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04/08/2009 09:36:16 AM · #1 |
I have 13 month old mac (yes, 13, not 12....), and am having all sorts of problems with it. The software keeps crashing, it won't talk to either of my printers 70% of the time, and even mail and safari crash fairly regularly. I was just attempting to edit a shot when PS told me the 'scratch disk is full' and the mac said my start up disc is full. Then of course it all came crashing down.
So I looked in my trusty (as yet unread because its 700 pages long) mac manual, and found the ONE troubleshooting page.
These are the first three pieces of advice it gives:
1. Join a Macintosh User Group. Joining a user group and attending meetings is probably the most cost-effective way to learn about your computer and get help.
2. Attend free seminars at your local Apple Store.
3. Visit Apple's website.
Well, I could cure my alcoholism too I guess (kidding - although this thing may drive me there soon....), I could learn just how much a new computer is and put everyone else off buying one, and I could visit Apple's website to enter the myriad of things they also want to sell. No help.
It then tells me to visit my software companies websites. Talk about buckpassing! Then 'visit websites that offer troubleshooting information". THATS WHAT I WAS READING THE BOOK FOR!!!
The last, most helpful one says "Read Macintosh magazines". yeah right. |
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04/08/2009 09:44:32 AM · #2 |
I pick on my wife everytime she has trouble with her Mac. Somehow it seems to have as many problems as my Windows box does. Her most recent issue has been getting an external hard drive to work reliably on a G4 Mini.
Here's a Mac help site I know of. Mac Fixit.com
BTW, user manuals are usually the worst source of help with problems. They are written when the product is created and troubleshooting information is rather generic and not based on much real world experience. They are useful for getting pointed in the right direction.
My wife and I used to attend the Mac user group in our area, but I quit going after a while. Every meeting had a presentation on a topic, but the talk was normally an hour long. Great if the subject interests you, but also bores some people, and puts off first time attendees. It was also a lot of work for that one speaker to put together. My suggestion was a larger number of shorter topics (10-20 minutes), that would be fairly easy for people to throw together, and would give more variety. The president of the club said he didn't want to do that because they had to first concentrate on the membership problem. He failed to realize the format of the meetings WAS the problem. (IMO)
I had a lot of ideas for shorter presentations, but I only ever did one talk on open source software for the Mac. It was a lot of work to put together a meeting length presentation.
Message edited by author 2009-04-08 09:53:38. |
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04/08/2009 09:47:24 AM · #3 |
How full is your hard drive? All the symptoms you describe could be attributed to a hard drive that is almost full and there is no room for anything to spool (printers) or use as scratch disk (PS) or temp/ram disk (most applications). if they don't have the drive space available, they will crash.
Or bad memory comes to mind also. |
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04/08/2009 09:54:51 AM · #4 |
Scratch disk trouble is more a Photoshop quirk then an Apple handling error. A google will turn up a ton of information on ways around and out of the problem (clearing temp files, more RAM etc). As for Mail and Safari crashing I would be inclined to backup all user data and library's and start with a fresh install of Mac OS/X. If the problem continues I would start testing hardware if your confident or get it back to the closest Apple Repair centre for testing.
I find Apple to be the most pleasant and consistent by far to deal with (not too mention understand on the phone) and I log up to 15 - 20 faulty consumer laptops a week for work. There online support through forums etc is a much better way to do business then static manuals, its always my first point of call when an error arises and hasn't steered me wrong before. The users and admin's of the boards have a massive amount of knowledge. Good luck! |
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04/08/2009 10:07:06 AM · #5 |
Thanks guys, thats all very helpful. My hard drive is pretty full, but I'm terrified to do anything about it - I love photography, not filing systems on computers. At present I am importing into Lightroom from a file that gets copied to my pictures, and backed up to an external hard drive. There are 25,000 photos on there, but I would have thought a new mac should handle that pretty easily. I had to have the RAM upgraded when I bought a couple of PS plugins like phototools, so now have 4GB RAM. At the same time they found that the logic board was faulty, so replaced it, but its been worse since then. Trying to get it to the shop is a nightmare, I'm only using this unit and have constant work at the moment, so can't afford to lose it for more than a day - and each time I've tried to take it to them (there's only one authorised mac repairer here) they've let it sit in the shop and very casually said they'd need to keep it overnight.
Maybe you can advise me on trying to clear some of the photos off the hard drive. I am going to buy a 1TB external drive and start putting the shots on there so lightroom points to them in their place, backed up by the other external HD. But in the meantime I'm worried that if I take the existing shots off the hard drive and move them to the external, that lightroom will then freak out and not be able to find them. I have a good filing system going on in lightroom, and really don't want to create problems for myself.
Any advice on what I should do? |
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04/08/2009 10:11:34 AM · #6 |
definently get a external hard drive or backup your photos to dvd's...... because a nearly full hard drive will cause problems or you could have gotten a faulty hard drive and it may near its death. If that was the case I would definently backup all of your images to a external hard drive or dvds. On my older macbook a few years ago my hard drive died and was giving me the same symptoms as you.
But again it may not be a bad hard drive because you did mention it is pretty full, with a nearly full harddrive photoshop will have problems running.
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04/08/2009 10:15:38 AM · #7 |
The Mac OS is VERY reliant on having a bit of free space to use as a swap disk, it's a very efficient OS when it comes to swapping to and from virtual memory, but if you run out of HD space it all comes grinding to a halt!
Since your Mac is only 13 months old then you definitely have a DVD RW drive in there, my suggestion would be to buy a stack of blank DVD's, copy your photos onto them (make sure you confirm they are there), and them remove them from the hard disk.
Even if you only do 5 DVD's worth that'll free up ~25G of space which should get things running smoothly again until you get that external drive.
As far as Lightroom referencing your files, I don't use it, but can't you reference external files the way you do in Aperture?
You might also want to temporarily move some other stuff onto DVD if you don't want to mess with the phtos until you get that drive, MP3s / videos, something like that which takes a lot of space.
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04/08/2009 10:25:27 AM · #8 |
Originally posted by Covert_Oddity:
The Mac OS is VERY reliant on having a bit of free space to use as a swap disk, it's a very efficient OS when it comes to swapping to and from virtual memory, but if you run out of HD space it all comes grinding to a halt!
Since your Mac is only 13 months old then you definitely have a DVD RW drive in there, my suggestion would be to buy a stack of blank DVD's, copy your photos onto them (make sure you confirm they are there), and them remove them from the hard disk.
Even if you only do 5 DVD's worth that'll free up ~25G of space which should get things running smoothly again until you get that external drive.
As far as Lightroom referencing your files, I don't use it, but can't you reference external files the way you do in Aperture?
You might also want to temporarily move some other stuff onto DVD if you don't want to mess with the phtos until you get that drive, MP3s / videos, something like that which takes a lot of space. |
Thats the weird thing. I don't have ANY music or videos onboard. Its completely dedicated to photos, so it seems strange that it should be so full so quickly. It would be a nightmare if I had a 21MP camera!
I believe Lightroom is just the window that uses the pathway its given for each photo, which is my problem - I have all of the photos categorised into jobs, genre, etc etc, and often need to pull them up quickly or regroup them to show clients etc. I know its possible to run it via DVDs, but it seems like a huge amount of work.
But, digitalpins if you think it may die, I guess I'd better at least get everything backed up onto DVD - most of it is, but with the daily expansion of the library I'm not completely up to date.
Thanks for your advice, I appreciate it! |
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04/08/2009 10:37:10 AM · #9 |
Originally posted by jettyimages:
Thats the weird thing. I don't have ANY music or videos onboard. Its completely dedicated to photos, so it seems strange that it should be so full so quickly. It would be a nightmare if I had a 21MP camera! |
Not so weird, at 25,000 images it would only take an average image size of 8Mb to use up 200G, if you shoot RAW that's not a high estimate at all. If like me you save your photoshop edits in a PSD complete with all layers, those can run into a couple of hundred meg each, it all adds up.
You should really definitely always have backups of your photos though, have them in 2 places, ideally separate from each other. Hard disks fail all the time, just think how upset you would be if you lost your collection!
ETA:
Never mind, i just re-read one of your earlier comments about backing up!
Message edited by author 2009-04-08 10:38:33. |
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04/08/2009 11:12:00 AM · #10 |
Although I'm not a Mac expert (by *any* stretch) it does seem very likely that your hard drive is just too full. This will drive any OS bonkers. As previously posted, it doesn't take a million images to eat up a 200GB hard drive. You need to back up these images ASAP, and find additional storage.
I don't have quite as many images as you do, but I have 2TB of storage (1TB data storage, 1TB backup of that data)... and that's on separate drives from my OS; I keep only the OS and applications on the boot drive. This is good practice, because:
- If the OS drive fails, the data drive is not affected, and you don't need to recover your files.
- If the data drive fails, you simply replace it and restore from your backup, and your OS is not affected. |
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04/08/2009 11:19:00 AM · #11 |
As an aside, I recommend the Missing Manual for Mac OS X Leopard Edition, which is a highly readable book, and helps not only with the occasional troubleshooting, but lets you know things you can do that you would have never thought to ask.
I also strongly recommend getting TWO external hard drives, and dedicating one entirely to Time Machine. |
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04/08/2009 11:56:42 AM · #12 |
For the record I'd just like to share that my Leopard MacBook Pro has given me more problems than my custom built Windows machine that I've had for longer and is actually older.
Hell, XP Pro runs better and boots faster on the MBP than OSX does. That's pretty damn funny. Shame Apple has to gimp Windows support on their laptops, otherwise I have a feeling no one would use the OSX side. |
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04/08/2009 11:57:03 AM · #13 |
ΓΆ€ΒΆ You need to determine exactly how much of your HD's capacity is used/unused. I suggest you keep a minimum of 12% free at all times.
ΓΆ€ΒΆ Backing up to DVDs is good, as an extra precaution. Connecting an external backup drive, however, is essential for daily use, efficiency and convenience.
ΓΆ€ΒΆ Set up Time Machine to do your backups for you.
ΓΆ€ΒΆ Look into you Home folder for any user files you don't need or want anymore and trash them. If you're organized, you'll keep these in your Documents, Downloads, Picture, Movies, Music or Desktop folder.
ΓΆ€ΒΆ Look into your applications folder for any outdated or redundant apps. Trash those and their related files (Home > Library >Preferences and Home >Library >Application Support. You should catch most of them here.)
ΓΆ€ΒΆ Make sure that all applications reside in the applications folder and never anywhere else.
ΓΆ€ΒΆ Boot your computer from the Install Disk, run Disk Utility and Repair Drive, then Repair Permissions from here as well. Run a Hardware test from here or, if you have a dedicated Apple Hardware Test Disk, boot and run from that.
ΓΆ€ΒΆ If Disk Utility cannot repair your Drive, borrow, buy or steal DiskWarrior or a similar program and repair/rebuild your drive with that.
ΓΆ€ΒΆ If no errors show or if Disk Utility can repair them alright, but issues persist after you have run it and rebooted, you may wish to back up and reinstall the OS from the Apple Install disk and follow up by running Software Update and Repair Permissions after this, again, via Disk Utility.
After about twenty years of consulting Mac owners, the kinds of symptoms you're describing are likely and predominantly due to (user-) disorganization, overly full drives, failing to run periodic maintenance routines.
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04/08/2009 08:53:36 PM · #14 |
yep, macs have just as many problems as PC's.
there are far more PC users (far more dumb PC users too, UGH) than mac users. Hence the more vocal crowd saying that PC's suck (viruses and such).
Yes, mac and some of their users DO NEED A BETTER sense of HUMORRR!!!!!!!!!!!
I hope you find a solution to your problem and best of luck.
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04/08/2009 11:59:06 PM · #15 |
This is becoming interesting. I just spent about 4 hours dumping 5000 photos from the hard drive and burning the rest onto DVD. I have 60GB free space now. I went into system profiler and looked at the status of the hard drive, it says its all ok. But when I went in to see the printer status, the little wheel started ominously turning, and system profiler crashed.
This is what happens whenever I try to print too. Along with all the other software crashes.
 zeuszen you seem to be really up to speed with this, do you have any idea why that would have happened? Or anyone else?
PS  ben4345 don't worry, I'm still laughing .....almost. More so at the good old nikon/canon mac/pc debate. None of us want to admit we've ever done the wrong thing or that someone else's might be better do we?! Its strange though, the grass is usually greener in many other aspects of life, even with relationships sometimes, but not when it comes to our gear!
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04/09/2009 12:16:00 AM · #16 |
If you go into your apps folder, you should find a folder call Utilities, and in there is a Disk Utility program. Run that, select your hd, and do repair permissions.
Since your printer task is not working, you can also delete the preferences file associated with it--calling the printer will "rebuild" the file again, and if the original was corrupted, this will solve the issue. If not, you can restore the file from the trash can. These can be found in the Home -> Library -> Preferences folder, and have a .plist suffix. There is another location for plist files in the HD->Library->Preferences folder, but your printer plist is likely not there.
You can also just drag the printer application icon from the Apps folder to the trash can, and reinstall the printer from the original disk. Don't empty the trash can until you have things going well again :-)
Worst case, you can reinstall the OS, and in the mac this is NOT a wipe and reload everything operation like on PCs. So you can reinstall it without losing data, preferences, etc. that you have set up. You would have to download any OS updates, etc. that have occurred since you originally installed it. I doubt you need to do this, though, and get a good book or knowledgeable person to walk you thru it. And, before you do it, you might want to go get an ext hd and get a good time machine backup just in case. It is possible to do a complete wipe of the disk and you have to really try hard to do it, but it can happen.
An Aside: when you eventually (hopefully?) set up Time Machine on the external hd, make sure to include the systems folders in the backup--this means you are also backing up all the subsequent updates you download. And that book I recommended is very helpful with tips like all of the above :-)
I wish you many good lucks!
Message edited by author 2009-04-09 00:23:34. |
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04/09/2009 12:17:10 AM · #17 |
| I would consider trashing or at least moving plist's of the offending applications and see if this helps. |
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04/09/2009 12:35:31 AM · #18 |
Originally posted by chromeydome:
If you go into your apps folder, you should find a folder call Utilities, and in there is a Disk Utility program. Run that, select your hd, and do repair permissions.
Since your printer task is not working, you can also delete the preferences file associated with it--calling the printer will "rebuild" the file again, and if the original was corrupted, this will solve the issue. If not, you can restore the file from the trash can. These can be found in the Home -> Library -> Preferences folder, and have a .plist suffix. There is another location for plist files in the HD->Library->Preferences folder, but your printer plist is likely not there.
You can also just drag the printer application icon from the Apps folder to the trash can, and reinstall the printer from the original disk. Don't empty the trash can until you have things going well again :-)
Worst case, you can reinstall the OS, and in the mac this is NOT a wipe and reload everything operation like on PCs. So you can reinstall it without losing data, preferences, etc. that you have set up. You would have to download any OS updates, etc. that have occurred since you originally installed it. I doubt you need to do this, though, and get a good book or knowledgeable person to walk you thru it. And, before you do it, you might want to go get an ext hd and get a good time machine backup just in case. It is possible to do a complete wipe of the disk and you have to really try hard to do it, but it can happen.
An Aside: when you eventually (hopefully?) set up Time Machine on the external hd, make sure to include the systems folders in the backup--this means you are also backing up all the subsequent updates you download. And that book I recommended is very helpful with tips like all of the above :-)
I wish you many good lucks! |
Oh boy, I'm feeling very female now - don't suppose you'd like to come over and show me your technical genius tonight would you? ;-)
In the meantime, I'll give it a go. If you never hear from me again you'll know that the computer packed itself up after being tampered with by me, turned itself into a tardis, gathered up all my really depressing DPC failure shots and flew to the other side of the stratosphere. Probably not a bad idea really.... |
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04/09/2009 12:44:51 AM · #19 |
Originally posted by jettyimages:
Originally posted by chromeydome:
I wish you many good lucks! |
don't suppose you'd like to come over and show me your technical genius tonight would you? ;-) |
Hey  chromeydome... if she's springin' for airfare, I'll meet you at SEATAC! ;O) |
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04/09/2009 12:56:32 AM · #20 |
Originally posted by roba:
Originally posted by jettyimages:
Originally posted by chromeydome:
I wish you many good lucks! |
don't suppose you'd like to come over and show me your technical genius tonight would you? ;-) |
Hey chromeydome... if she's springin' for airfare, I'll meet you at SEATAC! ;O) |
Ever heard of Screen Sharing??
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04/09/2009 12:59:19 AM · #21 |
Originally posted by zeuszen:
ΓΆ€ΒΆ Boot your computer from the Install Disk, run Disk Utility and Repair Drive, then Repair Permissions from here as well. Run a Hardware test from here or, if you have a dedicated Apple Hardware Test Disk, boot and run from that. |
Originally posted by chromeydome:
Since your printer task is not working, you can also delete the preferences file associated with it--calling the printer will "rebuild" the file again, and if the original was corrupted, this will solve the issue. If not, you can restore the file from the trash can. These can be found in the Home -> Library -> Preferences folder, and have a .plist suffix. There is another location for plist files in the HD->Library->Preferences folder, but your printer plist is likely not there. |
Number one things!!
I ALWAYS run Repair Permissions in Disk Utility, whenever I add new software, and weekly with my backup of the Pics Disk
Message edited by author 2009-04-09 00:59:45.
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04/09/2009 01:13:35 AM · #22 |
Originally posted by dacrazyrn:
Originally posted by roba:
Originally posted by jettyimages:
Originally posted by chromeydome:
I wish you many good lucks! |
don't suppose you'd like to come over and show me your technical genius tonight would you? ;-) |
Hey chromeydome... if she's springin' for airfare, I'll meet you at SEATAC! ;O) |
Ever heard of Screen Sharing?? |
Ofcourse... but if she's flyin' people across the globe, I'll go over and share it in person ;OP |
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04/09/2009 01:15:53 AM · #23 |
I have had people accidentally click on their hard disk and then hold down command-D. And duplicate their entire drive, and not notice it, run their drive completely out of space.
I have also had lots of people who didn't know that you need to "repair permissions". My clients run "Macaroni" by Atomic Bird software which does 5 things:
clears out daily, weekly, monthly system logs
repairs permissions once a week
and after setup, removes localized language files once a month.
My client record was running the latter and removing 500,000 files.
I also recommend they all have a copy of Disk Warrior and run that twice a year, booting from CD.
I've run my own drive out of space more times than I can count, because of not archiving to DVD sets/online-ext catalog hard drive in a timely manner after too many shoots. Disk Warrior (and before it, Tech Tool) has saved my butt lots. |
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04/09/2009 02:19:44 AM · #24 |
Seems my parroting from a book (things that I have done using that book as a guide) has been mistaken for "genius"
I'll take it!! I even stuck a Gold Star on my calendar....
Damn thing is still on my screen after I close iCal.
Just like the damn white-out from when I use Word. |
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04/09/2009 02:22:31 AM · #25 |
Originally posted by roba:
Originally posted by jettyimages:
Originally posted by chromeydome:
I wish you many good lucks! |
don't suppose you'd like to come over and show me your technical genius tonight would you? ;-) |
Hey chromeydome... if she's springin' for airfare, I'll meet you at SEATAC! ;O) |
.
Lemme pack a bag! Give us a chance to get caught up! How you been, sir? :-) |
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