Apple Macbook Pro 15inch Early2011 Manual

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Chapter 4      Problem, Meet Solution
Problems That Prevent You from Using Your MacBook Pro
If your MacBook Pro 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	times	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	it’s	compatible	with	your	computer. 	To	get	support	
and	contact	information	for	the	software	that	comes	with	your	MacBook	Pro, 	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	54. 
						

							52Chapter 4      Problem, Meet Solution
If your MacBook Pro 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	soon	start	up, 	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	54.
If your MacBook Pro 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	85W	MagSafe	Power	Adapter	that	came	with	your	
MacBook	Pro. 	If	the	power	adapter	stops	charging	and	you	don’t	see	the	indicator	
light	on	the	MagSafe	connector	turn	on	when	you	plug	in	the	power	cord, 	try	
unplugging	and	replugging	the	power	cord	to	reseat	it, 	or	try	another	power	outlet.
	
ÂCheck	whether	the	battery	needs	to	be	recharged. 	Press	the	small	button	on	the	left	
side	of	your	computer. 	You	should	see	one	to	eight	lights	indicating	the	battery’s	
level	of	charge. 	If	a	single	indicator	light	is	on, 	connect	your	power	adapter	to	
recharge. 	For	more	information	about	battery	indicator	lights, 	see	page	54. 
						

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Chapter 4      Problem, Meet Solution
	
ÂIf	the	problem	persists, 	close	all	open	documents	and	quit	all	applications. 	Return	
the	computer	to	its	factory	settings	(while	still	preserving	your	files)	by	pressing	
the	left	Shift	key, 	left	Option	(alt)	key, 	left	Control	key,	and	the	power	(®)	button	
simultaneously	for	five	seconds	until	the	computer	restarts. 	
	
ÂIf	you	recently	installed	additional	memory, 	make	sure	that	it	is	correctly	installed	and	
is	compatible	with	your	computer. 	See	whether	removing	and	reinstalling	the	old	
memory	allows	the	computer	to	start	up	(see	page	44). 	
	
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	to	reset	
the	parameter	RAM	(PRAM). 	
	
ÂIf	you	still	can’t	start	up	your	MacBook	Pro, 	see	“Learning	More, 	Service,	and	Support” 	
on	page	64	for	information	about	contacting	Apple	for	service.
If the screen suddenly goes black or your MacBook Pro freezes
Try	restarting	your	MacBook	Pro. 	
1  Unplug 	any 	devices 	that 	are 	connected 	to 	your 	MacBook 	Pro, 	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, 	click	the	Battery	(
)	status	icon	in	the	
menu	bar	or	check	the	battery	indicator	lights	on	the	left	side	of	your	MacBook	Pro.
The	screen	might	also	darken	if	you	have	energy	saver	features	set	for	the	battery. 
						

							54Chapter 4      Problem, Meet Solution
If you press the battery button, and all  battery indicator lights flash five times quickly
Your	battery	needs	to	be	replaced. 	Contact	an	Apple	Retail	Store	or	an	Apple	
Authorized	Service	Provider.
If you press the battery button, and the battery indicator lights flash from left to 
right and then from right to left, five times in a row
Your	battery	is	not	recognized. 	Contact	an	Apple	Retail	Store	or	an	Apple	Authorized	
Service	Provider.
If you have trouble ejecting a disc
Quit	any	applications	that	might	be	using	the	disc	and	try	again. 	If	that	doesn’t	work,	
restart	the	computer	and	then	immediately	press	and	hold	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. 
						

							56Chapter 4      Problem, Meet Solution
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’s	name	and	
password.
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	54.
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. 	 
						

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Chapter 4      Problem, Meet Solution
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	56.)
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.
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 	Pro 	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	56.)
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. 
						

							58Chapter 4      Problem, Meet Solution
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.
Important:  Apple	recommends	that	you	back	up	the	data	on	the	disk	before	restoring	
software. 	Apple	is	not	responsible	for	any	lost	data.
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	56.)
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. 
						

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Chapter 4      Problem, Meet Solution
Using Apple Hardware Test
If	you	suspect	a	problem	with	the	MacBook	Pro	hardware, 	you	can	use	the	Apple	
Hardware	 Test	application	to	help	determine	if	there’s	a	problem	with	one	of	the	
computer’s	components, 	such	as	the	memory	or	processor.
To use Apple Hardware Test:
1  Disconnect	all	external	devices	from	your	computer	except	the	power	adapter.
If	you	have	an	Ethernet	cable	connected, 	disconnect	it.
2  Restart	your	computer	and	hold	down	the	D	key	as	it	starts	up. 	
3  When	the	Apple	Hardware	 Test	chooser	screen	appears, 	select	the	language	for		
your	location.
4  Press	the	Return	key	or	click	the	right	arrow	button.
5  When	the	Apple	Hardware	 Test	main	screen	appears	(after	about	45	seconds), 	follow	
the	onscreen	instructions.
6  If	Apple	Hardware	 Test	detects	a	problem, 	it	displays	an	error	code. 	Make	a	note	of		
the	error	code	before	pursuing	support	options. 	If	Apple	Hardware	Test	doesn’t	detect	
a	hardware	failure, 	the	problem	might	be	software	related.
Problems with Your Internet Connection
Your	MacBook	Pro	has	the	Network	Setup	Assistant	application	to	help	walk	you	
through	setting	up	an	Internet	connection. 	Open	System	Preferences	and	click	
Network. 	Click	the	 “Assist	me” 	button	to	open	Network	Setup	Assistant.
If	you	have	trouble	with	your	Internet	connection, 	you	can	try	the	steps	in	this	section	
for	your	type	of	connection	or	you	can	use	Network	Diagnostics. 
						

							60Chapter 4      Problem, Meet Solution
To use Network Diagnostics:
1  Choose	Apple	()	>	System	Preferences.
2  Click	Network	and	then	click	 “Assist	me.”	
3  Click	Diagnostics	to	open	Network	Diagnostics.
4  Follow	the	onscreen	instructions.
If	Network	Diagnostics	can’t	resolve	the	problem, 	there	may	be	a	problem	with	the	
Internet	service	provider	(ISP)	you	are	trying	to	connect	to, 	with	an	external	device	you	
are	using	to	connect	to	your	ISP, 	or	with	the	server	you	are	trying	to	access. 	You	can	try	
the	following	steps.
Cable Modem, DSL Modem, and LAN Internet Connections
Make	sure	all	modem	cables	are	firmly	plugged	in, 	including	the	modem	power	cord,	
the	cable	from	the	modem	to	the	computer, 	and	the	cable	from	the	modem	to	the	wall	
jack. 	Also	check	the	cables	and	power	supplies	to	Ethernet	hubs	and	routers. 	
Turn	off 	your	DSL	or	cable	modem	for	a	few	minutes, 	and	then	turn	it	back	on.	Some	
ISPs	recommend	that	you	unplug	the	modem’s	power	cord. 	If	your	modem	has	a	reset	
button, 	you	can	press	it	either	before	or	after	you	turn	the	power	off 	and	on.
Important:  Instructions	that	refer	to	modems	do	not	apply	to	LAN	users. 	LAN	users	
might	have	hubs, 	switches,	routers,	or	connection	pods	that	DSL	and	cable	modem	
users	do	not	have. 	LAN	users	should	contact	their	network	administrator	rather	than		
an	ISP.