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Archive for September, 2009
How to Format a Hard Drive in OSX Leopard
September 30th, 2009
Today we’ve got a short video for you showing you how to format a hard drive from within Disk Utility in OSX Leopard.
Summary:
First, navigate to Disk Utility in your Applications -> Utilities Folder. Then click on the drive you’d like to format, and click on the erase tab.
Format Options:
You’ll likely want to choose OSX Extended Journaled here. Journaling is where OSX keeps a record (or journal) of all your actions. In the event of a crash, the OS can use this in helping to recover your system.
Name
Choose whatever name you’d like for your new disk. This can be changed at any time.
Security Options:
Don’t Erase Date – This is an insecure method to erase your data. With this option, bits of your data will remain on your hard disk and could be recovered by a Data Recovery program.
Zero Out Data – This option is slightly more secure and will write 0s over all the data on your disk.
7 Pass Erase - This option will write over your data 7 times and is considered extremely secure. If you will be selling your computer, this is the option you would likely want to choose to protect your personal information.
35 Pass Erase – This option is even more secure, possibly just overkill as a 7 pass is considered secure by today’s standards.
Next click Erase, then Erase again. Your new drive is formatted and ready for use.
Over 1TB of Internal Storage for your Macbook or Powerbook
September 29th, 2009
Today we released a completely upgraded line of DualDrives that can more than double your internal Mac laptop storage capacity.
The DualDrive adds a second internal hard drive to your Mac laptop by replacing your optical drive (your cd or dvd drive) With the DualDrive, it’s possible to get up to 1.5 Terabytes of storage in some Mac laptop models.
The video below is a demo showing the simple installation for the DualDrive.
Product Options
DualDrive – Add a Second Hard Drive to your Mac Laptop
No Drive Installed ($59.95)
320GB 5400RPM ($139.90)
500GB 5400RPM ($179.90)
500GB 7200RPM ($209.90)
750GB 5400RPM ($259.90)
DualDrive for Macbook Unibody – Add a Second Hard Drive to Your Mac Laptop
No Drive Installed ($59.95)
320GB 5400RPM ($139.90)
500GB 5400RPM ($179.90)
500GB 7200RPM ($209.90)
Maximum Amount of Storage By Model
- DualDrive for All models except the Unibody Macbooks. Maximum size 750GB.
- Dual Drive for Unibody Macbook Models. Maximum size 500GB.
How to Recover a Stuck CD or DVD in your Mac
September 28th, 2009
Recover that Stuck CD in your Mac
It has happened to all of us at one time or another. We’ve put a cd in our Mac only to have it not properly mount, and then refuse to eject. So what do you do then?
The video below shows you some tricks you can try, and if all those methods fail, it shows you how to open up your cd drive and remove the stuck cd by force.
Summary and Photos:
The Duh Methods1.) Go to file menu and choose the eject cd option. (You can also use the keyboard shortcut Command-E)
2.) Drag the disc to the Eject icon on the dock.
The non Common Sense Methods
3.) Open disk Utility (In the Utilities folder in the Applications folder.) Click on the drive, and then click Eject CD in the application window.
4.) Open up Terminal (Again, you’ll find this in the Utilities folder in the Applications folder) and type “drutil tray eject”
5.) On a Macbook, Macbook Pro, Powerbook, or iBook, hold down the trackpad clicker while the machine boots up. This will force an eject.
6.) Hold down the option key while the machine is starting up. This will put you in the disk selection window. At this stage, you can hit the eject button on your keyboard to eject the cd.
If none of these methods work, your drive is likely defective and needs to be replaced. You still can recover your cd, however you’ll have to open your machine and remove the drive to do it. You can use our other mac repair videos to determine how to remove the drive from your machine. Then you can use our video and the pictures below to disassemble the drive and recover your CD.
Once the drive is removed, there are four philips head screws holding the top plate of the drive onto the bottom assembly. Remove these 4 screws.
Flip the top plate up and off of the superdrive or combo drive.
Another view of flipping the top plate off of the drive.
Use your fingers to lift up on the edge of the cd so it comes up and out of the drive. To reassemble, put the top plate back on the drive and replace the 4 philips head screws.
How to Replace the Unibody Macbook Glass LCD
September 25th, 2009
How to Repair Unibody Macbook Glass
It used to be that if your screen cracked on your laptop, you’d just replace the LCD and be done with it. That unfortunately is no longer the case. With the introduction of the Unibody Macbook and Macbook pro models, Apple changed the design of the display assembly. Now, there is a glass panel assembly that is placed on top of the LCD panel. The good news is that it is possible to crack just the glass panel and save yourself some money. The bad news is that it is also possible to crack both the glass panel and the LCD.
 13” Macbook Glass - $59.95 |
 13” Macbook Pro Glass - $59.95 |
15” Macbook Pro Glass - $69.95 |
If you take your Macbook to most repair companies with a cracked display, they’ll undoubtedly say you need to replace the entire display assembly and charge you some astronomical figure. It really isn’t an extremely difficult procedure to do yourself however, and so we’ve created the guide below to show you just how to do it.
The guide below is for the 13 Inch Macbook and Macbook Pro Unibody models. The 15 Inch procedure is similar, but not identical. We’ll have that guide available shortly.
If you’re not up for the repair, our Mac Service Center can do the job for you for $154.95 for a 15″ Macbook Pro, $154.95 for a 13″ Macbook or Macbook Pro, or $164.95 for a 17″ Macbook Pro.
The Procedure: (Video Format)
The Procedure: (Text and Photo Format)
Click on any photo to go to a higher detail photo.
To begin, use a heat gun to loosen the double sided adhesive strip that holds the glass in place. Use caution, and heat the glass in short segments as over heating can cause damage to your LCD.With the glass heated, place a strong suction cup on the glass and pull up and away from the glass.
If heated properly, you’ll be able to see a small gap between the glass and the and the rest of the display. Insert a thin piece of plastic such as a credit card or movie rental card into the opening. Work the piece of plastic in enough where it can be slid along the seem of the glass. This will break the adhesive strip holding the glass in place.Repeat this procedure along the entire edge of the glass assembly. When you meet resistance, heat the area and repeat.
Once you have used a hair dryer or heat gun to warm the adhesive strip, use a strong suction cup to begin to separate the glass from the display assembly.
Caution: When pulling up on the suction cup, you should have to exert some force. However, do not apply excessive force as this could crack your glass or LCD. When you meet resistance, heat the area and repeat. At a certain point the glass will easily come free from the rest of the display assembly. Set the glass to the side on a clean, dust free, surface.
Next, remove 4 philips head screws ( 2 on either side ) holding the LCD to the display frame. Then remove the 2 philips head screws at the bottom of the display.
Next remove the clutch cover by sliding it to the side and applying a gentle upward pressure.
Flip the display assembly forward, and the LCD will come free from the backing.
Gently work the LVDS cable out of the opening in the bottom of the display frame to remove the LCD from the display assembly.
All of the pieces of the Macbook Unibody Display Assembly
To reassemble, place the LCD back in the frame, and insert the LVDS cable backwards through the opening in the bottom the display frame. Then pull the cable through the opening. You can use a plastic pry tool to assist you in routing the cable. Be very careful with this cable as it can be easily damaged.
Line the bottom of the LCD up with the bottom frame, and slide it into the groove in the bottom frame. Then make sure the 6 screw holes are properly aligned. Replace the 6 philip head screws.
Before putting the glass back on, use a cloth to glean any dust or fingerprints from the LCD and glass panel.
So where do you get the glass and LCD?
Macbook 13 Inch Unibody
Macbook Pro 13 Inch Unibody
Macbook Pro 15 Inch Unibody
Mac Pro & iMac Hard Drives up to 2TB @ $215.95
September 24th, 2009
We just added a slew of Mac Pro and Intel iMac hard drives to the site. The drives are all Hitachi brand and come with a 3 year warranty. Here’s the rundown:
2.0TB Mac Pro & iMac Hard Drive – $215.95
1.0TB Mac Pro & iMac Hard Drive – $87.95
500GB Mac Pro & iMac Hard Drive – $57.95
320GB Mac Pro & iMac Hard Drive – $52.95
250GB Mac Pro & iMac Hard Drive – $49.95
160GB Mac Pro & iMac Hard Drive – $47.95
Now available: 750GB Internal Hard Drive for Macbook Pro Unibody
September 16th, 2009
Today we began carrying 750GB Internal hard drives for the Macbook Pro Unibody models. (The drives also work with the 17″ Macbook Pro with silver keys.) This drive will not work with other models as it has a taller form factor.
Specifications: SATA 3 Gb/s, 8 MB Cache, 5200 RPM
Price: $199.95
Product Link: 750GB Macbook Pro Unibody Hard Drive
New Mac Repair Video Site
September 15th, 2009
Today we unveiled a whole new interface for our repair videos and take apart guides. Our main goal with this overhaul was to provide an overall better user experience when using our free mac repair guides.
Click Here to Go to the New Mac Repair Guide Interface
The first place we started was with navigation. We wanted to be able for our customers to be able to access all of our videos and guides with as few clicks as possible. What we did was to completely scrap our old drop down selection system in favor of a device type category navigation. Now, all you have to do is click on your device type, click on the model type, and click on the video you would like to view.
Below is a screenshot of the new interface.
Our next goal was to make the actual video interface more interactive and more intuitive. Before, we were using the standard YouTube Player to distribute our video guides. Now, we’ve written our own distribution system.
In the main real estate on the video guide page, you’ll have the video you’ve selected. On the right hand side you’ll see all the other videos which make up the manual you are watching.When a video ends, it will automatically begin playback of the next video and show you what video is currently playing.
Below the player you’ll find a user star rating system that you can use to rate the particular video you are watching, and below that you’ll find a comments section that will allow you to comment or ask questions on the video you are watching.
Some guides have both videos and pdf manuals, and you’ll be able to access the PDF manual from this same interface.
Below you’ll see a screenshot of the new video interface page.
We’ve got a lot more planned for this new manual distribution interface. If you’ve got any comments on the interface or suggestions on ways to improve it, we’d love to hear your input.
16GB Nano Giveaway Winner Announced
September 11th, 2009
And the winner is …. random # 105 … which is …
Twitter follower @heygip
Many more great giveaways are coming in the weeks ahead, so stay tuned. Thanks to all who participated.
Nano 5th Generation Teardown Video Release
September 10th, 2009
Here it is, the new iPod Nano 5th Generation Teardown Take Apart Video!
If you missed the live blog take apart, you can see that at the link below:
Live Teardown of the New Nano with Camera
September 10th, 2009
Today we’ll be doing a live blog of the Teardown of the new 16GB Nano with camera.
We should get underway between 10:45 A.M and 11:15 AM CST.
You can tune in to the live blog at this page or at this link.
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