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How do the guys at the Genius Bar check our MacBooks' hardware?

E

ehku

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Mar 13, 2015
7
0
Hello,

Some time ago I brought my mid-2014 13" MBP to an Apple Store for a repair, and I saw the guy at the Genius Bar check its hardware by holding some key (combination) at the startup of the machine. I were thinking that it was just the Apple Diagnostics (or Apple Hardware Test for older MacBooks). But recently when I tried to start up the machine to Apple Diagnostics (by holding the D key), I realized that it is not the same (the interface is not the same).

I checked all the start up keyboard combinations here: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201255 but it seems that none of them has that function.

Does anybody have any idea about that? (Would be useful for those who buy second-hand machines :D)

Thanks in advance!
 
ehku said:
Hello,

Some time ago I brought my mid-2014 13" MBP to an Apple Store for a repair, and I saw the guy at the Genius Bar check its hardware by holding some key (combination) at the startup of the machine. I were thinking that it was just the Apple Diagnostics (or Apple Hardware Test for older MacBooks). But recently when I tried to start up the machine to Apple Diagnostics (by holding the D key), I realized that it is not the same (the interface is not the same).

I checked all the start up keyboard combinations here: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201255 but it seems that none of them has that function.

Does anybody have any idea about that? (Would be useful for those who buy second-hand machines :D)

Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...

The testing software is only available to service centers (AASPs) and Genius Bars. It is not available in the public.
 
I remember last year when I brought my macbook to genius bar, the genius turned off my computer, plugged in an ethernet cable(My model has a ethernet port), started the computer with a combination key that I believe is for network start to boot into the system they use for diagnoses.
 
Essentially, there is a NetBoot server hiding in the back of the Apple Store, accessible to the network they connect the laptops to. The Genius was holding down Option-N, which allows you to boot from a NetBoot server.
 
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Consumers can test their machines with Apple Hardware Test (AHT) or Apple Diagnostics.

The genius bar uses Apple Service Diagnostic (ASD) can test systems quite extensively.

It is not available officially but, as I have said before, there is nothing wrong in helping fellow Mac users (especially those out of warranty) in testing and fixing their machines, just search the net and you'll find it somewhere.
 
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It's clear now :D Many thanks to all of you, guys!

sarthak said:
The genius bar uses Apple Service Diagnostic (ASD) can test systems quite extensively.

It is not available officially but, as I have said before, there is nothing wrong in helping fellow Mac users (especially those out of warranty) in testing and fixing their machines, just search the net and you'll find it somewhere.
Click to expand...
Very useful. Thanks.
 
sarthak said:
It is not available officially but, as I have said before, there is nothing wrong in helping fellow Mac users (especially those out of warranty) in testing and fixing their machines, just search the net and you'll find it somewhere.
Click to expand...
The only thing with ASD is, it won't do much without connecting to Apple's central server. So even if you get the software from somewhere, in private hands it is of little use. You need an AASP account/login with Apple.
 
priitv8 said:
The only thing with ASD is, it won't do much without connecting to Apple's central server. So even if you get the software from somewhere, in private hands it is of little use. You need an AASP account/login with Apple.
Click to expand...
Yesterday I searched for a download to try on my MBP but unfortunately the latest version available online is 3sd159, which does not work with 2014 MBP.
If the software requires an AASP login, then no need to try :confused:
 
Last edited:
priitv8 said:
The only thing with ASD is, it won't do much without connecting to Apple's central server. So even if you get the software from somewhere, in private hands it is of little use. You need an AASP account/login with Apple.
Click to expand...

priitv8 said:
You might give it a try and share your experience ;) . IMHO it also requires OS X Server to run on.
Click to expand...

ASD is burn and boot. You just need to get the right version for your supported Mac.
 
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