How can I learn about repairing Apple devices or Mac computers?

There are countless Youtube videos available and also sites such as iFixit.com has resources. You can also use:

https://eshop.macsales.com/installvideos too.

However to properly learn how to repair Macs you may want to consider working at an Apple Authorized Service Provider where you can get proper training and knowledge. What you described above was very likely some hacker that just hacked away and installed an illegal version of Mac OS on an obsolete device. Those are subjects that will not be discussed on these forums as they violate the Terms of Use we all agree to. You can look over the Terms of Use for these forums by clicking the link at the bottom of this webpage.

I’d say YouTube is an overall great resource. No one particular channel, but search specifically for which Apple model and part you are looking to repair/replace and see what videos pop up.

But for sure the computers of the 90’s and early 2000s were the best for tinkering at home. Modern computers with their systems-on-chips, smaller enclosures with little to no accessibility for the average user at home, all offer little to no ability to repair/replace at home. Although I am curious where the “right to repair” bill/law stands right now? I heard a couple years ago that Apple was going to make it easier and provide more resources for at home repairs.

Emmett_1944 wrote:

Why is it if I search Amazon for "how to build a computer" I get a long list of books? But for Apple there is none. Does Windows not care who uses Windows?

Apple has always controlled the Mac operating system, and these days, they control the microprocessors Macs use, as well. There was a brief period when Apple allowed cloning. But only a brief period.

When IBM came out with the IBM PC, they could have built their own microprocessor, and written their own OS. Had they done so, and kept those things to themselves, they would still own the PC market today. But IBM was apparently unconcerned with the possibility of cloning. They bought off-the-shelf microprocessors from Intel – and made a deal with Microsoft that let Microsoft sell MS-DOS to other vendors. Few 8-bit personal computers could run each other's software without modification – even if you were talking about a program that was written in BASIC, and the machines in question were all running variants of Microsoft BASIC. So maybe IBM thought the market for computers (other than IBM PCs) that ran MS-DOS would be equally fragmented.

As it turned out, the PC was easily cloned. Once someone figured out how to clone the BIOS, just about all the other parts could be bought off-the-shelf from vendors who were eager to sell their components to any and all box builders.

Intel, AMD, and Microsoft made out like bandits. They got paid no matter whose box you bought. Box builders such as IBM, Compaq, Gateway 2000, Packard Bell got to beat each other's brains out.

IBM tried to regain control of the PC market with the Microchannel bus and the OS/2 operating system at some point, but it didn't take. Eventually, IBM gave up on their PC business, selling the business to Lenovo because it was not profitable enough.

M5Marco wrote:

I heard a couple years ago that Apple was going to make it easier and provide more resources for at home repairs.

Apple has a Self Service Repair program "intended for individuals with the knowledge and experience to repair electronic devices." That would not include most home users.

Self Service Repair - Apple Support

Out of curiosity, I downloaded the repair manual for my iPhone 12 mini. After looking through that, and seeing all of what is involved in servicing such a miniaturized device, I would be in no hurry to repair mine. But I like having the manual. (I also have a Haynes "service manual" for the Klingon Bird of Prey. If the Klingons actually existed, and had me work on their warp engines, they would soon discover that "Today is a good day to die!")

Not sure what that last sentence means, " Does Windows not care who uses Windows?"

If you want to learn how to build a computer, I'd recommend that you build yourself a MS Windows machine as you cannot build your own Mac.

Emmett_1944 wrote:

The thing is I have been a very long time Apple user and would like to learn how apple computers work. My experience with windows was terrible.

There is a lot more to learning how a computer works than just learning how to bolt together a motherboard, CPU, graphics card, drive, power supply, case, operating system, and applications pre-assembled for you by somebody else.

Most of the interesting stuff has to do with basic operating principles, or with design. Ultimately this can involve a lot of areas, including

• Mathematics
• Computer Science
• Software Engineering
• Human Interface Design
• Electrical Engineering
• Physics and Material Engineering
• Artificial Intelligence

Emmett_1944 wrote:

Still, I'd be interested to know what is in there and how it works.

If you are interested in learning how to program for Macs, there is the Swift Playground app. There's also Xcode – though that's more of a full-blown development environment for people who already have development skills.

Swift Playground - Apple Developer

Xcode - Apple Developer

Here's one place to find documentation on the services that macOS provides to applications.

Apple Developer

Emmett_1944 wrote:

No doubt you are right. I guess it makes no sense to build a PC. For the same price I can get a decent iPad.

If you want a PC, get a PC.

If you want to order a "white-box" PC from a vendor who will let you exercise a lot of control over parts selection, do that. For example, Puget Systems is a fairly well known high-end box builder. Expect to pay not just for parts, but for their expertise. There are other "white box" builders whose prices may be lower – maybe even "brick and mortar" ones in your own community. Once upon a time the clone market supported so many vendors that there was an advertising magazine called "Computer Shopper" whose monthly issues were the size of several large city phone books. Those days are long gone, but some "white box" cloners live on.

If you want to put together a Wintel PC from parts, instead of buying a preassembled one or going to a "white box" vendor, like almost everyone else, then do so. Note that if you do this, and something goes wrong, you may enjoy the fun experience of all of the component vendors pointing fingers at each other, while you are the one who is on the hook to figure out where the conflicts and/or defects actually lie. If you are expecting to get away with paying a lot less money for components than you would for a pre-assembled PC (that has the same components), you'll probably be sadly disappointed.

You may learn something about building a desktop PC from pre-assembled parts, and about troubleshooting one. Just don't confuse this with broader and deeper knowledge about how computers work.

Hello~ Excellent information.

~Katana-San~

Your welcome.