Apple Hardware Test (AHT)

Description

Apple computers ship with a preinstalled suite of hardware diagnostic tools, known as Apple Hardware Test (AHT). In principle you can start them by holding the d key while booting. Newer models support holding option d to load AHT over the internet. Refer to the official Apple documentation for details: Using AHT on Intel-based Macs, Using AHT on Mountain Lion.

If however, you reinstalled an older computer from scratch, the diagnostic tools might no longer be available. Unless you have the original disks that came with your computer, there seems to be no way to restore the AHT, as the official AHT page only contains information about ancient computer models.

It happens that Apple provides disk images with AHT for most computers, but does not make the links publically available. Various blogs and forums, mostly Riven by Five and MacForum.ro have gathered a list of these download links, that can come in very handy to whoever is trying to debug hardware problems.

Download the AHT for your computer model and use the contents to restore the /System/Library/CoreServices/.diagnostics folder, then reboot while holding d to start the diagnostic tools.

Download Links

PowerMac

PowerBook

iBook

iMac

MacMini

MacPro

MacBook

MacBookPro

MacBookAir

Xserve

Misc

unidentified
unidentified
Bundle
- iMac5,2 Mac-F4218EC8
- iMac7,1 Mac-F4238CC8
- iMac7,1 Mac-F42386C8
- Macmini2,1 Mac-F4208EAA
- MacPro1,1 Mac-F4208DC8
- MacPro2,1 Mac-F4208DA9
- MacBookPro3,1 Mac-F4238BC8
- MacBookPro3,1 Mac-F42388C8
- MacBook3,1 Mac-F22788C8
Bundle
- iMac5,2 Mac-F4218EC8
- iMac7,1 Mac-F4238CC8
- iMac7,1 Mac-F42386C8
- Macmini2,1 Mac-F4208EAA
- MacPro1,1 Mac-F4208DC8
- MacPro2,1 Mac-F4208DA9
- MacBookPro3,1 Mac-F4238BC8
- MacBookPro3,1 Mac-F42388C8
- MacBook3,1 Mac-F22788C8

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