Q:
What if I want to do the upgrade work myself? Does OWC sell a DIY kit?
A:
We are big proponents of people upgrading their Macs themselves, as indicated by our growing library of free 'DIY' Installation Videos. We do offer a large number of DIY kits for various Mac minis. You should follow this link:
http://eshop.macsales.com/search/Mac+Mini+DIY if interested in performing the upgrade yourself.
If you would like more information on how to perform these upgrades, installation videos can be found at:
http://eshop.macsales.com/installvideos/
Q:
Can I supply my own SSD for installation?
A:
No, we only support OWC brand SSDs as we are unable to offer warranty coverage and/or support the operation of other brand SSDs.
Q:
How do I go about ordering one of the OWC Turnkey Upgrades for my Mac mini?
Q:
Can I place my order over the phone?
Q:
When will my card be authorized or charged?
A:
Please note that your card will be authorized at the time the order is placed, with the charge finalized upon completion of the upgrade.
Q:
What if I want different components than the ones offered?
A:
At this time, only the components listed on the configuration page are included in this program. They have been specifically chosen for their high level of performance and reliability.
Q:
Can I send a component I purchased in to have it installed?
A:
No. OWC will only install components that are offered with the OWC Turnkey Upgrade
Q:
Are all of the installed drive options bootable?
A:
Yes, all drives are bootable.
Q:
If there are multiple drives installed, which one will have the OS?
A:
The Operating System will be installed on the smallest capacity drive. Upon receipt, you can change this and format your drives to suit your needs.
Q:
Can you RAID my drives together?
A:
OWC can prepare a Fusion drive for you if you are having a 2012 Mac mini running Mac OS X 10.8.3 or later upgraded.
You can create a software RAID using Apple's Disk Utility or 3rd Party software such as SoftRaid. If you install two OWC Mercury EXTREME Pro 6G SSDs of the same capacity, by RAID-0 Striping these two drives you can have data rates of nearly 1GB/s (1000MB/s).
Q:
Can I order the eSATA port upgrade that you offer with your 2010 and 2011 27" iMacs for my Mac mini?
A:
No. The eSATA port upgrade is only available on the 2010 and 2011 27" iMacs due to the nature of the connection on the logic board, as well as the amount of physical space available.
Q:
Will my Drive(s) and/or Memory qualify for a rebate?
A:
This depends. If the stock drive and/or RAM in your Mac mini is fully functional, and is the original Apple component, you will be eligible for rebates at the current rate. An OWC Representative will contact you when your Mac mini is received to discuss rebate options. You may decide to take the rebate, or have your drive shipped back to you.
Q:
How does your rebate program work?
A:
Should your upgrade request require the removal of the factory installed memory modules or hard drive, you will have the option of having the memory returned to you OR you can receive a rebate by allowing OWC to keep the removed, factory memory or hard drive. Since rebate values change, OWC will wait until we receive your Mac mini unit and then contact you to discuss the current value rates. At that time, you can decide to take the rebate option or have your memory or hard drive shipped back with your upgraded Mac mini.
For your reference, OWC posts all
current rebates here, but please note these are subject to change. Actual amount will be based on the rate we discuss with you.
Q:
What if there are other items I want to have shipped with my unit?
A:
Any additional items placed in your checkout cart at the time of your order will be shipped with your upgraded Mac mini unit. If you need a particular item not related to your OWC Turnkey Upgrade to ship immediately, please place a separate order for that item.
Q:
How do I send in my Mac mini?
A:
Once you complete your order, OWC will send you a mailer designed specifically for your Mac mini. OWC will also provide a return label. All you need to do is securely pack your Mini into the mailer, attach the return label, and send it back to us.
Q:
Why are the rates for shipping the unit in different than shipping the unit out?
A:
There may be additional items that impact the weight or number of boxes required. Different carriers have different fee schedules.
Q:
Should I send in the accessories like the keyboard, mouse, software or power plug as well?
A:
No, please remove all accessories before shipping.
Q:
How long will the process take?
A:
The length of the entire process is highly dependent upon your location and the shipping method chosen. As long as no problem is found with the machine, the upgrade will be completed and shipped back to you from our location right outside of Chicago, Illinois within 3-5 business days.
Q:
Can I have my Mac mini shipped directly from Apple to you?
A:
Yes, as long as you have placed your upgrade order and communicated at the time of purchase that the Mac mini is shipping directly to OWC. To ensure that your OWC Turnkey Upgrade is processed quickly, we will kindly ask you to order the OWC Upgrade first, speak with an OWC representative, who will then give you the OWC Order #. Then you can order your Mac mini from Apple and place the following into the shipping address:
ATTN: OWC Turnkey Upgrade/Order #
8 Galaxy Way
Woodstock, IL 60098
Q:
Does shipping directly to your location affect the taxes I pay?
A:
It is possible. OWC is located in Illinois and Apple has a physical presence in Illinois so Illinois tax will be charged. If you are exempt from Illinois State Sales Tax please bring that up with your Apple representative.
Q:
What should I do with other products I am purchasing with my Mac mini?
A:
OWC would prefer to receive only the Mac mini to be upgraded. Should additional components arrive to OWC with your Mac mini, the additional shipping and handling needed to get these components to you will be charged. Please discuss any additional components with an OWC representative prior to OWC receiving your Mac mini. OWC is not responsible for any product that arrives that is not required for the OWC Turnkey Upgrade Program.
Q:
Is this OWC Turnkey Upgrade available to anyone?
A:
Yes, but please note additional shipping charges will apply for upgrades shipping to Alaska, Hawaii, or international locations. You can view estimated shipping costs with your checkout cart.
Q:
Does this void my Apple warranty?
A:
Nothing being performed should void your warranty entirely. However, OWC cannot guarantee the actions of the original manufacturer. OWC suggests that consumers familiarize themselves with their consumer rights per US law and regulation. The Federal Trade Commission has very specific laws that provide consumer warranty protection.
Q:
What kind of warranty is included with the OWC Turnkey Upgrade?
A:
The OWC Turnkey Upgrade comes with a 90 Day OWC Warranty.
Q:
What can I do if I already bought an Extended Apple Care Warranty?
A:
You can choose to keep your Extended Apple Care Warranty at your discretion. Apple does have a provision allowing you to cancel their Extended Apple Care Warranty within 30–Days, less the costs of any repairs and, potentially, a $25 fee dependent upon the laws in your state of residence. Please see your factory extended warranty for full details.
Q:
Are the OWC warranties transferable?
A:
No, the 90 Day OWC Warranty is non-transferrable.
Q:
What if I am not the original owner of the Mac mini or my Mac mini is no longer under warranty?
A:
For machines with no original factory warranty coverage, the included warranty will only apply to the components being installed by OWC.
Q:
Can you transfer my data over to the new installed drive?
A:
If possible, OWC will clone data to your new drive(s) at your discretion. Certain circumstances may prevent that from occurring, such as your original drive having more data than your new drive can contain, in which case your data will not be cloned.
Q:
What if I change my mind?
A:
If you cancel your OWC Turnkey Upgrade order before any work has begun, but after your credit card is charged, there will be a $25 cancelation fee plus shipping fees if applicable.
Q:
What if I cancel my order after work has begun?
A:
This is a custom service. If you would like any upgrade undone, please contact a representative for pricing on parts and labor.
Q:
What if an issue is found with my machine or upgrade component?
A:
Should an issue occur, please contact OWC's
Tech Support Department. A trained OWC Technician will work with you to determine the nature of the issue and if a solution can be found prior to you having to submit a request for warranty service. Should the issue require the Mac mini to be sent in to OWC for service, the customer is responsible for any and all shipping fees of their Mac mini to OWC. OWC covers the cost of Ground shipping the Mac mini back to customers located within the 48 contiguous United States. Should the return shipping address reside outside of the 48 contiguous United States, the customer is responsible for the return shipping fees.
Q:
Do all issues require the Mac mini to be sent to OWC?
A:
OWC does not supply labor services for certain user accessible upgrade program components, such as memory modules.
Q:
What if I send in my machine and the issue is not covered under the warranty?
A:
OWC will make every effort to help troubleshoot the problem, but should the system be sent in and the issue is not covered under the warranty, a $49 processing fee and return shipping fees will be assessed. Should you desire another service facility to examine your Mac mini, OWC will work with you to send the unit directly from our facility to the service facility you indicate to us. Please remember that OWC does not warranty data on any machine or drive. OWC encourages all customers to back-up their data. OWC is not responsible if a third party facility removes any of the upgrade components or renders them inoperable.
Q:
What if my Mac mini has had work done on it already?
A:
*Original, factory components will only be covered on factory sealed Mac minis. Any Mac mini arriving where the machine itself has been opened by a third party or contains non-factory installed components will receive warranty coverage on the OWC installed components only.
Q:
If I have the main drive in my Mac mini switched out as part of your OWC Turnkey Upgrade, will my fans run at normal speeds and/or fail the Apple Hardware Test?
A:
Our drive upgrades are fully compatible with Apple Hardware Test as well as Apple's built-in thermal management. After an OWC upgrade, your fans will operate normally within Apple specifications.
Q:
When will I receive my return label and shipping box?
A:
In order to ensure optimal scheduling for the quickest turn around once we receive your order, there is a 24–48 hour pre-processing period. You should receive your shipping materials within that timeframe.
Q:
Will OWC perform the OWC Turnkey Upgrade Service if my Mac mini has a problem with a hardware component?
A:
Before proceeding with the upgrade, a comprehensive hardware test is run to establish if there are any pre-existing issues with the machine. If any component of the Mac mini's hardware fails testing, you will be contacted to arrange the return of your Mac mini at your expense back to you or to an Apple certified service center to have the Mac mini repaired. Once the Mac mini is in perfect working condition, it can be returned to OWC to have the OWC Turnkey Upgrade performed.
Q:
What if my Mac mini isn't in perfect working order?
A:
OWC requires that any Mac mini be in perfect operating condition before being sent in for upgrade. If, however, there is a known issue,
contact an OWC Customer Support Representative with your order number. If an element of the upgrade program is expected to address the known issue (ex. you are buying a replacement hard drive and your current drive is defective) there will be no additional fees. However, if the upgrade program is not expected to address the issue, or if the actual issue is different than the stated issue, OWC will charge a $120 non-refundable diagnostic fee. Once the exact nature of the problem is diagnosed, a representative will contact you with a quote if additional work or parts are required to complete the upgrade. In the event OWC determines we are unable to complete the upgrade or make your Mac mini functional, you are responsible for the cost to return your Mac mini.
Q:
What if my Mac mini has physical damage or obvious wear and tear?
A:
As long as the damage or external condition does not impact the performance, there should be no problem performing the ordered upgrades. In order to prevent any delay,
contact an OWC Customer Support Representative with your order number and describe the condition so it is on file. This prevents OWC from unnecessarily contacting you to detail physical damage you are already aware of.
Specific Model FAQs
Q:
I have a 2009-2012 Mac mini Server, why are no Data Doubler options available?
A:
You don't need one! The server comes all necessary brackets and cabling for two drives.
Q:
I have a 2009 Mac mini or Mac mini Server, why are no 6G drives offered for my machine?
A:
There are known issues with the Nvidia MCP79 chipset that occasionally causes 6G drives to negotiate lower transfer speeds, we have opted to offer only 3G drives as a precaution.
Q:
I noticed you sell a 1.5TB hard drive, why is this not an option to upgrade my Mac mini with?
A:
The particular 1.5TB hard drive that we offer is of a larger form factor than other drives, and will not fit inside your machine.
Q:
I own a 2007 Mac mini and noticed that you offer 4GB of RAM. The maximum is 3GB, how is this possible?
A:
You are correct, the machine is limited to 3GB visible in the OS. When installed, the 4GB option will only display 3GB, but it will enable 128-Bit addressing, which will still increase your performance.
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