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Apple Computing Products:
macOS - Operating System
Speeding up a mac; problem installations?
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<blockquote data-quote="Luke35" data-source="post: 811403" data-attributes="member: 47159"><p>I use a mac computer at work and have a few issues that I am trying to clear up. I know very little about Mac settings or workings because I am a PC user at home. The age old debate…</p><p></p><p>My mac is running dreadfully slow. I’m sure it could use more RAM , but I don’t control the purse strings in that department. My basic specs: 800MHz Power PC G4 processor; 256 MB SDRAM; running OS X 10.4.11. If any other specs would assist in responding, let me know what (and how/where I might find it) and I will be happy to provide it.</p><p></p><p>The first thing I was told to do was to run Disk Utility and fix the permissions. I did that and it maybe helped a bit, but still not even close to what it should be.</p><p></p><p>Is there some place on a mac where I can view all of the programs and processes currently running which might be eating up my RAM or an I barking up the wrong tree? I know that used to be a problem for me on my pc, but I don’t know where to look to monitor that info.</p><p></p><p>I seem to have the most trouble when I am in my e-mail and web browser. I use Firefox and Thunderbird, but I don’t believe the speed of our DSL connection is the culprit. I may be way off base, but a year or so ago when I first switched to the above browser and e-mail programs, I downloaded the basic files and then tried to install.</p><p></p><p>Instead of installing as a simple program/application with a desktop icon, they seem to have installed differently where my mac displays them as independent drives. Every time I open either program, a couple of windows pop up. One that appears to be an installation kind of thing although I have no idea for sure. <img src="http://www.lucas-web.net/temp/1.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /> </p><p></p><p>The other from an old anti-virus program that apparently reads this as a new external drive being connected so it wants to check for viruses. <img src="http://www.lucas-web.net/temp/2.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /> </p><p></p><p>Once up and running, I get a desktop icon designating it as a separate drive.<img src="http://www.lucas-web.net/temp/3.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" /> </p><p></p><p>In the last photo I grouped four icons together: the server at work is the “A-Drive”; I have a USB flash drive “Toms Cruzer” connected; and there are my web browser and e-mail programs. Thunderbird and Firefox icons also appear active in the dock below, though not shown in the photo.</p><p></p><p>I wonder it that might be causing some of my delays. I have tried to reinstall the programs, but I keep getting the same functionality. I just downloaded a new web design program Amaya. And gosh darn it if it didn’t install the same way when I opened up the .dmg file. Is there some way I can install these programs to just act like normal applications? It is probably an easy fix or nuance that I just don’t know about being a primarily pc person.</p><p></p><p>AND if I am able to ‘solve’ that issue, is there a process to getting my current user settings and data into the newly installed programs – like my current e-mails still in the program and firefox preferences, etc.</p><p></p><p>Are there any other common tips I can try to improve my speed? Someone suggested that I reinstall the OS X software. Is that something I can do right overtop of my present system without any data loss or so I need to do all my major backups before trying something of that sort?</p><p></p><p>I have a desktop slide show that rotates through a series of photos of my daughter – changing every 5 seconds. That transition is flawless and regular with no hang ups or slow downs. But when I mouse over my dock or right click to close out a program on the dock, I am sometimes waiting for 10, 15, 60+ seconds for the simple menu to pop up. And then I usually wait at least as long for the Quit selection to have any effect.</p><p></p><p>I am sorry for the length and rambling nature of my query. I appreciate any help anyone can offer.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Luke35, post: 811403, member: 47159"] I use a mac computer at work and have a few issues that I am trying to clear up. I know very little about Mac settings or workings because I am a PC user at home. The age old debate… My mac is running dreadfully slow. I’m sure it could use more RAM , but I don’t control the purse strings in that department. My basic specs: 800MHz Power PC G4 processor; 256 MB SDRAM; running OS X 10.4.11. If any other specs would assist in responding, let me know what (and how/where I might find it) and I will be happy to provide it. The first thing I was told to do was to run Disk Utility and fix the permissions. I did that and it maybe helped a bit, but still not even close to what it should be. Is there some place on a mac where I can view all of the programs and processes currently running which might be eating up my RAM or an I barking up the wrong tree? I know that used to be a problem for me on my pc, but I don’t know where to look to monitor that info. I seem to have the most trouble when I am in my e-mail and web browser. I use Firefox and Thunderbird, but I don’t believe the speed of our DSL connection is the culprit. I may be way off base, but a year or so ago when I first switched to the above browser and e-mail programs, I downloaded the basic files and then tried to install. Instead of installing as a simple program/application with a desktop icon, they seem to have installed differently where my mac displays them as independent drives. Every time I open either program, a couple of windows pop up. One that appears to be an installation kind of thing although I have no idea for sure. [IMG]http://www.lucas-web.net/temp/1.jpg[/IMG] The other from an old anti-virus program that apparently reads this as a new external drive being connected so it wants to check for viruses. [IMG]http://www.lucas-web.net/temp/2.jpg[/IMG] Once up and running, I get a desktop icon designating it as a separate drive.[IMG]http://www.lucas-web.net/temp/3.jpg[/IMG] In the last photo I grouped four icons together: the server at work is the “A-Drive”; I have a USB flash drive “Toms Cruzer” connected; and there are my web browser and e-mail programs. Thunderbird and Firefox icons also appear active in the dock below, though not shown in the photo. I wonder it that might be causing some of my delays. I have tried to reinstall the programs, but I keep getting the same functionality. I just downloaded a new web design program Amaya. And gosh darn it if it didn’t install the same way when I opened up the .dmg file. Is there some way I can install these programs to just act like normal applications? It is probably an easy fix or nuance that I just don’t know about being a primarily pc person. AND if I am able to ‘solve’ that issue, is there a process to getting my current user settings and data into the newly installed programs – like my current e-mails still in the program and firefox preferences, etc. Are there any other common tips I can try to improve my speed? Someone suggested that I reinstall the OS X software. Is that something I can do right overtop of my present system without any data loss or so I need to do all my major backups before trying something of that sort? I have a desktop slide show that rotates through a series of photos of my daughter – changing every 5 seconds. That transition is flawless and regular with no hang ups or slow downs. But when I mouse over my dock or right click to close out a program on the dock, I am sometimes waiting for 10, 15, 60+ seconds for the simple menu to pop up. And then I usually wait at least as long for the Quit selection to have any effect. I am sorry for the length and rambling nature of my query. I appreciate any help anyone can offer. [/QUOTE]
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