Basic Fast OSX Troubleshooting

 Basic Fast OSX Troubleshooting

1. Restart and test
If the machine has slowed to a crawl, or if your applications are freezing, restarting is the first thing to try.

2. Restart with Startup Items Disabled
Restart and hold down the shift key. Continue to hold it until thedesktop background appears. If one of these items was causing aconflict with the software you were trying to use, you will not seecrashes or freezes.

3. Switch to a Clean Test Account
Log in to a separate account, ideally a test account set up in advancefor just such occasions. If the problem does not occur in the testaccount, it’s likely due to a file that affects only your Home account.
If the problem is with one application.
Log back into your account, delete the plist (preference) for that application.
Users Folder - Your Account Folder - Library Folder - PreferencesFolder - the plist should contain the name of the application - move itto the desktop and logout and login and test.
If that does not solve a problem for a specific application problem, reinstall the application.

Download AppleJack, install and run it - it will repair 4 through 8
http://applejack.sourceforge.net/
NOTE: AppleJack should be run monthly, after updates or upgrades and when problems happen.

4. Repair Directory Errors
Applejack will fix a corrupt directory with Disk Utility’s Repair Disk option.
NOTE: You can’t repair the current startup volume with Disk Utility.Instead, you need to start up from a Mac OS X Install CD and run DiskUtility from there. UNLESS you use AppleJack.
NOTE: AppleJack should be run once a month, when updating and when installing or removing software.
NOTE: Also download, install and become familiar with Onyx     http://www.titanium.free.fr/english.html

5. Repair Disk Permissions
AppleJack will also Repair Disk Permissions from Disk Utility.

6. Clean Up Caches
AppleJack will also rebuild the launch-services database and delete all system cache files.

7. Check for plist corruption
AppleJack will also check for corrupt preference files and delete the damaged files.

8. Clean Up Virtual Memory
AppleJack will also clean up the Virtual Memory Files.

9. Check RAM for errors - Download and run memtest   (search at www.versiontracker.com)
Newer versions of OSX have stricter tests for RAM. RAM that works in earlier versions may cause problems with crashes.

10. Reset PRAM and NVRAM
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=2238
TITLE   Macintosh: How to Reset PRAM and NVRAM

11. Reinstall OSX
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=25404
TITLE   Mac OS X: How to Reinstall a Prior Version
TOPIC This document explains how to correctly reinstall a prior versionof Mac OS X in the event that other troubleshooting does not resolve anissue.

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=25392
TITLE   Mac OS X Troubleshooting: How to Isolate an Issue
TOPIC This document outlines a logical way to troubleshoot issues you may have with Mac OS X.

LINKS TO OTHER INFO

STARTUP Troubleshooting Links

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106464
TITLE   Mac OS X: Troubleshooting a Startup Issue

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=107393
TITLE   Mac OS X 10.2: How to Start Up in Safe Mode

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=107392
TITLE   Mac OS X 10.2: What is Safe Boot, Safe Mode?

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=107394
TITLE   Mac OS X: Safe Boot Takes Longer Than Normal Startup


KERNAL PANIC Troubleshooting Links

http://docs.info.apple.com/article2.html?artnum=106227
TITLE   Mac OS X: What Is a Kernel Panic?

http://www.macmaps.com/kernelpanic.html
Mac OS X Kernel Panic FAQ

How To Deal With Common Macintosh OSX 10.3 Panther Problems
http://www.macattorney.com/panther.html

How To Deal With Common Macintosh OSX 10.2 Jaguar Problems
http://www.macattorney.com/tutorial.html

Apple - Support
http://www.apple.com/support/

Apple Support Site Map
http://www.apple.com/support/find/

Apple.com's OSX Discussions Pages
Apple - Discussions
http://discussions.info.apple.com/

AppleDiscuss - OSX v10.4
http://discussions.info.apple.com/webx?[e-mail]9XaD5BRkO.0@tiger

AppleDiscuss - OSX v10.3
http://discussions.info.apple.com/webx?[e-mail]9XaD5BRkO.0@macosx3

By David Anders
http://en.allexperts.com/q/Macintosh-OS-1063/maintenace-OSX-1.htm