System Maintenance for Laptops
It's always best to maintain your system in order to prevent common problems that can occur through normal use. Keep up a regular routine of maintenance as suggested below.
Note: The procedures and processes outlined here are current for Mac OS 10.4 (Tiger) and may not apply to older systems, particularly those before OS 10.3 (Panther).
If you would like to download current versions of the software listed below, go to the SOE Downloads page.
| Process | Symptoms | How Often? | Software to Use | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rebuild Permissions | Can’t access folders or files; files will not open when double-clicked; problems starting up computer | EACH TIME before you update your system software or install large programs; weekly as preventative maintenance | Macaroni (normally works in background but can be run at any time) | Macaroni runs this process weekly in the background; run it before installing major software applications or system updates |
| Run UNIX Scripts | Sometimes erratic behavior; general slowness | Daily, weekly, and monthly for system maintenance | Macaroni (works in background) | Macaroni does this automatically. These routines are very important for the health of your system |
| Delete Caches and Logs | Applications seem to run slowly, system seems sluggish | AppleJack or Macaroni will delete caches automatically |
Macaroni will run daily as scheduled. AppleJack may be run as needed. | |
| Repair Disk | Applications won’t open, software won’t install; problems starting up computer | EACH TIME before you update your system software or install large programs | Disk Utility (from OS X Startup CD) | SMARTReporter provides daily report on hard disk health. If the menu bar icon is gray or red, immediately save your work and close all programs, start up from OS X Startup CD and run Disk Utility to check and perform major repairs |
