apple hardware test

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Level 1

11 points

apple hardware test

I've been having random freezes of my MacBook Pro (15-inch mid 2010). The screen goes blank, but the keyboard lights stay on and I can here the fan or disk drive running. I've tried all combinations of trying to wake it up for months now and a hard power off is all that works.

So I just did an upgrade to Mavericks thinking that might help. Not sure it has or not, need more time to confirm.

Along the way I found out about AHT Apple Hardware Test. According to this article

http://macs.about.com/od/Troubleshooting/fl/Use-the-Apple-Hardware-Test-Over-the -Internet-to-Diagnose-Problems-With-Your-Mac.htm

I should be able to run this test through the internet.

I even did the firmware upgrade that was indicated here

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1237

But when I power up and hold the option-D keys I get the language selection menu as expected, then it says I cannot run the test

I also tried holding just D without the option (nor shift) key and it just did a normal reboot

OS X Mavericks (10.9.2)

Posted on Mar 1, 2014 7:18 PM

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Answer 1

Mar 1, 2014 7:23 PM in response to MikeGMIT

your model came with a version of OS X that does not have the built in AHT (Pre 10.7). The AHT for your model is on grey disk 2 that origionally came with the mac. It contains both the AHT and applications.

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Answer 2

John Galt

Level 10

141,162 points

Mar 1, 2014 7:26 PM in response to MikeGMIT

You ought to be able to run the Internet version AHT as you described, so I have no explanation for its inability to do so.

It is likely the test will not reveal anything you can use though. Your 15 inch Mid 2010 MBP is prone to a particular hardware fault that can explain the display symptoms you describe. An Apple Store can confirm that suspicion with a specific test available only to them. AHT isn't likely to help.

Read the following:

MacBook Pro (15-inch, Mid 2010): Intermittent black screen or loss of video

Then, make a Genius Bar Reservation.

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Answer 3

Mar 1, 2014 7:32 PM in response to John Galt

John Galt wrote:

You ought to be able to run the Internet version AHT as you described, so I have no explanation for its inability to do so.

Macs shipped with pre 10.7 do not have the partition on the hard drive required to run said AHT via internet option. http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1509

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Answer 4

MikeGMIT Author

Level 1

11 points

Mar 1, 2014 7:37 PM in response to shldr2thewheel

I am not at my primary residence this evening. I think I might still have those disks in a file/pile in my home office. I'll check it out, maybe Monday.

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Answer 5

MikeGMIT Author

Level 1

11 points

Mar 1, 2014 7:39 PM in response to John Galt

Been trying to avoid schlepping to the Genius bar. Besides what they charge there will also be a lunch bill at P. F. Chang's... And trying to keep my wife away from Crate&Barrel...

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Answer 6

John Galt

Level 10

141,162 points

Mar 1, 2014 7:41 PM in response to shldr2thewheel

shldr2thewheel wrote:

Macs shipped with pre 10.7 do not have the partition on the hard drive required to run said AHT via internet option. http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1509

That is not always true, as I have several said Macs that shipped with said ML. Option d loads the said Internet version of said AHT. As I said.

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Answer 7

John Galt

Level 10

141,162 points

Mar 1, 2014 7:41 PM in response to MikeGMIT

MikeGMIT wrote:

Been trying to avoid schlepping to the Genius bar. Besides what they charge there will also be a lunch bill at P. F. Chang's...

Diagnosis is free. Repairs may be less free.

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Answer 8

Mar 1, 2014 7:43 PM in response to John Galt

I am speaking from personal experience as well. I wonder why some would work that way and some like mine would not (mine shipped with 10.6.7)

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Answer 9

Mar 1, 2014 7:44 PM in response to MikeGMIT

MikeGMIT wrote:

Been trying to avoid schlepping to the Genius bar. Besides what they charge there will also be a lunch bill at P. F. Chang's... And trying to keep my wife away from Crate&Barrel...

The Apple store in RI?

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Answer 10

Mar 1, 2014 7:45 PM in response to MikeGMIT

Use of AHT is described in http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1509 and since you have Mavericks installed you do not want an original install disk. You must use the Option-D startup approach. Taking the computer to the genius bar for testing is no-charge, Crate and Barrel is another issue :-)

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Answer 11

John Galt

Level 10

141,162 points

Mar 1, 2014 8:27 PM in response to shldr2thewheel

shldr2thewheel wrote:

... I wonder why some would work that way and some like mine would not (mine shipped with 10.6.7)

I have no idea. The one I happen to be using shipped with 10.6.7 also, and option D works. I just tried it. That's the reason I have no explanation.

AHT had originally been loaded on the HD, but when I upgraded it to Lion it erased AHT on the HD. I reinstalled it from the Mac's original Applications DVD using a technique I could find if you're interested.

It should probably be left erased as Ralph Landry1 wrote but its presence doesn't seem to cause any harm.

Booting with just the D key loads AHT version 3A212 (even without the disc inserted). Option D loads the Internet version, 3A222.

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Answer 12

Dibenkorn

Level 2

405 points

Mar 1, 2014 8:35 PM in response to MikeGMIT

At an Apple store they will have more thorough hardware diagostics than AHT. If you take it in ask for the Video Switching Test (VST).

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Answer 13

MikeGMIT Author

Level 1

11 points

Mar 3, 2014 7:14 AM in response to MikeGMIT

Back home found the two original DVDs, re-started with the second one (apps) and held D (not option) and ran both hardware tests. First ran in less than 3 minutes and found nothing, second took about 25 minutes and also found nothing.

When I have a window in my busy retirement I'll make an appointment at the Genius Bar and get them to run the Video Switching Test and anything else they think of.

The problem is still very random, cannot associate the crashes with any particular activity. I have a bad habit of having a lot of Safari windows open. One recent crash happened right after I opened SnagIT and another just after I started to compose an email in gmail. But it also runs just fine when I repeat the same actions.

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Answer 14

Mar 3, 2014 7:26 AM in response to MikeGMIT

While it is nice to have the AHT available, I have found it to be such a high-level test that it only finds really severe problems. Intermittent things do not show up very often unless they match in time when the test is being run.

The Apple store techs have diagnostic tools that are far beyond those available to we mere mortals, so they are much more likely to find what is actually wrong.

Retirement is tough...not sure how I ever found time to go to work 😁

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Answer 15

MikeGMIT Author

Level 1

11 points

Mar 15, 2014 5:30 PM in response to MikeGMIT

Got my 15" MacBook Pro Mid-2010 back from the Genius Bar today (Saturday). And it's looking good.

Went to the Genius Bar Monday and explained the scenario. They ran their standard hardware test and everything passed. Then they ran the SVT (Switching Video Test) and it failed pretty quickly.

Per this post: http://support.apple.com/kb/ts4088

there was a known issue with some faulty parts back in 2010 and the Genius Bar tech explained that if my parts fell into this batch I would get a free repair even though the post said only three years from date of purchase.

Then he explained the regular service options. For a nominal fee ($32 I think he said) they will do repairs at the store, but you are on the hook for any parts and if it's a logic board you're looking at $600. The other option is depot repair where they send it out (to Memphis in my case) and for a flat $310 they will fix whatever is wrong.

I lucked out and my problem was related to the original bad batch of parts so I got it fixed for FREE FREE FREE!! New (or refurbished) Logic Boar part # 605-3130.

And all it cost me was lunch for me and my wife at P. F. Chang's. She tried but couldn't find anything we need at Crate & Barrel.

I'll be watching closely and if the problem comes back I'll return to this thread and make more notes. But right now I'm pretty confident that the problem is solved.

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