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2012 Backplane Replacement

Auggie

Auggie

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Jan 21, 2017
385
108
I know authorized Apple technicians can change the serial number on replacement backplane boards, whether it's new or used, but are there tools and instructions for DIY for those of us inclined to replace defective boards ourselves from donor machines?

As I understand it, the serial number reported by System Report is off the backplane board, and cMP backplane boards are the same between Mid 2010 and Mid 2012's, but if I get a a Mid 2010 board I want to retain my original 2012 serial number just in case Apple discontinues OS hardware support for 2010 cMP's but not 2012's.
 
Auggie said:
I know authorized Apple technicians can change the serial number on replacement backplane boards, whether it's new or used, but are there tools and instructions for DIY for those of us inclined to replace defective boards ourselves from donor machines?

As I understand it, the serial number reported by System Report is off the backplane board, and cMP backplane boards are the same between Mid 2010 and Mid 2012's, but if I get a a Mid 2010 board I want to retain my original 2012 serial number just in case Apple discontinues OS hardware support for 2010 cMP's but not 2012's.
Click to expand...

Just show them the serial number on the case is good enough to ask for hardwares support. You have to pay for it anyway (without Apple Care). They don't really that care if the logic board is the original one.

My 4,1 was broken due to CPU tray fail about 18months ago. I tool my 4,1 (flashed to 5,1) to Apple, they just accept it without asking me anything. And they get the serial number from the case.
 
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h9826790 said:
Just show them the serial number on the case is good enough to ask for hardwares support. You have to pay for it anyway (without Apple Care). They don't really that care if the logic board is the original one.

My 4,1 was broken due to CPU tray fail about 18months ago. I tool my 4,1 (flashed to 5,1) to Apple, they just accept it without asking me anything. And they get the serial number from the case.
Click to expand...

Fantastic!

There was a thread I read somewhere that some encryption methodologies and apps compare the different serial numbers (processor board vs backplane board) and any mismatches can cause some weird problems that are hard to diagnose and trace to the culprit. This is another reason why I want to ensure all serial numbers match.
 
I am in the process of replacing my 2012 motherboard. So what sort of issues am I likely to encounter and are there ways to get around them? thanks.
 
mostafiz28 said:
I am in the process of replacing my 2012 motherboard. So what sort of issues am I likely to encounter and are there ways to get around them? thanks.
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This is the article I was referring to (not a forum thread like I thought it was, though there are threads out there about this topic) that discusses issues if the serial number isn't inputted (new board) or transferred (used board): Check your Mac's serial number after repair services
 
Auggie, Thanks for the link. Now I don't have an apple authorised service technician around me. Any idea what to do once I do replace the board?
[doublepost=1485284327][/doublepost]Okay, I have made some progress. Apparently, there are utilities to put a serial number on a blank board. But if it has a serial number (a used board), then it may not work.
 
I can confirm that having mismatched hardware SNs will cause problems: I cannot login to the App Store (error says it can't verify device or computer so I must contact Apple Support), Messages, nor FaceTime (latter issues mentioned in the link I provided, with errors stating that a wrong password was entered even though it is absolutely confirmed correct). Compounding the problem is that the SN plate on the back had been removed by the previous owner (probably did internal replacements of his own) so I'm not sure what Apple can or will do to resolve this if I bring it in for re-serialization.
 
Auggie said:
I can confirm that having mismatched hardware SNs will cause problems: I cannot login to the App Store (error says it can't verify device or computer so I must contact Apple Support), Messages, nor FaceTime (latter issues mentioned in the link I provided, with errors stating that a wrong password was entered even though it is absolutely confirmed correct). Compounding the problem is that the SN plate on the back had been removed by the previous owner (probably did internal replacements of his own) so I'm not sure what Apple can or will do to resolve this if I bring it in for re-serialization.
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I have been reading different forums and that seems to be true. In your case though, things are even more complicated. Can someone please shed some light on this issue.
 
FYI, I took the same boot drive out of the Mac Pro and put it into a 2012 MacBook Pro and all those iCloud services worked just fine, so it's definitely not a software issue.
 
There's no doubt that replacing the backplane/logic board will cause this issue if not serialised properly. But how to fix it is the question. Does apple still support 2009 machines? I have got a copy of a "Serializer" that I presume work on older machines. But for newer machines, that doesn't work.
 
Perhaps a solution: I followed steps that others having similar problems with in which they deleted the SystemConfiguration folder inside /Library/Preferences (required booting to a different volume first), deleting ALL network interfaces on the Network preferences, then re-adding them one at a time and testing App Store access.

Worked like a charm!

Can't explain it, but there is definitely more to the hardware verification methodology that Apple uses than meets the eye...
 
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Auggie said:
Perhaps a solution: I followed steps that others having similar problems with in which they deleted the SystemConfiguration folder inside /Library/Preferences (required booting to a different volume first), deleting ALL network interfaces on the Network preferences, then re-adding them one at a time and testing App Store access.

Worked like a charm!

Can't explain it, but there is definitely more to the hardware verification methodology that Apple uses than meets the eye...
Click to expand...

Makes sense, renew the config data and you're good to go. Nice.
 
So long as the logicboard has a serial number, everything will work just fine. Only when there is no serial number will services such as iMessage complain. On most Intell Macs, once a serial number has been set it cannot be unset. Only Apple, by refurbishing the logicboard, can unset a serial number and return it to a blank state.
 
They compute a unique system id calculated from the serial number and the network interfaces MAC Numbers. So if that doesnt mach youre in trouble. Renewing the preference files helped.

Check your time machine backup, too...
 
I can say as an Apple tech, that if you brought your mac pro to our shop with a logic board installed that has no serial number, that I would not be allowed to serialize it. I can only serialize a new/refurbished board when it came from Apple to us, and we opened the sealed shipping box.

As to why this is the case, probably some kind of liability stuff... like, you bring us a bad board, we serialize it, it fails or doesnt work right, then you make a claim with Apple saying we botched the repair, and need to buy you a new board. So, we cant touch it if we didnt order/receive/open it.
 
Macschrauber said:
They compute a unique system id calculated from the serial number and the network interfaces MAC Numbers. So if that doesnt mach youre in trouble. Renewing the preference files helped.

Check your time machine backup, too...
Click to expand...

Will I be correct to say that if I get a used logic board, there is no or little chance that I can reinstate my original serial number and iservices may not work. Of course, Auggie's method seem to have worked for him, but that's probably the only way to get things working again.
 
The only way to officially get your serial number back is to go to an apple store, or apple authorized service center, order the new backplane, and bring your mac pro in to have them install it. They will serialize it for you when its installed.
 
Surrat said:
I can say as an Apple tech, that if you brought your mac pro to our shop with a logic board installed that has no serial number, that I would not be allowed to serialize it. I can only serialize a new/refurbished board when it came from Apple to us, and we opened the sealed shipping box.

As to why this is the case, probably some kind of liability stuff... like, you bring us a bad board, we serialize it, it fails or doesnt work right, then you make a claim with Apple saying we botched the repair, and need to buy you a new board. So, we cant touch it if we didnt order/receive/open it.
Click to expand...

Yea, that was my immediate thought that a typical Apple tech wouldn't touch it without a serial plate. Prior to my new-to-me 2012, I've always bought Mac Pros brand new from a local Apple Store along with Apple Care but never needed to replace any logic boards. Early 2008 was the last I bought since newer models were not significant upgrades speed-wise to make the investment. Fast forward eight years when Apple discontinued supporting the 2008's starting with Sierra but not the 2009's through 2012's, I scrambled to find the best physical condition 2012 and got one that looked brand new. I only realized later that the case was replaced (hence, the like-new appearance) and the previous owner removed the SN plate from the donor.

Surrat said:
The only way to officially get your serial number back is to go to an apple store, or apple authorized service center, order the new backplane, and bring your mac pro in to have them install it. They will serialize it for you when its installed.
Click to expand...

In that event, would a new SN plate be generated to affix onto the case (to prevent future SN concerns)?

Right now, all is well and the 5,1 is humming along nicely, but in the event of any future board issues, I'd like to know what my options are...
 
As far as I know, the ID plate sticker, and the logic board internal ID are the only places to get the machine serial number. Since your ID sticker is gone, I hope the backplane works well enough to retrieve the number there. For the sticker thats missing, no, Apple will not replace that, and neither can a repair shop. If its gone, then its gone.

I suppose you could email Tim and ask him to order the factory to print you a replacement ID sticker... hehe.
 
There must be a software workaround. Even Hackintoshes can get iMessage and App Store working, and there's no way they have valid Mac serial numbers embedded in their motherboards.
 
ActionableMango said:
There must be a software workaround. Even Hackintoshes can get iMessage and App Store working, and there's no way they have valid Mac serial numbers embedded in their motherboards.
Click to expand...

I was wondering if Hackintoshes were accessing Apple's cloud services, such as Messages and App Store. If they are, then there must be some workaround...
 
^^^^ tonymacx86 has guidelines on how to use imessage or other cloud services on hackintoshes.
 
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