can reinstall macOS from the macOS recovery screen. To start your iMac in recovery mode, restart the Mac and hold Command + R until you see the Apple logo or a spinning ball. Then you’ll see a few options in front of you. Choose “Reinstall macOS”, and your Mac will download and install a clean version of macOS for you.

Getting support for your iMac

Because of how bulky the iMac is, there aren’t that many ways to test or troubleshoot it at home. Most parts are taped together and these all-in-one Macs require specific tools to open up. There isn’t much you can do if you don’t have the tools or technical know-how to do it yourself.

If you already know what’s wrong with your Mac after using Apple Diagnostics, great! Checking ahead with the geniuses at Apple should be the first thing to do. That way you know for sure that they can help you repair your iMac. You won’t have to waste a trip clumsily carrying around the computer.

There are situations where the Apple genius bar can’t help you. This might be because the iMac’s warranty has run out, or the problem is out of the genius’ reach. Then you might turn to a different computer technician to help you out.

Why not consider getting your iMac repaired at a trusted computer repair service like us? Located in Inner West Sydney, our friendly technicians at Safemode Computer Service can help you with any computer issue. From Windows PCs and laptops to Apple Macs, let us share our expertise to help with your computing needs. As a highly-rated computer repair service in Sydney, we are happy to advise with laptop and desktop repairs catered to your needs. Call us today or drop by at our Enmore store today!

8 things to do before taking your computer to a repair shop

So your computer needs a repair. You’re thinking about taking it to a professional for help. Before that, here are some things you should do before taking it to a repair shop. To make things easier for both you and the repair technicians, you can first start with resolving any software issues by yourself. Then, you can start looking at any possible computer hardware issues that you might have. By being prepared before taking your computer to a repair show, you might be able to save yourself some money and reduce turnaround time.

1. Restart your computer

There’s a reason that IT technicians ask the question “have you tried turning it on and off again?” all the time. And there’s a good reason that you shouldn’t get annoyed by it either. Restarting your laptop or desktop computer can help refresh your system and possibly solve a number of bugs. The process unclogs stored cache on your RAM, and this can allow things to run smoother than before.

So before you do anything to your computer, try restarting it and see whether the problem goes away. After this, you can try running some simple diagnostics to find out what might be wrong in your computer.

2. Check for system updates

Another thing that could solve software issues is by updating your drivers and operating system. Manufacturers make changes to their software and OS by collecting error and incompatibility reports from users to fix them. These updates could be useful for fixing certain software issues that you may be experiencing.

Simply get your Mac or Windows computer to check for updates, or set up automatic scans for updates. Your computer will do all the work for you from there. As long as you have an internet connection, you should be able to download and install software and driver updates.

3. Back up your data

Important data should be backed up regularly, even when the computer is working fine. Disaster could strike at any moment, and it can be helpful to be prepared beforehand. Of course, you can still do this before you take your faulty computer for a repair.

If your laptop or desktop computer still turns on, you should be able to quickly back up essential data with File History or Time Machine for Mac users. Or just simply drag and drop files that you need to keep onto an external hard drive. It will come in handy when your computer is in the shop.

Alternatively, you can also use online cloud-based storage services like Google Drive or Dropbox. We also recommend multiple backups both online and offline. This gets you an extra level of security. Read about data backup in our guide “Why you should be backing up your data“.

4. Reset your system

Another way to solve software issues is by resetting your system. You can try reinstalling your OS, factory resetting your computer, or running SMC or PRAM reset on a Mac computer.

Your computer might be stuck on some unknown software issue that can be hard to figure out. Resetting your computer and giving it a clean slate could solve the problem can give you something to start anew.

Resetting a Windows computer

To reset a Windows computer, hold F8 or F11 at startup to reach the “Advanced startup options” menu. You can choose to reset the computer, or use a bootable USB to reinstall Windows OS.

Resetting an Apple Mac computer

You can choose to reinstall MacOS from MacOS Utilities. Hold down Command + R until the MacOS Recovery screen appears. Then you can choose “Reinstall MacOS”.

SMC Reset

The system management controller is a part of the logic board that controls settings related to battery and charging, the fan, and other startup settings. To perform an SMC reset, hold down Shift + Control + Option + Power button at boot for 10 seconds.

PRAM / NVRAM Reset

Similar to the SMC, this part of the Mac is responsible for storing Mac system settings and startup information. Hold down Option + Command + P + R for 20 seconds at boot to reset the PRAM and NVRAM.

At this point, we should be able to weed out some software issues that might be bugging your computer. Now would be a good time to check whether you have hardware issues that need tending to.

5. Troubleshoot and diagnose your computer

Sometimes a reset or software fixes can make your computer seemingly back to normal, but a quick diagnostic test could also be helpful. You may be able to find issues that you could possibly fix yourself, or get a better understanding on what needs to be fixed.

Pre-boot diagnostics, or Apple Diagnostics for Mac users can help you run tests on components across your device. It is a simple built-in diagnostic tool to help you find possible hardware errors on parts like your hard drive, RAM, or battery card.

Each brand of computer usually has a specific key to enter boot diagnostics. For Dell it’s F12, “Esc” for HP, and “D” for Apple, just to name a few. After running the tests, your system should also be able to give you reference codes and recommend fixes for any problems found.

Contacting online support could also be a great option if you need more guidance on this. Many computer brands offer free technical support over the phone or through online chat. They can instruct you over the phone to do basic diagnostics to determine the fault, and the next steps you can take. The wait on the phone and the whole process may be long, but it’s free, so it’s probably worth a try.

6. Check your warranty and insurance cover

Nothing is better than a free fix. Getting the computer opened up by a third party repairer while it’s still under warranty may void your warranty cover. Always check with your place of purchase to see if it’s covered by warranty before even taking it to a shop for repairs. You might also want to check your additional support cover, to make sure that you’re not missing out on a free repair.

For insured devices, your insurer may cover your repairs but they will usually need a damage report first. You can get this from a technician after they’ve checked out your computer. It may cost to get a damage report so be prepared to pay for one.

7. Get a free quote for computer repairs

Not all repair services will give free quotes, many charge a fee to diagnose the computer and give a quote before doing anything. It’s worth calling around or doing some research to find one that would give a free quote if you’re not willing to pay for one. We offer free quotes if the computer is brought to our store (T&C applies).

Getting a repair without a free quote beforehand may not be worth it, as you don’t have a clear idea of what needs to be done and how it’ll end up. So it’s much safer to choose a trusted repair service, via reviews on Google.

8. For liquid spill damage: turn the laptop upside down and remove the battery

If liquids get inside the laptop, there isn’t much you can do except put it upside down and remove the battery. This helps to drain out the liquid as much as possible, and protect yourself from electrical hazards.

Many laptops have user-replaceable batteries, which can be easily removed from the computer. Many newer models have non user-replaceable batteries so users can’t do much with it except putting it upside down.

Putting the laptop in rice or using a hair dryer to dry it is not recommended. Using a hairdryer can melt the keyboard or other parts which creates a bigger problem. Rice won’t help to undo what is already damaged and it can also get into the fan. This causes issues with the fan instead. Learn more about the dos and don’ts of laptop liquid spill damage in our guide here.

A few reminders

Keep your software license keys

There’s a chance that your data can be wiped out during the repair process. That’s why data backups are so important. You should also make sure you still have the necessary license or login information to reinstall software that you use. This might be productivity apps like Microsoft Office or Adobe Creative Suite that require a license key to download and install. That way you won’t have to buy another subscription if you lose all your data.

Make your computer accessible

Repair technicians will usually need your password login to check your computer and make sure the repair is successful. So making your laptop or desktop computer accessible could make things run a lot smoother. Consider removing your password or changing it to a simple one, then sticking it on your device.

Ask for a rental laptop if possible

Repair services can usually offer rental laptops to use while your computer is being serviced. If you don’t have a spare laptop to use, it wouldn’t hurt to ask for a rental laptop.

Expert repairs with us

Looking for a trusted computer repair service? With our highly-rated service and 10-year experience in computers, Safemode Computer Service is here to help. We offer free quotes and diagnostics for any computer issue. Just bring your computer to our Inner West store and we can diagnose your laptop or desktop computer in no time. We are conveniently located in the Inner West Sydney suburb of Enmore, close by to Newtown and Marrickville. Bring in your computer for a repair and purchase an external hard drive, we can set up your backups free of charge. Call us or book an appointment online today!

Mac not turning on: How to troubleshoot a dead desktop Mac

There are many reasons why your Mac isn’t turning on. Apple Mac computers are powerful and advanced machines, but they will fall to hardware issues. In this guide we’ll be looking at how to fix a desktop Mac that isn’t turning on, this includes the iMac, Mac Mini, or Mac Pro. Running a few checks on your system can help you find out what’s causing the problem and get the right solution.

Though, fixing an Apple iMac that is not turning on is difficult. If all of your attempts bear no fuit, seek professional repairs instead.

Why isn’t my Mac turning on?

When your Mac doesn’t turn on at all, you most likely have a hardware issue. For the computer to boot up properly, essential parts work together to deliver a smooth computing experience. Once one part starts acting up or dies completely, the entire process may be disrupted. The computer won’t be able to turn on at all, or may take a long time to power up.

These essential parts include the hard drive, logic board, video card, RAM, and power supply unit. Without even a single part, the computer may start having trouble turning on, or even stop working properly.

But is it really not turning on? Sometimes you simply can’t get your Mac to boot to MacOS, and assume that it’s not turning on. This means that it could also be a software issue. You might be able to get your Mac to turn on but it seems to be taking forever or gets stuck on a blank screen. If this is the case, you can try doing some software resets first. This would be either an SMC reset or PRAM reset. This can help fix software issues and reset certain boot up settings.

Our technical understanding of a “desktop Mac not turning on” is when the Mac appears to be completely dead and doesn’t respond to anything. It could be a sign of a serious hardware failure. This is only one of the few MacOS start up issues that you can run into. We’re talking about start up issues like the question mark folder or infinite loading bar. These would bring you to other diagnostic and repair solutions, so it’s important to know how to tell them apart.

How to test and repair a desktop Mac that won’t turn on

Once you’ve identified the problem, you can start with a few tests to find out what’s causing the problem. This involves testing the parts essential for starting up your Mac: the hard drive, logic board, video card, RAM, and PSU.

It seems like a lot of work, but when a Mac appears to be completely dead and doesn’t show any signs to which part is failing, it’s the only way to thoroughly diagnose the problem this way. As we’ve learnt from above, a single component failure can cause a total computer shutdown. So to bring your Mac back to life, we have to do a little digging to find the right repair solution.

Again, considering the scope of the Mac’s failure, there aren’t a lot of ways to test the system for errors. When you can’t power up your Mac, you’ll have to take out the specific parts to test on a different desktop Mac.

Of course, it would be easier to just use Apple Diagnostics or run diagnostic software on the Mac itself. If you can get your Mac to even fire up to a black screen, you can enter Apple Diagnostics by holding down the “D” key. This is a simple built-in diagnostic tool to help you find errors in components like the hard drive, RAM, or video card.

When we’re left with less options, all we can do is testing out the part on a different Mac, preferably a desktop as well. Let’s look at how to test different parts to diagnose the problem. If you’re keen on DIY, you might be able to fix them yourself.

Hard drive failure

A hard drive failure is a very common cause of various start up issues. As the boot drive, it contains boot files and the MacOS that is used to boot up your Mac and runs the whole show. So when a hard drive malfunctions, the necessary files cannot be accessed and could halt the entire boot up process.

It can be a surprise to some to learn that hard drive failure can happen to most computer users. Hard drives have a limited lifespan and are prone to damage from bad sectors. This can happen to all sorts of hard drives, including traditional hard disk drives, flash storage, or fusion drives.

Bad sectors caused by physical damage or software errors can cause permanent damage on small parts of the drive. This is an unavoidable thing that will happen to all storage drives, every new drive ships with a tiny amount of bad sectors. As you use the drive it will eventually accumulate more and more bad sectors. The drive will work as long as they are limited to a small area of the drive.

When they do spread out and get to an intolerable amount, the drive will start to show signs of failure. You may notice that your computer is running slower than usual, or find that some files have been corrupted or completely lost. That is when you should look into replacing the drive.

How to repair a faulty hard drive

The only reliable and true fix for a hard drive failure is by replacing the drive itself. While some disk repair utilities can repair certain soft bad sectors, this solution may only buy you a little more time before the drive does ultimately fail. But first, we have to do a little testing to confirm the issue.

To test a hard drive for issues, take out the drive from the Mac and connect it to a different desktop Mac via a SATA to USB enclosure box. Then, test the drive with hard drive analysis software like WD Data Lifeguard. The drive is powered by the enclosure box instead of the computer, so it ensures isolation to thoroughly test the hard drive. Now for all-in-one desktop Macs like the iMac, it would take a little more disassembly to get to the hard drive, compared to Mac Pro or Mac Mini. You’ll need to start from the screen to get to the hard drive.

When your hard drive does in fact need replacing, you can replace it with an exact same drive, or upgrade to a better hard drive or flash storage. Just make sure that the drive is compatible with your Mac. Learn more about Apple hard drive repairs here.

Logic board, GPU, and RAM failures

Another thing that can kill your Mac is a logic board failure. The logic board is the circuit board that spans across your Mac. It is the communication channel where components receive signals from the CPU to work accordingly. Even a small failure on a part of the logic board can break up the communication channel between components. When this happens, components won’t know what to do even if they are fully intact and can work properly.

Overheating and liquid damage are one of the few causes of logic board failure. So it’s important to keep your system dust-free and can cool itself effectively. Similarly, the video card and RAM can also fall to overheating and liquid spills.

The GPU and RAM are also essential for the MacOS start up process. The video card generates the visual feed that puts images on the screen. Start up settings and boot information are also stored on the RAM for easy access to fire up the Mac. Without either, it could cause the Mac to be unresponsive when you turn it on.

How to repair a faulty logic board

The logic board is an intricate and complicated piece of computer hardware to navigate around. On top of this, there is no direct way to test and diagnose a logic board failure. This makes a logic board repair one of the most difficult computer repair jobs to perform.

To test a logic board for errors, we’ll have to diagnose it by eliminating other hardware errors to reach a conclusive result. This involves testing the hard drive, GPU, and RAM. Like a hard drive, we can test the video card and RAM by taking it out.

For the video card, plug it in a different desktop Mac and test it with GPU analysis software (we use Furmark). Then for the RAM, swap it out with a spare stick of RAM to see whether the issue persists. If both work fine, then you can conclude that you have a logic board issue.

To repair a logic board, the whole board will have to be replaced. The board is usually under everything else, so it will need some careful navigation to take everything out to reach it. This is why logic board repairs require quite experienced hands to make sure you don’t break other parts while you’re fixing the logic board. Learn more about repairing an Apple logic board here.

PSU failure

Sometimes a faulty power supply unit can be keeping your Mac from powering up. The PSU is the only power source to power up your Mac, so when it fails, the Mac may become unresponsive. This kind of failure can appear similarly as a logic board failure, but the problem is quite different.

Unlike laptops that can use a battery and don’t need to be plugged in to turn on, a desktop Mac solely depends on the PSU for power. The PSU converts power to a steady current that powers up components.

Like most computer hardware, the PSU can fail due to natural wear and tear, overheating, and accumulated dust. Power surges can also overload the unit and kill it. In some rare cases, bugs (yes, actual insects) get inside the unit and block the fans or damage the parts.

How to repair a faulty PSU

A sign of a faulty PSU might be the fans not firing up when you press the power button. Detecting a PSU does take some special tools. You can try using a multimeter or power supply tester to check on the PSU’s performance. Then replace the PSU entirely if you do find that it is malfunctioning.

Professional repair

Sometimes you might not have all the tools to repair your desktop Mac. After all, desktop Macs may need more tools to open up. Moreover, Apple computers may also contain proprietary screws that you might not have the right tools for. With that said, that’s where a professional repair can help you.

That’s where we can help you! At Safemode Computer Service, we can help you diagnose your dead desktop Mac. Save yourself the hassle of taking apart your Mac by bringing your desktop Mac to our store. We are conveniently located in the heart of Inner West Sydney. Our experienced technicians can help you find the right repair solution to bring your Mac back to life. Give us a call to make an appointment at our Enmore store today.

How to fix an Apple Macbook that won’t turn on

You might think it is the end of the world when your Apple Macbook doesn’t seem to turn on and appears to be completely dead. Turning to the internet for help might be what you’re doing at this time of need. Don’t worry, it’s not the end of the world. We have the definitive guide to why your Macbook isn’t turning on, and how to fix it yourself. At the end of this post, if your MacBook is still dead, it’s recommended to take it to professional repairers.

What to do when your Macbook isn’t turning on

Let’s get things straight. Mac users can come across all sorts of startup issues, like not being able to boot to MacOS, the question mark folder at boot up, or ultimately not being able to turn on their laptops at all. Different kinds of Apple Mac startup issues can call for different approaches and repair solutions.

When your Macbook doesn’t respond at all when you press the power button even while it is plugged in, this is what we refer to as “not turning on”. The computer would then appear “dead”, and not powering on at all. While it does sound pretty obvious, this issue can sometimes be mixed up with other MacOS startup issues. To some, “not turning on” can mean simply not being able to successfully boot to MacOS. If this is the case, it is actually a different problem that can be solved differently.

Check out our guides to Apple MacOS startup issues to learn more! We show you how to fix the question mark folder error, infinite loading bar error, and how to replace a failing Apple hard drive.

How to find out why your Macbook won’t turn on

A computer that won’t turn on can get pretty frustrating to deal with, because there really isn’t much you can do with it. But, we still have to find a way to find out what’s wrong with it. We can narrow it down to errors that involve either the hard drive, logic board, video card, RAM, keyboard, or the screen.

To be fair, it isn’t that narrowed down, but it’s a start. When a Macbook doesn’t show any sign of life, it can be from various hardware failures that are essential in the startup process. Once a component of the startup process doesn’t work, the whole thing can pretty much fall apart. So by testing each of these components, we’ll be able to find out the right repair solution to bring the Mac back to life.

Now with a dead Macbook, you can’t really do thorough testing on it when it doesn’t turn on. If you can get it to boot, or even get to the Apple logo splash screen, you can use Apple Diagnostics (D key at startup) to test your laptop. There you might be able to detect issues on hardware across your Mac that’s causing your problem. Otherwise, the testing process for a dead laptop would usually involve taking out the part and testing it out on a different device, preferably a Mac desktop.

Let’s take a look at the different component failures that could be the cause of a dead Macbook laptop. You can also fix the problem yourself, after detecting the issue.

Hard drive failure

As a very common cause of Mac startup issues, the hard drive should be one of the first things to test for issues. Hard drive errors can happen to almost every computer user, as they tend to have a limited life span and will fail eventually. This can happen to drives like traditional hard disk drives and flash storage, the two types of storage drives that can be found on Macbook laptops.

Hard drives will inevitably accumulate bad sectors that can physically damage the drive. This sort of physical damage can corrupt files and files might also be permanently lost. When the drive gets to a point where bad sectors are spread out across the drive, it will fail. This affects the normal startup process of your Macbook.

Corrupted boot files or an inaccessible operating system could then be what’s stopping your Mac from turning on. To fix this, we’ll have to test and repair the hard drive in question.

How to fix a faulty hard drive

To fix any computer hardware issue, we need to first test and confirm the issue. Otherwise, a misdiagnosed problem could cost you money and unnecessary labour.

Test your hard drive by taking it out from your Macbook and test it on a different desktop Mac. You may use free hard drive analysis software like WD Data Lifeguard to do so. To ensure that the hard drive can be thoroughly checked, use a SATA to USB enclosure box to connect it to the desktop computer.

If you do find that the drive is faulty and needs to be replaced, great! Hard drive replacements are one of the easiest repair jobs to do. You can even do it yourself at home with some simple tools. Upgrading to a better drive or flash storage might be also something to consider, if you’re looking for a performance boost. Just make sure that your hard drive replacement is compatible with your Macbook. Read more about Apple hard drive replacements here.

Screen failure

Laptop screen failure can sometimes make the device look like it is dead. When the laptop screen has completely failed, it might not show any image and remains blank. So it’s understandable to think that your Macbook isn’t turning on when the screen is blank and unresponsive.

Sometimes the screen can also appear to be incredibly dim and almost completely dark. For older models of Macbooks that use an LCD screen, this could be a sign of a faulty inverter. This is what lights up the screen, and will need to be replaced if damaged.

When this happens to newer models that have transitioned to LED screens, it would be a sign of a faulty logic board. The logic board is used instead of an inverter to light up the screen in newer Macbook models.

To find out whether your screen is broken, hook up your Macbook to an external monitor. You should be fine if the monitor shows a display image of your Macbook. Then, all you need is a screen replacement. If this isn’t working, you might have to look into more testing.

Curious about screen failures? Check out our guide to display issues here and see why screen failures and video card failures are often mistaken for each other.

Logic board, video card, and RAM failures

The video card (GPU) and RAM components of a Macbook laptop are usually embedded on the logic board, and all three parts are essential for the Mac to boot up properly. When either part is malfunctioning, the Mac may not pass POST (Power-On Self Test), or not be able to turn on.

A logic board failure is a very common cause of a dead laptop. Every part of the Mac is connected to the logic board and is the channel of communication between the CPU and other components. So once this channel is broken up by a logic board failure, signals won’t reach their respective components. Ultimately, nothing will work.

GPU and RAM failures also could disrupt the startup processes, as they both play a part in the process. The video card generates an accurate display feed that shows images once the Mac is turned on. Your Mac’s RAM stores data like system settings and startup information. These settings and information can be quickly accessed while the Mac is booting up.

Fixing logic board issues

As we’ve mentioned above, accurate testing and diagnosis is generally required to treat any computer issue. But because there is no direct way to diagnose a faulty logic board, and when both the GPU and RAM can’t be removed from the board for testing, this part is a little bit more tricky. We’ll have to deduce a logic board failure by eliminating other possible hardware faults. So after testing the hard drive and Macbook screen, we can get a more or less clear idea of what’s wrong with the laptop.

This is why logic board repairs are known to be quite difficult to test and repair. The whole board may need to be taken out entirely for a replacement. This kind of repair requires very careful and experienced hands to do so. It is an unpredictable part as well, as logic board repairs don’t have a high success rate. We cover more about logic board failures and repair in our guide here.

Keyboard or power button failure

While this is less likely to be why your Mac isn’t turning on, there is a chance that a malfunctioning power button is not letting your Mac power on. Pretty funny, right?

For Macbook models with power buttons integrated onto the keyboard, unresponsive or jammed keys may come in your way when you try to turn your Mac on. While this will not happen with Macbook models that have a separate power button (e.g. Macbook Pro Retina 2016 with touch bar), a faulty power button could also do the same. However, chances of a power button failure happening are pretty slim. This is because newer models turn on automatically when you open the lid.

A final word

With all this testing, you might be able to find the culprit behind your Mac startup issue. Depending on the faulty component and the scope of damage, you may or may not be able to fix your Macbook yourself. Fortunately, with the help of a little research and online guides, you might be able to change this.

After learning about all these hardware issues, you should be more prepared to face them when they do happen. This is also why backing up your data is a very important computing habit to keep. You never know when tragedy can strike, and a complete computer failure could cost you documents, photos, and projects.

Regularly backing up your data to an external hard drive or an online cloud service could be a lifesaver when it comes down to it. You won’t have to worry about your data when you decide to take your Mac to a repair service as well.

Professional repairs at Safemode Computer Service

When you can’t get help from the Apple store, or if you’re not bothered to go all the way there, consider coming to us! We at Safemode Computer Service are also happy to help with any computer issue. A Mac that won’t turn on is understandably quite a lot to handle. Not to worry, we can take that trouble right off your hands. We are comfortably situated in the Inner West, a quick stop from surrounding suburbs of Newtown and Marrickville. Our expert technicians can help you diagnose your Mac and offer our highly rated service. Call us to make an appointment or come by our Enmore store today.

Mac stuck on loading screen at startup: How to fix Apple startup issues

In most circumstances, booting up a computer is a quick process. Usually takes no more than a minute. But when your Mac is starting to fail, it will show signs that it is not working properly. This may sometimes reflect in the MacOS startup process. Startup processes are pretty frustrating, as you might not even be able to get your Mac to boot at all.

The problem looks like this: Your Mac does get to the Apple logo splash screen. You may also get the Mac startup chime as well. Then instead of booting up properly, you reach a loading bar screen that does not seem to finish loading. It may get to near completion and stay there, or turn off or restart itself.

This MacOS start up issue can come out of nowhere and be quite troublesome to face. Have no fear, you can definitely test your Mac for issues on your own to understand it. Let’s look at why this happens and what you can do to fix this problem. Check out our solutions to other Apple MacOS startup issues, like “How to fix Apple question mark folder at startup”.

The MacOS start up process

When you turn on your Mac, the firmware runs the “Power-On Self Test” (POST). This tests your Mac’s hardware to make sure it is fit to boot up. It includes testing components like the processors, memory, and peripherals. If your Mac passes POST, it will get to the Apple logo splash screen and eventually boots up successfully. If not, it will stay on a black screen and won’t boot at all. This is a sign that some of your hardware might not be working at all. It usually means a motherboard failure.

After passing POST, your Mac will go through the startup process. This involves certain bootup files and the MacOS on the hard drive. If the startup process is taking too long and is having trouble booting up, there might be a problem with your hard drive. Other components that are crucial for startup, namely the RAM and video card, could also be causing this issue.

Faulty components that could be causing this startup issue

Before we look at what could be causing this loading bar startup error, there are a few simple things you could try. Try restarting your Mac first, or reinstall MacOS from MacOS Recovery.

A computer restart is something we always recommend doing, as it can actually do a lot. You can try doing this to refresh your Mac and possibly solve bugs. This could also boot your Mac successfully again.

Alternatively, you could try reinstalling MacOS from Recovery options. Reinstalling MacOS is also a way to refresh your Mac, and could buy you some time before any part of your Mac does fail. If you still get startup issues after trying these fixes, you might have to really look into what hardware issues you have. This brings us to how you can test your hardware for issues that need repairing.

Hard drive

Your hard drive, whether it may be a hard disk drive, flash storage, or fusion drive, is used as the startup disk. This means its normal functioning is crucial for the startup processes. The drive contains the MacOS, along with information needed for the process. When the drive fails and files become corrupted or lost, your Mac may have trouble starting up properly.

Most components on your Mac will fail eventually, and that unfortunately includes the storage drive. In fact, it is a very common computer issue that computer users face. Once a hard drive accumulates too many bad sectors, it will start to fail. Its failure will cause startup issues like the question mark folder error, or cause your Mac to slow down significantly. Data loss or corruption may also occur with a hard drive failure, so keeping regular backups is a useful habit to have.

The solution: Test and repair

There are a few ways to test a hard drive when you can’t get your Mac to boot properly. You can use Disk Utility and Apple Diagnostics from your Mac to do so. To enter Disk Utility from MacOS Recovery, you’ll need to restart your Mac and hold Command + “R” when you reach the Apple logo screen. Disk Utility can perform a quick scan of your hard drive and attempt repairs if possible. It can repair soft bad sectors and isolate hard bad sectors.

Holding down the “D” key will get you to Apple Diagnostics. This is a diagnostics tool for components across your Mac. After a full scan of your system, Apple Diagnostics can detect issues on parts like the hard drive, RAM, or battery. The error reports also come with reference codes for you to report to Apple support or for further research use.

Otherwise, you may also take out the drive entirely and test it on another Mac desktop computer with hard drive analysis software. Free software like WD Data Lifeguard can do more extensive and thorough tests on your hard drive. This method usually takes longer than using built-in Mac diagnostic tools.

Running tests will then confirm whether your hard drive is failing or not. If it is what’s causing your startup issues, it will probably need to be replaced. Learn more about replacing an Apple hard drive in our guide to Apple hard drive repairs.

Video card

Your Mac’s display depends on the video card to work. The video card is responsible for generating a digital image feed. This is sent through the screen cable to reach the screen display. This is a constant visual feed of whatever you’re working on your Mac. Together with the video card, different parts of your Mac work together to display images correctly on screen. As your Mac does need to show a display once it’s turned on, the video card is surely critical for normal MacOS startup.

When a video card does start to fail, it may make things harder for the system to boot up. While it may not show image distortion like usual video card faults do, it can also disrupt the MacOS startup process. Without any visual clues to a video card failure, thorough testing is usually called for.

The solution: Test video card with software and replace

Again, you may use Apple Diagnostics (D key at startup) to test your video card along with other components. We also recommend using FurMark video card testing software from Geeks3D. This free video card analysis software, like hard drive analysis software, offers more in-depth tests and results. If you do find video card errors from these tests, you can start looking into replacement solutions.

Unfortunately, video cards on Apple Macbook laptops are embedded on the logic board, so you’ll need to replace the logic board as well. Only most Mac desktop computers have detachable videos that are available for testing and replacing.

RAM

Your Mac’s virtual storage is significant for multitasking and general normal functioning. Its non-volatile memory stores information readily available for you to use at your convenience. This keeps everything running smoothly, and you won’t have to worry about overloading your Mac all the time. Although less likely, a RAM failure may also create MacOS startup issues.

The solution: Test with software or spare RAM and replace

The RAM on Macbook laptops are also usually built-in on the logic board, so you can only test it with Apple Diagnostics or software. RAM diagnostics software like MemTest86 can help you with that.

Some Macbook laptops and most Mac desktop computers have detachable RAM chips. You may take them out and test your system out with a spare chip of RAM if you have one around. If the loading bar issue still appears at startup, then you can eliminate the RAM as the culprit. This means your RAM is working fine and something else is causing the problem.

Once again, like the video card, you’ll need to replace the logic board if the embedded RAM is faulty. For detachable RAM chips, you can just swap it out with a new and compatible one. It’s as easy as that.

Apple Mac hardware repairs

One thing that affects how we go about Mac repairs is the parts that Apple uses in their devices. Certain Mac computers contain proprietary parts that are specific to MacOS devices. They are made to only work for Apple computers. So this would take some time to look for the compatible replacement part. If the part is out of market or discontinued, looking for a different but compatible part would also take some time.

Proprietary pentalobe screws that are used on some Macbooks can also make things harder for the at-home DIY repairs. Most consumers may not have the right screwdriver or screws to open up their laptops, and they can be quite expensive as well.

Soldered or glued-on parts is also an example of this. The low repairability of most Apple computers can give them quite a short lifespan, considering that sometimes it may not be worth it to get it fixed without damaging other parts. With that said, you may look to a professional technician to get your Mac repaired with no fuss.

Professional repairs

The Apple store or an Apple-authorised service centre is where you can get things done. With Apple Care or a valid warranty, you can typically get support services for your faulty Mac for free. If your Mac is deemed obsolete (from before 2012) by Apple, you might not be able to get free support that easily. This also applies for expired warranties.

So what else? A third-party repair service might be the final option for your professional repair needs. If so, our expert service at Safemode Computer Service might be something to consider! We offer highly-rated Apple Mac repair services, which is widely known across Sydney. Located in the Inner West, we can offer convenient and trusted services for your faulty Mac, test and recommend the right solution for you. Come by our store for a chat! We are in Enmore, Inner West Sydney.

How to get rid of the spinning colour wheel of death

The spinning colour wheel, or beach ball, is an indicator that your Mac is loading processes. Usually it only appears for a second, or doesn’t at all. Getting a spinning colour wheel that spins for a long time can be very inconvenient. It slows down your Mac and can certainly disrupt your computing experience. This is often known as the spinning colour wheel of death. In this guide, we will be looking at why this happens, and how you can fix it.

Why am I getting the Mac spinning wheel of death?

Hard drive failure

The spinning wheel occurs when your Mac can’t properly handle the different processes needed. It’s having trouble running applications that are installed on your hard drive. You’ll find that the spinning wheel remains spinning for a long time and sometimes freezes up your computer. This means that your Mac may be having issues with reading and writing processes on the hard drive.

When you’re used to a certain standard of performance, finding that your Mac is running slower than usual can be pretty annoying. Understanding why this is happening and how you can diagnose this problem can help you find the right repair solution. The spinning wheel of death usually comes from a hard drive issue, where the drive cannot read or write data properly.

Logic board failure

While it is less common, frequent spinning colour wheel indicators could also come from logic board issues. Everything on the Mac is connected via the logic board, and it is an essential part in the device’s normal functioning. If the logic board is faulty, your Mac will not be able to work properly nor handle everything else that you’re trying to do. Hence the freezing up.

Logic board failure is quite a complicated process to navigate through. Learn more about testing a logic board here.

Background processes eating up CPU and RAM

Sometimes we forget to close applications properly and they keep running in the background. While you open more and more other applications, all these combined processes may eat up the CPU or RAM. An overworked CPU or insufficient RAM could be overloading your system’s ability to handle everything. You can look up what’s taking up your CPU or RAM from the activity monitor.

An application’s data is still cached on the Mac’s virtual memory, and does not reset until the computer is reset. This makes properly shutting down your Mac when you’re not using it a healthy computing habit. By doing so, your computer can also work out any small issues by itself after resetting.

Another rare cause of the constant spinning colour wheel could be a virus infection on your Mac. A virus runs in the background and is not easily noticeable, also eating up your CPU usage. Running antivirus software can usually solve this problem in no time.

Still, the constant spinning colour wheel usually means a hard drive failure, so let’s look at why this happens. To confirm this issue, you can run simple tests to find out.

Why do hard drives fail?

Hard drives contain moving parts that are required to read and write data on spinning platters. The read and write heads are quite delicate, and floats on the spinning platters to work. Physical damage or natural wear and tear can create bad sectors on the hard drive. The accumulation of such bad sectors are the main reason that hard drives fail, and this cannot be avoided. It’s also impossible to make a perfect hard drive, so all drives ship with a tiny amount of bad sectors.

Bad sectors are a result of physical damage or software issues. Physical damage such as blunt force or dust getting into the hard drive causes permanently damaged hard bad sectors. Soft bad sectors are then caused by software issues like sudden loss of power while writing to the disk, or virus infection. These can be repaired or quarantined by running disk checkup utilities.

Even so, not all bad sectors can be repaired. They do accumulate, and once it gets to a point where the drive cannot tolerate them, it will start to fail. Some signs of this may be a slow computer, unsuccessful bootup, or even a total crash.

How to repair a faulty hard drive

When you do see these signs of a faulty hard drive, taking action as soon as you can might be a good idea. By doing so, you may be able to avoid data corruption or loss. Apple offers built-in tools to help users check their hard drive’s working status and attempt repairs as well.

1. Reset your hard drive

Assuming that your Mac still boots up and workds, you can try resetting your hard drive first. You can either wipe the drive and reinstall MacOS with a bootable installer USB, or factory reset your Mac. With this quick reset, you can refresh your hard drive and buy yourself a little time before it fails. This could buy your another year or so on the drive, depending on how much damage there is. If the bad sectors are too spread out across the drive, it probably won’t last you that long anymore. These methods involve completely wiping out all data on the drive, so it’s best that you backup your files before doing so.

To create a bootable installer USB, you’ll need a USB drive with at least 16GB free capacity and another Mac to create it on. Just download the right installation media from another Mac onto the USB and you’re done. Then you may wipe your current hard drive and reinstall MacOS from the USB drive at startup.

A more simple method would be doing a factory reset. Hold down the Command and “R” key at startup to reach the MacOS recovery screen. There you can find the “Reinstall MacOS” option. This process downloads and reinstalls the MacOS and refreshes your system. You can also find the Disk Utility option from MacOS recovery. This is also a useful built-in disk checkup tool that we will cover next.

2. Use Apple built-in diagnostic tools

Disk Utility and Apple Diagnostics are both Mac built-in diagnostic tools that you can use to detect issues on your hard drive. These simple tools are readily available for you to detect issues and attempt repairs on your hard drive.

Disk Utility First Aid

Disk Utility is a hard drive tool on all Mac computers that you can use to manage your hard drive. With the “First Aid” function, you can test your hard drive for issues and attempt possible repairs on the drive. Soft bad sectors can be repaired, while hard bad sectors are then marked to be skipped over. This stops the drive from reading or writing on those marked areas.

If your drive is about to fail, Disk Utility can also detect and report this imminent failure. The app may also recommend you backup your data and get the hard drive replaced.

Disk Utility is a tool exclusively for the hard drive. If you are looking for a test that checks other components across the laptop, you can try out Apple Diagnostics.

Apple Diagnostics

Apple Diagnostics is a pre-boot diagnostic tool that tests most components on a Mac. This includes parts like the hard drive, battery, and RAM. Any problems detected on these components are then reported with reference codes and online support solutions.

To run Apple Diagnostics, press and hold the “D” key when you reach the Apple logo splash screen. Choose the right language for you, then the scan will begin on its own. You can then take these reference codes to Apple Support or the Apple Store for repair solutions.

If these two tools are sufficient enough to conclude a hard drive failure, you can move on to replacing the drive. Or, you could try running more extensive tests on dedicated hard drive analysis software.

3. Extensive tests on dedicated hard drive analysis software

Free software like WD Data Lifeguard are used to run thorough tests for hard drives. This software focuses just on the hard drive, just like Disk Utility does, but is more in-depth than that.

To run tests on hard drive analysis software, you’ll need to take out the hard drive and test it on a separate Mac desktop computer. The hard drive has to be connected to the desktop Mac via a SATA to USB enclosure box. This enclosure box is then powered by an external power source, not the desktop it’s connected to. By doing so, we can ensure that the drive is isolated from other things that could affect the testing process. This helps us focus solely on the hard drive.

As a more extensive test, it should take longer to run, compared to Disk Utility and Apple Diagnostics. It helps to detect hard drive faults and attempt repairs as well. After this, you can move on to getting hard drive replacement.

4. Choose a hard drive replacement

A hard drive replacement is a simple and easy process that you can often do by yourself. All you need to do is to find the right drive for you first. Apple laptop and desktop computer models often have different combinations of parts. Your computer may have a traditional hard disk drive (HDD), flash storage, or a fusion drive, which is a combination of an HDD and flash storage.

Hard disk drive

HDDs were the standard for computer storage for many years. If you own an older Macbook or a iMac desktop, it’s likely that you have an HDD as the main storage device. For your replacement, you’ll need to find a new compatible hard drive for your Mac. As long as the drive is compatible, you may also be able to find a more powerful hard drive as an upgrade. Apple often uses parts specialised for only Apple devices, so you can’t get just any drive that physically fits your Mac.

Flash storage

Flash storage, or solid-state drives, are more and more popular these days as a better computer storage solution. They do not contain moving parts and have better performance that HDDs do. This gives it great durability and a smooth computing experience for the user.

Because of these benefits, HDD users may consider upgrading to flash storage. It is an upgrade that can get you a substantial boost in performance, as flash storage reads and writes much faster than HDDs do. Again, Mac users should also look for drives that are compatible with your system.

Still, in some cases, you might not be able to get your flash storage replaced if it is faulty. Storage devices that are built-in on the logic board cannot be replaced unless you replace the logic board entirely. An example of this would be the Macbook Pro with retina display and butterfly keyboard.

Fusion drive

Fusion drives are commonly used on Apple iMac desktop computers. A combination of both a HDD and flash storage offers both great performance and more storage capacity than just using flash storage.

When you get a fusion drive replacement, you’ll need to find the right drives and a technician to work things out for you. You can’t really buy a fusion drive on the market, as they are simply two drives fused together by software. You may also do this by yourself of course, if you are tech savvy.

Finding your hard drive model

You can find information about your hard drive by going to About this Mac > System information. You can find out what type of startup drive you have, along with its serial number and other information from “System Report”. Having a good idea about your current hard drive could help you find the right replacement. The information can act as a reference point in this process.

Another way to find out what drive you have is by opening up your computer and taking a look. Taking a look on the information label on the storage device could be a more practical way to do your research.

5. Replace the faulty hard drive

Now that you’ve got a new drive, it’s time to install it on your computer. This is a simple process of removing the faulty drive and fitting the new one in. You don’t really need to be that tech savvy to do it yourself.

Tech repair site ifixit offers a wide range of tech guides to help with any at-home repairs. There you can find the right hard drive replacement guide for your Mac. With just the help of a few tools, you can start using your new drive in no time.

6. Install MacOS on new drive

The last step that you’ll need to do is to reinstall MacOS on your startup drive. Just make sure that you’ve installed the drive correctly, and MacOS Recovery will do the rest.

This is done exactly the same way as we started. Press Command + R at startup, then choose “Reinstall MacOS”. A new installation of MacOS will be downloaded and installed. When this is completed, you’re all set!

Understanding hard drive failure and how repairs are done can help you get to the right repair solution when you find yourself in a pickle. Even if you decide not to do things yourself, you won’t be kept in the dark when you get your Mac serviced.

Professional repairs

Getting help from professionals can definitely save you the time from testing and repairing things yourself. The Apple store can often get you the right specialised solution to your computer hardware issues. If your Mac is no longer covered by warranty or is deemed obsolete, you might have to go to a third-party repair service instead.

As a trusted third-party repair service, our technicians at Safemode Computer Service is surely an option! Conveniently located in Inner West Sydney, we offer highly rated computer services. We can help you test your Mac for issues, and get you expert repair solutions. Give us a call or drop by our Inner West store today.

Why motherboard failures are so hard to test and repair

If we think of a computer as a living being, the motherboard would be the nerve centre that connects everything else together. These components include the processor, storage, video card, and so on. The brain of the computer, the Central Processing Unit (CPU) then decides what to do with all the information and signals passed along through the motherboard.

So a motherboard failure would mean problems with other components connected, thus harming the entire performance of the computer. With the nerve centre down, the brain cannot work properly to send signals to the rest of the system.

Such failure will usually cause the computer to stop working suddenly and can be very frustrating to test and repair as well. Motherboard repairs or replacements are known as the hardest repairs to perform. For most laptops, the entire board including the CPU will need to be replaced if any faults are found on the motherboard. These faults may range from overheating damage or blown capacitors.

With that said, any suspicions about motherboard failure should be tested thoroughly to make a diagnosis. By testing, you may conclude that the motherboard is indeed faulty. Or, you may find that it is completely fine and that you have other hardware issues that is the actual cause of your problems.

Before we start with how you can test for motherboard issues, let’s find out what usually causes these failures and what you can do to protect it. Understanding why these things happen can be helpful to find the right solution to the issue.

What is a motherboard?

A motherboard (known as logic board for Apple devices) is a crucial part of a computer. It is the circuit board where all components of the system is plugged into. As an input / output system, the motherboard is where interactions within the computer happens. Each motherboard model may differ from each other, from its form factor to where each component is fitted.

The three main components that makes your computer work is the processor (CPU), storage (hard drive and RAM), and the motherboard. All three parts must work together to create a smooth computing experience for the user.

The processor and storage, along with other components such as the keyboard and video card are connected via the motherboard. Then the CPU works out how things interact, and the motherboard passes along this information to each component. So without the motherboard, things can’t work together, and nothing will end up operating.

What happens when a motherboard stops working

With a motherboard failure, components can’t interact with each other. This generally leads to unexpected system crashes, or complete computer failure. There usually aren’t many early warnings to prevent such faults, as your system will just stop working without a functioning motherboard. The main thing you can do is to find out what’s really causing your issues, and then get a repair.

Causes of motherboard failure

Overheating

All components, including the motherboard, need to be cooled consistently to work properly. Components like the CPU and video card generate a lot of heat. If this heat is not dispersed, it will create significant damage to the motherboard. The cooling system of your computer keeps the temperature at the right limit. This prevents further damage from overheating.

So if the cooling system is unable to work properly, the motherboard will be at risk of overheating. Overheating can occur from faulty cooling fans, or from dust buildup that traps heat. This can cause connecting points or parts of the board to warp.

Liquid spill

Knocking over a drink on a laptop is surely one of the greatest human fears of the modern age. While other components can suffer damage from a liquid spill, the motherboard will be the first thing to go. Liquids can cause significant damage to the intricate connection points of the motherboard and cause eventual failure.

If you find yourself in this situation, the first thing you should do is to remove the laptop from its power source. Unprofessional treatment and cleaning like using a hair dryer to dry the laptop can cause further unwanted damage.

Natural wear and tear

Laptops can generally last pretty long, until any one component starts to fail. Long term use can affect the condition of the motherboard, but the actual failure of it is quite impossible to predict. Still, considering the lifespan of other components, long-term use can cause a motherboard to fail.

How to protect motherboard from damage

Keep ventilation outlets clear

Fans can only work properly with clear ventilation outlet for proper air flow. Using your laptop on top of cloth surfaces or with any blocked ventilation can escalate the heat buildup. Keeping the outlets clear and clean of any dust that can block airflow can promise proper laptop cooling.

Bust the dust

It’s safe to say that dust in any situation is not ideal. Dust that is collected inside your computer can trap heat. This trapped heat means extra work for the computer fan that it may not be able to handle.

Not to worry that much though, you don’t need to clean your computer too often. Cleaning your laptop or desktop computer once a year should be sufficient to prevent excessive dust buildup.

Make sure your cooling system is in shape

Having an efficient cooling system means that your computer can work properly at the right temperature. Having a laptop or desktop computer that is always running too hot might mean that your fan can’t keep up with the heat.

You can run diagnostics to check on the status of your cooling system. You can do this with built-in system diagnostics or pre-boot diagnostics. This can help you keep everything in tiptop shape.

How to test for motherboard failure

Unfortunately, the motherboard is one of the hardest components to test and repair. There’s no specific test to directly find motherboard failures. The only way is by eliminating other possible hardware issues. By doing a little sleuthing, you’ll be able to find out whether the motherboard is the culprit behind your hardware issues.

Before we begin

Depending on the status of your computer, there are a few steps you may be able to skip, or will still need to do. This includes whether or not your computer passes POST, and whether certain components are built into the motherboard or not.

Computer POST

POST (power-on self test) is a test that a computer performs to make sure everything is working fine before booting up. If the computer passes POST, then boot up will continue, where the logo splash screen will appear. The computer will not start up at all if it doesn’t pass POST.

After your computer passes POST, you’ll need to test your hard drive, RAM, and GPU. If not, you’ll only need to test your RAM and GPU.

Built-in components

Most laptops these days have built-in GPU, some also have built-in RAM chips. These are built-in onto the motherboard. If you are able to diagnose issues on the built-in components, it’s almost certain that the motherboard is also faulty.

Now we can begin testing for motherboard failure by eliminating other hardware issues.

Testing for hard drive issues

Considering that your computer passes POST, you’ll need to run tests on the hard drive. When you reach the splash screen during boot you can run diagnostics by pressing a specific key to your computer’s brand. That’s “Esc” for HP, “F12” for Dell, “Enter” for Lenovo, and “D” for Apple. Be sure to use the right key to your system.

Boot diagnostics will run tests on hardware components to find any problems. You’ll be able to find potential problems with your hard drive, along with other components too.

If your computer boots successfully to Windows, you may use chkdsk or dedicated hard drive analysis software. Apple Mac users may use Disk Utility First Aid or specific hard drive analysis software for Mac.

Chkdsk / First Aid

Both chkdsk and First Aid can attempt repairs or mark bad sectors to be skipped. Even if your hard drive isn’t the root of your current problem, these disk checking tools can be useful in preventing premature disk failures. So it may be a good idea to keep regular disk checking practices.

Dedicated hard drive analysis software

Software like SeaTools for Windows and WD Drive Utilities for Mac is used to perform quick or extended tests on hard drives. These free tools can diagnose and attempt repairs on issues found on the hard drive.

To use this test method, you’ll need to connect your hard drive to another desktop computer via a SATA to USB enclosure box. Then, the enclosure powers the hard drive from a separate power source to keep the drive isolated for thorough testing.

If you find that your hard drive is working fine, you may check it off the suspect list and move on to the next component. However, if you do find issues on your hard drive, we can also help you find the right repair solution. Read our guides on how to test and repair a hard drive for Dell, HP, or Apple laptops or desktops.

Testing for RAM issues

RAM comes in two forms on a computer. It can come in stick form that is connected to the motherboard, or as built-in chips on the motherboard. Depending on the model of your laptop or desktop computer, the RAM test method can vary.

For desktop computers both Windows and Apple (iMac and Mac Mini), RAM can be removed and tested for issues. Most Windows laptops have removable RAM as well. Most Apple laptops from 2012 and onward have their RAM chips built-in onto the motherboard. You can check whether your RAM is separate or built-in on the motherboard by looking up the specs of your device, or simply open your computer to take a look.

Testing RAM when your computer passes POST

Both separate and built-in RAM can be tested with boot diagnostics if your computer does pass POST. You may also run RAM test software like MemTest86 if your computer boots up successfully. Both methods can find possible issues with your computer memory.

You may move on to the next component test if you do not find any issues with your RAM. If you do find issues with your built-in RAM, then you can conclude that you have a motherboard failure. This is because the built-in RAM is part of the motherboard.

Testing RAM when your computer does not pass POST

If your computer does not POST at all, you’ll need to test for RAM issues with a spare stick of RAM. This involves checking to see whether the problem remains even with a different RAM stick put in. If your computer passes POST with this other RAM, then you’ve got a RAM failure. Otherwise, you might have a motherboard issue if the computer still doesn’t pass POST. Note that you can’t use this method for built-in RAM.

Testing for GPU issues

Most laptops and Apple desktop Macs have their video cards built into the motherboard these days. Windows desktop computers do have separate video cards.

If your video card is built-into the motherboard and your computer does not POST, there’s no way to test it. If it does POST and you do find issues with the built-in GPU, then there is a problem with the motherboard.

How to test for GPU issues

To test your video card, you can use boot diagnostics and analysis software like FurMark (Geeks 3D). This is for situations where your laptop or desktop does successfully boot.

The only way to test the video card if your computer does not post is when it is separate from the motherboard. You can do this by testing removing the GPU and testing it on a different desktop computer.

Two outcomes will conclude that you have a motherboard failure: All other components other than the motherboard have passed their diagnostic tests; or you diagnose issues with a component built into the motherboard. Now you can start thinking about a repair solution.

Replacing a faulty motherboard

Now that you’ve confirmed that your motherboard is faulty, you’ll need a replacement.

Buying a motherboard replacement

Motherboards are complex pieces of hardware, and different models of motherboards only fit specific computer models. Because of its form factor and configurations, you can’t necessarily “upgrade to a better motherboard”. Each motherboard essentially works the same as a circuit board for your system. So you may want to buy the exact same motherboard model as a replacement for the faulty one.

You can find the motherboard model number in the specs of your device, and look for that exact same model in-store or online. Branded ones like Apple, HP, Dell, and Lenovo have universal model part numbers that you can look for online. For brands that do not have specific part numbers like Acer and Asus, you’ll need to do a little close searching to find the right motherboard replacement.

Replacing your motherboard by yourself?

For the technologically-adept, replacing a motherboard by yourself can be the repair solution for you. However, a motherboard replacement is one of the most complicated computer repair jobs to do, and a DIY solution can be very tricky. This is true even for us, as experienced technicians.

Due to the intricate parts and connecting points of a motherboard, everything on the computer will have to be taken out and put back in for this repair. Such a challenging repair usually has a 70-80% success rate. So even if you are keen on DIY projects, you might still want to put this in the safe hands of professionals.

Still, for the ones confident in a DIY repair, you can find motherboard replacement guides online. Popular tech site ifixit offers repair guides for specific computer models, you’ll surely find the right guide for you there 👍

Professional repairs

Don’t want to do all this work? Leave it to the professionals. You might not have all the tools needed, or even the time to go through all the steps. That’s where a professional repair technician can help you. It’s still a good idea to have an understanding of the entire test and repair process though.

You can get specialised professional support and repair at an an authorised service centre for possibly no fee, if you are still under warranty or accident care cover. For this reason, you may want to check your warranty before you take your computer there. You might still be able to get support with an expired warranty for a fee. If not, a third-party repair service is your only option. Apple users with computers from 2012 and before will also need to seek advice third-party repair services, as Apple may not provide support solutions for them.

As an established computer repair service in Inner West Sydney, we at Safemode Computer Service can help you with your motherboard problems :) With 20,000 repairs under our belts, our experienced technicians understand how difficult motherboard repairs can be, and treat them with precision and care. Situated in the vibrant Inner West suburb of Enmore, surrounded by Marrickville and Newtown, we could be a closer option for you if live in Inner West Sydney. We can help you thoroughly test your laptop or desktop computer and offer the right repair advice and solution.

Got any questions for us? Call us to make an appointment or come by our Enmore store today.

5 steps that will help you repair an Apple hard drive

Considered one of the Big Four technology companies, Apple is a widely known tech developer and manufacturer. They are most known for their wide range of consumer electronics, software, and online services. These include Macs, iPods, and macOS, among many others.

For most Apple laptop and desktop computer users, a failing hard disk drive (HDD) is one of the most common and annoying issues to come across. It can cause the device’s performance to slow down, or even crashes that lead to data loss.