Beetsblog

The best professional repair resources to give you the competitive edge

High Sierra and Testing RAM 2

With macOS 10.13, otherwise known as High Sierra, Apple introduced an ambitious EFI update. Several of the changes include: the introduction of the Apple File System, support for NVMe drives, and the usual batch of security updates. However, these EFI updates can cause some unwanted behavior when you test your Apple computer’s memory. At Beetstech, we use a long-time industry standard, MemTest86 to perform a comprehensive test of each computer’s RAM.

But never the type to blindly accept test results, strange testing outcomes led us to discover a bug in MemTest86 affecting computers running the new EFI firmware. In short, the newly updated EFI causes MemTest86 to incorrectly fail certain tests. But there is good news: while normal operation of MemTest86 is limited under these new EFI updates, we also discovered some simple workarounds for testing your Apple’s memory in MemTest86.

So let’s dive into how we discovered the MemTest bug, devised a reliable work-around, and get into some nitty gritty details of MemTest86 operation.

Decode The Meaning Behind Your Apple Serial Number 43

The serial numbers of Apple products contain a codified language that can give you information about your Apple device that can’t be found through any other means—everything from the location where it was manufactured, the date it was manufactured, and much more. This information can be valuable for troubleshooting issues with your device or just for curiosity’s sake. So let’s get to breaking down their impenetrable code.

How to use the built-in Recovery Mode for macOS 0

There are lots of reasons why you might want to boot into Apple’s Recovery Mode. Maybe you’re seeing the dreaded flashing question mark when you booted your Mac. Maybe you’re preparing to sell your old MacBook (say, to a certain company that will give you a good price for it. Wink, wink) and you want to wipe your drive. Maybe you need a fresh start after upgrading your SSD. Whatever your reason, we’ll show you the steps to to start the built-in Recovery Mode and explain all that it’s capable of.

Everything You Need to Know About ESD Safety 4

You’ve probably heard the term ESD or electrostatic discharge, or at the very least you’re aware of the danger of touching computer parts without touching the metal of your computer case. Gotta touch the case first, right?

Maybe you’re scared to death of it frying your computer parts. Maybe you have no fear of it at all, slinging computer parts around with reckless abandon. Maybe you have no idea what I’m talking about right now.

ESD is a more lethal threat than most professional techs know, doing untold damage that might not show itself for months to come. You won’t see the damage happen and you won’t feel it. ESD truly is the silent killer.

OEM MagSafe Chargers vs Cheap Imposters: Teardown for Truth 16

Anywhere premium products are produced, there are unsavory folks trying to make a quick buck selling cheap knockoffs. It happens in every industry, from clothes to food to tech. But in recent years, counterfeit electronics have surpassed nearly all other categories of counterfeit goods by dollar value, and Apple, being the de facto high-end electronics manufacturer, makes for a prime target.

But you’d never be caught buying counterfeit electronics, because you can tell the difference, can’t you?

The Ultimate Guide to Apple’s Proprietary SSDs 324

Remember the good ol’ days of carrying a spare battery, upgrading your own RAM, maybe even adding a second hard drive? If you’re an Apple user, those luxuries may be behind us, but upgrading your own solid state drive is still a privilege the Apple overlords allow us to have, for now that is.

Despite retaining the ability to upgrade your own SSD, ever since Apple introduced their proprietary “blade” SSDs in 2010, the task hasn’t been as simple as it once was. Apple talks up read and write speeds, but they rarely dive into the nitty gritty details of the technology behind the SSDs they use — drives specially designed only for Apple computers.

After countless questions, both from customers and our own staff, we decided to start our own investigation into the hardware involved. You have to be a bit of a private eye to uncover the secrets behind these drives, and the deeper we looked, the more surprises we found.

How To Replace the Thermal Paste on Your Apple CPU 7

Building your own computer or assembling a repaired computer can seem pretty straight forward. This part connects to this part, you feel a reassuring click and you know that it belongs there. It just fits.

But then you come across some goop in a pouch, or maybe it’s in a syringe, and you find yourself thinking “I’m not a trained medical professional. What do I do with this syringe? Where does this part fit?”

We’ve got the answers about what thermal paste is, what is does, and how to apply it.