Immediately after the purchase, the memory of the data of the purchased computer is fresh. Over time, this information is forgotten. The user must know the serial number, model, to install software updates or before selling (transferring) the device to another person. This information is useful when contacting a repair service or for clarifying warranty and service periods.
The user will find information on the serial code, article, model of the device in the data folder of the operating system, based on the product, on the factory box. Go to the main menu "Apple" (upper left corner, the image of an apple) and click the section "about this device". A window will open where the identification data of the computer will be displayed. The serial code provides information on the technical characteristics of the version of the device and gives information on the timing of maintenance.
The user can get extended data through the "system report". This subsection is located in the section "About the device". A window will open "system information" click "hardware". Here the user can identify the PC model by the identification code.
The second place where you can find out the identifier data is the device case. Turn off your iMac before getting the number. Unplug all cords and accessories. Take a cloth or towel and place the computer screen-side down on the cloth. This will save your PC from damage and scratches. Look for the code on the "leg" (underside of the base). The barcode and compliance data are also printed here.
Registration data is printed on the box and purchase receipt. If you still have the original box, look for the barcode on it. The serial number is printed on the barcode. The article is also printed here, it looks like this "MK442xx / A" (characters change depending on the model, year of manufacture and the country for which it was produced). The payment receipt (invoice) contains the serial number and model.
Find out the model name of your device through the Apple menu. Open the section "about the device". General information including model name is listed here. Find out the same information through the "System Information" application. To find it, sequentially go from the "programs" folder to the "utilities" subfolder. Or click "details" in the "about device" window. In the working area of the window on the left, click "hardware". General information about the computer is displayed on the right side of the window.
Checking iMac by Serial Number
The serial number is used to verify eligibility for service and technical support for the company. To obtain this information, go to Apple's official website and visit the Service Eligibility Verification page. Enter a combination of number symbols in the required field and get the query result. Alternatively, go to the specifications page and find out the extended model name of your PC. If it was not possible to find out the serial number, get the characteristics data for the article.
Buying an iMac off hand
If you haven’t used an iMac before, you may not know many of the nuances. We are talking about the features of the device and about where to look for and check before buying. You should not rush to extremes and consider only cheap options, review the offers and determine the average price. Appreciate the appearance. It is everyone's business to agree to scratches or dents, but this is a reason to think, most likely, the PC was dropped.
Examine the screws securing the cover. The thread should be fine. Pentanoble screws are used for fastening, you will notice "non-professional" repair right away. A big plus (and additional confidence) is the availability of documents for the product. The power adapter must be in good condition. Buying a new one will cost a pretty penny. If the adapter is missing, knock down the price.
After checking, turn on your iMac. Pay attention to the OS boot speed. Models with HDD turn on in up to 50 seconds, with SSD in 20 seconds. If the OS boot takes longer, there are problems in the operation of the drive. The computer should not ask for a password, if asked, ask the seller to remove the password request. Re-launch by holding the "D" and "Option" keys while connected to the Internet. Apple Hardware Test will open ... Check the state of the "filling" and check for errors.
How do I check for iCloud binding?
The computer must be unlinked from iCloud at the time of purchase. Otherwise, the previous owner can remotely lock the device and use the owner's data stored in the cloud. If the seller is unable to unlink, then consider whether it is a stolen product. To unbind, go to the Apple menu and click System Preferences. Click on the "iCloud" section. If an email address is displayed in the account field, then the PC is authorized. Click "sign out", ask the seller to enter the password from the authorized Apple ID. Do this with a good internet connection.
What else should you pay attention to?
To change the password for the administrator account, go back one section and click "users and groups". At the bottom left, click on the lock icon for changes. Click on "change password". Make changes. Download the free "Mactracker" utility onto your flash drive in advance. With this application, the user using the serial number of the iMac checks the model of the computer, its date of purchase, the terms of warranty service.
Determining battery health is another important parameter that you need to know before buying a computer from your hands. Go back to the "about iMac" section, click the "overview" tab. Click the "system report" button. In "hardware" click on "power". In the window on the right, find the "number of discharge-charge cycles". On average, this figure is calculated for 1000 cycles.
Today a friend contacted me with a request to help me buy a used Macbook Pro. I immediately warned that my qualifications were close to zero, but what I can - I will help. I haven’t worked closely with PC for many years, but I have a Mac at the upper teapot level. A quick search for the phrase “how to check a macbook pro” immediately led to an exhaustive publication of the rule on a given topic: “Caution when buying a MacBook. A high-tech way of offline fraud "geektimes.ru/post/157969 But my inexperience let me down.
Announcement:
That is, the announcement offers the top model MacBook Pro "Core i7" 2.9 13 "Mid-2012 (MD102). In reality it turned out to be MacBook Pro" Core 2 Duo "2.66 13" Mid-2010 (MC375) - 4 GB RAM, 500 GB HDD ... The power supply was new.
We met with the seller in the shopping center, especially near the outlet, so that we could run the Apple Hardware Test. Mac OS X 10.9.5 was installed on the laptop. Please be aware that internet may be required for full verification.
What I want to add to the awesome rule post above:
1. Checking by the serial number indicated in the system properties (because there was no serial on the case), it showed that this is indeed a mid 2012 model 
At home, after reinstalling the OS, a different serial number began to be displayed in the system properties and here it turned out: 
At the same time, in the section "About Mac" it was still indicated "mid-2012" - that is, the laptop was properly cheated before the sale.
Important: if you carefully look at the instructions Apple support.apple.com/ru-ru/HT204347, then the absence of a serial on the case should have alerted. The mid 2012 model has a serial on the case.
UPD. It turned out that the bottom of the laptop was very neatly sealed with a self-adhesive film "like aluminum", so I did not see the serial.
2. I did not attach any importance to the following phrase of the author: “This screenshot shows that the detailed information lacks information about the processor, memory and disks. I didn’t pay attention to it - it’s my mistake number 1 ”. This is really so, the first and surest sign of deception.
3. To check the hard drive, I tried to run Disk utility but was unable to. Going into the folder with programs, I saw that Disk utility was crossed out and, when launched, it displays a message that it cannot work - that is, I will have to reinstall the operating system. I just had to go to the very root in Finder and look at the properties of the disk, but I did not think to do it. The volume label was HDD 750 GB and it was confusing. The properties of the disk turned out to be 500 GB.
5. One of the main ambushes - Apple Hardware Test does not work by pressing D when turning on the device. I turned out to be completely unprepared for such a scenario, while I did not know the other basic keyboard shortcuts for controlling the computer until the OS was loaded. Later I tried it on my home iMac mid 2010 - the same thing, when I press D, nothing happens. Already at home, I used the Apple Hardware Test option via the Internet - for this, after turning on, hold down Alt + D. But this option may not work either. For example, on my home internet internet test gives error 3404D on both my laptop and iMac. Judging by the documentation at support.apple.com/en-us/HT201257, you need to prudently grab Applications Install Disc 2 or a USB flash drive from the MacBook Air Software Reinstall Drive and download the Apple Hardware Test from them.
Apple Hardware Test can be downloaded here github.com/upekkha/AppleHardwareTest
There is also an instruction on how to make a USB flash drive. This option is significantly faster in terms of labor costs than creating a bootable USB flash drive with OS X, but less versatile. If you use a test of the wrong model, then at startup it will give an error that this computer is not supported.
And with a bootable USB flash drive with OS X, running system_profiler, you can find out exactly which model is in front of you.
For myself, I have worked out the following recipe:
- Prepare in advance a USB flash drive (SD card) with an OS X installer at support.apple.com/ru-us/HT201372 Or use a bootable DVD with Mac OS X.
- We insert the USB flash drive into the laptop and reboot, press Alt to select the boot option and boot from the USB flash drive.
- We find ourselves in OS X Utilities. Select Terminal from the Utilities menu.
- Next, we use the "system_profiler" command. The system_profiler command has been taking a while, so take your time. The output is a footcloth of text, in which you can find the information you need. With the command "system_profiler -listDataTypes" you can see the names of the individual sections of information. If you use the "system_profiler" command with these keys, you can, firstly, significantly reduce the amount of information displayed, and secondly, it will speed up the utility's work.
Even the simplest option allows you to immediately detect deception.
system_profiler SPHardwareDataType
If you add partitions about memory and disks, you get an exhaustive
system_profiler SPHardwareDataType SPMemoryDataType SPSerialATADataType
6. If the option with reinstalling the operating system will be appropriate for all parties (nevertheless, this is a tangible time), then in addition to the option of reinstalling via the Internet, there is also an option for installing from a USB flash drive. Convenient if there is no suitable internet channel. Naturally, you need to take care of the preparation of such a flash drive in advance.
The story is not over yet. The seller did not answer the call and SMS. If the situation does not change tomorrow morning, we will write a statement to the police.
On Avito I have seen a few more ads that are similar in style, so this seems to be a very common phenomenon. Be careful!
Memo:
Success story with highlights
I don't think anyone needs to be told how expensive Apple technology can be. And if on a budget iPad you can still “ save up from lunch", You can't buy a MacBook that way. For most people, Apple's new laptops are sky-high.
You should not solve the problem with another loan, perhaps the best option for the price is already waiting for a new owner on secondary market... But then the question immediately arises, how to properly check the MacBook before giving money for it?
Important: checking a MacBook is a long process with many nuances. Better to make an appointment with the seller in some cafe with free Wi-Fi. Be prepared to spend half an hour of your time.
The safest option is to take your MacBook to a good service center for a detailed check. After all, the covered video chip could warm up, and the laptop itself may have been flooded and poorly cleaned. Such sores are not immediately noticeable, but only emerge during use.
But this payable service, and not every seller will agree to open his laptop in some unknown place. So, you have to put up with the risks and do it on your own. Here is a list of problem areas to look out for before buying.
Step 0: preparing the USB stick
We cannot do without preparation. You need to get a USB flash drive with a minimal set of programs and files. Useful for testing: color pictures (black, white, RGB), film, Heaven Benchmark, Macs Fan Control, Coconut Battery, Geekbench, Blackmagic Disk Speed Test and MacTracker. It's cool if you have time to create a bootable USB flash drive with Apple Service Diagnostic installed.
Throw in the whole set at once, it will be needed at various stages of the test.
First step: passwords
In a MacBook, prepared for sale, three passwords must be missing: in iCloud, in user accounts, in the firmware itself (EFI).
- ICloud password: "System Preferences -> iCloud"
Login password: "System settings -> Users and groups"
Password for the firmware: reboot with the Alt key pressed (does not ask for a password, it means it is not)
If the seller finds it difficult to remove one of the passwords - leave, you will not be able to fully use such a MacBook.
Simplest: appearance
Alas, anodized aluminum does not lend itself to polishing, so other people's scratches on the case will always be an eyesore to you. Decide to what extent " slaughter»You are ready to accept.
You also need to pay attention to the top cover: it can be easily folded back with one hand and held in any position, and in the closed state there should be no distortions and shifts.
Turn the MacBook over and inspect the bolts. These tricky pieces of iron must be unscrewed with a special screwdriver at the right angle. If the repair was carried out in artisanal conditions, then extra marks will appear on the bolts. Small round bumps-points on the back side indicate that the screw is screwed in the wrong size.
Swing chargers can also fail at any time. Check the complete set of wires for tears or frayed wires.
Main consumable: battery
The battery in modern MacBooks is rated for approximately 1000 recharge cycles. It's almost three years in typical use. After the battery loses its capacity, it will have to be replaced.
"Mileage" can be viewed in the system report. The necessary line is hidden here: "About this Mac -> System report -> Power supply". True, it can " twist", Just like on an old car. This is where a prepared flash drive with the Coconut Battery application comes in handy.
We launch the utility and see detailed information about the battery. Do not be alarmed if its capacity drops to 80-90%. If the age of the laptop is comparable, then this is normal, natural wear and tear.
Everything according to the passport: MacBook configuration
Passing a junior model to an older one is the most common way of cheating when selling a MacBook. Especially relevant on the pumped "proshki". Of course, you can try to check using MacTracker, but in some cases even it will not help.
What's the trick: unscrupulous sellers edit the information in "About This Mac", turn off extra lines in the "System Report", put the back cover with the donor's serial number and block the EFI exit with a password. Or they program the microcircuit by entering a new number there. The output is a top-end model, the serial beats on the Apple base - you can't dig.
The real configuration will come out when you reinstall the system. An unpleasant surprise that can be avoided.
In 90% of cases, it is enough to restart the MacBook while holding down the Option + D keys. The laptop will carry out internal diagnostics, after which it will issue an error report. You can see the decoding of all codes. The serial number will be shown on the same screen. It’s something we are breaking through the Apple database, comparing the model of the device. It should match the number on the lid, About This Mac, and on the box.
If you think that you are "lucky" to run into virtuoso scammers, then you can check the real hardware configuration using the Apple Service Diagnostic utility launched from a bootable flash drive.
There is another way: just run the Geekbench test and compare the resulting value with the reference figure from the Internet. It turns out not very accurately, but in general it reflects the situation.
Speed test: hard drive
Old MacBooks with HDD on board turn on in 40-90 seconds, and new laptops with SSD-drives will start up in 5-25 seconds.
Accurate read and write speeds can be obtained by running the Blackmagic Disk Speed Test. The utility is already on the flash drive, remember? Click Start and check the numbers. The HDD should deliver around 90 Mbps, while SSDs show nearly 250 Mbps. In general, the program is tailored for working with video, but it reflects the situation as a whole.
Picture check: video under load and display
This is where color pictures and a film come in handy. Open the images in full screen one at a time and look at possible dead pixels or highlights. The film, in turn, should be played without brakes, even with a sharp change in the position of the window or its size.
You can also run the Heaven benchmark, and with it the Mac Fan Control diagnostic utility. Thus, we will kill two birds with one stone - load the video core more seriously and measure the temperature of iron in stressful situations. In idle mode, the normal rate will be 40-50 degrees, and under load, 85-95. Sudden surges or overshooting indicates an unreliable cooling system. Perhaps the thermal grease has long ago fallen into disrepair or the coolers are completely clogged with dust. You shouldn't mess with such a MacBook.
Input devices: keyboard and trackpad
It's turn primitive but effective methods.
The keyboard is checked in an elementary way - TextEdit opens and all the buttons are slowly shaken. It's not enough just to see all the pressed characters, you need the buttons to be pressed clearly, without clicks and squeaks.
The trackpad needs to be given equal attention. Try out different gestures with several fingers, check the entire area of the panel. Only a narrow strip on top should not respond to touch. The trackpad itself is always pressed without unnecessary crackling, with approximately the same sound.
Newer MacBooks don't have a physical button below the trackpad. The Taptic Engine is responsible for the recoil here, and the sensor itself recognizes the pressure. This also needs to be checked immediately.
Almost there: wireless connectivity and ports
Be sure to pay attention to the functionality of wireless communications. Check Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. To do this, it is enough to go to the local Network or connect to your phone.
More difficult check ports... If in the new MacBook Pro there are only four USB Type-C connectors, then in the old one you can find a card reader and Thunderbolt and HDMI. The bulk of the connectors are checked by an external hard drive with adapters, but with HDMI you have to invent something.
It can be difficult to remember which MacBook model you have, given that Apple doesn't give them clear names. Maybe you have a car from mid 2010 or early 2011? What type of processor is installed? Is it possible to upgrade the RAM?
Fortunately, looking at the main features of your Mac in OS X is very easy, and here's how.
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. Select About This Mac from the drop-down menu 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 are running, model, processor, installed memory (RAM), graphics card, and serial number.
For more information on memory, go to the Memory tab. Here you will see how many memory slots your system has, how much is in use, and how much RAM is installed in each slot.
Video card.
To find your video card, just look at the system overview in the System Information window, it will list the type of video card under the heading Graphics. If you would like to know 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 can see more detailed information about your graphics card, including how much VRAM it has. You will also be able to see information about your monitor, such as type, resolution and pixel depth.
Storage devices.
To see 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 disks, and on the right side of the screen, information about each of them.For hard drives and solid state drives, you'll see a colored ruler that shows storage usage by file type (music, movies, apps, photos, etc.). The numbers above this ruler will indicate how much free space is available to you on that disk.
Fair, not overpriced or understated. There should be prices on the Service website. Necessarily! without "asterisks", it is clear and detailed, where it is technically possible - the most accurate, final.
With the availability of spare parts, up to 85% of complex repairs can be completed in 1-2 days. Modular repairs take much less time. The website lists the approximate duration of any repairs.
Warranty and liability
Any repairs must be guaranteed. 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 of the success in Apple repair is the quality and reliability of spare parts, so a good service works with suppliers directly, there are always several reliable channels and your own warehouse with proven spare parts of current models so that you do not have to waste extra time.
Free diagnostics
This is very important and has already become a good form for the service center. Diagnostics is the most difficult and important part of the repair, but you should not pay a dime for it, even if you do not repair the device as a result.
Repair in service and delivery
A good service values your time and therefore offers free shipping. And for the same reason, repairs are carried out only in the workshop of the service center: correctly and according to technology, it can only be done at 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 so that you can be in time before and after work. Good service works both on weekends and on 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
Age and experience of the company
Reliable and experienced service has been known for a long time.
If a company has been on the market for many years, and it has managed to establish itself as an expert, people turn to it, write about it, recommend it. We know what we are talking about, since 98% of incoming devices in the SC are being restored.
We are trusted and passed on by other service centers for difficult cases.
How many masters in directions
If several engineers are always 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 over immediately.
2. You are giving Macbook repairs 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 must answer it as accurately as possible.
So that you have an idea of what exactly you need.
They will try to solve the problem. In most cases, the description tells you what happened and how to fix the problem.
