Back to Dye Printing Tricks & Tips
So you're either on another computer, or you are thinking ahead...
First figure out what you were doing when your Mac stopped working. Was it a new program? Was it something you do 200 times a day, but this time, it wonked out on you? Try to narrow down the probable causes. Sometimes a tried and true bit of software gets corrupted or damaged and the simple act of cutting and pasting freezes up your system. If you can narrow it to a particular software package, I would suggest reloading that program. Then I normally run Norton Utilities's Speed Disk, so that the software data is arranged where the software data needs to be (think of your hard drive as a bookshelf, you want the various books that make up, say PageMaker to be stacked together like a set of encyclopedias--depending on your saving/loading history various "volumes" could be out of order and on different shelves. Speed Disk put everything back together).
If it is not a software problem, per se, or you can't even get that far after start up try the Mac tried and true Disk First Aid. It's on your system software CD. Follow the directions. Except where it says that if it can't help you then you have to reinitialize your hard drive. That means you loose everything! A better program like Norton Disk Doctor or Disk Warrior can retrieve your hard drive from cyber limbo. I've only seen a few cases in the last decade and a half that really needed to have the whole drive erased.
Still no go? Did you then try Norton? Good program, fixes a lot. Some say to run it twice, so that you can fix what it broke the first run.
Have you checked your Extensions for conflicts? The newer Mac Operating Systems have made this easy, but if you are still running on say System 7 or below, you can still follow this plan pretty close. Your Extensions are those little puzzle pieces that give your computer function in certain areas; running your mouse, showing you accurate color, allowing you fast access to the internet or your Zip drive. They run "above" your programs like FreeHand and Illustrator. Sometimes an Extension tries to tell your Mac to do "A" but another Extension then tries to tell your Mac, "No, do 'B' first." Computers, unlike humans, don't have the ability to say "Hang on I'll get to that..." and they just get caught in a loop.
If you can open the Extensions Manager (Under the Apple on the main menu bar under Control Panels).
Notice you have a pop up menu by "Selected Sets" this allows you to run with all the Extensions or just the basic ones. You can also select or deselect various Extensions then save your new choices as a New set (click the Duplicate Set... button and go to town).
Here you can see a preview of what I'm running "Mac OS 9.0 12/25/00." I had some conflicts and added and subtracted and restarted until I didn't have any more troubles. Tech support from Apple (after being on hold for an hour or two) will tell you to turn off all Extensions then restart. Then add 10 back on. Restart. Then 10 more. Restart. That's fine, but you don't know if Extension #13 conflicts with Extension #85. By clicking on an Extension you'll get a little write up in that white box at the bottom. I look for stuff I kind of know and keep those running and turn off anything that I don't have a clue about.
It's trial and error. But you'll get it. Take it slow. Once you get a combination that runs, save it. Then when you add new Extensions (like when you upgrade PhotoShop) you can have a base of Extensions listed that will be a good starting point.
If you don't have this fancy interface because you are using an ancient Operating System, you can do the same thing by opening your Extensions Folder in your System Folder. You'll have a whole bunch of them sitting there. Create a New Folder to store in your System Folder and name it Extensions Disabled. Drag Extensions to that folder to "turn them off." Narrow down the problem one as noted in the instructions above.