January 6, 2016 at 01:45Used Macbook Pro fraud
Today, a friend asked me to help buy a used Macbook Pro. I immediately warned that my qualifications are close to zero, but I can help with what I can. I haven’t been working closely with PCs for many years, and I own a Mac at the top teapot level. A quick search for the phrase “how to check macbook pro” immediately led to an exhaustive publication of the rule on a given topic: “Caution when buying a MacBook. High-tech offline fraud method » geektimes.ru/post/157969 But inexperience still let me down.
Announcement:
That is, the announcement proposes the top model MacBook Pro “Core i7” 2.9 13 ”Mid-2012 (MD102). In reality, it turned out to be the MacBook Pro“ Core 2 Duo ”2.66 13” Mid-2010 (MC375) - 4 GB RAM, 500 GB HDD. The power supply was new.
We met with the seller in the shopping center, especially near the outlet, so that I could drive the Apple Hardware Test. Mac OS X 10.9.5 was installed on the laptop. Keep in mind that a full scan may require the Internet.
What I want to add to the wonderful rule post above:
1. Checking the serial number specified in the system properties (because the serial number was not on the case) showed that this is really a mid 2012 model
at home, after reinstalling the OS, a different serial number was displayed in the system properties number and it turned out:
In this case, in the section "About Mac" it was still indicated "mid-2012" - that is, a laptop was normally kidnapped before the sale.
Important: if you carefully look at the instructions for Applesupport.apple.com/ru-ru/HT204347 then the lack of a serial on the case should have been alarming. The mid 2012 model has a serial on the case.
UPD It turned out that the bottom of the laptop was very neatly sealed with self-adhesive foil “under aluminum” so I did not see the serial.
2. I did not attach importance to the following phrase of the author: “in this screenshot it is clear that in the detailed information there is no information about the processor, memory and disks. I did not pay attention to this - this is my mistake number 1. " This is true, the first and surest sign of deception.
3. To check the hard drive, I tried to run Disk utility, but could not. Having entered the program folder, I saw that Disk utility is crossed out and at startup it displays a message about the impossibility of working - that is, you have to reinstall the operating system. You just had to go to the root in Finder and look at the properties of the disk, but I did not realize it. The volume label was 750 GB HDD and this was confusing. The disk properties turned out to be 500 GB.
4. The author points out the errors of the console command "system_profiler", but on my copy of the laptop I did not notice such errors. Or maybe he was not looking there.
5. One of the main ambushes - Apple Hardware Test does not work by pressing D when you turn on the device. I was completely unprepared for such a situation, while I did not know the other basic keyboard shortcuts for controlling a computer before loading the OS. Later, I tried on my home iMac mid 2010 - the same thing, when you press D, nothing just happens. Being at home, I took advantage of the Apple Hardware Test option via the Internet - for this you need to hold Alt + D after turning it on. But this option may also not work. For example, on my home Internet, an Internet test gives the 3404D error on both a laptop and an iMac. Judging by the documentation support.apple.com/en-us/HT201257you need to prudently bring along Applications Install Disc 2 or a USB stick from the MacBook Air Software Reinstall Drive and download the Apple Hardware Test from them.
Apple Hardware Test can be downloaded here github.com/upekkha/AppleHardwareTest
There's also instructions on how to make a USB flash drive. This option is significantly faster in terms of labor than creating a bootable USB flash drive with OS X, but less universal. If you use a test from the wrong model, then upon startup it will give an error that this computer is not supported.
And with a bootable USB flash drive with OS X, having run system_profiler, you can find out exactly which model is in front of you.
For myself, I developed the following recipe:
Even the simplest option allows you to immediately detect fraud. If you add sections about memory and disks, you get exhaustively 6. If the option with reinstalling the operating system is appropriate for all parties (this is still a tangible time), then there is another option besides reinstalling via the Internet Install from a USB stick. Convenient in case there is no suitable Internet channel. Naturally, the preparation of such a flash drive needs to be attended to in advance. The story is not over yet. The seller did not answer the call and SMS. If the situation does not change tomorrow morning, we will write a statement to the police. On Avito, I saw a few more similar ads in style, so this phenomenon seems to be very common. Be careful! Memo:
History of "success" with an indication of the main points geektimes.ru/post/157969
How to use the Apple Hardware Test support.apple.com/ru-ru/HT201257
Hot keys before loading the OS support.apple.com/ru-ru/HT201255
Apple Hardware Test can be downloaded here github.com/upekkha/AppleHardwareTest
How to find the serial number support.apple.com/ru-ru/HT204347
Checking the serial number checkcoverage.apple.com/ru/ru
Detailed specifications of all Apple devices www.everymac.com/systems/ apple / index-apple-specs-applespec.html
Determining the number of charge cycles for Apple laptop batteries support.apple.com/en-us/HT201585
Creating a bootable installer for OS X (how to make a USB flash drive with the OS X installer) support.apple.com/en-us/HT201372
SYSTEM_PROFILER developer.apple.com/library/mac/documentation/Darwin/Reference/ManPages/man8 /system_profiler.8.html
Announcement:
That is, the announcement proposes the top model MacBook Pro “Core i7” 2.9 13 ”Mid-2012 (MD102). In reality, it turned out to be the MacBook Pro“ Core 2 Duo ”2.66 13” Mid-2010 (MC375) - 4 GB RAM, 500 GB HDD. The power supply was new.
We met with the seller in the shopping center, especially near the outlet, so that I could drive the Apple Hardware Test. Mac OS X 10.9.5 was installed on the laptop. Keep in mind that a full scan may require the Internet.
What I want to add to the wonderful rule post above:
1. Checking the serial number specified in the system properties (because the serial number was not on the case) showed that this is really a mid 2012 model
at home, after reinstalling the OS, a different serial number was displayed in the system properties number and it turned out:
In this case, in the section "About Mac" it was still indicated "mid-2012" - that is, a laptop was normally kidnapped before the sale.
Important: if you carefully look at the instructions for Applesupport.apple.com/ru-ru/HT204347 then the lack of a serial on the case should have been alarming. The mid 2012 model has a serial on the case.
UPD It turned out that the bottom of the laptop was very neatly sealed with self-adhesive foil “under aluminum” so I did not see the serial.
2. I did not attach importance to the following phrase of the author: “in this screenshot it is clear that in the detailed information there is no information about the processor, memory and disks. I did not pay attention to this - this is my mistake number 1. " This is true, the first and surest sign of deception.
3. To check the hard drive, I tried to run Disk utility, but could not. Having entered the program folder, I saw that Disk utility is crossed out and at startup it displays a message about the impossibility of working - that is, you have to reinstall the operating system. You just had to go to the root in Finder and look at the properties of the disk, but I did not realize it. The volume label was 750 GB HDD and this was confusing. The disk properties turned out to be 500 GB.
4. The author points out the errors of the console command "system_profiler", but on my copy of the laptop I did not notice such errors. Or maybe he was not looking there.
5. One of the main ambushes - Apple Hardware Test does not work by pressing D when you turn on the device. I was completely unprepared for such a situation, while I did not know the other basic keyboard shortcuts for controlling a computer before loading the OS. Later, I tried on my home iMac mid 2010 - the same thing, when you press D, nothing just happens. Being at home, I took advantage of the Apple Hardware Test option via the Internet - for this you need to hold Alt + D after turning it on. But this option may also not work. For example, on my home Internet, an Internet test gives the 3404D error on both a laptop and an iMac. Judging by the documentation support.apple.com/en-us/HT201257you need to prudently bring along Applications Install Disc 2 or a USB stick from the MacBook Air Software Reinstall Drive and download the Apple Hardware Test from them.
Apple Hardware Test can be downloaded here github.com/upekkha/AppleHardwareTest
There's also instructions on how to make a USB flash drive. This option is significantly faster in terms of labor than creating a bootable USB flash drive with OS X, but less universal. If you use a test from the wrong model, then upon startup it will give an error that this computer is not supported.
And with a bootable USB flash drive with OS X, having run system_profiler, you can find out exactly which model is in front of you.
For myself, I developed the following recipe:
- Prepare a USB flash drive (SD card) in advance with the OS X installer support.apple.com/en-us/HT201372 Or use a bootable DVD with Mac OS X.
- We insert the USB flash drive into the laptop and reboot, press Alt to select the boot option and boot from the USB flash drive.
- We end up in OS X Utilities. In the Utilities menu, select Terminal.
- Next, use the system_profiler command. The work of the system_profiler command takes some time, take your time. The output is a trash of text in which you can find the information you need. By the command "system_profiler -listDataTypes" you can see the names of individual sections of information. If you use the "system_profiler" command with these keys, you can firstly significantly reduce the amount of information displayed, and secondly, it will speed up the utility.
Even the simplest option allows you to immediately detect fraud. If you add sections about memory and disks, you get exhaustively 6. If the option with reinstalling the operating system is appropriate for all parties (this is still a tangible time), then there is another option besides reinstalling via the Internet Install from a USB stick. Convenient in case there is no suitable Internet channel. Naturally, the preparation of such a flash drive needs to be attended to in advance. The story is not over yet. The seller did not answer the call and SMS. If the situation does not change tomorrow morning, we will write a statement to the police. On Avito, I saw a few more similar ads in style, so this phenomenon seems to be very common. Be careful! Memo:
system_profiler SPHardwareDataType
system_profiler SPHardwareDataType SPMemoryDataType SPSerialATADataType
History of "success" with an indication of the main points geektimes.ru/post/157969
How to use the Apple Hardware Test support.apple.com/ru-ru/HT201257
Hot keys before loading the OS support.apple.com/ru-ru/HT201255
Apple Hardware Test can be downloaded here github.com/upekkha/AppleHardwareTest
How to find the serial number support.apple.com/ru-ru/HT204347
Checking the serial number checkcoverage.apple.com/ru/ru
Detailed specifications of all Apple devices www.everymac.com/systems/ apple / index-apple-specs-applespec.html
Determining the number of charge cycles for Apple laptop batteries support.apple.com/en-us/HT201585
Creating a bootable installer for OS X (how to make a USB flash drive with the OS X installer) support.apple.com/en-us/HT201372
SYSTEM_PROFILER developer.apple.com/library/mac/documentation/Darwin/Reference/ManPages/man8 /system_profiler.8.html