The field of Macintosh repair has been a rapidly growing field in the last few years. This has primarily been caused by the increase in the number of Mac products being manufactured. You might think that you know everything about taking your Mac computer to a repair shop. However, there are some key points to be aware of. So today we will be discussing nine key facts for when you take your Macintosh device to a repair technician.
Software Used To Repair Macs
Macs are different from Windows computers. One of the major differences between the two is that Macs do not have an automatic check-disk utility. In place of that is the Apple Disk Utility that verifies the integrity of the drive contents similarly. Most Macs have a bootable Recovery Partition. This will run the Disk Utility that can be reached by holding Command and R simultaneously. In the Disk Utility are Repair Permissions.
In models that do not have this partition and need repair, the technician will boot off an external storage device. Recovery Partitions can also be created with the Recovery Partition Creator. The repair permissions is not a universal fix for all problems. It only fixes file permissions which is rarely a source of problems. If you want to upgrade your software or entire OS, then it is important to have Disk Permissions. On the other hand, it is not useful when troubleshooting.
Apple’s Disk Utility is a basic system that only solves simple problems. Installers are necessary for all current versions of Mac OS. Many repair techs use various data recovery programs for repairs. Programs such as Stellar Phoenix and Prosoft Data Rescue are some of the more common recovery software used.
Apple Certification Truths
Apple has its primary certification for third-party support technicians called Apple Certified Support Professional. This certification in reality is more for software repair than hardware. For the next level software side of things, there is the Apple Certified Technical Coordinator. Both certifications do not provide additional access to Apple resources for third-party repair shops. Having these does not provide repair services with additional access to resources from Apple. Repair stores can work on Apple hardware products that are under warranty. To do so, they need the Apple Certified Macintosh Technician certification.
The Apple Consultants Network
Apple’s Consultants Network is a partnership program that includes technicians who service Apple products. Most repair technicians who apply to be a consultant become accepted if they have current certifications. This is the type of service that you will find at most Apple retail stores. At these stores, many of the business they obtain for this service is through referrals. You are likely to get NFRs or discounts on their third party software. Being a member of the Apple Consultants Network allows for use of the Apple logo in their promotional material. However, the program does not provide owners with the ability to do warranty repairs. This means that you will need to take your Mac device to an Apple Store.
Warranties and Reimbursements
Repair shops that are not a part of the Apple Consultants Network are not allowed to do warranty repairs. Services such as Apple Authorized Service Providers and Self Servicing Account obtain reimbursement for their warranty work from Apple. Apple does not restrict repair shops from repairing Macs with warranties. However, it is much easier to do this through an AASP or SSA.
Apple Retail Stores
Apple Retail Stores tend to be the most common way that Mac owners get their computer repaired. These stores provide free tech support for those who schedule appointments. They also perform repairs for products in and out of warranty. At an Apple Store, you will likely be upsold on many of their additional services such as data transfers.
Cost of Apple Proprietary Parts
Most of the parts that compose a Mac device aren’t available to computer repair technicians. When it comes to a PC, you can purchase an equivalent or a compatible part from a third-party source. Conversely, a Mac computer has more difficulty when buying the same type of parts. There are only two parts that are not proprietary: the hard drive and the memory. It won’t be hard to find those parts, but everything else will be.
Service Call Parts
Some computer repair services will come to you to fix your device. Many of them bring their own parts to work on your device. This in part requires that your device has a Firewire port. The technician will bring with them a Firewire cable or Thunderbolt cable to service your computer.
Viruses and Browsers
One of the more common issues that computer owners deal with is viruses. For a Macintosh operating system, it is rarely infected by a virus due to Apple’s software updates. However the same can’t say the same for their browsers. Browser malware has been seen in more Safari, Firefox, and Chrome browsers for Mac’s.
Marketing To Mac User Groups
Mac user groups serve as a loyal source of businesses for most Mac repair shops. Members tend to be older and less tech-savvy, but it is a great source for residential clients. Many Macintosh repair shops market to these groups so consider enrolling in them. You might be able to find a service professional who does great work.
Summary
Hopefully, you’ve learned a few things about Macintosh repair for your devices. If you own a Mac device that needs repair, bring it over to Fayetteville Tech Repair.
Fayetteville Tech Repair is your one-stop solution for any and every computer-related repair. Our team is dedicated to helping those in Fayetteville, North Carolina, and surrounding areas with any issues. We will fix and repair anything including laptops, computers, and printers. Fayetteville Tech Repair consists of a team of technicians who are experts in all operating systems. We offer excellent customer service and swift repair solutions with a primary focus on customer satisfaction. Call the people that care. Call the people at Fayetteville Tech Repair.