I need a mentor

gavoss · gavoss #1 (**permalink**)

03-30-2010, 11:28 AM

I just purhcased a very nice Mac Pro G5. As it's my first Mac, I need a mentor to help me through some basic issues. I used one back in college but that was 10+ years ago and I didn't master it then.

If you have the time and are willing to answer a bunch of dumb questions, please contact me Thanks. George

PsYkOoOoO · PsYkOoOoO #2 (**permalink**)

03-30-2010, 11:33 AM

Why don't you just ask them all here? You get, like, the help of everybody here.

pigoo3 · pigoo3 #3 (**permalink**)

03-30-2010, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gavoss

I just purhcased a very nice Mac Pro G5. As it's my first Mac, I need a mentor to help me through some basic issues. I used one back in college but that was 10+ years ago and I didn't master it then.

One quick lesson. You didn't purchase a Mac Pro G5. You either have a "Mac Pro" with an Intel CPU...or you have a "G5" (could be a Powermac G5 Tower or a G5 iMac) with a PPC cpu.

If you have any questions about your Macintosh...just post them here...and members will do their best to answer.

- Nick

DarkestRitual · DarkestRitual #4 (**permalink**)

03-30-2010, 11:41 AM

My guess would be a powermac g5... since they kept the same design for the mac pros.

the8thark · the8thark #5 (**permalink**)

03-30-2010, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PsYkOoOoO

Why don't you just ask them all here? You get, like, the help of everybody here.

Agreed. Ask here and answers you shall receive. You might get 10 different answers for the same question. But that's never a bad thing, more information is always useful.

gavoss · gavoss #6 (**permalink**)

03-30-2010, 11:52 AM

The Box says Mac Pro. I just assumed it was a G5. Please correct me as to the correct "official" name so I'll know in the future. Some brief history: I've been around computers for 20+ years, all except college is on PC's. I'm 50 and do mostly writing and photography. I plan on doing some video work with this machine.

First off, how do I change the name of the 'owner' of the computer and set up the pass word? Next, there is a picture of a cheerleader on the screen that won't go away even if you open an application. The application will open over it, but it remains there. How do I get rid of her?

I'll come up with some other questions later as I'm a bit rushed right now. Thanks for the help. George

Raz0rEdge · Raz0rEdge #7 (**permalink**)

03-30-2010, 11:59 AM

Welcome..click on the Apple logo on the top left and About This Mac to see what you have ..this will tell you your Mac OS version number and the Processor type.

The cheerleader is most likely on the desktop as your background, so go to System Preferences->Display and change it there.

Regards

gavoss · gavoss #8 (**permalink**)

03-30-2010, 12:02 PM

Dual 2.3Ghz Power PC G5

pigoo3 · pigoo3 #9 (**permalink**)

03-30-2010, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gavoss

Dual 2.3Ghz Power PC G5

Yupp...that computer is a Powermac G5 (not a Mac Pro). They do look VERY similar on the outside...but VERY different on the inside.

Let us know what version of the Mac OS is on it (Apple Menu > About this Mac)...since this may help with future questions you may have.

Welcome,

- Nick

gavoss · gavoss #10 (**permalink**)

03-30-2010, 12:19 PM

OS X.5.3 is what it shows.

I went to the display setup and didn't find a file where the cheerleader was. There was the usual files: plants, solid colors etc. I went to 'desktop' on the top and when I pressed it the typical exploding star screen came up and the cheer leader was gone. Hopefully that solved that issue.

I remember having a trash can icon on the main screen on the school computers. I just have Macintosh HD and Storage Icons on the right, and the dock on the bottom. Where do I find the trash can and get it on the main screen? TIA. George

gavoss · gavoss #11 (**permalink**)

03-30-2010, 12:26 PM

I guess the next thing is deleting the previous owners accounts and creating mine. I went to "accounts" and went to "password", change .Mac user Name to my name, but it still shows the previous owner as the "administrator" What do I need to do now?

pigoo3 · pigoo3 #12 (**permalink**)

03-30-2010, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gavoss

I guess the next thing is deleting the previous owners accounts and creating mine. I went to "accounts" and went to "password", change .Mac user Name to my name, but it still shows the previous owner as the "administrator" What do I need to do now?

Personally (whenever I purchase a "new to me" used computer)...I like to completely erase/wipe the hard drive...and do a fresh install of the OS.

So if you have a Mac OS install disk(s)...this is what I would do. This would solve all issues you currently mentioned.

- Nick

Raz0rEdge · Raz0rEdge #13 (**permalink**)

03-30-2010, 12:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pigoo3

Personally (whenever I purchase a "new to me" used computer)...I like to completely erase/wipe the hard drive...and do a fresh install of the OS.

So if you have a Mac OS install disk(s)...this is what I would do. This would solve all issues you currently mentioned.

- Nick

+1, was just about to say this..you should've gotten the CD's that go along with your PowerMac that you can use to re-install and then configure it in the way you wish..

Regards

gavoss · gavoss #14 (**permalink**)

03-30-2010, 12:50 PM

Unfortunately I didn't get the OS disk(s). I'll ask the seller for the disks though. Will a new install remove the programs or just reinstall the OS? If I don't get the disks, what do I do next? George

toMACsh · toMACsh #15 (**permalink**)

03-30-2010, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gavoss

gavoss at swbell dot net

(edited)

It's not a good idea to leave a properly formatted e-mail address on a public forum, unless you like spam. Hit the Edit button and revise or remove it.

gavoss #1 (permalink)
Member Since: Mar 30, 2010 Posts: 8	03-30-2010, 11:28 AM I just purhcased a very nice Mac Pro G5. As it's my first Mac, I need a mentor to help me through some basic issues. I used one back in college but that was 10+ years ago and I didn't master it then. If you have the time and are willing to answer a bunch of dumb questions, please contact me Thanks. George Last edited by gavoss; 03-30-2010 at 01:06 PM.
	QUOTE Thanks

I need a mentor

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PsYkOoOoO #2 (permalink)
Member Since: Mar 31, 2008 Posts: 385	03-30-2010, 11:33 AM Why don't you just ask them all here? You get, like, the help of everybody here.
	QUOTE Thanks

DarkestRitual #4 (permalink)
Member Since: Apr 09, 2009 Location: Ithaca NY Posts: 2,073 Mac Specs: 13 inch alMacBook 2GHz C2D 4G DDR3, 1.25GHz G4 eMac	03-30-2010, 11:41 AM My guess would be a powermac g5... since they kept the same design for the mac pros.
	QUOTE Thanks

gavoss #6 (permalink)
Member Since: Mar 30, 2010 Posts: 8	03-30-2010, 11:52 AM The Box says Mac Pro. I just assumed it was a G5. Please correct me as to the correct "official" name so I'll know in the future. Some brief history: I've been around computers for 20+ years, all except college is on PC's. I'm 50 and do mostly writing and photography. I plan on doing some video work with this machine. First off, how do I change the name of the 'owner' of the computer and set up the pass word? Next, there is a picture of a cheerleader on the screen that won't go away even if you open an application. The application will open over it, but it remains there. How do I get rid of her? I'll come up with some other questions later as I'm a bit rushed right now. Thanks for the help. George
	QUOTE Thanks

Raz0rEdge #7 (permalink)
Member Since: Jul 17, 2009 Location: MA Posts: 5,816 Mac Specs: 27" i7 iMac with 16GB RAM and 1TB HDD, iPhone 3G & 4, iPod Nano 16GB, iPod Shuffle, iPad 2 16GB WiFi	03-30-2010, 11:59 AM Welcome..click on the Apple logo on the top left and About This Mac to see what you have ..this will tell you your Mac OS version number and the Processor type. The cheerleader is most likely on the desktop as your background, so go to System Preferences->Display and change it there. Regards
	QUOTE Thanks

gavoss #8 (permalink)
Member Since: Mar 30, 2010 Posts: 8	03-30-2010, 12:02 PM Dual 2.3Ghz Power PC G5
	QUOTE Thanks

gavoss #10 (permalink)
Member Since: Mar 30, 2010 Posts: 8	03-30-2010, 12:19 PM OS X.5.3 is what it shows. I went to the display setup and didn't find a file where the cheerleader was. There was the usual files: plants, solid colors etc. I went to 'desktop' on the top and when I pressed it the typical exploding star screen came up and the cheer leader was gone. Hopefully that solved that issue. I remember having a trash can icon on the main screen on the school computers. I just have Macintosh HD and Storage Icons on the right, and the dock on the bottom. Where do I find the trash can and get it on the main screen? TIA. George
	QUOTE Thanks

gavoss #11 (permalink)
Member Since: Mar 30, 2010 Posts: 8	03-30-2010, 12:26 PM I guess the next thing is deleting the previous owners accounts and creating mine. I went to "accounts" and went to "password", change .Mac user Name to my name, but it still shows the previous owner as the "administrator" What do I need to do now?
	QUOTE Thanks

gavoss #14 (permalink)
Member Since: Mar 30, 2010 Posts: 8	03-30-2010, 12:50 PM Unfortunately I didn't get the OS disk(s). I'll ask the seller for the disks though. Will a new install remove the programs or just reinstall the OS? If I don't get the disks, what do I do next? George
	QUOTE Thanks

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