A Beginner’s Guide to Fixing OS X

When using OS X, especially to do intensive tasks like video editing, problems may arise. Sometimes they are simple to fix and sometimes they require a bit more effort, time and money. Presented here is a beginners guide to fixing OS X. This guide is not meant as an comprehensive list of solutions nor should it be used in place of Apple-certified help. (This guide focuses solely on software; for hardware you are on your own.) However, it can be used to help beginning to moderate users repair certain issues that crop up periodically in OS X. Presented below are a list of steps to try in an attempt to get your Mac working properl. They are listed in the order in which they should be attempted.

Restart
This can fix many types of problems. It is also, by far, the easiest thing to try, so it’s the first thing any user should do while trouble shooting.

Delete preferences
If one of your apps isn’t working quite right try deleting its preference file. Located in Library/Preferences. Your app’s preference file just needs to be moved to the trash and deleted. Then, like magic, when you open your application the next time it will automatically generate a new preference file. Of course, you will then have to reset all of your preferences, but things should be working normally by then. (Final Cut is notorious for needing this done.)

Run maintenance/Clean cache
Go download a copy of Cocktail or OnyX, both of which are shareware. Use either of these fine programs to run OS X’s CRON scripts. These cleaning scripts are usually run automatically by OS X, provided your computer is on at 3 a.m. (or whenever the default time is, I forget at the moment). However most people don’t have their computers on all the time, sleep mode doesn’t count. These handy apps force OS X to run its maintenance scripts whenever you would like, and they also clean out various caches, so try them, see if it helps.

Run Disk Utility
If none of the previous suggestions worked, then it is time to move on to OS X’s built in disk utility. Go hunt around for your OS X install disk and pop it in your drive. Then restart your computer holding down the “C” key until your machine boots from the disk and not your harddrive. Once here a screen will appear asking you to begin installing OS X, you don’t want to do this. Instead, look in the menu and find the Disk Utility option and click on it. This quits the installation and opens up the Disk Utility interface. Once here you will want to click on the repair disk option and watch as OS X is fixed before your very eyes!

Resetting RAM
Doing this will reset your clock, but it will force the hardware to clear and reset the PRAM and NVRAM. Many odd and frustrating problems, both in software and hardware, can be fixed by doing this. To enact this reset hold Command-Option-P-R when booting up your Mac. Check out Apple’s site for more details.

Ok, if you have gotten here and you are still experiencing problems be forewarned everything past here requires a good bit of time and/or money. Good luck!

Run Disk Warrior
Brace yourself because your Mac really isn’t doing too well. Up to this point fixing your Mac was free, well, no longer. Prepare to drop $79.95 for Alsoft’s Disk Warrior. I have, and love, this application. It is amazingly easy to use and does a great job of repairing your Mac’s corrupted directory structure. However, you should know that using this app can result in data loss, so it is always important to back up everything before trying this procedure.

Run Tech Tool Pro
Micromat produces another must-have Mac repair and recovery application called Tech Tool Pro. This baby will set you back $98.00, so don’t buy this unless you are really committed to fixing your machine. If, however, you decide that the price is worth it (and in my opinion it is) then get ready for some serious data recovery work. Tech Tool Pro lets you defrag your harddrive, recover lost data, back up your systems and other fun things.  Using this program will take you a little while but should practically ensure that you either fix your problem, or it will bring you to the point where you can at least recover your data before everything completely dies.

Run to the Apple store
I realize this only works if you live near an Apple store, and so it’s not an option for everyone. However for those of you who can take advantage of an Apple Store’s free diagnostic service, please do. This involves walking up to the Genius Bar and requesting help. They will then test your machine and assist in its recovery. And they will do it for FREE! Ya! Everyone likes free. If they can’t fix it they will tell you why and how much it will cost to get it working again. So if you can, do your best to visit these helpful people before reformatting your computer.

Reinstall OS X
This is really the option of last resort and should only be tried if everything else has failed. Also, if you do go for this option be sure to completely erase your drive first and then install OS X. The archive and install feature will allow you to save some of your soon-to-be-a-memory system so you can review it after your install. However, while this feature is handy, it should not be used in place of a good back-up provided by a third party app.

And there you have it, a simple guide to getting OS X back up and running at full speed. Go, and compute safely.