| | If you're reading this on a new Mac, then this newsletter is for you. OK, it's really for anyone who has a Mac, even if it's a trusty old workhorse they've been using for years. But because there will be many new Mac users after the holidays, this week's newsletter concentrates on Mac basics, troubleshooting, and backup. | | Back Up or Move Your Important Mac Data Your Mac contains tons of personal data, from your saved emails to your calendar events. Backing up this data, whether just to have a backup on hand or to move the data to a new Mac, is actually pretty easy. The problem is, it's not always an intuitive process. I've gathered detailed instructions on moving this important info to your new Mac, as well as how to create backups of individual application data... Read more | Ejecting a CD or DVD From Your Mac Every year at this time, I see an increase in one particular question: "How do I eject the CD/DVD from my Mac?" It's a great question because first, it means I can say "Welcome!" to you, as this is usually a question asked by those making the transition from a Windows PC to an Apple Mac. So, welcome! Now onto the answer to this question: There are actually quite a few ways to eject the CD/DVD drive... Read more | Use OS X Combo Updates to Correct Installation Problems Apple routinely releases updates to OS X that are available through the Software Update process. These software updates, available from the Apple menu, usually provide the simplest method for ensuring your Mac's operating system is kept up to date. They can also cause problems, particularly if your Mac should freeze, lose power, or otherwise prevent the update from completing. When this occurs, you end up with a corrupt system update, which may manifest itself as simple instability: occasional freezes or the system or applications locking up. In the worst-case scenario, you may have problems booting, forcing you to consider reinstalling the OS. You can use the OS X combo update to bring your system up to date, and in the process, replace most of the key system software files with the most current versions included in the updater. Unlike the incremental approach used in the Software Update system, the combo update does a wholesale update of all affected system files... Read more | How to Fix a Spinning Pinwheel of Death Once in a while, for no apparent reason, you may encounter the SPOD (Spinning Pinwheel of Death). You know, that multicolored pinwheel mouse pointer that signifies a temporary delay while your Mac tries to figure something out. In this case, your Mac is trying to think but nothing happens, so the pinwheel keeps spinning, and spinning, and spinning. Luckily, the SPOD is rarely a sign that your Mac is freezing up. It's more likely that a single application is stalled or frozen. You can usually just quit the application causing the problem and get on with your work or play. But chances are the next time you go to use that application, the SPOD will be back. Luckily, fixing the problem is an easy process... Read more | | | | Macs Ads | | | | Featured Articles | | | | | | Sign up for more free newsletters on your favorite topics | | | | You are receiving this newsletter because you subscribed to the About Macs newsletter. If you wish to change your email address or unsubscribe, please click here. About respects your privacy: Our Privacy Policy Contact Information: 249 West 17th Street New York, NY, 10011 © 2010 About.com | | | | Mac News & Events | | Advertisement | |
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