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	the	problem	occurred	will	help	you	narrow	down	possible	causes	
and	find	the	answers	you	need. 	Things	to	note	include:
	
ÂThe	applications	you	were	using	when	the	problem	occurred. 	Problems	that	occur	
only	with	a	specific	application	might	indicate	that	the	application	is	not	compatible	
with	the	version	of	the	Mac	OS	installed	on	your	computer.
	
ÂAny	new	software	that	you	installed, 	especially	software	that	added	items	to	the	
System	folder.
	
ÂAny	hardware	that	you	installed, 	such	as	additional	memory	or	a	peripheral.
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	the	backup. 	Even	serious	issues	are	of	less	concern		
when	you	safeguard	your	information	with	 Time	Machine. 
						

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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	Force	Quit.
The	application	quits, 	leaving	all	other	applications	open.
If	you	need	to, 	you	can	also	restart	the	Finder	from	this	dialog.
Next, 	restart	the	computer	to	make	sure	the	problem	is	entirely	cleared	up. 	
If	the	problem	occurs	frequently, 	choose	Help	>	Help	Center	from	the	menu	bar	at	
the	top	of	the	screen. 	Search	for	the	word	“freeze”	to	get	help	for	instances	when	the	
computer	freezes	or	doesn’t	respond.
If	the	problem	occurs	only	when	you	use	a	particular	application, 	check	with		
the	application’s	manufacturer	to	see	if	the	application	is	compatible	with	your	
computer. 	To	get	information	about	the	software	that	came	with	your	MacBook, 	go	to	
www.apple.com/downloads.
If	you	know	an	application	is	compatible, 	you	might	need	to	reinstall	your	computer’s	
system	software. 	See	“Repairing, 	Restoring,	or	Reinstalling	Mac	OS	X	Software” 	on	
page	56. 
						

							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. 	Disconnect	all	external	
peripherals	and	try	restarting	by	pressing	the	power	(®)	button	while	holding	down	
the	Option	key. 	When	your	computer	starts	up, 	click	the	hard	disk	icon,	and	then	
click	the	right	arrow. 	After	the	computer	starts	up, 	open	System	Preferences	and	click	
Startup	Disk. 	Select	a	local	Mac	OS	X	System	folder.
If	the	problem	occurs	frequently, 	you	might	need	to	reinstall	your	computer’s	system	
software. 	See	“Repairing, 	Restoring,	or	Reinstalling	Mac	OS	X	Software” 	on	page	56.
If your MacBook doesn’t turn on or start up
Try	the	following	suggestions	in	order	until	your	computer	turns	on:
	
ÂMake	sure	the	power	adapter	is	plugged	into	the	computer	and	into	a	functioning	
power	outlet. 	Be	sure	to	use	the	60W	MagSafe	Power	Adapter	that	came	with	your	
MacBook. 	If	the	power	adapter	stops	charging	and	you	don’t	see	the	indicator	light	
on	the	power	adapter	turn	on	when	you	plug	in	the	power	cord, 	try	unplugging	and	
replugging	the	power	cord	to	reseat	it.
	
ÂIf	the	indicator	light	on	the	MagSafe	connector	is	amber, 	the	battery	might	need	to	
be	recharged. 	Keep	the	power	adapter	connected	and	charge	the	battery	with	the	
computer	off. 	A	green	light	indicates	that	the	battery	is	fully	charged.
	
ÂIf	the	problem	persists, 	reset	the	MacBook	power	manager	(while	still	preserving	your	
files)	by	pressing	the	left	Shift	key, 	the	left	Option	(alt)	key,	the	left	Control	key,	and	
the	power	(®)	button	simultaneously	for	five	seconds	until	the	computer	restarts. 	 
						

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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	start	up	your	MacBook, 	see	“Learning	More, 	Service,	and	Support” 	on	
page	66	for	information	about	contacting	Apple	for	service.
If the screen suddenly goes black or your MacBook freezes
Try	restarting	your	MacBook. 	
1  Unplug	any	devices	that	are	connected	to	your	MacBook, 	except	the	power	adapter.
2  Press	the	power	(®)	button	to	restart	the	system.
3  Let	the	battery	charge	to	at	least	10	percent	before	plugging	in	any	external	devices	
and	resuming	your	work. 	
To	see	how	much	the	battery	has	charged, 	look	at	the	Battery	(
)	status	icon	in	the	
menu	bar.
The	screen	might	also	darken	if	you	have	energy	saver	features	set	for	the	battery.
If an audio device plugged into the audio port isn’t working
Unplug	the	audio	device. 	Choose	Apple	()	>	System	Preferences, 	and	open	Sound	
preferences. 	In	the	Input	pane, 	specify	whether	you	want	the	port	to	be	used	for	Sound	
Input	or	Sound	Output. 	Plug	the	audio	device	back	in.
Note:  If	you’re 	running 	Windows 	on 	your 	MacBook, 	the 	port 	supports 	only 	audio 	output. 
						

							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	utilities	from	the	Mac	OS	X	Utilities	
application, 	even	if	your	computer	isn’t	starting	up	correctly. 
						

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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	restarting	your	computer.
To open the Mac OS X Utilities application:
	
mRestart	your	computer	while	holding	down	the	Command	(x)	and	R	keys. 	The	
Mac	OS	X	Utilities	pane	appears.
Some	utilities	in	the	Mac	OS	X	Utilities	application	require	access	to	the	Internet	and	
the	Mac	App	Store. 	You	may	need	to	make	sure	your	computer	is	connected	to	the	
Internet	by	using	your	Ethernet	or	 Wi-Fi	network.	
To connect by using a Wi-Fi network:
1  Choose	a	network	from	the	 Wi-Fi	status	menu	in	the	upper-right	corner	of	the	screen.
2  If	necessary, 	type	the	network	password.
To	join	a	closed	network, 	choose	Join	Other	Network. 	Enter	the	network	name	and	
password. 
						

							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	possible, 	and	
then	follow	the	instructions	in	 “Repairing,	Restoring,	or	Reinstalling	Mac	OS	X	Software” 	
on	page	56.
For	information	about	Disk	Utility	and	its	options, 	see	Help	Center,	or	open	Disk	Utility		
(in	the	Utilities	folder	in	Launchpad)	and	choose	Help	>	Disk	Utility	Help. 	
Restoring Information Using a Time Machine Backup
If	you	previously	created	a	Time	Machine	backup,	use	the	Restore	utility	to	restore	
everything	on	your	computer	to	its	previous	state.
Use	your	 Time	Machine	backup	to	restore	information	only	to	the	computer	that	was	
the	source	of	the	backup. 	If	you	want	to	transfer	information	to	a	new	computer, 	use	
Migration	Assistant	(in	the	Utilities	folder	in	Launchpad).
1  If	your	 backup	 is	on	 a	Time	 Capsule, 	make	 sure	you’re	 connected	 to	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	Restore	From	Time	Machine	Backup	and	click	
Continue.
3  Select	the	disk	that	contains	the	 Time	Machine	backup,	and	then	follow	the	onscreen	
instructions. 
						

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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	where	you’re	asked	to	select	a	disk, 	select	your	current	Mac	OS	X	disk		
(in	most	cases, 	it	is	the	only	one	available).
4  To	select	or	deselect	optional	software, 	click	Customize.	
5  Click	Install.
You	can	install	Mac	OS	X	without	erasing	the	disk, 	which	saves	your	existing	files	
and	settings, 	or	you	can	erase	the	disk	first, 	which	erases	all	your	data	and	leaves	the	
computer	ready	for	you	to	reinstall	Mac	OS	X	and	Apple	applications.
After	installing	Mac	OS	X, 	you	can	go	to	the	Mac	App	Store	and	re-download	your	
Apple	applications.
Important:  Apple	recommends	that	you	back	up	the	data	on	the	disk	before	restoring	
software. 	Apple	is	not	responsible	for	any	lost	data. 
						

							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	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	Disk	Utility	and	click	Continue.
3  Select	the	disk	in	the	list	on	the	left, 	and	then	click	the	Erase	tab.
4  Select	Mac	OS	Extended	(Journaled)	from	the	Format	pop-up	menu, 	type	a	name	for	
the	disk, 	and	then	click	Erase.
5  After	the	disk	is	erased, 	choose	Disk	Utility	>	Quit	Disk	Utility. 	
6  In	the	Mac	OS	X	Utilities	pane, 	select	Reinstall	Mac	OS	X	and	click	Continue.
7  To	reinstall	Mac	OS	X	and	your	applications, 	follow	the	instructions	in	the		
Mac	OS	X	Installer.
After	restoring	Mac	OS	X	and	your	Apple	applications, 	you	can	selectively	restore	your	
other	data	and	applications	from	a	 Time	Machine	backup.