Spring Clean your MacBook

For the experienced user here are some clean up tips for Mac OSX

• Reboot while holding Shift Key until blue screen appears (after the grey one). This will re index the computer in safe mode. Reboot when done.
• Clear out all caches and reboot so they can be rebuilt
  • Harddrive/Library/Caches
  • Harddrive/System/library/Caches
  • Harddrive/Users/Your User/Library/Caches
• Repair Hard disk permissions. Go to Finder then HD/Apps/Utilities Disk Utilities. Select drive then “Repair Permissions”
• Defrag hard drive using iDefrag

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Repairing and Cleaning up Aperture

If you are experiencing issues with Aperture, or would merely like to give it a spring clean then here are a few tips. Remember to always backup your system first.

• Delete any pictures you don’t need. Then clear out your Aperture and Mac Trash Bin.
• Split your Aperture library into two. For example I have one Library for Snaps and one for my serious photos. You can do this by creating a new folder called Library 2. Then dragging all your folders for adding into it. Once done right mouse click on it and select Export/Folder as New Library. You now have two library’s which can be opened and renamed in folder view.
• Start your Library in folder view while holding down ALT + CMD. Then select and run the following in turn :
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Reinstalling OSX to Factory Condition

This procedure has four parts:

1. Erasing the hard drive
2. Completing the Mac OS X Setup Assistant.
3. Restoring the bundled applications using the Applications Install Disc.

Important: This procedure will completely erase your hard drive.

Part One: Erasing the hard drive

1. Turn on the computer.
2. Insert the Mac OS X Install DVD into the optical drive.
3. Press and hold the “C” key while the computer starts up. The computer will start up using the Mac OS X Install DVD.
4. If your are using a wireless mouse, a mouse icon should appear asking you to turn the mouse on so that the computer can discover it.
5. Select a language, then press the right arrow key.
6. Click the Utilities menu, the choose Disk Utility.
7. Select a the hard disk to erase (select top level item).
8. Click the Erase tab.
9. Select Security options and choose “7-Pass Erase” for a secure delete (6hrs) or the derfault “Zeros” for a quick erase.  Then click OK.
10. Back in the Erase dialogue Select Volume Format as “Mac OS Extended”
11. Name the disk as “Macintosh HD”
12. Select the Erase button.
13. This takes about 5 hours.
14. When done Quit the Disk Utility and install OSX.

Part Two: Completing the Mac OS X Setup Assistant

1. When the restart has completed, a welcome video plays, then country/region selection screen appears.
2. Select your country or region and click Continue.
3. Select a keyboard layout and click Continue.
4. A migration screen appears. If you wish to migrate your data from another Macintosh then select. If you do not wish to migrate, or want to migrate later, select “Do not transfer my information now” and click Continue.
5. A Wireless Service screen appears if you have wireless services available within range of your computer. Select “On” and click Continue.
6. If the network is password protected, you be asked for a password when you select it. Type the password and click Continue.
7. An Apple ID screen appears. This is used to purchase content from the iTunes store. You can use MobileMe or .Mac usernames here as well. When complete, click Continue.
8. If you do not have an Apple ID or MobileMe account, click Continue to move to the next screen.
9. A Registration Information screen appears. You are not required to fill this out, but it is helpful if you do. When complete, click Continue and your product registration will be sent immediately.
10. If Mac OS X servers are available on your network, you’ll be asked if you’d like to log on to them. If not, click Continue.
11. A Create Your Account screen appears. This will be used to create a User Account with Login ID and Password for you computer. You should remember this password. You’ll be asked for it when you install new software or perform other administrative tasks on your computer. When complete, click Continue and your account will be created immediately.
    The Full Name will be used as your “User Log in”. The short name will be used to name your documents folder (This cannot be changed without a fresh install)
12. A screen to select your user picture appears. Take a snapshot with the built-in camera or select a picture from your Library. When complete, click Continue.
13. A MobileMe screen appears. Select an option and click Continue.
14. A Thank You screen appears. Click Go to complete the Mac OS X Setup Assistant.
15. Eject the Mac OS X Install DVD by dragging its icon to the Trash.

Part Three: Installing the bundled applications

1. To install the bundled applications, locate the Applications Install Disc that came with your computer.
   Note: You may see a Software Update icon bouncing up and down in your dock. You can quit this for now.
2. Insert the Applications Install Disc into the optical drive.
3. The disc will mount and an Applications Install Disk dialog appears. Double-click on Install Bundled Software to install your iLife applications.
4. A dialog appears asking if you want to run the package. Click Continue.
5. The Bundled Software Applications Installer screen appears. Click Continue.
6. A software license screen appears. Click Continue, then click Agree to accept the terms.
7. A select destination dialog appears. Make sure the partition with the green arrow is the correct destination, then click Continue.
8. To install all the bundled applications, click Install.
9. To select individual applications, click Customize. Click the disclosure triangle next to Bundled Applications to select individual applications, then click Install. Clicking Standard Install on the Customize screen installs all the applications.
10. Type the password you created to start the installation.
11. A restart dialog appears. Click Continue Installation.
12. An Install was Successful screen appears. Click Restart.

The restore process is now complete.

Macbook Hot keys

Take a screenshot of desktop - Shft+Cmd+3
Take a screenshot of a selection - Shft+Cmd+4
Take a screenshot of an element - Cmd+Shft+4+Space
Screen Zoom Ctrl+Scroll or 2 Fingers, then 1 finger to pan
To make a file smaller Select it – File/Save as/Select jpg compression

Quit applications – Cmd+Alt+Esc or Alt+Cmd+Esc
Delete Fn+backspace
Cut, Copy, Paste, All Cmd+X, C, V, A
Quit current application – Cmd+Q
Quickview – Spacebar
Find all , Undo Cmd+F, Z
Alt mouse click 2 finger press or click & hold or Ctrl+MouseClick
Open a file – Cmd+O
New Finder window – Cmd+N

Window Switch – Cmd+Tab (only open or hidden apps..not min ones)
Minimise to Dock – Cmd+M
Hide – Cmd+H

New Finder instance – File/New Finder
Import Itunes Music File- /Add to Library or File/Import to Library
Create an alias without alias Click & Drag while holding Option+Cmd key

Spaces :
Show all – Fn+F8
Switch between spaces – Ctrl+Arrow keys
Collect all – C
Direct Switch – Cmd+Space No.

Safari :
New window – Cmd+N
New tab – Cmd+T
Mail page to contact – Cmd+L
Mail link to contact – Cmd+Shft+L
Reload page – Cmd+R
Text size – Cmd+ and Cmd—

Solutions for your mac

A list of problems and solutions for your Mac :-

1. An application hangs : Press CMD + ALT + ESC
2. To open files in another application : 
   Either drag the file to the application while holding CMD + ALT or for a more permanent association Select the file then press APPLE+I/OPEN WITH/OTHER then browse to the program remembering to select change all.
3. CD stuck in : To eject restart the Mac while holding down the left mouse button or go into Terminal and type “DRUTIL TRAY OPEN”
4. To reset the Admin password : Restart the Mac with the original Leopard disk in it while holding down C. Before the laptop goes to the install sequence go to UTILITIES and reset the password.
5. Lost Airport connection : To force a research for a connection switch the Airport connection off and then back on again by selection the icon top right.  or if this doesn’t work Renew its DHCP lease by SYSTEM PREF/NETWORK/TCIP section/RENEW DHCP Lease.

Connecting MacBook to network printer on vista

This article steps you through connecting your Mac or MacBook to a network printer.  The printer is connected via usb to a windows Vista PC.  The article also details how to connect the Mac to the PC . 

On the Windows PC carry out the following :-

1. Open Control Panel/Network and Sharing Center.  Then set Printer sharing “ON” and Password Protect Sharing “OFF”
2. Open Control Panel/Programs and Features/Turn windows Features on or off.  Select Print Services/LPD print services “ON”
3. Go to Windows Explorer and share a Directory.  This is done by right mouse clicking on it and selecting “Share”.  Then choose people to share it with (everyone read only)

On the MacBook carry out the following :-

1. Plug the printer directly in to the MacBook usb then download and install the drivers.  Make sure you are able to print with it directly connected.
2. Connect printer back into Vista PC.
3. Printer must be setup at a network printer on MacBook so that we can print over lan or wifi to PC usb connected printer.  PC must be on to do this.
4. First we will give the MacBook the ability to connect to folders on the PC via the network. Open “Finder” on the Mac and select “GO” from the top menu. Type in PC details smb://networkname.  Then press “Connect”.  Type in the password and select the volume.  You should now be connected to the shred PC directory (it will appear in the Finders shared L.H panel)
5. To set up the Printer go to System Preferences/Print and Fax then select “+” to add the printer.
6. Press the “Ctrl” key on the MacBook and select “More Printers”.  From the drop down box select “Customize Toolbar” and drag “Advanced” on to your toolbar
7. Select this “Advanced” button and fill in :  Type = Windows, Url = smb://networkname.

Thats it should be done.  Once all working you may want to review what folders you have shared and your permission settings.