Computer Maintenance: Macintosh

(by Tony Mitchell)

 

 

Minor Tune-Up

A .Rebuild the desktop and/or Zap the P-RAM.
    1. On the keyboard press the "Option" key and the "Apple" key and hold

      2. them down.

    2. Restart the computer choosing the "Restart" command from the "Special" menu.
    3. Zap the P-RAM: hold down the following keys on keyboard and restart computer: P, R, control, apple. (You may need someone to help.)

B. Run "Disk First Aid"
    1. Disk First Aid (DFA) comes on all Macs when they are purchased. It should be in a folder called "Utilities". To locate the DFA application, use the Find command under the File menu.
    2. Once you have launched the DFA application, whether from the "Utilities" folder or directly from the Find window, select your hardrive in the window at the top and click on "Verify". After the hardrive has been verified you can click on the "Repair" button should your computer need any repair. Disk First Aid will inform you as to the condition of your hardrive.
    3. If you have inadvertently remove DFA from your computer, it can be run from the backup "Disktools" diskette or CD that came with your computer.

Major Tune-Up

A. Restart your computer using Norton’s Utilities CD or diskette:
    1. CD : Insert CD, restart computer, hold down C key on keyboard as the computer reboots.
    2. diskette: restart computer, wait for "Bong" sound, insert diskette.
    3. (Norton Utilities will work better if you are examining a system not in use, therefore it is recommended that Nortons be used from a CD or diskette. More than likely your Media specialist or Tech Coordinator has a copy of Nortons.)

B. Launch "Norton’s Utilities" and choose "Norton Disk Doctor".
    1. This will take several minutes.
    2. During the final stages of the "Checking for Missing Files" section you should click the "Fix" and "Continue" buttons as they appear.
    3. Disk Doctor will give you a report at the end telling you whether or not it was able to repair you hardrive disk.

C. Again launch "Norton’s Utilities", but this time choose to run "Speed

Disk".
    1. Select your hardrive.
    2. Click "Optimize".

 

Number one troubleshooting tips: ** Always check cable connections.