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TROUBLESHOOTING - Macintosh Computers Basic tips for when "gremlins" get in the Macintosh system. nb. none of these tips will help if the hardware is damaged. They will only rectify software problems.

• on startup, hold down the OPTION and APPLE/COMMAND keys until the message appears "Are you sure you wish to rebuild your desktop....
  " Click OK

  WHY do this?
  Imagine a bookshelf full of books. All the books are there but they are "mixed-up", not in the correct order. Basically the same happens to hard drives. Rebuilding the desktop tidies it up.

• insert the System CD which came with the computer (ie a Mac 5260 computer should have a 5260 CD which contains all the software including the system software which was on the computer when it left the factory)
• Restart the computer holding down the "C" key until the CD boots the computer (usually a background of CDs on a bluish surface will show on the screen)
• click on Disk First Aid
• Select the Hard Drive and then Verify.
• After completion a message will appear saying the Drive appears to be OK or needs repair. If it needs repair click on that button.

  Note: just because it says it appears to be OK does not necessarily mean that it is!
  If you can afford it purchasing a copy of Norton's Disk Doctor is a very good investment!

• on startup hold down the following combination of keys..

  P + R + Option + Apple/Command

  The computer will restart (listen for the "boing" sound) Hold the keys down until you have restarted 3 extra times, ie three "boings" not counting the original "boing"

  WHY do this?
  Every computer gets a bit muddled from time to time (unlike we humans) and needs to be "sorted-out". Zapping the Perimeter Ram is often the last option before reinstalling the systems software. It will reset many functions back to their factory settings, often "fixing" the problem without the necessity of a tedious system rebuild.

• insert the System CD which came with the computer (ie a Mac 5260 computer should have a 5260 CD which contains all the software including the system software which was on the computer when it left the factory)
• Restart the computer holding down the "C" key until the CD boots the computer (usually a background of CDs on a bluish surface will show on the screen)
• open the folder: Restore System Software and click on the icon inside titled "Restore System Software"

  WHY do this?
  For a number of imponderable reasons the system software occasionally gets corrupted and causes all sorts of problems. If the step 1,2 & 3 above haven't rectified the problem then reinstalling the system software might be the answer.After reinstallation some software may have to be reinstalled (eg ClarisWorks/AppleWorks put a folder in the System Folder which holds its translators - when you reinstall the System Software this folder "disappears" and will have to be replaced.)

The last but not so drastic step if all else fails. If you have copies of all the software on a computer and back-ups of any files then a re-initialisation is often quicker and cleaner than trying to locate the source of a problem and solving it.

You must have the system disk that came with the computer (ie if the computer is a 5260 you should have a system CD for the 5260 series or at least the System Software disk)

STEPS

• Insert the CD.
• Restart the computer holding down the "C" key until the CD boots the computer (usually a background of CDs on a bluish surface will show on the screen)
• Double click the Drive Setup icon. It will search for drives connected to your computer. Highlight the Hard Drive and click on Initialize
• You will be warned that this will destroy all data etc.. that's OK its what you want to do!
• After initialisation is complete (do it twice to ensure a really clean drive) you may reinstall the system software and any other software you wish. The disk may have Restore System Software and Restore All Software folders ... select one of these, probably the Restore All Software.

Each program requires a minimum amount of memory to run on your computer. Some programs like Kid Pix or ClarisWorks will require more than the minimum if the user is importing a number of pictures, music or other memory hungry additives. To increase the memory allocation of any application 1. Locate the actual application icon (NOT the folder) 2. single click on it to highlight the icon. 3. Get Info (either use the command/apple key + "i" or find "Get Info" under the Edit menu 4. A box similar to that on the right will open. 5. Adjust the Preferred Size to what you require Check just how much memory you have by opening "About This Computer" immediately under the Apple icon in the top left corner of your screen. 6. Put the window away and open the Application. Note: this cannot be down if the application is open and running.