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Troubleshooting Common Laptop Problems

It's always better to prevent problems than to fix them. Refer to the System Maintenance page for more information about preventative maintenance.

Many intermittent problems can be "fixed" by simply restarting the computer. Try that before following any of these procedures.

If you are experiencing problems that are not listed here or if you would like help using these procedures, bring your laptop to the Old U Park lab during supervised lab hours.

If you would like to download current versions of the software listed below, go the SOE Downloads page.

Process Symptoms Software to Use Procedure
Start in Safe Mode

Crashes or problems when starting up

Built-in Safe Mode startup
  1. (Start up (or restart) your computer holding down the Shift key as soon as you hear the chime.

    Safe Mode will perform a disk repair, disable login items, turn off all non-essential extensions and fonts, and moves font cashes to a special folder. This will allow to you use your computer or to begin other troubleshooting procedures. Sometimes simpy restarting after a safe start will solve the problem.
Repair Startup Problems

Computer will not start up or freezes during startup

OR

Computer has just experienced a serious crash

Applejack
  1. Start up in single user mode (hold down COMMAND and S while starting up)
  2. Type “applejack” and press Return
  3. Type the letter "a" and press Return.
  4. Follow the on-screen prompts and allow Applejack to work. This may take several minutes.

More detailed information can be found in this PDF file.

"Repair Hard Disk Applications won’t open, software won’t install; problems starting up computer 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
Reset PRAM and NVRAM

(paramater random access memory and non-volitile RAM)

Monitor is blank; settings (e.g., date and time) are changed each time you start up; preferences do not hold between startups

None
  1. Shut down the computer
  2. Turn on the computer and simultaneously hold down the COMMAND-OPTION-P-R keys on the keyboard. You must do this before the gray screen appears.
  3. Keep holding the keys down until you hear the startup chime three times.
  4. Release the keys and allow the computer to start up normally.
Reset the Power Manager

Nothing happens when you start up the computer

OR

Battery will not charge when plugged in

None Directions for resetting the PMU on iBook, PowerBook, and MacBook models may be found in this article.
"Deep clean" your system

Programs experience unusually long delays or freezes when launching

OR

Trouble locating network resources such as servers or printers

Applejack
  1. Start up in single user mode (hold down COMMAND and S while starting up)
  2. Type “applejack AUTO restart” and press Return.

More detailed information can be found in this PDF file.