For all of you Mac expert DUers ...so I have to figure out WTF

[cboy4]

is going on with my mini because, for some reason, the power won't come on. :eyes:

I found some documentation at the Apple site that may or may not help me.

But worst case scenario .. if I do have to go the tech support route :

(A) Do you think I should attempt tech support over the phone or should I bring it in .. say to the Apple store near my house? Maybe it doesn't matter, but maybe it would be cheaper over the phone??

Also

(B) Is there a cap on how much they charge for tech support on a computer?

I keep telling myself the music library I have stored is far more valuable than the computer itself .. so I'm willing to pay to retrieve it since I didn't back it up before (don't ask)

But I don't want to pay a million dollars to get a three year old computer fixed when I can use the money to get something new. Ughhh.

THANKS EVERYONE!!

[buzzycrumbhunger]

1. Condolences.

Tech support is really expensive (my nearest shop is like $150/hr, and I don't know they have a cap, but they're usually pretty cool about guesstimating low on the time actually spent), but IMHO, it's best in person. Sometimes, the guys will check stuff out and just tell me how to fix it myself, no charge. I don't know that you have something that's an easy fix, but they can retrieve your data and burn it to DVD for you (also not so cheap, but I bet they'd do it for free if you had to buy a new computer). I don't think phone support is cheap, but have only used it once within my AppleCare period.

For future reference, ALWAYS get an external drive to back up your shit. I've been burned enough that I actually have two (one for my Time Machine backups and one for paranoia--if money were not an issue, I'd have a RAID). Also, if you have an external case, you can stick your HD in it if it ever dies and often salvage your own data (to a new drive in the computer). I just bought a new 500 GB drive for $100, so they're not outrageous.

Good luck--hope it's something minor!

[cboy4]

2. Yea, I should be executed concerning the back-up, or more

accurately, the lack there of!

Fortunately to some degree, I have a lot of it (I copied over important documents, such as resumes, etc. -- and my photos) to my thumb drive.

But yea, things gradually got out of control .... I didn't really do anything as 10 songs became 20 and 50 became 100, etc :argh:

That's what I'm mostly concerned about: my music.

$150 hour!!!>>/gulp. But that sounds about right.

Is your nearest shop an Apple store/Apple expert?

Thanks a lot for your help. I really appreciate it buzzy.

Note to self: HARD DRIVE/back up next time! x(

[buzzycrumbhunger]

6. My "nearest" certified repair shop is 50 miles away.

Beyond that, the actual Apple store is in Tampa, 150 miles. *sigh* I used to think I lived in the armpit of America (IA), but FL is actually a worse in many ways.

I totally hear you on the music. I got a 60 GB iPod a couple years ago and I think I'm up to about 8500 songs. . . Gave up on saving them to CDs eons ago, but I suppose DVDs would be a smart move for long-term backup because I'd never get it all back.

Experience is a sucky teacher, huh?

[cboy4]

10. Yup. Live and learn .. a total kick in the gut....I would be in

some serious mourning if I fricken lost 8,500 songs!


Shiite!

[Lydia Leftcoast]

3. It may be something as simple as the battery having run down while

your power cord is damaged.

Take the machine to your nearest Apple Store and have them look at it. That should always be your first step.

[cboy4]

4. OK Thanks for you advice Lydia!

I was just trying to figure out whether to physically take it in or whether it could be addressed over the phone.

But thanks!

[NV Whino]

5. I don't know where you live, but the Apple geeks in my nearest store

don't like walk-ins. Call the Apple line. They will walk you through a few check points and then set up an appointment for you at the Apple store. (You will probably talk to someone in Canada. At least it isn't India or the Philippines. And they do know what they are talking about.)

It sounds like it is power supply related rather than hard drive related. Also, the Apple store will diagnose and give you an estimate on repairs before they charge you anything.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

7. Or you can make an appointment at your nearest Apple Store online

:-)

[LeftyMom]

8. Last time I went there the Apple store people at Teh Mall were rediculously helpful

and totally took care of a problem with my not-even-close-to-under-warranty ipod. Of course, that wasn't on a weekend right before Christmas, so I don't really know how they are when they're busy. But they're generally way helpful at that store, from what I've noticed.

[cboy4]

12. Oh that's good to know, although you're right ... they're

prolly swamped right now!

Not to mention I'l be put at the back of the line for have teh gay. HA

Hmmmmm, maybe I'll go in right when they open, and squeeze in before it gets busy.

I just dread the the verdict. I feel like I'm going in to make sure I don't have crabs or something.

[laconicsax]

9. Get a PC

:hi:


:rofl:

[cboy4]

11. Believe me, I have to ctl-alt-del my Windows laptop more

often than I have to dick around with the Mac.

And I'm not one of these people who brags about one brand over the other because it's not like I get a commission depending on what my friends and colleagues purchase.

The bottom line is I was a complete moran for not backing up my music and a couple software programs friends allowed to to *cough, cough* barrow.

[laconicsax]

14. So get a Mac to replace that one and a PC to replace the other one.

It only seems fair.

[meegbear]

13. Try resetting the Power Management Unit ...

1. Unplug all cables from the computer, including the power cord.
2. Wait 10 seconds.
3. Plug in the power cord while simultaneously pressing and holding the power button on the back of the computer.
4. Let go of the power button.
5. Press the power button once more to start up your Mac mini.

You can also try some of these other ideas I found on Teh Google ...
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&safe=off&q=apple+no+power+mini&btnG=Search