Apple Macbook 13inch Mid2010 Users Guide

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Help Center       help 
Problem, Meet Solution
4  

52Chapter 4      Problem, Meet Solution
Occasionally, 	you	may	have	problems	while	working	with	your	MacBook. 	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	MacBook	Support	website	at	
www.apple.com/support/macbook.
If	you	experience	a	problem	with	your	MacBook, 	there	is	usually	a	simple	and	quick	
solution. 	Think	about	the	conditions	that	led	up	to	the	problem. 	Making	a	note	of	
things	you	did	before...

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Chapter 4      Problem, Meet Solution
Problems That Prevent You from Using Your MacBook
If your MacBook doesn’t respond or the pointer doesn’t move
On	rare	occasions, 	an	application	might	 “freeze”	on	the	screen. 	Mac	OS	X	provides	a
way	to	quit	a	frozen	application	without	restarting	your	computer.
To force an application to quit:
1  Press	Command	(x)-Option-Esc	or	choose	Apple	()	>	Force	Quit	from	the	menu	bar.
The	Force	Quit	Applications	dialog	appears	with	the	application	selected.
2  Click...

54Chapter 4      Problem, Meet Solution
If your MacBook freezes during startup, or you see a flashing question mark, or the 
screen is dark and the sleep indicator light is glowing steadily (not in sleep)
The	flashing	question	mark	usually	means	that	the	computer	can’t	find	the	system	
software	on	the	hard	disk	or	any	disks	attached	to	the	computer.
	
ÂWait	a	few	seconds. 	If	the	computer	doesn’t	start	up	soon, 	shut	it	down	by	pressing	
and	holding	the	power	(®)	button	for	about	8	to	10	seconds....

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Chapter 4      Problem, Meet Solution
	
ÂIf	you	recently	installed	additional	memory, 	make	sure	that	it	is	correctly	installed	and	
that	it	is	compatible	with	your	computer. 	See	whether	removing	it	and	reinstalling	
the	old	memory	allows	the	computer	to	start	up	(see	page	46). 	
	
ÂPress	the	power	(®)	button	and	immediately	hold	down	the	Command	(x), 	Option,	
P, 	and	R	keys	simultaneously	until	you	hear	the	startup	sound	a	second	time. 	This	
resets	the	parameter	RAM	(PRAM). 	
	
ÂIf	you	still	can’t...

56Chapter 4      Problem, Meet Solution
If you have trouble ejecting a disc
	
ÂQuit	any	applications	that	might	be	using	the	disc	and	try	again. 	
	
ÂIf	this	doesn’t	work, 	restart	the	computer	while	holding	down	the	trackpad.
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...

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Chapter 4      Problem, Meet Solution
Use	the	Mac	OS	X	Utilities	application	to:
	
ÂRestore	your	software	and	data	from	a	 Time	Machine	backup.
	
ÂReinstall	Mac	OS	X	and	Apple	applications.
	
ÂRestore	your	computer	to	its	factory	settings	by	erasing	its	disk	and	reinstalling		
Mac	OS	X	and	your	Apple	applications.
	
ÂRepair	your	computer’s	disk	using	Disk	Utility.
If	your	computer	detects	a	problem, 	it	opens	the	Mac	OS	X	Utilities	application	
automatically. 	You	can	also	open	it	manually	by...

58Chapter 4      Problem, Meet Solution
Repairing a Disk with Disk Utility
If	you	have	a	problem	with	your	computer, 	or	if	you	start	your	computer	and	see	the	
Mac	OS	X	Utilities	application, 	you	may	need	to	repair	your	computer’s	disk.
1  Select	Disk	Utility	in	the	Mac	OS	X	Utilities	pane	and	click	Continue.
2  Select	the	disk	or	partition	in	the	list	on	the	left, 	and	then	click	the	First	Aid	tab.
3  Click	Repair	Disk.
If	Disk	Utility	can’t	repair	the	disk, 	back	up	as	much	of	your	information	as...

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Chapter 4      Problem, Meet Solution
Reinstalling Mac OS X and Apple Applications
Under	some	circumstances, 	you	may	need	to	reinstall	Mac	OS	X	and	Apple	applications. 	
You	can	reinstall	while	keeping	your	files	and	user	settings	intact.
1  Make	sure	your	MacBook	is	connected	to	the	Internet	by	using	an	Ethernet	or	 Wi-Fi	
network. 	( To	connect	to	a	 Wi-Fi	network,	follow	the	instructions	on	page	57.)
2  In	the	Mac	OS	X	Utilities	pane, 	select	Reinstall	Mac	OS	X	and	click	Continue.
3  In	the	pane...

60Chapter 4      Problem, Meet Solution
Restoring Your Computer to Its Factory Settings
When	you	restore	your	computer	to	its	factory	settings, 	everything	on	your	computer	
(your	user	accounts, 	network	settings,	and	all	of	your	files	and	folders)	is	deleted. 	Before	
you	restore, 	back	up	any	files	you	want	to	keep	by	copying	them	to	another	disk. 	
Write	down	your	network	settings	from	Network	preferences	to	make	it	easier	to	get	
connected	again	after	reinstalling	Mac	OS	X.
1  Make	sure	you’re...