Menu
homeiOS

Check repair history by mac serial number. Beware, there may be surprises in a used MacBook

Apple produces a fairly wide range of laptop and desktop computers. These lines are updated every year. New devices replace the old ones, and along with this, the model names also change. Only a trained person can navigate them well without tips and additional information from the Internet. Before you find out your MacBook model, read the tips provided.

All kinds of ways

To begin with, we will describe the simplest and most accessible options for searching for information about a computer model:

  • original box, if you bought the device in an official store, and not from your own hands;

  • the back panel of the device, if the corresponding sticker is still there;

  • receipt kept after purchase;
  • About This Mac information menu;

  • Find out your MacBook model by serial number.

If everything is clear with the first options, then it’s worth dwelling on the last one in more detail.

Using the serial number

You can go to the menu with information about this PC. Copy it and paste it into the appropriate field on the Apple technical support page https://checkcoverage.apple.com/ru/ru/.

To continue, click the “Continue” button. On the next page all information about the computer will appear. This method is relevant for those who want to purchase a MacBook from their own hands.

Macbook range

It was first released in 2008. At the moment, the device’s model range includes several different assemblies, designed for different circles of consumers. Currently, there are 3 device options in Apple’s line of portable devices:

  • Macbook is the most basic and original option, which has been produced since 2008. Of course, technical equipment is improving every year. However, it was this variation that became the founder in its segment;
  • Macbook Pro – a version of a laptop with more powerful hardware and capabilities;
  • Macbook Air is a lightweight and compact version.

Let's talk about each option in more detail.

How to find out your Macbook Pro model?

At the moment, the company produces 4 options that differ in technical characteristics:

  1. 12 inches, 2-core processor and storage up to 512GB;
  2. 13 inches, 2-core processor, 8GB of RAM and 256GB SSD. These specifications apply to the most basic version;
  3. 13 inches, 2-core processor (overclocked), 8GB of RAM and 256GB SSD. The device is complemented by support for Touch Bar and Touch ID;
  4. a larger 15-inch version with a 4-core processor and 16GB of RAM, also available with Touch Bar and ID.

How to find out the Macbook Air model?

The lightweight laptop is available in a single modification, which includes the following components:

  • screen diagonal 13 inches;
  • 2 cores Core i5 or Core i7 to choose from;
  • 256GB or 512GB on internal storage.

How to find out your iMac model?

In addition to laptops, Apple produces a range of iMac desktop all-in-one PCs. The model range includes the following options:

  • 21.5 inches, 2-core or 4-core Core i5 processor, 1 or 2 TB storage;
  • Core i5 or Core i7 (other characteristics are the same);
  • 27 inches, overclocked Core i7 processor, storage up to 3TB.

Since the exact configuration is up to the buyer, the main difference between all iMacs is the Retina 4k and 5k displays.

The Cupertino company also produces computers:


In our VKontakte social network group, we received several reviews about the article and requests to write similar instructions on how check MacBook before buying from hand. Well, they asked, we answer :) Read more about how to properly check a MacBook before purchasing in this material.

You can check the macbook or macbook pro you are going to buy at our service centers:

How to check MacBook? Basic moments

When choosing to buy a non-new computer that was previously used by another owner, be prepared that you will have to spend some time and effort on the choice. By buying the first option you like, you run the risk of suffering with it in the future if the computer has any defects that seriously affect its operation. Therefore, to begin with, we will give some recommendations on how check MacBook during the first inspection and what you should pay special attention to.

External inspection and assessment of the condition of the hull.

Carefully inspect the MacBook case from all sides. Ideally, it should not have any consequences of a fall or mechanical fall (chips, dents, etc.). Take a particularly close look at the side edges of the topcase (the bottom of the laptop) and the metal around the perimeter of the display lid. According to statistics, during falls or impacts, these are the parts that suffer most often.

Turn the laptop over and inspect the bottom of the case. Make sure the bottom cover mounting screws are in place and the rubber feet are in place.

Checking MacBook by serial number.

On the official Apple website, you can use your computer's serial number check MacBook to check for a current warranty, as well as to identify the exact model of the device. Naturally, the model indicated on the website must fully correspond to the information on the box from the computer (if there is one) and the configuration data of the MacBook, which can be viewed inside the MacOS operating system after turning it on.

Turn on the computer and evaluate the loading speed of the operating system.

Turn on your computer and evaluate the loading speed of the operating system. For a MacBook with a hard drive, the average boot speed of a clean MacOS, depending on the system version, should be from 40 to 90 seconds; models equipped with an SSD should boot much faster (from 5-8 to 20-25 seconds).

If the loading time significantly exceeds these figures, it is worth considering. It is likely that problems with the installed drive may “resurface” in the future (especially true for laptops that were released before 2012 and are equipped with a hard drive rather than an SSD).

A detailed introduction to the MacBook configuration.

Once your computer is turned on, it's worth checking your MacBook in more detail by reviewing the computer information inside MacOS. To do this, you need to click on the Apple logo on the left side of the top panel and select "About This Mac." On the first screen of the system window you can see information about the central processor, the amount of RAM and the video chip. For models with integrated graphics and an additional video card, switching between them automatically depending on the load, the name of the chip currently in use will be displayed. By clicking on the "System Report" button, you can obtain more detailed information about the computer configuration and installed components.

Checking the battery and charging the device

By clicking on the battery icon on the right side of the top sidebar, you can see the current battery charge level, as well as get brief information from the built-in diagnostic system about its condition. The battery status indication of the MacOS diagnostic system can be as follows:

  • “Normal” - the battery is serviceable and works correctly.
  • “Replacement needed soon” - the battery is working correctly, but its capacity has decreased.
  • “Replacement required” - the battery capacity and, as a result, the battery life of the computer has decreased significantly and it may soon need to be replaced.
  • “Service required” - the battery is faulty or its capacity has reached a critically low value. In such cases, the battery needs to be replaced.

By looking again at the “System Report” in the “Power Options” section, you can get more detailed information about the state of the battery, including its current capacity. Naturally, if the battery condition is poor, you should think about the advisability of purchasing such a computer.

Connect the MagSafe or USB-C power adapter cable to ensure the laptop is properly charged. When you connect the MagSafe cable, it should light up either an orange light (if the battery is charging) or a green light (only when the battery is fully charged). If the battery level inside the system is not full and the MagSafe light is green, then either the power supply is not working properly or your MacBook may have problems with the battery or power circuit components.

Checking display functionality.

Take a close look at the image on the screen for the integrity of the matrix and the presence of dead pixels. There should be no display glare or black spots on the entire area. The best way to check your MacBook for dead pixels is by choosing a solid black color as your desktop screensaver.

Checking for missing passwords and iCloud account.

Go to "System Preferences" (the gray icon with gears) and select "iCloud". There should not be any accounts registered there. You can check the availability of the administrator password by going to the “Users and Groups” item in the same place in “System Settings”. By clicking Change Password and entering a blank password as the current one, you should not receive any messages stating that the current password is incorrect.

Checking the firmware password.

Setting a firmware password blocks the MacBook from booting from any internal or external drive except the one that was selected as boot at the time the password was set. Without knowing the firmware password, the user will not be able to reinstall the operating system or boot from an external drive if necessary.

To check if your MacBook has a firmware password, turn off the computer, and then turn it on by holding down the Alt key. If there is no firmware password, a screen with a choice of boot options should load in front of you. If a password is set, you will see a corresponding screen and a password entry field.

If you want to buy a MacBook with a firmware password installed, and the seller cannot provide it to you, we strongly do not recommend purchasing such a computer. Removing the firmware password is a long and laborious procedure. However, in most cases this can only be done through official Apple services, having previously proven that the laptop belongs to you.

Checking the functionality of wireless interfaces and external ports.

When the computer is running and the operating system is loaded, check the operation of Wi-Fi and Bluetooth by respectively trying to connect to any wireless network and create a connection between the third-party device and the MacBook through a Bluetooth connection.

Check the functionality of all external USB ports, Thunderbolt, audio output/input, memory card slot and optical drive operation (for models equipped with these interfaces).

Testing the video chip and processor under load.

Some MacBook models have a weak point in the form of a possible failure of the video chip, or incorrect switching between the built-in graphics and an additional video card. Therefore, when purchasing a second-hand computer, we recommend checking the MacBook to see how it processes and renders graphics.

Of the publicly available tools that do not involve running graphics tests, for example, playing videos from YouTube in HD or FullHD resolution is perfect. Launch the video, after 5-7 minutes of playback, minimize/maximize the browser window with the running video several times, move the window in different directions. If artifacts appear on the screen, stripes or the picture crumbles into squares, it may well be that this MacBook has or in the very near future may have problems with the video chip.

If during these steps the computer unexpectedly reboots or freezes, we recommend that you abandon the dubious purchase and spend time looking for another option.

Checking the operation of the trackpad and keyboard.

Check that all keys on the keyboard can be pressed clearly, without sticking or delay. Launch any application that allows text input and check that all keyboard keys work correctly. If while typing you notice that the keys have different strokes, or you hear a crunching or crackling sound when you press the keys, it may well be that liquid was previously spilled on the keyboard. In this case, even if all the keys work, in the future you may end up having to replace the keyboard.

The most convenient way to check the operation of the trackpad is to launch the browser and open a website and scroll through it a little, using various gestures (you can learn more about them by going to “System Settings” - “Trackpad”). The touch surface should be activated over the entire area of ​​the trackpad, and clicks should be processed clearly and without delay. When you press the trackpad there should also be no extraneous crackling or crunching sounds.

Checking other functionality.

To completely check your MacBook before purchasing, after completing all the above steps, we recommend that you pay attention to the operation of the built-in speakers (the sound should be loud and clear, without extraneous noise or crackling), the microphone (the recording should also not crackle or groan) and the camera. In principle, all this can be combined by launching the PhotoBooth application built into MacOS and recording some video, then watching and listening to it :)

Check your MacBook at a service center!

If you want to buy a computer second hand and want to be confident that you are making the right choice, as well as Fully test your MacBook before purchasing, please contact our service center.

In addition to all the checks described in the article above, the technicians will conduct extensive testing of the video chip, assess the condition of the internal drive, check whether this MacBook has been previously repaired, and also conduct an internal inspection to assess the general condition and identify possible damage to the electronic components of the motherboard after moisture.

Your computer will be inspected and diagnosed by specialists who have more than 11 years of experience in servicing and repairing Apple computers. And the availability of professional equipment and special software will make the check as accurate and fast as possible.

Do you want to buy a MacBook second-hand, but are you afraid of running into scammers, or do you just want to check everything thoroughly and be completely confident in your purchase? Come visit - we will be happy to help you make the right choice!

Please ask your questions and leave comments under this article. We will be glad to receive your comments!


Tags: ,

It can be difficult to remember which model of MacBook you have, given that Apple doesn't clearly name them. Maybe your car is from mid-2010 or early 2011? What type of processor is installed? Is it possible to upgrade the RAM?


Luckily, it's very easy to view the basic specs of your Mac in OS X, and here's how to do it.

Processor, memory and operating system.

To find the main characteristics of your Mac, click on the Apple icon in the upper left corner of the screen. From the drop-down menu, select About This Mac to open the System Information window.



The System Information window will show you an overview of your system, including the version of OS X you're running, model, processor, installed memory (RAM), graphics card, and serial number.



For more information about memory, go to the "Memory" tab. Here you'll see how many memory slots your system has, how many are in use, and how much RAM is installed in each slot.

Video card.

To find your graphics card, simply look at the system overview in the System Information window, it will list your graphics card type under the Graphics heading. If you want to learn more about your graphics card, click on "System Report..." in the lower left corner of the System Information overview screen. A new window will open with an overview of the hardware installed on the computer.



In the new window, under "Hardware", click on "Graphics/Monitors". Here you'll be able to see more detailed information about your graphics card, including how much dedicated memory (VRAM) it has. You will also be able to see information about your monitor, such as type, resolution and pixel depth.

Storage devices.

To find out what type of storage devices are installed, go to the Storage tab in the System Information window. On the left side of the screen you will see a visual representation of your drives, and on the right side of the screen information about each of them.

For HDDs and SSDs, you'll see a colored bar that shows storage usage by file type (music, movies, apps, photos, etc.). The numbers above this line will indicate how much free space is available to you on this disk.

When a user wants to upgrade his MacBook or send it in for repairs, it is important to find out the exact model of the laptop. And also the year of its release. A combination of model and year of manufacture allows you to understand which parts to order for replacement and how much they will cost.

Apple produces the same MacBook models over the years, but parts are regularly modified for them and new ones are produced. That’s why it’s important to have an idea of ​​how to find out the MacBook model before you start upgrading and ordering components.

How to identify a model by serial number

The serial number on Mac OS is displayed in the “about this Mac” section, which can be found on the tab with the Apple logo in the upper corner of the screen. It is also written on the box your computer was in when you purchased it. Recorded on the accompanying receipt. Yes, and it is on the body of the laptop itself. Finding the serial number is not a problem. You can find out the model and year of manufacture by following a number of simple steps:

  • Find the serial number.
  • Go to the Apple website.
  • Go to the "check your service eligibility" page.
  • Enter the serial number in the field in the window that appears on the page.
  • Enter the captcha on the same page to confirm that you are not a robot.

After this, information about your MacBook will appear on the screen: year of manufacture, exact model, even screen diagonal.

You can get the same information through the website if you check your MacBook by serial number in the “technical specifications” section. To make the search field appear, you will need to click on view technical specifications for products. And instead of the model, you enter the serial number of your MacBook in the text line that appears.

Defining a model by other parameters

If for some reason you can’t check your MacBook by serial number, you can use another method: check it by configuration, model number or model identifier.

You can get an ID through the system. In the Apple menu, you need to find the “About This Mac” item, where you will find the “Hardware Properties” tab. This is where the information about the model ID of this MacBook is located. The ID number is compared with similar ones in the table on the Apple website.

The configuration is written on the MacBook box. It contains information about the basic amount of RAM, hard drive capacity, screen diagonal, processor model and frequency. If there is an optical drive, it will be listed in the configuration information on the box. Once you know this data, you can easily find the corresponding model in the plate on the website.

Fair, not overpriced and not underestimated. There should be prices on the Service website. Necessarily! without asterisks, clear and detailed, where technically possible - as accurate and concise as possible.

If spare parts are available, up to 85% of complex repairs can be completed in 1-2 days. Modular repairs require much less time. The website shows the approximate duration of any repair.

Warranty and responsibility

A guarantee must be given for any repairs. Everything is described on the website and in the documents. The guarantee is self-confidence and respect for you. A 3-6 month warranty is good and sufficient. It is needed to check quality and hidden defects that cannot be detected immediately. You see honest and realistic terms (not 3 years), you can be sure that they will help you.

Half the success in Apple repair is the quality and reliability of spare parts, so a good service works directly with suppliers, there are always several reliable channels and your own warehouse with proven spare parts for current models, so you don’t have to waste extra time.

Free diagnostics

This is very important and has already become a rule of good manners for the service center. Diagnostics is the most difficult and important part of the repair, but you don't have to pay a penny for it, even if you don't repair the device based on its results.

Service repairs and delivery

A good service values ​​your time, so it offers free delivery. And for the same reason, repairs are carried out only in the workshop of a service center: they can be done correctly and according to technology only in a prepared place.

Convenient schedule

If the Service works for you, and not for itself, then it is always open! absolutely. The schedule should be convenient to fit in before and after work. Good service works on weekends and holidays. We are waiting for you and working on your devices every day: 9:00 - 21:00

The reputation of professionals consists of several points

Company age and experience

Reliable and experienced service has been known for a long time.
If a company has been on the market for many years and has managed to establish itself as an expert, people turn to it, write about it, and recommend it. We know what we are talking about, since 98% of incoming devices in the service center are restored.
Other service centers trust us and refer complex cases to us.

How many masters in areas

If there are always several engineers waiting for you for each type of equipment, you can be sure:
1. there will be no queue (or it will be minimal) - your device will be taken care of right away.
2. you give your Macbook for repair to an expert in the field of Mac repairs. He knows all the secrets of these devices

Technical literacy

If you ask a question, a specialist should answer it as accurately as possible.
So that you can imagine what exactly you need.
They will try to solve the problem. In most cases, from the description you can understand what happened and how to fix the problem.