Macworld Mac Troubleshooting Superguide

Macworld's Mac 911 column has solved numerous technical conundrums for Mac users since its inception in 2000, and this new title from Macworld and senior editor Chris Breen takes that source material and turns it into a coherent book. Where our Take Control of Troubleshooting Your Mac is more aimed at teaching you how to prepare for and troubleshoot any problem, the Macworld Mac Troubleshooting Superguide focuses on specific problems and their solutions. In fact, the two books complement each other well, with one giving you the quick fixes to common problems and the other explaining how you can solve unique problems on your own.

In the Macworld Mac Troubleshooting Superguide, you'll find solutions for problems experienced when upgrading Mac OS X and installing programs, for kernel panics and application crashes, and what to do when your Mac won't start up at all. A section on hardware helps you beat sense into recalcitrant printers, failing hard drives, and bad memory, among much else. Networking is addressed too, with advice on solving slow Internet and LAN connections. And finally, Macworld has solutions for problems you may run into in common Mac OS X applications like Safari, Mail, iCal, iChat, Address Book, and Preview.

Questions answered in this 121-page ebook include these:
• How can I make my Mac start up faster?
• How can I monitor the health of my hard drive?
• How can I speed up my Internet connection?
• My Mac keeps crashing. Could it be a RAM problem?
• My Mac's screen went black and it has weird white type on it. What happened?
• How can I make Safari download PDFs, instead of displaying them like Web pages?
• How do I open a winmail.dat email attachment in Mail?
• How do I merge two iCal calendars?
• How do I figure out which System Preference pane has a particular setting?
• My System Preferences panes are appearing in duplicate! What should I do?
• My printer won't print. How can I determine the cause of the problem?
• What should I do before I bring my Mac to a Genius Bar?
• What if I have a bad Mac problem, but I don't want to go to a Genius Bar?
• I know more about Macs than anyone else in my family... any advice on troubleshooting from afar?

Table of Contents

Installation

• Upgrading Your OS
Make sure the leap from Leopard to Snow Leopard goes as smoothly as possible with these installation tips.

• Installing Programs
Install new software on your Mac and know what to do when things don't go according to plan.

Startup Issues, Crashes, & Freezes

• Startup Woes
Follow these steps if your Mac is taking too long to start up—or if it won't start up at all.

• Address Kernel Panics
Just because a kernel panics doesn't mean you need to. Here's what to do in case of a kernel panic.

• Application Freezes
We give you multiple ways to unfreeze a pesky frozen application.

• Application Crashes
These step-by-step instructions will show you how to handle an application crash and get your system running again.

Hardware Help

• Printer Problems
Follow these directions if your printer won't print, has queue issues, or is giving you other headaches.

• Hard-Drive Issues
Prevent unnecessary data loss by looking out for failing-hard-drive symptoms and fixing internal and external drive issues.

• Bad Memory
Diagnose and repair bad memory, which can cause persistent crashes, system slowdowns, and corrupted files.

• Other Glitches and Fixes
Some other common problems that afflict laptop owners, messy eaters, and optical drive users.

System Issues & Fixes

• Navigation Mishaps
Solve problems with navigation mainstays including Spotlight, the Finder, and the Dock.

• System Settings Fixes
Take control of your system settings and make sure they work for you, not against you.

• Built-in Troubleshooting Tools
Your Mac is filled with utilities to help you troubleshoot, including the Activity Monitor, Disk Utility, and hidden menu bar information.

OS X's Applications

• Safari
Snow Leopard's portal into the Web can run into snags from time to time. Get surfing again in a snap with these tricks.

• Mail
Mail, your Mac's communication hub, looks simple but can be complicated to set up properly. We show you how to do it.

• iCal
Stay on schedule and handle unforeseen calendar calamities.

• Other OS X Programs
Tame OS X's other apps, such as iChat, Preview, and Address Book, if they give you problems.

The Internet & Networking

• Testing Network Speeds
Is your connection to the Internet really slow, or does it just feel that way? Find out for sure.

• Speeding Up Your Network
Once you've determined that your connection needs assistance, follow these steps to get it back up to speed.

Mac Maintenance

• Back Up Data
One of the most important things you can do for your computer, and your sanity, is to perform regular backups.

• Declutter Your Hard Drive
To keep your Mac performing at the top of its game, make sure your hard drive is cleaned up and in order with these tips.

• Perform Regular Maintenance
There are a handful of regular tasks you should perform to ensure your Mac keeps working properly. We'll tell you what to do and when to do it.

Support Tricks

• Find Solutions Online
If you still haven't solved your computer's problems, go directly to these sources for more information and instructions.

• Go to the Genius Bar
Not every issue can be dealt with at home. When you need professional help, the first stop is the local Genius Bar.

• Look Beyond the Genius Bar
If you don't have an Apple Store near you, or if your woes are beyond its abilities, you still have other sources for professional assistance available.

• Provide Tech Support to Others
Now that you know how to fix Macs, your friends and family will start calling on you for help. These tricks will make getting them up and running easy.