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OP and current status here: https://forums.macresource.com/read.php?...sg-2652836
... I've now made two full clones/backups, updated Time Machine, and copied specifically important files to another machine.
I also ran Apple Diagnostics -- that came out clean -- and Internet Recovery / Disk Utility (as suggested in the original thread), and that too came out clean.
So far, the things I've noticed that are odd since it was able to reboot: 1) Still having some issues with the USB flaking out (it took forever to make the full clones, because it kept disconnecting the backup/target drives during the cloning process) -- but I can't say for 100% sure it's the USB ports and not my cabling or USB enclosures); 2) Occasionally I'm seeing some slight video weirdness, but not the same as what caused me to send it in for previous service.
So the followup questions I posed in that update are still applicable (slight modified questions now):
1) Should I do anything in terms of backups, beyond what I've already done?
2) Should I continue to try to use it?
3) Any particular tests I should try to run on it, other than the ones I've mentioned above?
4) Should I still send this in to the mothership?
Damned peculiar, this.
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1) what else besides good backups??? use at least 2 different methods, (TM and CCC) and 2 drives for each
2) Why not
3) You don't have access to the same tools an Apple Genius has, so I think you did your best
4) Why not. They may be able to run a more advanced test than you have access to (see 3 above).
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space-time wrote:
1) what else besides good backups??? use at least 2 different methods, (TM and CCC) and 2 drives for each
I've already got the two CCC clones, but two TM backups ??? Isn't that overkill, and/or how do you set up TM to use two different drives?
space-time wrote:
2) Why not
I'm typing from it now. The issue is that I'd already set up the repair ... I wonder what happens if I take awhile to send it in.
space-time wrote: 3) You don't have access to the same tools an Apple Genius has, so I think you did your best
It'd be helpful if there were something to specifically test the USB ports and video card. AHT used to do this and specifically report on it (but they replaced it with Apple Diagnostics, which is considerably more opaque).
space-time wrote: 4) Why not. They may be able to run a more advanced test than you have access to (see 3 above).
True... it just means I'll be out of use of the machine for about a week. So I'd rather not send it in, if it's really not necessary.
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It won't be necessary to send it in until it flakes out again, and it likely will.
I'd send it with a note explaining what happened, what you did, and the results. Mention everything, USB, shutdown, video. The more info they have, the more likely it will get fixed. I always put notes between the screen and keyboard where it is guaranteed to be seen.
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Ugh, hate on-and-off again hardware issues. Just like cars, it never makes that noise for the mechanic. I'd rather the thing burst into flames, then there's no question it needs to be fixed.
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Acer wrote:
Ugh, hate on-and-off again hardware issues. Just like cars, it never makes that noise for the mechanic. I'd rather the thing burst into flames, then there's no question it needs to be fixed.
Yes, which is why I'm thinking I should stress-test it. An article I found suggests to run the app Heaven for a long time/repeatedly to stress the video, not sure what I could be doing to test the USB... maybe continuous read-writes to USB flash drives?
Edit: it also occurs to me that it could have been a problem with the port I was using to charge with? From our sponsors: https://eshop.macsales.com/blog/61253-po...ight-side/
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Apple Diagnostics won't be able to see anything wrong if it's a power-related hardware problem. Either it has power or it doesn't. I don't think it will be able to diagnose an intermittent USB problem either unless it happens to be acting up during the test--and even then, maybe not.
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AllGold wrote:
Apple Diagnostics won't be able to see anything wrong if it's a power-related hardware problem. Either it has power or it doesn't. I don't think it will be able to diagnose an intermittent USB problem either unless it happens to be acting up during the test--and even then, maybe not.
Long ago, AHT used to be able to tell you if you had a malfunctioning port -- I know, because I'd gotten that as an error message on some older hardware ... I recall getting error messages about either USB or Firewire ports.
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Run the diagnostic with every USB peripheral hooked up you can lay hands on.
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PeterB wrote:
I've already got the two CCC clones, but two TM backups ??? Isn't that overkill, and/or how do you set up TM to use two different drives?
Set up the second drive as you would the 1st in the Time Machine prefs.
It will prompt you asking whether to replace the 1st drive or keep both.
With 2 backup drives/destinations, if both are attached/available throughout the day then it will alternate between them. Instead of backing up to drive #1 every hour or so it will back up to drive #1 after an hour and then drive #2 on the next hour.
If you were inclined to do so, you could set up both a local backup to a directly-attached external hard drive and a network-backup to a drive tied to a desktop-Mac.
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