UC Davis Information & Educational Technology

Bits & Bytes

How to keep your Mac healthy

Published in The Aggie on March 07, 2007

Has your Mac been acting up? Does it seem sluggish? Although it is true that Macs are self-cleaning, with fewer viruses and third-party applications, it does not mean that Mac users never encounter computing issues. Users should still take an active role in maintenance and troubleshooting problems.

BOOST PERFORMANCE

Get rid of logs:
The computer records everything it does in the form of logs - similar to messages on voicemail. Over time, log files can accumulate and cause slow performance. If you are experiencing performance issues, try downloading MacJanitor - a freeware utility that runs system-maintenance tasks and frees disk space by reorganizing and compressing files.

Dashboard widgets:
Widgets are mini-applications in OS X 10.4. Popular widgets include the calculator, world clock, dictionary, stickies and calendar.

Although these features are convenient and fun, too many open widgets can slow things down. If open widgets are hogging memory, close one or more active widgets.

TROUBLESHOOT PROBLEMS

Having trouble opening a file?
Go to Finder >> Applications >> Utilities >> Disk Utility >> Select the hard drive >> Verify Disk Permission >> Repair Disk if the computer detects a problem.

Experiencing password problems?
If a website keeps asking you for a password even though you specifically selected "remember password," your keychain might be malfunctioning. To repair it, open Finder >> Applications >> Utilities >> Keychain Access >> Keychain First Aid.

SCHEDULE ROUTINE MAINTENANCE

- Back up data weekly: Ensure the safety of your valuable data by using a backup and recovery application, such as Apple's backup program, regularly.

- Update Apple software: Always keep your computer updated with the latest versions of Apple software. Select Software Update from the Apple Menu and set your computer to update automatically. This will help keep your system running smoothly and take care of any unforeseen issues.

- Update third-party software: Check for updates to install third-party software. Set your computer to automatically check for updates.

- Virus protection: If you have disabled the automatic virus protection in your antivirus software, run a virus scan to check for potential viruses.

For Mac help, the UC Davis bookstore is a certified repair station, and IET's Desktop Enterprise Solutions unit also provides computer repair at an hourly rate.

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