-
- PRAM
battery (aka "backup" or "clock"
battery):
- 3.6v
lithium batteries typically last 4-5 years
(assuming the logic board hasn't been
tampered with). Signs and symptoms of battery
failure include date/time errors, preference
settings reverting to defaults during
downtime, and possible startup problems.
Laptop PRAM batteries are somewhat similar to
capacitors and last much longer than their
desktop cousins, relying on the laptop's main
power battery for long-term PRAM
retention.
-
|
-
 - Typical
3.6v PRAM batteries
|
 File
management and good housekeeping:- Probably the
biggest favor any computer user can do for him-or-herself
is to develop good file management habits. The goal is
more than being functionally organized; it also aims to
eliminate duplicate files, unwanted files, and
unnecessary files. Personally, I find most of this is
best done on the fly (as they say), with the exception of
organization which necessarily requires some forethought.
Do it! Get organized, take out the trash, and keep that
machine ship-shape!
-
- Note:
Trash, once emptied, is not easily recovered under OSX
(as it was - sorta - in OS9).
-
-
-
- UNIX
cleanup routines:
- UNIX-based
operating systems were designed for
communications (network) and security
(multiple user login), and were designed to
run nonstop, 24/7, continuously. Certain
cleanup routines are built-in to such
systems, running automatically on a daily,
weekly and monthly basis (usually in the wee
hours of the night). OSX is no exception.
While these cleanup routines will not affect
most users one way or the other, they may be
manually triggered in the Terminal or by
installing a utility (which provides a nice
user interface).
-
|
-
-
- Marcel
Bresink's TinkerTool
utility
- Titanium
Software OnyX
utility
-
-
- NOTE:
These System utilities should be used with
care.
- Be
sure to match utility version to OS
version.
|
-
- Special
attention to the Operating System:
- Having more
than one Operating System per volume is not a good idea.
In fact, it can be a disaster. The lone exception, of
course, is OSX + OS9 Classic Mode. (See tech section for
volume setup suggestions.) Having a backup means an exact
duplicate of the OS in use resides on a backup volume
along with all apps and docs. Any other
leftover/duplicate/unused Operating System and/or System
Folder should be burned to disk (if desired) but must be
removed from Startup Volume(s). One, and only one, OS per
volume.
-
- Remove
and Save eMails to disk:
- Mail's
messages are easily removed to disk for
storage using "Save As..." and the Rich Text
option to create nicely organized email
records with all graphics and active links
intact:
-
- Launch
Mail and locate messages you wish to save. If
they all happen to be in a single mailbox
(folder), great. If not, you may want to
consider creating a box to put them in
(Mailbox menu).
- If
all messages are in a contiguous list, select
list top to bottom (Shift key + click).
Otherwise select messages to save as
convenient.
- Select
"Save As..." from File menu. Select location,
name new file and make sure "Rich Text
Format" is selected from popup to preserve
headers, graphics, photos and
links.
-
 -
- A
newly-named TextEdit file will appear in a
moment or two with all messages intact and
inline. Drag these to disk, verify that they
are intact, then delete original messages
from Mail.
-
|
- Maintain
and repair files using Disk Utility:
- Found in
Applications/Utilities. Disk Utility should be run
periodically (as machine use dictates), using its Repair
Permissions function. Disk Repair must be run from an OSX
System CD (restart with "c" key) or from some other
startup volume in order to make repairs. Run Disk Utility
at the first hint of trouble.....
-
 -
- Run Verify
Permissions routinely, and use Verify Disk at
the first hint of trouble.
- NOTE:
Some of the other uses for Apple's Disk Utility - Erase,
Partition - overwrite data and are used for initial drive
setup or reformat purposes.
-
- If Disk
Utility uncovers errors it cannot repair, use of
third-party tools may be required.
-
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