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FAQ (Frequently
Asked Questions)
- How Much Memory do I have?
- What is my processor speed
- What version of the OS do I have?
- How Much Hard Drive do I have?
- How do I allocate more memory to
an application?
- How to get out of computer lock
ups or freezes?
- Printer Troubleshooting
- Is your battery dead?
- BACKUP, BACKUP, BACKUP
- General Maintenance
- How Much Memory do I
have, what's my processor speed and what is my OS version?
- On System OS X any verson you can tell
how much memory you have by going to the Apple at the top left and pulling
down to the top choice of About This Mac. It will tell you the memory,
the version of OS X and the processor speed of the computer.
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- On System 9 and below you can tell how
much memory you have by going under the Apple at the top left and pulling
down to the top choice of About This Computer or About This Mac. It
will tell you the built-in memory and what the virtual memory is set
on. It will also tell you which System Software you are running.
How Much Hard Drive do
I have?- You can tell how much hard drive space
you have just by opening the hard drive ico usually called Macintosh
HD. On the top portion in OS 9 and the bottom of OS Xof that window
it should show you the amount of hard drive space used and available.
How do I allocate
more memory to an application?- You can boost the amout of memory that
an application can use in System 9 and below. System 10 takes care of
this issue for you. You have to consider the amount of memory that your
computer has when you boost it. You may want to add 1,000 k or more
depending on your needs. To do this, you must make sure that the application
is not open. Then find the actual folder that the application is in.
Find the actual application icon and click once and only once. Then
you can go to the File Menu at the top and pull down to Get Info. At
that point on older system you will see the memory allocations at the
bottom of that window. On newer machines you may have to click and hold
on the General Information button to move down to memory. You normally
just change the bottom number to allow more memory to be allocated to
that actual program.
How to get out
of lock-ups or freezes?- Many computer lock ups are caused by
memory over load or by one particular program freezing. The best thing
you can do when you suspect your computer is locked up is hold down
the Apple, Option keys and hit the Esc button. This will bring up a
window that says Force Quit and it will list the program that is currently
frozen. It may let you Force Quit that program and sometimes not. Either
way after this procedure you should also restart your computer. Another
trick that comes in handy if you don't know how to get out of a program,
especially happens with games, is to use the Apple key and the Q key
to Quit an application.
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- If the computer will not Force Quit the
application and even the mouse is stuck, you will have to do one of
a number of different type of soft restarts depending on your computer.
For the best option, check your owners manual, the help files or e-mail
me with your computer model. Most of the older computers before iMacs
would do a soft restart by holding down the Option, Apple and hitting
the Reset button (the button that turns on the computer). The original
iMac's required a paper click incerted into a reset hole on the right
side of the compuer and newer iMac's have a pushable button in that
location. Some of the tower computers have a reset button on the front.
eMacs, newer iMacs, Mac Mini's, and laptops only have the power button.
You need to hold it in until the computer shuts down and then release
and hit it again to restart.
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- Never unless absolutely necessary turn
off the power or unplug the computer to get out of a lock up. There
are only extreme cases when this is necessary and it is hard on the
hard drive to do so. Think of your hard drive as a turning record (assuming
you are old enough to know what a record is) and when you pull the plug
it drops the needle down on your hard drive platter . That can cause
software and/or hard drive problems.
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- Printer Troubleshooting
- The first things to check are the simple
things. So check the power cable, and the cable connecting the printer
to your computer or to your network. Are there any flashing lights on
the printer? Usually there should be one solid light to show it is ready.
Is there paper in the printer?
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- Next thing to do is check the Chooser
- under the Apple. Select your printer, if you have a newer computer,
your printer is probably a USB printer. After selecting the printer
it should show something in the box to the right - select it and try
to print again. If the Macintosh is older, you will be given a choice
of the Printer Port or the Modem Port. Either port will work depending
on whether you have a external modem or not. Check to see which port
you have your printer plugged in to. If it is in the printer port, check
in the Chooser to make sure AppleTalk is Inactive unless you have a
laser printer and not an inkjet. See FAQ below if you suspect a dead
battery.
Always try to print something simple like an open window first (do not
print the desktop unless you want to waste paper and ink). If that prints
go back to your program you were printing from. If your file still does
not print, try a new document.
Another common problem is that the background printing program such
as PrintMonitor, Desktop Printing, Epson Printer Monitor, HP Print Monitor,
or others could be clogged. When youare attempting to print you normally
might try printing several times before you realized it isn't work.
Check for this program under the Appliations men u at the top right
corner of your screen. You may have to stop printing and delete some
print jobs waiting to print. If none of these items work, you may have
to reinstall your printer driver or on newer computers, download and
install a newer updated priinter driver. Take care to read the information
on which versions of the system software are compatible.
Is your battery
dead?- When a battery goes dead, the default
settings are reset and that will lose your printer connection because
it defaults to Appletalk active. If you suspect a dead battery, check
your date and time. If it is 8/27/56 or 1904 on newer computers, your
batteries is probably dead. You will also possibly lose colors on your
screen or at least the highlight color.
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- Backup, Backup, Backup?
- If you don't know how to backup your
important data you are running a risk of losing all of your hard work.
Backing up is one of the most important things you can do for yourself.
There are many ways to backup files such as floppy disk for small files,
Zip Disk or SuperDisk for larger files, an external hard drive, tape
drive(rare on Macs), writeable CD-Rom drive, uploading to another computer
or to the internet, and others. It depends on the size of your files
and the devices you have or can add to your system. If you are scanning
pictures or using a digital camera, you will want something permanent
to store your files with. Contact me for recommendations for your particular
needs.
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General Maintenance?
- MICE---Have
you ever cleaned your mouse or washed your mouse pad? Most cloth mouse
pads can be tossed in the washer or at least washed by hand.
DUST---Have
you ever thought about getting the dust out of your computer? Dust tends
to collect inside computers and especially around any opening or fan.
Depending on your computer model, there are various things you can do
to clean your computer. I'll try and add more detail here for different
models but for now you'll have to guess or e-mail to ask me.
- HARD DRIVE CARE AND MAINTENANCE---Hard
Drives hold all of your programs and data so they are the most important
component to take care of. See backup above. Hard drives can have problems
and even fail and it can happen to fairly new computers. One of the
things you can do to protect your hard drive is to get out of lock up's
the best way possible.
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- More to come - ideas are welcome.
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