LITTLEBLACKDOG.COM

Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2004 9:16 am Post subject: General Maintenance..

Ok so i'm trying to figure out the things needed to keep my system running nice and smoothley for a long time to come..

So far i've learned about:

1. Repair the Disk (Diskutility)
2. Repair Privileges (Diskutility)
3. Force Periodic Maintenance (/etc/periodic scripts)
4. Update the Prebinding (update_prebinding) (reboot right afterwards and dont run apps when doing this)
5. fsck -yf when needed.

Anybody know of other things to do?

Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2004 9:31 am Post subject:

Jaguar troubleshooting: (some tips that augment your list if one of them doesn't work)
http://www.macattorney.com/tutorial.html

One of my fav tricks:

Quote:
Prevent indexing:

Like OS 9, OS X automatically indexes files on your hard drive so that you can do very fast searches for information within these files. Your Mac updates this index as needed. Even if you are working on other things.
http://www.info.apple.com/kbnum/n106978

If you select a file or a folder while in the Finder, and choose Get Info from the File menu, you can manually index a file in the Content Index drop down in the Get Info window, or you can delete this file's or folder's index, but you can't turn indexing off here. The ability to do this is somewhat hidden.

To turn off indexing, while in the Finder, in the Finder menu select Preferences. Now de-select *all* of the languages listed, even the one that you use. The effect of turning off all of the languages for indexing is that no idexing will take place at all.

An alternate way to prevent hard drive indexing is presented here:
http://www.macosxhints.com/article.php?story=20021024063705938
This tip suggests modifying a file called SkipFolders.

Of course, having your files indexed so that you can do very fast searches is a really nice feature, so you should go back and re-select your language in the evening when you are done using your Mac for the day. Leave your Mac running all night, and it will update the indexes that it creates overnight. You can also manually update the index for a particular file or folder from its Get Info window as you are working, if you need to.

Same site as above but for Panther:
http://www.macattorney.com/panther.html

Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2004 12:08 pm Post subject:

Ok kids...
I read this:

http://www.macdevcenter.com/pub/a/mac/2003/11/21/maintenance.html

does this seriously mean after every application crash?
My illustrator crashes atleast once a night -

.... and what does this mean - and what does it do?

Posted: Thu Feb 19, 2004 6:01 am Post subject:

oh sure - ignore me!

hey guess what. I went to work -
and they had the disk utility ON THE DOCK!

BAHAHAHAHHA.

Has anyone there ever heard of a bootable CD?

Posted: Thu Feb 19, 2004 6:49 am Post subject:

OhioArt2 wrote:
Has anyone there ever heard of a bootable CD?

i think we just had a topic about that..

Posted: Thu Feb 19, 2004 7:23 am Post subject:

I was being fecitious here -

meaning I was addressign the comment to my place of employment~

I cannot believe we actually have an IT guy there doing these sorts of things -

Shocked

Posted: Thu Feb 19, 2004 8:13 am Post subject:

oh damm i read that wrong.. see what happens when i dont get my morning coffee..

Posted: Thu Feb 19, 2004 9:17 am Post subject:

OhioArt2 wrote:
I was being fecitious here -

meaning I was addressign the comment to my place of employment~

I cannot believe we actually have an IT guy there doing these sorts of things -

OK O2 your using those big words again Laughing

MAC OS install CD's are always bootable

Posted: Fri Feb 20, 2004 6:28 am Post subject:

But see superdwarf -

we are not allowed to touch ANY of the software which is why it is ALWAYS under lock and key!
(read: usually laying on that table over there just begging to be ripped off -- but because of the general state of paranoia because we have a zillion cameras planted around us - no one tries) <-- you oughtta see some of the things I do for the cameras benefit...

We aren't "allowed" access to the CD...
so they stuck DISK UTILITY on our desktop.

Doing this is a lost cause - is it not?

Posted: Fri Feb 20, 2004 9:54 am Post subject:

Then it becomes the tech's job, although I would make my own bootable CD.........just make a copy of your own systemdisk and write "Gratefull Dead" on it Twisted Evil

plug in your headphones and reboot.......a little air guitar might add to the fun. Better yet if you have an Ipod you can make IT bootable and run the utilities off it.
We have two WAN's an administrative and instructional one. I work on the instructional network and there is are tech's that work on the admin network. I'm not suppost to fix admin computers and they WON'T fix instructional........we're here to collect moneys not serve students right? Rolling Eyes

Only they are told they WILL work in admin mac's.......maybe 30 out of 200-300 staff computers for this campus while I have about 100 - 125 Mac's 2 servers and about 60 PC plus 1 Novel fileserver to manage. I end up bailing them out at least 6-7 times a term (4 terms a year)....oh and they are paid 4 levals higher than I am. Sad

Posted: Wed Feb 25, 2004 6:01 am Post subject:

OhioArt2 wrote:
Ok kids...
I read this:

http://www.macdevcenter.com/pub/a/mac/2003/11/21/maintenance.html

does this seriously mean after every application crash?
My illustrator crashes atleast once a night -

.... and what does this mean - and what does it do?

why does this article say you can repair privledges (launch utility) with it in the background while I continue to work?

Posted: Wed Feb 25, 2004 8:00 am Post subject:

OhioArt2 wrote:
why does this article say you can repair privledges (launch utility) with it in the background while I continue to work?

Because of a technique called "multi tasking." Your Mac can do more than 1 job at the same time, and you can do you job too.

Although considering the demanding computer resource needs of your job I wouldn't advise it.

Posted: Wed Feb 25, 2004 2:34 pm Post subject:

even if you booted off a CD?
why run disc repair from the hard drive - I thought that sort of defeats the purpose... because you shouldn't have files open when repairing permissions and such...

?

(Yes - I understand Macs and multitasking - just confused as to what goes on when you boot from the disc)

Do you guys get that really patronizing tone in your typing when you talk to me when I ask these questions?

Is it cuz I'm artistic?

Wink

Posted: Wed Feb 25, 2004 2:34 pm Post subject:

please don't say it's because I'm stupid

Crying or Very sad

Posted: Wed Feb 25, 2004 2:40 pm Post subject:

Quote:
I read that as autistic

that was the play on words I meant ...
tee hee

Quote:
put disk utillity on the bootable disk

I did that - what I was asking (I think) was about an article I read that talks about multi tasking when you are running disk utility -

which would mean that you are running the utility from the hard drive - which is kinda worthless.

I think i wanted some validation that the directions int his article aren't necessarily the best route to take.

There - was I clear there?
I really shouldnt try to write when just waking up or right before I go to bed - but it's the only time I have...

I made the GREATFUL DEAD CD for work -
my software shut down on the average 3 times an hour last night. I was beside myself.
PANTHER however - is rock solid. I have yet to have issue with the OS itself.

Now - to get the twain to meet...