MacBooks are becoming increasingly cost- prohibitive with each new releases. The market for pre-owned MacBooks is booming with a lot of takers now a days. But you need to be careful. There are a lot of bad lemons out there. This article can serve as a reference for all things to check before buying a second-hand MacBook.
Apple MacBook Pro 13inch Laptop
By the way, If you’re still confused if it is worth buying a used or second- hand MacBook ( and other aspects of shopping in the pre-owned section)
Note: In India there are broadly 3 avenues for buying used MacBooks:
From individual sellers via Olx, Quikr, FaceBook, eBay, etc. Slightly cheaper, no warranty, higher risk
from multi-brand second-hand dealers: More reliable than the above, but be sure to verify the trustworthiness of the outfit.
From Apple-exclusive vendors: Like Gadgets Phix. slightly higher price, products backed by warranty, lower risk.
This guide os especially useful if you’re going with the first option – buying from individual sellers. Even otherwise, the below information is useful for any buyer
1. Identify the model, check the specs and configuration online
Before setting up a meeting with the seller, be sure to know what you’re buying. Ask for the serial number or model number of the MacBook. Use every Mac to lookup specs and model configuration. If you get the serial number, check it’s authenticity and warranty coverage with Apple.
2. Match the serial number from different sources
When you meet the seller. First things first, verify the serial number. Note the serial number from all possible sources and ensure they’re the same. This’ll rule out any fishy business.
Turn on the MacBook -> About this Mac -> Note serial number
Serial number mentioned on the bottom lid of the MacBook
Serial number mentioned on he box
Serial number mentioned on the original purchase invoice ( Make sure to ask for it ).
If any of the above has a mismatch, check with the seller why. Refer this article for detailed steps to find serial number etc.
3. Visually inspect the device for any cosmetic damages.
Examine the MacBook carefully from all sides. Look for any scratches, dents on the body. Ensure all rubber feet and all bottom lid screws are intact. Check the screen- the rubber gasket shouldn’t be worn out. If it’s a 2012 – 15 MacBook Pro, look for stains on the screen. Check the display panel hinges- they shouldn’t be too loose; the lid shouldn’t casually fall off on its own. While none of these are critical issues, they can be good bargaining chips in price negotiation.
4. Check the age of the MacBook
It’s difficult to figure out the actual purchase date of the particular MacBook. But you can easily find the launch date / year of the model. From that, you can make a reasonable assumption as to how old the MacBook really is. The older a MacBook is, the harder you can negotiate on price. However, consider the flip side too: Older models -> More miles on it -> More wear & tear -> Shorter life expectancy.
There are a couple of ways to check the model launch year:
In the ” About this Mac ” box, in the 1st row you can see the MacBook identifier. This usually includes he model launch year. Like “MacBook Pro ( Retina, 13-inch, Early 2015 ) in image above.
Sometimes, the year missing from ” About this Mac “. In that case, copy the serial number from there and use Apple Check Coverage.
5. Remove iCloud account from the MacBook
It is imperative that there is no iCloud lock on the MacBook. To sign out of iCloud account on the MacBook, Ask the seller to do the following steps: Click on the Apple icon ( ) in the menu bar -> System Preferences -> Click ” Apple ID ” -> Click overview in the sidebar -> Click Sign Out. Signing out of the iCloud turns off all iCloud features on the Mac. Including the activation lock that is enabled by Find My app on the MacBook. This is most critical.
6. Ensure there is no firmware lock
It’s easy to miss or forget about the firmware lock. But it can become a real headache for you later. if a MacBook has a firmware lock, It doesn’t allow you to change / upgrade the SSD or Boot from an external disk. Shutdown the Mac and restart it – just as it powers on ( you’ll hear the startup chime ), press and hold the option ( ⌥ ) Key. if you’re prompted for a firmware password, there’s the lock! Ask the owner to turn it off and repeat the above check.
7. Look out for model – specific known design flaws
As awesome as they are, a lot of MacBook models tend to have some or the other flaw. It may be a design defect or build quality related issue or something else.
For e.g. MacBook Pro 2016 – 17 models were notorious for keyboard issue due to the notorious butterfly keyboard design. Now, this doesn’t mean that all MacBook Pro devices of the 2016-17 model would have the key issue – in fact a very small percentage of them do. But as a buyer, you better be informed above the know defects of the model you’re buying, And if possible, test the device specially for that defect.
8. Check the charging adapter
Ensure that the chargers are working. MacBook chargers, especially the older ” MagSafe 2 ” adapters are quite vulnerable to wear and tear.Check the cable ( Connecting the adapter brick to the MacBook charging port ) – the outer rubber tends to tear off. Which is not deal breaker really, but still a bargaining chip. Check the pins on the end of the cable – 5 pins, they should be golden, not black. If they’re turned black, It’s a red flag.
9. Run Apple Diagnostics
This should be your last step, as it may be a little time consuming. While it may NOT detect a lot of functionality – level issues, It’s still a good tool to detect any logic- board or memory level issues.
To start Apple Diagnostics ( Earlier known as Apple Hardware Test ) :
Disconnect all external devices and turn off the Mac
power it back on and hold the D key once you hear the startup chime
Select the language you need and press the arrow button to run the test
10. Test all hardware functions
Finally, get down to the nuts and bolts of it. Test the speakers, bluetooth, wifi, keyboard, trackpad, camera. Check the battery, check all ports, etc. Now, we could list out how- to’s for each test here. instead we’ve just created a comprehensive guide to perform a hardware test on a MacBook. It helps you test each functionality step by step, and finally generates a neat little report for the MacBook that You’re testing. It’s free. You can thank us later !.
Are you here because your Apple logo stuck in iMac while booting up? This is one of the most common issues with iMac. Whatever the reason when the operating system of the computer can’t communicate to the hard drive and graphics card, iMac stuck in the Apple logo. Besides the Apple logo on screen sometimes there is only a white blank screen. We can find this kind of issue only in the iMac but also other Apple devices like MacBook, MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, Mac Mini, Mac Pro and iPhone too.
Why Apple Logo Stuck In iMac ?
Recent Software Update?
Apple continuously sends you a notification on the iMac screen whenever they have an update for it. It’s so was annoying for receiving the same notification all-day so we respond it by one of these options “Try in an hour”, “Try Tonight”, “Remind me tomorrow” or “Turn on automatic software update”. Whenever apple computer starts Updating many thing there, like the health of the hard drive, storage available, Ram quality and power. for any of those reasons of software updates interrupts in the middle the iMac may boot with forever white screen, or Apple logo. Always have a backup before updating iMac. We can fix this issue by reinstalling the operating system through recovery mood.
Bad Graphic Card?
The main job to display any graphics contains after the loading screen on iMac handles by the graphic card. When the graphic card goes bad computer has nothing to display after boot up so it’s stuck there. Some other symptoms of the bad graphics card on iMac can belong booting time, Verticals lines on the screen, Random shut down, iMac struggle to load heavy image or videos. If your iMac has a bad graphics card we can either repair or replace, Call or visit us to talk with our technician GADGETS PHIX (M) +91-9319262601
Bad Hard Drive?
Since hard drive stores all of your data and operating system’s data, there is no surprise when a hard drive goes bad the iMac act usually. Bad sectors in the hard drive make your iMac slow down, everything in the iMac load slow like Slow booting, Slow loading, Can’t download the things of internet, blasting fan, Heating issue and stuck on apple logo also risking all of your data there. We can either replace the hard drive or put the new SSD on it. SSD is the new kinds of storage unit faster and reliable than a hard disk drive. We here in GADGETS PHIX provides the same day hard drive replacement service for all iMac’s models.
The Apple Watch is an impressive piece of technology, equipped with the latest and most top-of-the-line feature and incredible array of uses that will be of immense help in your every day life. However, it is commonly observed that sometimes users faces minor issues or glitches, for which they end up rushing to the service centre or calling for doorstep apple watch repair. But these issues are often easy to troubleshoot with minor setting changes and tweaks. Here are some of the most common issues and their easy fixes for your Apple Watch.
1. “No iPhone Connection” Error Message
It can be incredibly frustrating when you keep seeing the “No iPhone Connect” error message. But do not worry, because this is usually a very simple pairing issue and one of the most common problems that smartwatch users face. On your iPhone control centre check if the WiFi and Bluetooth are both turned on for establishing communication with the Apple Watch. If not, Turn them on, and check if your Watch is in pairing Mode. When both of these are done, you will be able to pair and connect your devices.
2. “Sleepy” Apple Watch
Your Apple Watch is supposed to wake up, as the screen should turn on when you raise your wrist. However, if that feature is not working, you really do not need to rush for an Apple Watch scree replacement right now, as it is not a sign of major screen damage! All you have to do is simply check your settings to turn the ‘Wake Screen on Wrist Raise’ feature on. You have to enable this feature one time, in the beginning, to enjoy it. Once you do that, your Watch should wake up smoothly.
3. Unable To Sync Contacts
Contacts on your iPhone and Apple Watch should ideally sync seamlessly, but like all technology, sometimes it does not work as expected. it can be highly frustrating, But nothing to call for doorstep Apple Watch repair services over. Go to the Watch app on your iPhone and on it’s settings, click on the Reset Sync Data option. This will delete all the contacts as well as your calendar data and sync it all over again .
4. Apps Loading Slow
A Common problem that many Apply users have complained of, is that apps often forever to load on their Apple smartwatches. The most common cause of this problem lies in clutter. Clear away all the unnecessary storage hogging apps, and your watch would become immediately much faster. While at it, check for your iOS software upgrades and ensures that your watch is updated with the latest version. Apple collects reports from their users and designs new versions of the software to eliminate the common bugs, and that should improve your app situation as well.
5. Apps Freezing Or Crashing
Applications on your Watch crashing unexpectedly at launch or freezing is the middle of using them can be quite annoying. But this is a common problem, usually caused by apps version incompatibility or RAM issues. Clean up your bulky apps, and those you don’t commonly use to free up space, and hen update the apps that keep causing issues. This should make the apps run smoothly. If that does not still fix the problem, uninstall the app and reinstall it from the iOs app store for a fresh start.
6. Unable To Charge The Watch
Another common issue dealt with by Apple Watch Charger repair Service companies is that of iWatches that are not charging. The easiest fix is to clean the backside, checking the conditions of the charger. Trying a different charger will help you get more clarity as to whether the issue is software ora hardware one.
To sum up:
Like all other smart devices, the Apple Watch contributes to making human life easier. With its multiple benefits, the Watch is clearly a smartbuy. While it is prone to some common errors, experts at leading Apple Watch Repair Service companies suggest these easy fixes shared in this article.
Apple added this feature to MacBook pros. The feature presents a touch bar provides users with multi-touch controls. Even though apple fans were excited about this feature at first, yet when they finally go tit use it they faced issues with it. Most problems related to it being unresponsive. If you are too facing this problem and want easy repair solutions stay tight because this blog post is going break down ways of what you should do when your touch bar is not responding or working properly.
Force Quit Troubling Apps
The touch bar frequently changes depending on what application you are using and what actions do they require from your MacBook. Because of that, sometimes, the touch bar becomes unresponsive or stop working. It either shows errored buttons or a button that is useless.
To rid yourself of this issue, you’d need to force shut the problematic application. Here is now:
Click the apple menu on the top right corner of your Mac screen.
Click on the “Force Quit” option and then shut down the app.
Double force quit the app to make sure it’s shut down, and if this app was, in fact, causing the problem, then by doing those steps your problem will be solved.
Refresh Touch Bar | Option 1
If it was not an application problem, then you might want to try refreshing the touch bar, you are basically cleaning the touch bar’s individual memory and resources. This helps in restarting the touch bar by distributing new resources. This helps in restarting the touch bar by disturbing new resources. and as a result, the problem will be solved. Here is how you can refresh the touch bar:
Launch terminal app- The terminal app is found in the utilities section in application. If you can’t find it, look it up using spotlight search.
Then, type in this command : pkill “Touch Bar agent”
Now refresh the touch bar by clicking the return key. This will possibly fix touch bar’s volume application.
Refresh the touch Bar | option 2
Another way you could refresh the Touch Bar is from the activity monitor. You could use this if you are having difficulty following the previous option, specially if you touch bar backlight is not working. Here is how:
open the activity monitor from the utilities section in applications
Look up the ” Touch Bar Agent ” process. This process manages your touch bar, so once you remove the process, then your problem will get fixed.
Refresh the Control Strip on the Touch Bar
Another way to fix the touch bar issue is to refresh the control strip. It placed on the right side of the bar. Here is how you can refresh it:
Launch the terminal app.
Type the following command: Kill all Control Strip.
Then finally click the return key to start the control strip again.
Sometimes when facing these issues, user tend to lose their data in the process. Due to deleting something by mistake, operating apps or accidentals in the format process, etc to recover data when this happens, we recommend you use a Mac data recovery software.
Problem still not fixed ?
Then we are more than happy to help. Come to GADGETS PHIX online and get your MacBook checked at our GADGETS PHIX SERVICE CENTRE in SHAHDARA.
If you have tried the DIY options above but did not have luck in finding a solution the most probably the hardware itself might be the cause of the problem. But not to worry, we specialise in fixing this type of issue, be it MacBook Motherboard repair, Mac repair logic board repair or any other Mac repair services. A MacBook specialist will be there to provide you with the Mac service you need.
Contact GADGETS PHIX online on +91-9319262601 for any MacBook, iPhone, iPad, iWatch, iPhone 14 repairs today.
QUICK STOPPING MOBILE BROKEN SCREEN FROM WORSENING
If your iPhone’s screen has become broken during a period where you can’t immediately bring it in to a phone repair specialist for assistance. You might be tempted to panic. However there’s really no need – there are very some simple approaches you can take to ensuring any broken screen issues don’t get worse while you wait for the opportunity to receive professional assistance.
At GADGETS PHIX, we’re happy to offer the best iPhone repair services in Shahdara Delhi, serving clients for numerous issues, including broken screens.what if your screen damage take place at night while we’re closed, or at another time when you can’t make it into one of our locations immediately? Here’s how to manage the problem and ensure it doesn’t worsen while you wait for a chance to come see us.
1: TAKE THE INITIATIVE
Why is it important to take immediate action when a screen is broken? After all, smartphones are designed in such a way that dust, moisture, and debris are stored way from the machine. if the screen cracks, the protection is compromised and your phone is exposed to moisture and dust.
2: APPLY A TEMPORARY PROTECTOR
If you have broken the screen of your phone you can also apply a glass protector on it prevent it from getting broken further. This will serve as a shield and there won’t be any damage on it further.
3: USE A TAPE
You can use a thin layer of tape to attach your cracked display or rear glass panel if you own iPhones and Nexus phones. It will not fix the glass permanently, But it can hold it together and prevent cuts until until you can repair or replace it.
If your phone cracked or broken, It is best to visit a specialist or Gadgets Phix. Take your phone to a service center or SMARTPHONE REPAIR specialist to adjust the screen. It is important to take permanent action to repair the screen to prevent dust and debris from entering the phone. Also, this will help you to shop the screen from cracking more problems.
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