(Part 2) Top products from r/MacOS

ex Apple Genius here... Hope some of this helps.

• Get this book for a start: https://www.amazon.com/macOS-Support-Essentials-10-12-Troubleshooting/dp/0134713850/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1497477151&sr=1-1&keywords=macos+support+essentials+10.12
  
  
• Make a diagnostic drive. Get work to buy you a few portable external hard drives. (I like LaCie) Install the latest 3 versions of macOS on their own partitions (~32GB each) and leave the rest to a "Free Space" partition. When troubleshooting a Mac, the first thing you should do is boot the machine from one of the "known good" OSes on your diagnostic drive and check if the issue persists. That tells you if the issue is hardware or software.
  
  
• If you've determined the issue is software, you can usually divide it into a System issue or a User issue. Create a new user on the system and check if the issue persists on the new user. If so, it's a system issue. If the problem goes away, it's a user issue. System-wide settings generally live in /Library/Preferences/. User settings live here (mostly): /Users/username/Library/.
  
  
• Make an installer drive. Use createinstallmedia to make an external HD full of all the different OS installers you need. Learn how to NetInstall macOS if you need to deploy on a lot of machines.
  
  
• Malicious software usually has to be installed as a Launch Agent or Launch Daemon in order to run when a Mac boots. Learn how they work, how to find them and how to destroy them. https://developer.apple.com/library/content/documentation/MacOSX/Conceptual/BPSystemStartup/Chapters/CreatingLaunchdJobs.html. Also learn about LoginItems & StartupItems.
  
  
• Learn the boot process of a Mac. https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204156 and the startup modes https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201255
  
  
• Make sure every computer you touch is backed up!
  
  
• Learn the Terminal. (bash) if you don't know it already.
  
  
• Get a developer account for early access to beta software.
  
  
• Get decent tools (Wiha) and anti-static gear.
  
  
• Take hardware problems to the Genius Bar, especially if your company is gonna pay for it. They'll usually have better diagnostics than the Mac has built in. It also rules out the possibility of you breaking a computer when trying to fix it. (edit: also a great excuse to get out of the office)
  
  
• Use Google. Chances are someone's has had your problem before. Google is also a great way to search support.apple.com
  
  
• Be excellent to each other.
  
  
• Party on dudes.

Sorry... I'm an old jaded IT guy. I can't help it sometimes.

I'd recommend going with an external SSD, but thunderbolt 1 enclosures are becoming hard to find, and I think USB3 might be a bit too painful for a VM.

Instead, I'd probably steer you towards upgrading the internal SSD, which is still thankfully an option on this model. Check out the kits at OWC.. This is a very easy upgrade to do yourself and be sure to get the kit, which includes an enclosure for the old SSD; this makes for an easy migration.

Good luck.

If you don't mind a hardware solution there are forensic write blockers, like when you have to absolutely keep something 100% read-only. Like this one below is not too expensive and appears to be enabled/disabled easily.

(this one is for hard drives)

https://www.amazon.com/Coolgear-SATA-Adapter-Write-Protect-Selection/dp/B005C55OYA

​

If you are looking for USB there are some great solutions out there, but here is a great DIY one:

https://www.instructables.com/id/Cheap-and-Effective-USB-Write-Blocker/

I have a 15" 2011 MBP that is my daily driver. I replaced the drive and memory with the following:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00OBRFFAS/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008LTBJFW/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Hope that helps. Good luck.

Ok so I made a new user and still encountered the same problem. I'm thinking it definitely has something to do with the layout of the keyboard (model).

The integrated keyboard on the MBP works fine still if that makes any difference. Pretty frustrating but thanks anyways for the help!

Display Support:Dual DisplaysResolution Support:1920x1200*

Details:*This model simultaneously supports 1920x1200 on an HDMI display or a DVI display using the included HDMI-to-DVI adapter and 2560x1600 on a Thunderbolt or Mini DisplayPort display or even a VGA display (with an optional Mini DisplayPort-to-VGA adapter, which is compatible with the Thunderbolt port).

2nd Display Support:Dual/Mirroring*2nd Max. Resolution:2560x1600*

Details:*This model simultaneously supports 1920x1200 on an HDMI or a DVI display (using the included HDMI-to-DVI adapter) and 2560x1600 on a Thunderbolt or Mini DisplayPort display or even a VGA display (with an optional Mini DisplayPort-to-VGA adapter, which is compatible with the Thunderbolt port).

Source: https://everymac.com/systems/apple/mac_mini/specs/mac-mini-core-i5-2.5-late-2012-specs.html

Given the ports on this monitor, which appear to be mDP (1), DP (2), HDMI (1), your options seem to be to use a mDP <> DP cable or adapter to get the full benefit. The HDMI Port (HDMI <> HDMi) would give you 1920x1200 but a mDP port would give you up to 2500x1600 or in this case, 2560 x 1440. HDMI ports in the newer model Minis can drive higher resolution (5k I believe) because they are HDMI 1.4 or 2.0, but the '12 model uses an older 1.2 or 1.3 HDMI standard. So, maybe something like this.

Do you have a SD card slot in that macbook? You could double or even triple your storage capacity with some nice slimline type adaptors - something like this: https://www.amazon.com/8MOBILITY-Aluminum-MicroSD-Storage-Adapter/dp/B00TTFOFEO

Have you thought about factory resetting your macbook? It's a little painful to set it up again, but you'll have lots of free space afterwards - this is the nuclear option, but guaranteed to work!

Any particular enclosure I should be looking at? I suppose it makes a difference? I see some for $15 like this: ORICO 2588US3 Tool Free Screw-Less USB 3.0 2.5-inch External Hard Drive Enclosure Adapter Case for HDD SSD SATA Drive - Black https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B00IWOZAAQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_YLfRzbZ3RES9N

The Apple keyboard isn't shit, but it's not mechanical and you can have FAR better for only $30 more, the Das Keyboard.

macOS Support Essentials

Learning the bash Shell

Learning Unix for OS X

UNIX and Linux System Administration Handbook

What's New in macOS

(edit: ...if that's what you're going for)

To be honest, I turned off the second external monitor last week because I decided I just couldn't stand Dell's lousy pixels anymore. Still, I had no problems whatsoever for the couple of months I ran with three screens. I don't use anything special; if it can help, the cable connected to 4k is this -- after frying both the Iiyama cable and an Ibra in the first 3 months, this one has been ok for almost a year. To the Dell I used the included DVI cable via the displayport adapter.

On amazon there are some low-end brands that cost around €30for 256gb.

Here is one: https://www.amazon.de/dp/B0093RN1OS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_gE6NDb9CCAT08

But this is in Germany!

All C cables support data, but there is a wide range of speeds. Try grabbing one of these 3.1 Gen 2: https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B072JYDQ7N/ref=cm_sw_r_em_apa_i_azVWDbP2BTNYB

You'll notice commonly the cable is thicker, 3ft is the max length, and the tips are longer than normal.

I believe you need an external sound card or audio interface, there are lots of choices on amazon, here is one

https://www.amazon.ca/gp/aw/d/B000KW2YEI/ref=mp_s_a_1_25?ie=UTF8&qid=1496506004&sr=8-25&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=audio+interface&dpPl=1&dpID=41IUcFvupvL&ref=plSrch

It's triple channel 3x2 DDR3, so it's not "a 6GB DIMM" it's 3 2GB chips.https://www.amazon.com/Corsair-TR3X6G1600C8D-Dominator-PC3-12800-1600MHz/dp/B001L4A76G

> Where are you getting this stuff?

It's printed on the chips.

Keyboard tray and Riser

I use the Uhuru slim rechargeable bluetooth mouse and the anker mini bluetooth keyboard (also rechargeable). No need for batteries, charges last a very long time. Both are low profile units and can store in a bag without adding much bulk.

Haven't had issues with pairing/connection stability/quality.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B019MR4Y3U/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1478470815&sr=8-1&pi=SY200_QL40&keywords=uhuru+rechargeable+bluetooth+3.0+mouse&dpPl=1&dpID=31wQPAszT9L&ref=plSrch

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00PIMKN1Q/ref=mp_s_a_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1478470853&sr=8-6&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=anker+mini+bluetooth+keyboard&dpPl=1&dpID=41sMx-tiFdL&ref=plSrch