Questions centered on analyzing a technical problem or errant behavior with Apple hardware or software.
12
votes
2answers
2k views
Why is the Network Link Conditioner preference pane crashing as soon as I turn it on?
I am trying to use the Network Link Conditioner preference pane included with the Hardware IO tools in the developer tools to throttle Internet speeds. I can open and load the preference pane, but as ...
6
votes
4answers
590 views
Flash plugin crashes frequently
In various websites, at random times and with no apparent pattern, the Flash plugin will crash. This has occurred in every browser, and I typically have at least one crash a day. According to ...
6
votes
2answers
1k views
Glitches in OS X - memory or ssd?
My laptop is Macbook pro 15', Early 2011, with an SSD drive - OCZ Agility 3 240GB. I changed my memory too to 16GB (Corsair from Amazon).
I experience glitches:
Also Skype refuses to launch. I ...
5
votes
3answers
2k views
How can I stop my whole screen from flashing white on errors?
Whenever I access Terminal and press Command ⌘ + Delete ⌫ my screen flashes white.
It also happens when Chrome's Command ⌘ + F returns no results.
Have I somehow messed up my settings?
I already ...
5
votes
2answers
667 views
iMac display has discolored tan lines
I have a 24 inch, mid-2007 iMac purchased used. I don't know the original owner and it's out of warranty.
On the display is a series of tan or yellowish horizontal lines - all an approximate inch ...
5
votes
2answers
6k views
What can be done to fix a 2011 iMac that will not boot past the white screen?
I have now tried opening the iMac and removing the cables to the SSD, it still gets stuck on the white screen. I tried again, removing the cables to the HDD as well and the same thing occurs.
No idea ...
5
votes
3answers
914 views
Automatically quit Terminal when typing exit
Scenario
I use terminal to SSH a lot, however would like the Terminal App to quit when the last Tab closes using exit. I already have the terminal window itself set to close on successful exit, ...
4
votes
3answers
15k views
Can't boot Mac, only shows a Folder with a Question Mark?
How do I start up a Mac when all it shows is a Folder with a Question Mark, even with a DVD in the drive?
Image courtesy of Loïc Wolff
4
votes
3answers
3k views
Why is Java consuming 100% CPU on my machine?
I have an iMac (early 2010) running 10.7.2 but the problem has been seen on 10.6.x also. The symptom is simple, one of my 2 cores is sitting at 100% utilization with the Java process responsible for ...
4
votes
3answers
3k views
Why is my Mac constantly trying to connect to another server?
After logging on, I see this dialog box pop up. Whenever I dismiss it, it reappears 30 seconds later. (Stealing focus at the same time! Grrrr!)
"Slate" is my old iMac, which is sitting on the desk ...
4
votes
2answers
2k views
Airport Express requires frequent rebooting
I use an Airport Express to create a wireless network at home. Frequently (~2 times a week), all the computers using the network (eMac, Intel iMac, MacBook Air) can see the network as an option in the ...
4
votes
3answers
598 views
loginwindow process out of control
I have an early 2010 27" iMac that is the family computer. It has 5 user accounts on it. (Not sure if this is relevant or not).
Often times I'll come home and the login screen won't appear. Usually ...
3
votes
2answers
2k views
How do I find the log for the shutdown process?
I've done some Googling and nowhere do I find where you can log the shutdown process.
The best I've found is a log where it states when the shutdown process begins but that's all.
My computer is ...
3
votes
2answers
1k views
How to find a cause of a Kernel Panic message, or BSoD?
How to understand why Beautiful Screen of Death1 appeared?
When I tried to find what happened using "Console" I couldn't find anything useful in logs? There's no 'panic' or 'SIG*' in logs, so what ...
3
votes
2answers
2k views
Why might a Macbook Pro go back into sleep shortly after waking up?
Whenever I wake up my mac by opening the lid, approximately 20 seconds later it will put itself to sleep again, even though I'm actively working on it. I'm guessing it's "deep sleep" (hibernation) ...
3
votes
2answers
1k views
How can I fix permission issue when I cannot start Mac OS X?
I was creating a guest account and to prevent it from accessing the Macintosh HD as in other applications and stuff I assigned it as in "No Access"
When I switched to the guest account everything ...
3
votes
2answers
5k views
How can I diagnose a superdrive that won't read disks?
My MacBook (Snow Leopard) seems to be unable to read DVDs and CDs. I've searched around the nets, and it looks like I may be experiencing a relatively common problem, but I don't want to jump to ...
3
votes
2answers
448 views
Help diagnose errors on MacBook that will not boot
I have a MacBook which won't boot beyond the grey screen / Apple logo. With some key combo (can't remember what I did!) I managed to get a black screen with text output - see image. Can anyone offer ...
3
votes
2answers
2k views
Can't relaunch Finder and the menubar is missing
I booted up my MacBook Air (running Mac OS X Lion) and the desktop doesn't have a menubar. I used option+right-click to relaunch Finder and there isn't an option to relaunch it. When I launch an ...
3
votes
4answers
882 views
Yellow tooltip stuck onscreen
There is a yellow tooltip stuck and it floats above all other windows. I do not know from what program it came.
How can I get rid of it without restarting my computer?
EDIT:
3
votes
4answers
1k views
AirPort Extreme Drops Out Periodically (Every 2-3 Days) Requiring Unplug/Replug to Restart
I have an AirPort Extreme that drops connection every two to three days. When my client indicates no signal/SSID present, it searches and does show my AirPort Extreme SSID. However, selecting it ...
3
votes
1answer
250 views
Mac Pro cd drive stuck open
I just got a brand new mac pro. I opened the cd drive with the eject button on the keyboard, and then went to close it the same way, the cd drive goes in, but the metal gate doesn't come back up. What ...
2
votes
2answers
303 views
What steps can troubleshoot OS X when some sites do not resolve on Snow Leopard?
I cannot access www.lubuntu.net from my Macbook Pro running OS X 10.6.8. I have an idea as to what the problem is (see my opinion), but I did all the usual things anyway (see basic troubleshooting), ...
2
votes
2answers
354 views
Mac spontaneously restarts
I'm running Snow Leopard 10.6.8. I leave my machine for an hour. When I return the machine is asleep and all the applications have been shut down. It is almost as if it has spontaneously restarted.
...
2
votes
1answer
193 views
Why does finder report my applications are in the trash when I use Open With?
When I attempt to open a a file with Preview (and some other applications) via the Open With open I get the following error:
You can't open the application "Preview" because it's in the Trash. ...
2
votes
1answer
2k views
iPhone 2G has “NO SERVICE” after restore from possibly corrupt backup
I'm having a hell of an issue with my iPhone 2G.
A couple of days ago, I noticed my phone was behaving strangely and appeared to be 'half-synched'. I tried restarting it then did a restore to my last ...
2
votes
2answers
222 views
How to fix Magic GarageBand missing files?
I hadn't used the Magic GarageBand feature before today (I generally don't use GarageBand that often) and when I went to try it, everything seemed to work until I clicked Open in GarageBand in the ...
2
votes
1answer
210 views
Why is Firefox randomly reopening itself after quitting?
I've had a strange problem that's been bugging me for awhile. It seems that every couple times I quit Firefox, it will reopen itself automatically. Basically:
I'll hit cmdq
Firefox will shut down
...
2
votes
1answer
664 views
Mountain Lion is stuck with “See network administrator” when joining Wi-Fi network
I recently clean installed Mountain Lion to my mid 2011 iMac, and ran into a frustrating issue when joining my Wi-Fi network. All my other Apple devices have no trouble accessing the same wifi, except ...
2
votes
2answers
424 views
How should I troubleshoot Wi-fi timeout issues?
I am having some Wi-fi issues at home and am looking for some advice on how to troubleshoot it.
The setup.
Comcast Modem connected to Airport Extreme Basestation which has a NAS drive and MacMini ...
2
votes
1answer
2k views
How can I get my MacBook Pro's sound back?
Sound isn't playing on startup or any other time.
I'm not seeing the red glow from the headphone jack that I've seen mentioned in certain cases of this failure. Though I have noticed an awful lot ...
2
votes
1answer
2k views
Why is my Apple TV returning errors when I watch movies rented from Apple?
Movies start, but a few times per movie, returns an error: "An error occurred while loading this content". It will allow me to start it again, but it's really frustrating. Internet connection ...
2
votes
0answers
357 views
Trackpad firmware doesn't update and now stopped working (Lion & MacBook 13" Unibody)
I bought an oldish MacBook 13" Unibody (late 2008) and when I got it one of the first things I did was to install Mac OS X Lion.
Everything was working fine, until I applied an update that made the ...
2
votes
2answers
245 views
Can anyone interpret verbose shutdown messages?
I almost always boot up in Verbose mode so I can see what's happening during boot up/shut down. Usually critical errors make themselves obvious, some lesser errors aren't so obvious but can be cleared ...
2
votes
2answers
3k views
Why won't my iPad sync photos (“not enough memory”) when it's half empty?
When I try to sync my iPad, it aborts on the last step, indicating that it can't be synced, becuase "not enough memory is available":
But I have LOTS of room:
And it all fit before - I actually ...
1
vote
2answers
6k views
What can be done to make my Mountain Lion Mac drops connection to my Cisco router less often?
I have a Cisco wireless router WAG54G2 Annex A plus Cisco Extender RE1000. The router is upstairs and extender helps me strengthen the signal downstairs and have been having issues keeping a wireless ...
1
vote
5answers
2k views
Power adapter connection issues
Lately, my Magsafe power adapter has not been connecting properly:
The wires are not worn out as I take good care of them
The issue happens when I try to connect my power adapter to my computer
The ...
1
vote
3answers
578 views
Caps lock + letters A to l not working on mac USB keyboard
I am on the verge on snapping my brand new 27" iMacs keyboard. It's the latest USB model. I can't even login to my system because my password contains the letters I have said are not working. All was ...
1
vote
2answers
350 views
How can I bring back the “bounce” when scrolling in OS X?
I just system restored after a kernel panic, and I am no longer seeing this feature. It used to be that when you scrolled (say, down this page in Firefox), there was some physics in the scroll, ...
1
vote
3answers
600 views
Remote desktop iphone app vs BT home hub 2.0
I got an app (RDP lite) which lets me use my pc remotely when I set the ip address to my pc's and use it at home. So it's fine internally but when I want to try it externally I try setting it to my ...
1
vote
1answer
149 views
How do you prevent CodeRunner from prefixing its console output with [00m[00m[00m[00m[00m?
There seems to be a connection between CodeRunner's console output and your actual terminal prompt script, that is, if such prompt code is sourced from e.g. ~/.bash_profile (which CodeRunner reads by ...
1
vote
3answers
6k views
Troubleshooting MacBook Air boot issues
I have a late-2010 MacBook Air (11inch, 3,1), running Snow Leopard. I hadn't run software update in a month or two, so I plugged it into the wall and ran software update last night. Unfortunately, ...
1
vote
3answers
232 views
Diagnosing a broken laptop
I have a 12" PowerBook with no HD and a dead screen. I'm trying to determine if the actual LCD is broken or if it is "just" the graphics card, without taking out the screen and transfering it to ...
1
vote
1answer
7k views
What can we do now that Facebook iPad app crashes on launch after update?
A family member today updated the Facebook app on a 3rd generation iPad (retina display) running iOS 5 and now the app crashes every time one tries to launch it. We've tried rebooting the device, ...
1
vote
1answer
3k views
MacBook Pro won't power on after SMC reset
Some water was spilled on the table and came in contact with my wife's Mid 2009 MacBook Pro near the MagSafe adapter causing the MBP to shut itself off. Based on some recommendations from the ...
1
vote
1answer
1k views
The system preference panes will not load
When I open System Preferences and click on an item it says 'Loading Users & Groups' at the top of the window, but will not load the pane.
I've tried deleting the property list file:
...
1
vote
1answer
110 views
Diagnosing system lockups
I am having a problem with my MacBookPro5,1 (more background below): the system will randomly lock up, with the following symptoms:
Screen freezes up, no corruption
System does not respond to ...
1
vote
3answers
6k views
iPhone won't play sound in *some* apps
My friend is having a problem with an iPhone 4 (not yet updated to iOS 5).
Most apps and the ring tone will make noise via headphones but not via speaker. iTunes and at least one other app will play ...
1
vote
3answers
176 views
MacBook Pro freezes 4 or 5 times a day with no info in the Console
My mid-2011 MBP (Core i7, Lion), seems to fart around 4 or 5 times a day. It usually happens randomly. There doesn't seem to be any issues in Console before the "boot" line.
What happens is that ...
1
vote
2answers
729 views
Hard drive unmounted and missing then back?
I have a 15" 2011 MBP with the OWC data doubler (a generic version). In my primary drive position (the spot where the factory HDD was) I have an OCZ-VERTEX 3. In the data doubler (the spot where the ...
