␡
- ESD Prevention
- CRT Safety Procedures
- Liquid Coolants
- iMac Power Supply
- Booting to EFI
- General Maintenance
- General Best Practices
- Lesson Review
This chapter is from the book
General Best Practices
Even if you have plenty of experience taking apart computers, it can’t hurt to take a moment to review some common-sense suggestions to keep in mind while working on Macintosh hardware:
- Consider making a full backup before attempting any significant hardware change.
- Always properly shut down the Macintosh computer before opening its case.
- As you remove screws, take care not to lose them. Place them in a small ESD-safe container or stick them on a strip of duct tape in the order they’re removed as an aid for reassembly. Some Macintosh computers have “captive” screws that can’t be removed; take care not to strip these.
- If you don’t have a printed reference to guide you, take your own pictures with a digital camera to remind you of the proper placement and orientation of components.
- Wearing eye protection and a nose and mouth filter, use a can of compressed air to clean dust from the interior of the Macintosh computer. Every Macintosh with a fan inside draws air through it to keep the components cool, but this can also suck in a lot of dust. That dust coats the components like a thin blanket and clogs air vents, causing the interior to operate at higher-than-ideal temperatures.
- Be gentle. If a part to be removed is stuck, wiggle it back and forth. If you’re trying to install a part and it appears not to fit, don’t force it. Double-check the orientation, look for alignment tabs, and make sure you have the right part.