Beware of fake 'Tech Support' scams.  -click

Not just for windows users.

Macintosh Keychain Repeatedly Prompts For Access To Confidential Information…

Symptom:
The Mac computer continually [every power-up, reboot, or when the program is ran] asks for permission for an application to access a keychain.

Possible Cause:
The password is flagged to prompt every-time an application requests it.

Please Note:

This is a safety check put in place to protect the system from potential harm from unsafe programs.

Use this solution only if you are familiar with both the application or process which is asking, and the password it is requesting; as this will grant permanent permission.



Possible Solution:

Allow the application permanent access to the password:
(This is assuming the “Always Allow” option was tried previously.)

[Note: 1Password is shown for demonstration purposes only, choose the actual password and application/process appearing in your dialog box….] 

1.) Open Keychain Access from the Utilities folder [found within the Applications folder].

2.) Select the password referenced in your pop-up dialog box:

<- example referenced password.


















<- example referenced password.

3.) Double-click your referenced password (or right-click and choose “Get Info”) from the Keychain Access list.

4.) Click “Access Control” in the pop-up box, and;

5.) Click the little plus sign in the lower left corner to “always allow access” to the password.

6.) Locate the application, [or process] or search for it and click “Add”.

7.) Click “Save Changes”.

Done.

Mac OS X Mountian Lion (10.8) System Preferences Control Panel Won’t Open

Symptom:
Upon clicking the desired control panel, System Preferences displays a drop down message “To use the preferences pane, System Preferences must quit and reopen.”

- Clicking “OK” restarts System Preferences, however the drop down message reappears again. And again….

Possible Cause:
System Preferences is attempting to open a 64-bit preference pane in 32-bit mode.




Possible Solution:
1.) Close System Preferences if running.

2.) Right-click [or Control-click] on System Preferences, move to highlight “Options”, and select “Show in Finder”. [ If System Preferences isn’t in the dock, locate it in the Applications folder. ]

3.) Right-click [or Control-click] on System Preferences, and select “Get Info”.

4.) Un-check “Open in 32-bit mode”.

5.) Close the System Preferences Info box, and you’re done!

Airport Network Not Recognizing A Time Capsule Hard Drive.

Symptom:
The Airport Network is not finding a Time Capsule Disk.


Possible Cause:
The base station is misconfigured, or corrupt.


Possible Cure:
Reset the Base Station, Softly:
Reset the Base Station, Brutally.


Reconfigure the darn thing.



1.) To reset the Base Station [either way], follow Apple’s instructions Here.  [<- Click]
A good article describing the location of the reset button for your model, how to perform a soft or hard reset, and what the ramifications of the said reset would be.


2.) Assuming the above didn’t work; Please deposit twenty-five cents for the next half-hour.

IF; The base station is the only wireless access point:
The Airport Utility located in  /Applications/Utilities  may ask you to restore your previous base station settings. Click ‘Restore’ to automatically re-enter those settings; after the base station reboots, try the wireless connection again. If all else fails, reconfigure the base station from scratch.


IF; The base station is part of a network (multiple router / gateways):
Consider these potential issues;


• A newer “dual-band” base station has two ‘networks', one for older [WiFi B, and WiFi G (faster) access], and a separate one for newer [WiFi N (even faster, and with greater distance potential) access].
If older (non-N) devices aren’t a consideration, then the router / gateway placement isn’t a problem. However, if older devices which can only connect to older (B, or G) networks are present, they can slow the entire network down to B or G speeds.

• The more networks present, especially for B and G networks [neighbours, and possibly other devices such as wireless phones, or microwaves], the greater the chance of conflict [11 channels or frequencies available; N networks have 149], resulting in slower speeds, and / or connectivity issues.

• The environment plays a part in the distance of a network; distances are quoted as "line-of-sight" [unobstructed]; variations such as buildings [their construction; vent work location, steel surroundings, wiring placement], and airwave congestion may restrict the access to a network.

• Current Comcast / Xfinity ‘Dory’ gateways [SMCD3GNV] cannot have their wireless network deactivated and, as such, always occupy a frequency.


That being read, you may need to consider the placement of the routers / gateways to compliment one another without conflict.

Do you wish to extend the network, like a Wireless Distribution System (WDS)? Several links to help configuring exist for different configurations:
[with Thanks to ddavel]

Airport Utility Help

Apple BaseStation Help

Airport Express for wired connection

Airport Express help

Apple Support Communities

Apple WDS B and G networks

Designing Airport Networks (Manual)

Advanced help
TechyV website
Various other issues examine here.

Sluggish Mac OS X Lion (10.7) Issue

Symptom: 
Mac sluggish [spinning color wheel, slow overall performance] after Lion (Mac OSX 10.7) installation.


Possible Cause:
A problem with or an incomplete OSX installation.


Possible Cure:
Please, as always, backup your hard drive before preforming the following.


1.) Close all applications, Reboot the computer; hold down the shift key after the reboot (bong) sound.   [Enters Macintosh Safe Boot]

2.) Run ‘Disk Utility’ located in the  /Applications/Utilities  folder.

3.) Select the “First Aid” tab in the top of the center window:

4.) Click on the 'child'  primary [boot] hard drive usually called “Macintosh HD” as seen in the above screenshot.

5.) Click “Verify Permissions”.
After completion, and if issues are found, Click “Repair Permissions”

6.) Next, click on the Main Volume (parent to the primary hard drive) as seen in the next screenshot below:

7.) Again, select the “First Aid” tab in the top of the center window, then click “Verify Disk”; and if errors are found, click “Repair Disk”.

8.) Reboot the computer, hopefully, the issues should be resolved.*



* If upon rebooting you are prompted the complete the Lion installation, do so as directed.

Mac OS X (10.7) Lion WiFi Not Connecting:

Symptom:
Airport shows connected to a network, the computer has an IP address, but has no connectivity.

Possible cure:
Open 'System Preferences’.

Click ‘Network’.
    -If the padlock icon (lower left of window) is locked, click it to enter your password.

Click ‘Location: ‘ and select ‘Edit Locations’.

Click the little plus sign to add a new location to the list.
    -name the location (for example: Default).

Insure the new location is selected (currently in use).

Optional: You can further set the connection priority by clicking the gear icon, and setting the service order.



The issue should be resolved.

Avatron Air Display driver issue under Mac OSX: Lion.

As mentioned at the bottom of the Avatron site

The Air Display host software runs well on Lion, but has this limitation: the built-in video driver on certain 2008 and 2009 Macs is incompatible with third-party video drivers. You can still install the Air Display host software, but until Apple fixes the issue, the Air Display drivers will disable themselves on Lion on these specific machines.

Affected machines include:

• 13" MacBook (aluminum late 2008, early, mid, and late 2009)
• 13" MacBook Air (late 2008, mid 2009)
• 13" MacBook Pro (mid 2009)
• 15" MacBook Pro (late 2008, 2.53 GHz mid 2009, mid 2009)
• 17" MacBook Pro (early and mid 2009).
• 20" iMac (early or mid 2009)
• 24" iMac (early 2009)
• 21.5" iMac (late 2009)
• Mac mini (early or late 2009, Server late 2009)
• Mac mini Mac OS X Server (late 2009)

Apple is aware of the bug. We are hopeful that they will release a fix soon.

Cepstral Voices and Mac OS X Lion:

The Cepstral voices will work with Lion (Mac OS 10.7).

Just re-install the voices.

Syncing: iPhone <> iCal <> Google Calendar <> windows outlook 2007

Syncing Apple's iPhone calendar to Apple's iCal (internet calendar program) works as advertised.

However, attempting to sync with Google's calendar, and outlook 2007 proved inconsistent at best.
I had been using iCal without issue, but have been asked on several occasions for help with Gmail / outlook.

After a couple days of troubleshooting, I found the easiest answer was to be centered on Google's calendar, with everything else syncing with the gmail (Google eMail) account / password.
[Gmail is a free email / calendar service and provides over 7GB of storage.]




Google Calendar Sync is a freeware windows program (background process) which will sync Google's calendar to microsoft outlook at a specified interval. (outlook for Mac hasn't been released yet.)

Setting up Google calendar (and syncing to iCal):
1) Export your iCal calendar.
                (Run iCal, click 'View' click 'Show Calendar List' if it isn't already, then click to highlight your calendar on the left margin, click 'File', select 'Export...', and note where the file is saved.)

Note: You can combine multiple calendars by exporting them individually, and then importing them after selecting your primary calendar you want from the left iCal margin.


2) Login to Gmail, click Calendar. (upper-left corner of the webpage)
                Go through the two second setup for the calendar if you haven't created one.

3) Click 'Settings' under 'My Calendars' in the left margin, and click 'Choose File' from the resulting dialog box.

4) Choose your previously exported iCal calendar from its download location. (Step 1)

Your calendar is now on Google.


5) Once the chosen calendar is imported, run iCal, click 'Preferences' and select 'Accounts'; in the resulting dialog box, click the little plus sign to add your Gmail address and password.

Your calendar is now syncing to iCal.


6) Once the calendar appears (under your email address in iCal's left margin), you can compare it to your original by checking the boxes next to each account in the left margin.

Note: You can delete the original you had exported earlier, as the new Gmail one is a duplicate (master), otherwise, leave it unchecked to avoid seeing the duplicate entries.



Syncing Google calendar to Apple's iPhone:
Click 'Settings'
select 'Mail, Contacts, Calendars'.
Add your Gmail account if you haven't already.
Select the Gmail account, click the 'Calendars' switch to 'On'

Note: Google offers "push" for calendars, selecting 'Push' from the 'Fetch New Data' option (under the Accounts listing for the 'Mail, Contacts, Calendars' setting), will provide faster syncing, at the cost of slight battery expense.



Your calendar entries will appear on your iPhone, iCal, Google calendar, and outlook after the specified allotted time set to sync by the individual programs.



...what a mess, time for a drink.

Mac OS X 10.5 Reference Screen Shots: Network

Click the images for a larger view.

Mac OS X 10.4 Reference Screen Shots: Network

Click the images for a larger view.

Mac OS X 10.3 Reference Screen Shots: Network

Click on the images for a larger view.

Mac OS X 10.2 Reference Screen Shots: Network

Click the images for a larger view.

Ask Dr. Mac!

Rob Base, an IT analyst from SanFran USA is willing to answer your Mac (even general computing) questions!

Good Stuff.

Maintaining server connections:

Symptom:

Intermittent server connection dropouts and/or failures upon (re)connection.

Possible solution:

Hardwired connections - Turn Off Airport.

   If a server timeout occurs, Airport may obtain an IP address, before attempting reconnection.

   If possible manually input a static IP address toward the higher range of the IP pool.

   Creating a new location may help if the network is used frequently.

      'Network' preference pane, hold down 'Location:', select 'Edit locations' [or 'New location'] from the pop-up menu, click the plus sign [or select a name] to add a new location.

Wireless connections - Check your Airport network.

   If a server timeout occurs, or the signal drops, Airport may switch to another network.

   

   In the 'Network' preference pane, check the 'Ask to join new networks' option.

   You may need to delete previously joined open networks from the 'Advanced' - 'Preferred Networks' list.

Resolving Domain Name Server Resolution Errors.

When having trouble accessing a web site, clearing the DNS cache may help:

In OS X 10.5 only:

Type dscacheutil -flushcache (or copy/paste   dscacheutil -flushcache  ) into the terminal window.
and press the 'Return' key.



In OS X 10 - 10.4

Goto the Terminal.

Type lookupd -flushcache (or copy/paste    lookupd -flushcache  ) into the terminal window.
and press the 'Return' key.

Apple computer cheat sheet

Click here for an Apple 'cheat sheet'.

This may come in handy for you/someone you know.
All the pertinent information ready if called upon.

Macintosh sleep issues...

Troubleshooting:

(Assuming the computer is configured [rather quickly for testing; or have a sleep corner active] through the Energy Saver preference pane...)

 Unplug all USB devices including HDs and hubs to try and discover the culprit preventing sleepification.**

 Drag your 'Energy Saver' preference pane [mainHD/Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration/com.apple.PowerManagement.plist] to the desktop, and try to sleep the machine.

(reconfigure the Energy Saver preference pane (or place back into its folder, if this didn't work....)

(** ®©℗℠™fakegeorgeW.bush)

Resetting OS X admin password

Option 1:

You'll need your OS X install CD/DVD. (OS X 10.5 manual reset below.)

Insert the disk and restart the computer.

Press and hold the 'C' key down, as the machine reboots.

The Mac should then proceed to boot from the CD/DVD.

Do NOT reinstall anything.

Click through enough options until the menu bar at the top of the screen is accessible.

Click the 'Utilities' menu and select 'Reset Password'

Enter your new password, exit the installer, and reboot.

Option 2:

OS X 10 can be reset using the single user mode. (hold down 'Command' and 'S' during reboot or startup.)

[Note: The commands are case-sensitive; pay attention to spaces, or copy/paste the bold print.]

• Type sh /etc/rc

• Type passwd root (some OS X versions use passwd admin or passwd administrator)

• Enter in your new password at the prompt.

• Type the new password again when prompted (to avoid typos).

• Type reboot

Option 3:

OS X 10.5 can also be reset, again, using single user mode. (hold down 'Command' and 'S' during reboot or startup.)

[Note: The commands are case-sensitive; pay attention to spaces, or copy/paste the bold print.]

At the prompt, type fsck -fy

Type mount -uw /

Type launchctl load /System/Library/LaunchDaemon/com.apple.DirectoryServices.plist

Type dscl . -passwd /Users/username newpassword (replace with the actual username, and and the new password.)