Apple Imac Mid2011 User Guide

							41
Chapter 3      Boost Your Memory
6 Untuck	the	tabs	in	the	memory	compartment. 	
7  To	replace	memory	modules, 	pull	the	tab	to	eject	the	installed	memory	module. 	
Remove	the	memory	modules	you	want	to	replace.
®
Untuck the tabs
Pull the tab 
						

							42Chapter 3      Boost Your Memory
8 Insert	the	new	memory	modules	in	the	slots	with	the	notches	facing	right, 	as	shown	in	
the	illustration. 	
	
ÂIf	you	install	additional	memory	modules, 	insert	them	in	the	open	slots.
	
ÂIf	you	replace	the	installed	memory	modules, 	insert	a	new	memory	module	in	each	
of	the	slots	furthest	from	the	display. 	
9  Press	each	memory	module	firmly	and	evenly	into	its	slot. 	You’ll	hear	a	slight	click	when	
the	memory	module	is	seated	correctly.
10  Tuck	the	tabs	into	the	memory	compartment.
®
Memory modulesTuck the tab 
						

							43
Chapter 3      Boost Your Memory
11 Replace	the	memory	access	door	and	tighten	the	three	captive	screws	with	a		
Phillips	#2	screwdriver.
WARNING:  Remember	to	replace	the	memory	access	door	after	you	install	memory. 	
Your	iMac	won’t	function	properly	without	the	memory	access	door.
Phillips
screwdriver
Raise
stand
Memory
access
door
®
12  Hold	your	iMac	by	its	sides	and	return	it	to	a	standing	position. 	Then	reconnect	the	
cables	and	power	cord.
13  Press	the	power	button	(®)	on	the	back	of	your	iMac	to	turn	it	on. 
						

							44Chapter 3      Boost Your Memory
Making Sure Your iMac Recognizes the New Memory
After	installing	memory, 	make	sure	your	iMac	recognizes	the	new	memory. 	
To check the memory installed in your iMac:
1  Start	up	your	iMac.
2  When	you	see	the	Mac	OS	X	desktop, 	choose	Apple	()	>	About	This	Mac.
You’ll	see	the	total	amount	of	memory	installed	in	your	iMac. 	For	a	detailed	view	of	the	
amount	of	memory	installed, 	open	System	Information	by	clicking	More	Info.
If	the	memory	you	installed	doesn’t	meet	specifications	(see	page	38), 	your	iMac	will	
sound	three	tones	every	five	seconds. 	If	this	happens,	shut	down	your	iMac	and	
check	the	installation	instructions	again	to	make	sure	that	the	memory	is	compatible	
with	your	iMac	and	that	it’s	installed	correctly. 	If	you	still	have	problems,	remove	the	
memory	and	consult	the	support	information	that	came	with	the	memory	or	contact	
the	vendor	who	provided	the	memory. 	 
						

							www.apple.com/macosx 
Help Center       help 
www.apple.com/support 
Problem, Meet Solution
4  
						

							46Chapter 4      Problem, Meet Solution
Occasionally	you	may	have	problems	while	working	with	your	iMac. 	Read	on	for	
troubleshooting	tips	to	try	when	you	have	a	problem. 	You	can	also	find	more	
troubleshooting	information	in	Help	Center	and	on	the	iMac	Support	website	at	
www.apple.com/support/imac.
If	you	experience	a	problem	working	with	your	iMac, 	there’s	usually	a	simple	and	quick	
solution. 	If	you	encounter	a	problem, 	try	to	make	a	note	of	what	you	did	before	the	
problem	occurred. 	This	can	help	you	narrow	down	the	possible	causes	of	the	problem	
and	then	find	the	answers	you	need. 	Things	to	note:
	
ÂThe	applications	you	were	using	when	the	problem	occurred. 	Problems	that	occur	
only	with	a	specific	application	may	indicate	that	the	application	isn’t	compatible	
with	the	version	of	Mac	OS	X	installed	on	your	iMac.
	
ÂAny	software	that	you	recently	installed.
	
ÂAny	new	hardware	(such	as	additional	memory	or	a	peripheral)	that	you	connected	
or	installed.
WARNING:  Do	not	attempt	to	open	your	iMac, 	except	to	install	memory.	If	your	iMac	
needs	service, 	see	“Learning	More, 	Service,	and	Support” 	on	page	62	for	information	
about	how	to	contact	Apple	or	an	Apple	Authorized	Service	Provider	for	service. 		
Your	iMac	doesn’t	have	any	user-serviceable	parts, 	except	the	memory. 
						

							47
Chapter 4      Problem, Meet Solution
An Ounce of Prevention
If	you	have	a	problem	with	your	computer	or	software, 	having	kept	up-to-date	
Time	Machine	backups	ensures	that	your	data	won’t	be	lost. 	If	you	make	regular	Time	
Machine	backups, 	you	can	restore	your	software	and	all	your	data	to	exactly	the	way	it	
was	at	the	time	of	backup. 	Even	serious	issues	are	of	less	concern	when	you	safeguard	
your	information	with	 Time	Machine.
Problems That Prevent You from Using Your iMac
If your iMac won’t respond or the pointer won’t move
	
ÂMake	sure	your	Apple	 Wireless	Keyboard	or	Apple	Magic	Mouse	are	turned	on	and	
the	batteries	are	charged. 	(See	“Replacing	the	Batteries” 	on	page	56.)
If	you’re	using	a	USB	keyboard	or	mouse, 	make	sure	they’re	connected.	Unplug	and	
then	plug	in	the	connectors	and	make	sure	they	are	secure. 	
	
ÂTry	to	force	problem	applications	to	quit. 	Hold	down	the	Option	and	Command	(x)	
keys	and	press	the	Esc	key. 	If	a	dialog	appears,	select	the	application	and	click	
Force	Quit. 	Then	save	your	work	in	any	open	applications	and	restart	your	iMac	to	
be	sure	the	problem	is	entirely	cleared	up.
	
ÂIf	you’re	unable	to	force	the	application	to	quit, 	hold	down	the	power	button	(®)	
on	the	back	of	your	iMac	for	five	seconds	to	shut	down	the	computer. 	Unplug	
the	power	cord	from	your	iMac. 	Then	plug	the	power	cord	back	in	and	press	the	
power	button	(®)	on	your	iMac	to	turn	it	on. 
						

							48Chapter 4      Problem, Meet Solution
If	the	problem	reoccurs	when	you	use	a	particular	application, 	check	with	the	
application’s	manufacturer	to	see	if	the	application	is	compatible	with	your	iMac.
For	information	about	the	software	that	came	with	your	iMac, 	go	to		
www.apple.com/downloads.
If	the	problem	occurs	frequently, 	try	repairing	your	disk,	restoring	your	software	from	a	
backup, 	or	reinstalling	your	system	software	using	the	Mac	OS	X	Utilities	pane		
(see	 “Repairing, 	Restoring,	or	Reinstalling	Mac	OS	X	Software” 	on	page	50).
If your iMac freezes during startup or you see a flashing question mark
	
ÂWait	a	few	seconds. 	If	your	iMac	doesn’t	start	up	after	a	delay, 	shut	down	your	iMac	
by	pressing	and	holding	the	power	button	(®)	for	about	5	seconds, 	until	it	shuts	
down. 	Then	hold	down	the	Option	key	and	press	the	power	button	(®)	again	to	start	
up	your	iMac. 	Keep	holding	down	the	Option	key	until	your	iMac	starts	up, 	then	click	
the	arrow	under	the	icon	of	the	startup	disk	you	want	to	use.
After	your	iMac	starts	up, 	open	System	Preferences	and	click	Startup	Disk. 	Select	a	
local	Mac	OS	X	System	folder.
	
ÂIf	the	problem	occurs	frequently, 	you	may	need	to	reinstall	your	system	software		
(see	 “Repairing, 	Restoring,	or	Reinstalling	Mac	OS	X	Software” 	on	page	50). 
						

							49
Chapter 4      Problem, Meet Solution
If your iMac won’t turn on or start up
	
ÂMake	sure	the	power	cord	is	plugged	into	your	iMac	and	a	functioning	power	outlet. 	
	
ÂRestart	your	computer	while	holding	down	the	Command	(x)	and	R	keys, 	until	the	
computer	restarts. 	When	the	Mac	OS	X	Utilities	pane	apears, 	select	an	option	to	repair	
your	disk, 	restore	your	software, 	or	reinstall	Mac	OS	X	and	Apple	applications. 	For	
more	information, 	see	“Repairing, 	Restoring,	or	Reinstalling	Mac	OS	X	Software” 	on	
page	50.
	
ÂPress	the	power	button	(®)	and	immediately	hold	down	the	Command	(x), 	
Option, 	P,	and	R	keys	until	you	hear	the	startup	sound	a	second	time. 	This	resets	the	
parameter	RAM	(PRAM). 	
	
ÂIf	you	recently	installed	memory, 	and	your	iMac	sounds	tones	every	five	seconds, 	
make	sure	that	the	memory	is	correctly	installed	and	that	it	is	compatible	with	your	
iMac. 	Check	whether	removing	the	memory	you	installed	allows	your	iMac	to	start	
up	(see	page	44).
	
ÂUnplug	the	power	cord	and	wait	at	least	30	seconds. 	Plug	the	power	cord	in	again	
and	press	the	power	button	(®)	to	start	up	your	iMac. 	
	
ÂIf	you	still	can’t	start	up	your	iMac, 	see	“Learning	More, 	Service,	and	Support” 	on	
page	62	for	information	about	contacting	Apple	for	service.
If you have trouble inserting a disc
	
ÂUsing	a	continuous	motion, 	push	the	disc	into	the	drive	until	your	fingers	touch	the	
edge	of	your	iMac.
	
ÂUse	only	a	standard-size	disc. 	 
						

							50Chapter 4      Problem, Meet Solution
If you have trouble ejecting a disc
	
ÂQuit	any	applications	that	may	be	using	the	disc, 	and	then	press	the	Media	
Eject	key	(C)	on	your	keyboard.
	
ÂOpen	a	Finder	window	and	click	the	eject	icon	next	to	the	disc	icon	in	the		
sidebar, 	or	drag	the	disc	icon	from	the	desktop	to	the	 Trash.
	
ÂLog	out	from	your	user	account	by	choosing	Apple	()	>	Log	Out	 “User”	(your	
account	name	appears	in	the	menu), 	and	then	press	the	Media	Eject	key	(C)	on	
your	keyboard.
	
ÂRestart	your	iMac	while	holding	down	the	mouse	button.
If you have trouble scrolling with your mouse
	
ÂIf	you	have	a	mouse	with	a	scroll	ball	and	the	scrolling	feels	rough	or	the	scroll	ball	
isn’t	scrolling	up, 	down,	or	side-to-side, 	hold	the	mouse	upside-down	and	roll	the	ball	
vigorously	while	cleaning.
	
ÂFor	more	information, 	see	“Cleaning	 Your	Mouse” 	on	page	72.
If your date and time settings get lost repeatedly
	
ÂYou	may	need	to	have	the	internal	backup	battery	replaced. 	For	information	about	
contacting	Apple	for	service, 	see	“Learning	More, 	Service,	and	Support” 	on	page	62.
Repairing, Restoring, or Reinstalling Mac OS X Software
If	you	have	a	problem	with	your	Mac	software	or	hardware, 	Mac	OS	X	provides	repair	
and	restore	utilities	that	may	eliminate	problems	and	can	even	restore	your	software	
to	its	original	factory	settings. 	You	can	access	these	utilities	from	the	Mac	OS	X	Utilities	
application, 	even	if	your	computer	isn’t	starting	up	correctly.