Mid 2011 MBA, Apple Hardware Test hangs, but passes tests in store??

[SonRK]

My 2011 13" MBA is failing the Apple Hardware Test (pressing "D" upon bootup)

I run the Quick Test (3 minutes) for over half an hour. but it only says Time Elapsed: 48 seconds, and my cursor still moves. Still, it estimates at 3 minutes, it shouldn't take close to an hour.

I took it to the store, and it passed all their tests, and they recommend sending it in to replace the motherboard for $300.

The reason I performed these tests is because my laptop will occasionally and randomly, I can't recreate it) freeze during use. It's had these freezes since I bought it though, so I thought it was always on me.

Any idea as to why it fails AHT, but passes in store?

 

[motrek]

My 2011 13" MBA is failing the Apple Hardware Test (pressing "D" upon bootup)

I run the Quick Test (3 minutes) for over half an hour. but it only says Time Elapsed: 48 seconds, and my cursor still moves. Still, it estimates at 3 minutes, it shouldn't take close to an hour.

I took it to the store, and it passed all their tests, and they recommend sending it in to replace the motherboard for $300.

The reason I performed these tests is because my laptop will occasionally and randomly, I can't recreate it) freeze during use. It's had these freezes since I bought it though, so I thought it was always on me.

Any idea as to why it fails AHT, but passes in store?

Might have something to do with how long you've been using it. Does it freeze after using it for a while at home? Because if you take it to the Apple Store it's probably "cold" (room temperature) and it might pass whatever test you're doing in that state.

 

[SmOgER]

From my experience there is nothing to suggest to me the Apple Hardware Test to be reliable indicator about the condition of device. I had my iSight camera not connected to the mobo at all (the cable wasn't locked in place, it wasn't even showing in system report), yet extensive hardware test didn't show any hardware issues at all. One would expect it to be smart enough to know that MBA comes with iSight camera.

 

[SusanK]

Might have something to do with how long you've been using it. Does it freeze after using it for a while at home? Because if you take it to the Apple Store it's probably "cold" (room temperature) and it might pass whatever test you're doing in that state.

We had a similar situation on an eMac years ago. It would freeze after about an hour and a half. No way to reproduce at the store. it was in the 14 day return window so eventually they took it back.