What if my hard drive is making noises?

Hard drives make several different noises including clicks and rotational sounds even when healthy, but a loud clicking sound that you haven’t heard before is not a good sign. When you start to hear a loud clicking noise in conjunction with your computer not turning on, or crashing, then there is probably something mechanically wrong with your drive and your data is in jeopardy. If you can easily back up your drive, you can try to do so, but it is possible to further damage the drive. The best option is to turn of your machine and bring the computer into us for service.

What if I get a flashing question mark upon boot up?

A flashing question mark means that your computer cannot find the software it needs to start up. There is a possibility that this is a sign of drive failure. If your data is not already backed up, the first thing you should do is boot into target disk mode (hold down the “t” key while restarting your machine) and then transfer your data to another computer, using a firewire cable.

If you are not able to reliably access your files, you might have a damaged hard drive. In this case you should shut down your machine and bring it in to us for diagnostics. If you were able to back up all your necessary data, you can try reinstalling your operating system: take the installer CD/DVD that came with your machine (or a retail copy of OS X), and boot from the disc by inserting it into the machine, turning the machine off, and then booting it up holding down the C key. From there you can follow the instructions on the screen. Choose ‘Archive & Install’ from the Options screen in the installer.

If your system still can’t boot up, you should bring your machine in to us for diagnostics.

What if I get a black dialog box telling me to restart my machine in many languages?

This is called a kernel panic. A kernel panic may occur when your operating system receives a message in an unexpected format, or if the computer is unable to recover from any type of issue. The issues that cause kernel panics can be caused by damaged or incompatible software, or possibly from damaged or incompatible hardware. When you get a kernel panic you will need to restart your machine. If the problem persists, bring the machine down for service, making sure to note exactly when the problem occurs. If your computer is under Apple’s warranty, and the problem is with the hardware, then the cost of the repair will be covered.

What if my computer doesn’t turn on?

This might sound simple, but first, make sure your computer is plugged in, and the keyboard is connected. On a laptop, make sure your battery has power by hitting the button on the bottom of it. If there is power, a series of lights will light up.

If you’ve checked all the above, it could be an issue with the power supply or the logic board. In that event, bring your computer to Digital Society and let us diagnose the problem.

What if I spill something on my laptop?

Opps. That’s not good. First, immediately shut off your computer, unplug it and disconnect anything that is connected to it (i.e. camera, iPod, printer, scanner, etc.). Remove the battery, and lay the computer upside down on a towel or copious paper towels. Let as much of the liquid drip out as possible. Do not use a hair dryer or shake your computer around, as that will only make the problem worse. Just let your laptop sit for a day or so and wait for it to dry. Do not turn your computer back on. Then, bring it to Digital Society and let us know what spilled.

Liquid damage is not covered under warranty or AppleCare, although you may have insurance that covers this through your business or home insurance or your credit card company.

What if I spill something on my keyboard?

First, turn your computer off, unplug the keyboard and turn it upside down on a towel or paper towels. Let as much of the liquid drip out as possible. Do not use a hair dryer or shake it around, as that will only make the problem worse. After a day or so, go ahead and plug the keyboard back in. It may be fine now. If not, luckily keyboards are not terribly expensive. New Apple keyboards start at $49 with other brands available for less.

What if my computer beeps on startup?

One beep – no RAM installed
Two beeps – mismatched RAM
Three beeps – RAM test failed
Four beeps – problem with logic board
Five beeps – bad processor

If you experience any of these beeps, bring your computer to Digital Society for diagnostics.

What if I drop my machine?

If you have the misfortune of accidentally dropping your computer, and you haven’t backed up your data, you should try to back up you data. After completion of backup, bring your computer in for diagnostics at Digital Society. We can tell you what damage, if any, has been done. Do not try to diagnose your in-warranty computer, as it will invalidate your warranty. ***I don’t get this sentence

What if my battery no longer charges?

If your computer is under warranty, under most circumstances your battery will be replaced. If your computer is out of warranty, you will simply need to purchase another battery. If your computer is under AppleCare, bring your battery in for testing. A battery has a certain amount or life, and if the battery is consumed, you will need to purchase a new battery. If the battery is not consumed and has a hardware issue, it will probably be covered under warranty.

What if I get a white screen on startup?

This can be a hard drive issue or an operating system issue. While you have the option of reinstalling your system, if your hard drive is failing without your knowledge, you run the risk of damaging your data. It is best to turn off your computer and bring it in to Digital Society for a diagnosis.

What if my CD or DVD won’t eject?

Shut down the machine and then reboot holding down the track pad button on your laptop or mouse button on your desktop. If it still does not eject, then you most likely have a hardware issue and should bring your computer in for diagnosis.

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