Where can I find tutorials and more information for my computer?
Apple’s Web site contains hundreds of tutorials on everything Mac.
New Mac users: http://www.apple.com/support/mac101/
Switching from PC to Mac: http://www.apple.com/support/switch101/
iLife ‘09: http://www.apple.com/ilife/tutorials/#iphoto
iWork ‘09: http://www.apple.com/iwork/tutorials/#pages
How’s my AppleCare Warranty doing?
Swing by Apple’s Online Service Assistant to find out. To get the serial number of your computer, go to the Apple Menu>About This Mac>More Info…
How do I get Windows on my Mac?
You’ve got two basic options:
The Boot Camp Utility comes on your Mac, and is found in Applications>Utilities. Boot Camp is a tool designed to partition and format a portion of your hard drive and then install another operating system to that partition. The end result is, when you reboot your Mac, holding down the “Option” key when it starts up will give you the option of choosing which operating system you’d like to use. Without holding “Option” your computer will automatically boot into whichever operating system you were using last.
Parallels Desktop and VMWare Fusion are two software solutions that each accomplish the same task. What these programs do is emulate a virtual computer within your native operating system. The end result is that you can open up the software and run Windows, do whatever tasks you need to, and then close the software without ever restarting your computer. These softwares both also feature the option of running Windows and OSX simultaneously as part of a unified desktop, with the Windows task bar on the bottom and the OSX menu bar on the top (you’ll want to put your dock on one of the sides).
Which solution is best for me?
Boot Camp: Gamers/any heavy graphics users (Photoshop, AutoCAD) and people looking to use Windows-compatible peripherals with their Mac.
Parallels/VMWare: People who only need to use Windows for the occasional task, or those who want to use both operating systems simultaneously.
iPods
Please note that we do not service iPods at our location. If you are having problems with your iPod, go through the following pointers to get it up and running again.
1. Connect
All iPods and iPhones are set up through iTunes. First connect your iPod to your computer via USB to configure your music, movies, podcasts, pictures, applications and more.
2. Restart
If your iPod appears to not be responding or is frozen, hold the center button and the menu button at the same time for more than 5 seconds to restart the iPod with a click wheel. For iPhones and iPod Touches, hold the power and the home button for for more than 5 seconds to force a shutdown. Continue to hold these buttons until you see the startup screen.
3. Restore
Still having trouble? Connect your iPod to iTunes and attempt a restore. This will erase all your data from the iPod and set it up as new.
4. Research
If you are having trouble with your iPod, check Google or another search engine with your symptoms, there is a good chance others are having the same problem and have listed solutions.
5. Return
If your iPod is still not working and your are covered under the AppleCare Protection Plan, call 1-800-APL-CARE. If you are not, still call, although repairs charges will be assessed.
Data
It is extremely important to back up your data with an external hard drive. If your computer’s hard drive fails, you will still have your data stored externally, which can save you time and money. You can use any external hard drive to back up your data manually with Time Machine, or you can use Apple’s Time Capsule, which acts both as a hard drive and wireless base station to wirelessly back up your data automatically.
More information on Time Capsule.
Data Recovery
Illini Apple Center’s Knowledge Base can attempt to recover data from a damaged hard disk from your computer for a fee. If little or no data is recovered, we do not charge the fee.
We also use an external service called DriveSavers if we cannot recover the data ourselves. Our customers can get a 10% discount on DriveSavers by using the discount code DS19623. DriveSavers’ number is (800) 440-1904.
Virus Protection
Mac OS X comes with a good firewall which prevents trojans and malware from being installed without your permission. Using Apple’s firewall and moderate browsing habits are all you need to protect yourself on a Mac.
If you are still concerned with virus protection, we do sell anti-virus software in the store. Come in to discuss virus protection with one of our retail specialists.
AppleCare Protection Plan
Apple’s protection plan allows for phone support and extended 3-year coverage for Macs. Click here to learn more about AppleCare. We sell AppleCare at the education price in the store and at the Knowledge Base.
Trade-ins and Recycling
At this time, we do not offer incentives for trade-ins in our store. However, we will recycle old computers and iPods safely for you if you bring them to our location.
What do I do if I spill something on my computer?
If you spill liquid on your computer, you may only have a few moments to save yourself hundreds of dollars.
First, unplug the machine and take out the battery. The faster you can get all power off, the better chance the computer will survive. Dry any noticeable wetness.
We recommend you leave your machine in a dry place with constant air flowing through from a fan or heater vent for at least 4 days propped like a tent if it's a laptop or upside down if it is a desktop/keyboard/etc. If at the end of that time everything appears dry, go ahead and turn it back on. If it does not come on, schedule an appointment with our service center.
Where can I get help with my HP printer/scanner?
The best place to find support and help, including up-to-date drivers, is HP's support site, which includes information on the multifunction printer/scanner/copiers from Illini Apple Center.
If you'd prefer support from a local authorized repair center, please contact Lazers Edge.
