I need "ASD 3s156.dmg" to hardware test my MacBook Air 13" (2014)

Read this article: Use Apple Diagnostics to test your Mac - Apple Support

I tried reading it to see what it says but Apple recently changed something on this web site that means that High Sierra cannot render certain sections of its documentation and to me it looks like I am missing something about how to start diagnostics.

GodspeII wrote:

please tell me if you have it

The people replying here are pretty much exclusively other users like yourself, so we won't have it unless we happen to have an identical model Mac.

I don't know much about ASD but to me it sounds like MrHoffman is suggesting your computer is trying to connect to Apple to get it, and is failing to do that. Part of your solution is resolving that issue. As far as I know, Apple doesn't keep those kind of things available for direct download from a web link.

Since it is Apple software I would get in trouble for posting a link here and my post would be deleted. They won't let us provide links to their software hosted on third party web sites. Using the information you provided earlier though, it took me about 60 seconds to find it.

The -2002F error is usually a failure to connect to the Apple servers.

Command-Option-P-R to reset NVRAM, then try booting diagnostics or recovery again.

It’s also possible your router is filtering DNS, or is somehow providing problematic DNS. (Details)

GodspeII wrote:

• NO! the problem is not about start up or internet connection like you mentioned. Forget about the picture, what I need is that ASD specific to my Mac model... I need it to:

1) diagnose my MBA to know exactly which sensor (XXXX) is causing the SMC Chip assume there is a heating problem sense it's not receiving the report from 1 or multiple sensors... this means it will try to:

down-clock the CPU 1.4GHz >> 0.4GHz) and also causing it to keep the Fan at 100% rpm.

2) give me the malfunctioning sensor's reference number/code (XXXX) and I will look it up in the schematic pdfs of my Mac model... that way I can know where it'd located on the Logic Board and then know exactly if it's something I can do myself or look for a more experienced person with the right expertise.

Just it case I already tried isolating the problems through disconnecting all possible cables on the logic board one by one and in combinations but the fans were still going at 100%, I also, tried replacing the Battery and I/O board with perfectly functioning replacements from my other Mac which is the exact same model... but unfortunately it still didn't do the trick, so I knew for sure that the problem was due to sensors after diagnosing the CPU and Fans behaviour post a full inspection of the logic board's peripherals (cables, connected parts)

The ONLY missing thing is to run ASD for my mac's model and figure out the sensor that's causing the issue on the Logic Board...

Ps. resetting NVRAM and erasing the disk and these basic steps are first thing I did so please help me find the ASD 3s156.dmg image. 🙏🏻

We only know what you tell us here. Steps that you may have performed but omitted mention can mean you’ll get those suggestions again.

The NVRAM reset is to clear all saved network settings, settings that can potentially cause network connectivity issues on wired and wireless connections, including when booting diagnostics. The -2xxx series errors tend to be network issues. The NVRAM data is part of what is used to connect to the network when booting diagnostics or recovery. The NVRAM reset can trigger a prompt for network access data, if things are working well enough to prompt.

As for this MacBookAir6,2 A1466, that model did not ship with bootable diagnostics disks (Apple Hardware Test), and used the online diagnostics Apple Diagnostics.

Access to Apple Service Diagnostics is generally restricted, and any non-Apple downloads may well be somewhere between problematic, and malware.

Self-service diagnostics are here: https://getsupport.apple.com/self-service-diagnostics (that may not be available worldwide-wide.)

Contact Apple Support and get it looked at. Or given it is ~11 years old, and is considered obsolete by Apple, replace it.

https://getsupport.apple.com/self-service-diagnostics

Diagnostics require devices using iOS 17 or later, iPadOS 17 or later, or macOS 14.1 or later.

Can a 2014 MBA run macOS 14? I know the 2013 MBPs topped out at 11.

Limnos wrote:

https://getsupport.apple.com/self-service-diagnostics

Diagnostics require devices using iOS 17 or later, iPadOS 17 or later, or macOS 14.1 or later.

Can a 2014 MBA run macOS 14? I know the 2013 MBPs topped out at 11.

FYI, the Self Service Repair and the diagnostics for those repairs are only for the M-series Macs AFAIK. I'm not even sure all M-series Macs are supported, although I think I was assisting someone for a 2020 Air a while back who was in the middle of a Self Service Repair.

Incidentally, I did find a copy in the wild, so to say, without much trouble. Of course you then have to trust the source.

I'm not aware of anywhere to download a Service Diagnostic. Even if I knew, the moderators here would likely remove the link or the entire post or even the entire thread.

If you run the Apple Diagnostics (consumer version), then you will get a code which may narrow it down although not as definitive as the service diagnostics.

If you are looking at schematics, then I'm assuming you have some tech repair skills so you should closely examine all cable connections & boards for signs of liquid damage, and corrosion. Even liquid residue can provide clues to where the liquid may have gotten. In my own personal experience the I/O Board & I/O Cable connections tend to have liquid damage & corrosion as well as the Trackpad Cable connection on the Trackpad itself. And on the Logic Board, along the back edge is a very common area to have liquid damage. Of course liquid damage & corrosion could be anywhere, but these are the main areas you will see the majority of liquid damage & corrosion.

In my experience the sensors rarely go bad on their own.

FYI, not all third party batteries may provide the proper information to macOS.

GodspeII wrote:

so I tried pressing D or Command + D, but it didn't work, so I tried it with both Wi-Fi and Ethernet cable but it still didn't work.

Since I cannot get the entire Apple Support article to show to tell me how Apple says to do it, I'll refer you to this external page. I note that it has exact details that sound similar for all the different model Macs but there are some critical differences. Make sure you are following the instructions exactly for your model Mac.

https://www.wikihow.com/Run-Diagnostics-on-Mac

To get any thread on this forum to show posts in chronological order, go to the first reply and on the upper right it offers "Sort by:" I think the default is different from how most people think. You can also change this setting in your profile preferences.

GodspeII wrote:

ASD = Apple Diagnostic Service

I'm trying to access the apple diagnostics (consumer version ) but I couldn't no matter how I tried... so I opted for the second best (and ONLY) option which is to try and boot from "ASD 3s156.dmg" which is apple diagnostics for technicians. I know that the consumer version gives a reference code that will point me towards the problem, but unfortunately it does NOT work on my device no matter what I try! So, technician's version is the only other option.

What you are telling m, all are things I have already done and I mentioned in 2 earlier comments that I already did these things, so, are you perhaps asking me to do them again one more time or maybe you didn't notice the comments? (conversations are not in order so don't worry if you didn't see my comments)

I already have the schematics for my MacBook Air's Model, I do have enough repairing skills to isolate the problem by disconnecting all possible cables on the logic board one by one (and in combinations as well) but the fans were still going at 100% rpm.

Unfortunately disconnecting items on a Mac won't help for figuring out why the fan is running at high speed. On a Mac, if a temperature sensor is not communicating with the system, then the fan will run at high speed all the time.

Disconnecting items is only useful to diagnose a power on or boot issue.

and I knew for sure that the problem was due to sensors (caused by liquid damage) after diagnosing the CPU and the Fans behaviour post a full inspection of the logic board's peripherals (cables, connected parts)

Then where you have seen liquid residue and corrosion, is where you will most likely discover the damaged sensor or the damaged circuit for that sensor. The liquid trail can be a guide to know where it went across the system.

Keep in mind many of the chips have solder joints hidden beneath the chip itself so you won't be able to see that damage. You will need to analyze the circuitry involved with the various temp sensors on the MLB.

If you have the schematic, then see if you can get the Board View as well so you can match up items from the schematic to the physical board. You can use BoardView software to read the Board View file & match up with the schematic.

You should check out LouisR since he has motherboard repair videos, a forum where a tech can provide some tips, and even a Repair Wiki for assisting people for such things. Sorry, but again I cannot post links since Apple detests him and his Right to Repair movement and those links would get removed.

Tell me where I can find the Apple Service Diagnostic dmg image please! 🙏🏻

I already mentioned I am not aware of any links. I'm sure someone out there has them, but I don't know. Even if I had the link, the forum moderators would likely remove it so there is no point in posting it here. I don't even think that diagnostic even works for a 2014 Air...by that time Apple was transitioning to the online only service diagnostics.

@MrHoffman has provided assistance for accessing the consumer Apple Diagnostics. Those issues are usually network related.....could be you router, LAN, ISP, or local Internet. Unfortunately there are exact details to narrow down the issue since Apple doesn't provide any details on the failure. It is usually best to connect the Mac directly to the router using an Ethernet cable for a faster more reliable connection which bypasses difficult to troubleshoot WiFi issues. Of course, the liquid damage could be playing a part in not being able to access the online diagnostics.