Low End Mac Reader Specials

TypeStyler For Mac OS X is Now Shipping! Download The Free Fully Functional 60 Day Tryout at www.typestyler.com

Poker Mac Don't install Parallels to play poker online! Poker Mac will show you how to download and install a native Mac poker application such as Full Tilt Poker Mac.

Laptop Hardware Provided by TechRestore - Overnight Mac & iPod Repairs.

Compare products like desktop computers, apple laptops, apple macs, and LCD Monitors side by side! All the information and reviews to make the best purchasing decision for new mobile phones, sat nav systems, or MP3 players. The Ciao online shopping community makes searching products easy for you.

Adam's Apple

Maintaining Your Macintosh

Solving Mac Disk and Hardware Problems

Adam Rosen - 2007.09.07 - Tip Jar

Popularity: LEMLEMLEMLEMLEM

del.icio.us Bookmark in del.icio.us

Part 2 - Disk & Hardware Problems

Directory Damage or Your Mac Won't Boot

The disk directory is the table of contents for your hard drive. Directory errors build up slowly over time - or quickly after a crash. Such errors can cause problems opening or saving files, and if severe enough they can prevent your Mac from starting up, instead displaying the flashing question mark. Fixing the disk directory and boot blocks often helps resolve these kinds of problems.

Create a Fresh New Directory

DiskWarrior is my tool of choice to fix directory related problems. You will need to restart your Macintosh from the DiskWarrior CD to fix the internal hard drive. When DiskWarrior is ready, select your startup drive and click Rebuild Directory. Replace your existing directory when the process is complete, then restart normally to see if your problem is fixed.

Repair the Damaged Directory

Other disk utilities are worth trying when DiskWarrior doesn't help. Apple's Disk Utility has a Repair Disk function that sometimes gets you going - you can restart from your Mac OS X Install CD/DVD and run Disk Utility to fix your startup drive. At a more sophisticated level, TechTool Pro and Drive Genius let you test for various hardware damage and try to repair errors; both also come on a bootable CDs or DVDs.

Rebuild the Desktop (Classic Mac OS)

For Mac OS 9 and Classic users, Apple's Rebuild Desktop routine can help fix problems opening files in Mac OS 9 applications. For Classic Users running Mac OS X, use System Preferences --> Classic --> Advanced tab to rebuild the desktop. If you're booted in Mac OS 9, restart the Mac while holding down the Command (Apple) and Option keys (Cmd-Opt) simultaneously until you are asked if you want to Rebuild the Desktop.

Repairing File Permissions

File Permissions are security settings that permit or restrict access to files and folders by different users. This security helps prevent you from modifying special system files you shouldn't change and prevents other users from seeing the files inside your Home folder when you share a machine. The easiest way to view or set a file's permissions is to select the file (or folder) and choose Get Info in the Finder (File --> Get Info, or Cmd-I). The Ownership & Permissions area shows who can do what with that file.

While noble in intent, incorrectly set file permissions can sometimes prevent you from launching applications or saving files. They can also cause problems with OS updates. Apple is aware of this and provides a way to Repair Permissions that restores defaults and fixes many problems. Use Apple's Disk Utility, select your boot drive, then choose the First Aid tab (if necessary) and click Repair Permissions. Let the process run completely.

Tip: Repair Permissions before and after any System Software updates for best results.

Nonvolatile Memory (PRAM)

The contents of your computer's RAM are normally lost when you shut down, but some settings are saved when the power is off: the date and time, your network settings, choice of startup disk, etc. These settings are stored in a special type of RAM called Nonvolatile RAM (NV-RAM) or Parameter RAM (PRAM). A small battery on the motherboard powers this special RAM when the computer is turned off.

Zap the PRAM

Sometimes the PRAM gets corrupted, especially after a hard crash. Corrupt PRAM can prevent your Mac from booting and causes all sorts of strange errors. Resetting (or Zapping) the PRAM can fix problems like these: restart your Mac, and after it chimes hold down the Command (Apple), Option, P, and R (Cmd-Opt-P-R) keys simultaneously. After a few seconds the system will restart again and chime a second time. Now release keys the keys and boot normally.

Replace the Battery

Another problem could be that the PRAM backup battery may be dead. This is typically a 3.6V Li-ion battery which lasts about five years. If the date and time on your computer are wrong each time you unplug your Mac, it's time to replace the battery. The battery is accessible on most tower Macs, otherwise a Mac service center can do this for you.

Other Mac Tricks

Eject a Stuck CD or DVD

To eject a stuck CD or DVD, especially with a slot loading drive, try this: restart your Mac and hold down the mouse or trackpad button continuously until the disc ejects. The works 90% of the time.

Open Firmware

On PowerPC-based Macs you can also Boot into Open Firmware (which really impresses your friends and coworkers). Open Firmware is Mac's BIOS and provides a few additional options for sick systems. Restart your Mac, and after the chime hold down the Command (Apple), Option, O, and F (Cmd-Opt-O-F) keys simultaneously. Eventually the system will boot to a white screen with ok> prompt.

You can very thoroughly zap PRAM from this screen, even better than using Cmd-Opt-P-R. Type the following lines:

ok> reset-nvram <RETURN>
ok> reset-all <RETURN>

The system will then reboot.

You can also use Open Firmware to eject CDs/DVDs that won't eject any other way:

ok> eject cd <RETURN>

Sadly, the Intel-based Macs do not have Open Firmware, so equivalent tricks are still waiting to be found. LEM

Next: Maintaining Your Mac, Part 3: Effective Backup Strategies for Mac Users

This article was originally published on Adam's Oakbog website. It has been adapted and reprinted here with his permission.

Adam also publishes The Vintage Mac Museum Blog. If you find Adam's articles helpful, please consider making a donation to his tip jar.

Recent Adam's Apple Columns

Links for the Day

Recent Content on Low End Mac

Recent Deals

About LEM | Support | Usage | Privacy | Contacts

Entire Low End Mac website copyright ©1997-2009 by Cobweb Publishing, Inc., unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved. Advice presented in good faith, but what works for one may not work for all. Please report errors to .
  LINKS: We allow and encourage links to any public page as long as the linked page does not appear within a frame that prevents bookmarking it.
  Access our RSS news feed at http://lowendmac.com/feed.xml.
  Email may be published at our discretion; email addresses will not be published without permission, and we will encrypt them in hopes of avoiding spammers. If you prefer your message not be published, mark it "not for publication." Letters may be edited for length, context, and to match house style.
  PRIVACY: We don't collect personal information unless you explicitly provide it. For more details, see our Terms of Use.
  Low End Mac is an independent publication and has not been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Apple Inc. Apple, the Apple logo, Macintosh, iBook, iMac, eMac, iPod, iPhone, PowerBook, MacBook, MagSafe, Mac Pro, Apple TV, and AirPort are registered trademarks of Apple Inc. Additional company and product names may be trademarks or registered trademarks and are hereby acknowledged.

Custom Search

Amazon.com

Navigation

Used Mac Dealers
Apple History
Video Cards
Email Lists

Favorite Sites

MacSurfer
MacMinute
MacInTouch
MyAppleMenu
InfoMac
Macs Only!
The Mac Observer
Accelerate Your Mac
RetroMacCast
PB Central
MacWindows
The Vintage Mac
   Museum
DealMac
DealsOnTheWeb
Mac2Sell
ramseeker
Mac Driver Museum
JAG's House
System 6 Heaven
System 7 Today
the pickle's Low-End
   Mac FAQ
Abandonware
   Petition
Mac vs. PC Info

Affiliates

The Apple Store
Mac Connection
B&H
MacMall
TechRestore
ExperCom
Crucial Memory
batteries.com

Advertise

All of our advertising is handled by BackBeat Media. For price quotes and advertising information, please contact at BackBeat Media (646-546-5194). This number is for advertising only.

Open Link

Problems viewing this page with Internet Explorer 5.5 or 6? It works fine in other browsers, including IE 7. We recommend Firefox for those using Windows, as it is standards based and more secure than IE 6 (and earlier). More LEM visitors use Firefox than any other browser.