I'm popping down to the Sydney Apple Store's Genius Bar with a software problem. But I've customised my Mac — the Dock, the default wallpaper, the menu highlights, and the system icons. You know, the usual.

So if present them my MBP how it is, is the Genius going to look at me with that "you smartass" look and give me flack for it? The whole "you're not supposed to touch the System folder; you've brought this on yourself" lecture? Or should I just un-CandyBar everything before I go?

They are trained to look at Mac's that are setup 99% default.

I do agree that by messing with the system folder, you take responsibility for anything unforseen.

However, I do not agree with their attitude towards a customer.

In retail stores, you are trained to understand that 80% of computer problems are down to the user - and if they hear you've been messing with the system folder, this will come to mind automatically.

Depends who you deal with i would say. If they cant solve your problem they have a good excuse...
If they do fix the problem i doubt they would hassle you much about it..

As i said... depends who your dealing with

But it wasn't me! It was CandyBar I tells ya! CandyBar!

Good points, though; I agree.

Just so you know, there is no policy against it as long as you haven't modified anything system related, and if you do have system files changed the worst they will do is require a reinstall of the OS.

I've never had any problems with that in the past, normally they want to know where I got the icons I was using.

If they did give me beef about it, I'd just let the manager know.

In my experience, they don't care. I've changed most of the icons, and when I took my MacBook to the store, they didn't even mention it.

It was for a display problem (very bad colours. Couldn't see the blue strips in lists), which could be software (colour profile) or hardware (bad display). Never went there for a purely software problem. I'd just use Time Machine.

I would strip all customizations before you take it in. Chances are that will be the first thing they blame.

If it is a really obvious hardware problem then it may not matter. If it looks like a software issue then it may.

Apple Geniuses aren't robots who are confined to a telephone and a manual. They're normal people like you and me (except smarterer). I don't think they would tell you anything, as long as you don't mess with any files. >:(

Eh just uncandybar it before bringing it in. Might as well take all of the extra factors out of the equation.

It depends, if you're close to the store I would suggest trying it the way it is and if they complain then go home and remove any customization and go back

When I took my iMac in for repair the tech questioned my customized dock. He said changing the files could cause the graphical artifacts I was seeing.

I told him he was full of @#$% and that changing a couple pngs wouldn't harm anything.

He then moved on to other causes.

It was the GPU. Obviously.

Did you literally say that?

a third party app screwing up your OS is Apples fault?

PS I dunno if your joking or not.

just tell me to zip it and just fix it you dont want to hear about i shouldn't do this or that

what i don't get is why your scared, just freaking go in there like a normal person and get it fixed up!

Remove the customizations because the person who helps you will probably use that as an excuse.

i think 90% of computer problems are user error

Remove enough customizations so that when you make a new user, it looks like the Apple cookie-cutter user template.

Wouldn't the fastest way to make it look stock be to create a new user account?

Yes. He was trying to blame an obvious GPU defect on a little bit of customization (Which meant he wouldn't have ok'd the repair).

Luckily both the artifacts and sudden black screen showed up while he was using it.

Umm...IMHO, I would think a "TRUE GENIUS" would appreciate the work you did and be able to work around the system issues. Chances are they do the same thing and just don't admit it.

im fairly sure that they would just login as new user and disable any startup apps/scripts its easy enough.

They aren't exactly geniuses if they believe actual system errors are caused by modifying the Dock and application/system icons, which are just .png images for the most part. Nearly everyone is using Candybar or a similar app these days, so unless people are just randomly going into the System folder and deleting icons, a customized Mac shouldn't cause any issues.

Exactly. I don't see what the whole issue is. A .PNG file that has worked fine for a while after modifying it, won't suddenly bring down the whole system.

Conversly, if you find the system stops working just after you've made a change, that's usually a good indication that something is wrong!

Mine was a service tech. But yes, they should know better. Problem is, not everyone hired as a tech. is always 100% computer litterate. They are taught to deal with what 95% of peoples computers would look like - cause we all know most users aren't as computer litterate as us "customizers". If it doesn't look like the norm, they question it.



I set up a general account for this purpose. They still went ahead and reset my password and looked at my main account. They need to know if the problem originates from the account you're using, or if it is system wide.

Plus, many customizations are "system level", meaning icons for apps used by all accounts are not reset when creating a new account. And custom docks/skins are modified pngs within system apps and folders, which are obviously not reset with a new account.