Trying to fix my friends MacBook Pro
Hi all,
My friend has a MBP, about 18 months old, but I can't tell exactly what model as I haven't yet got my hands on it. (All she told me via SMS is that it "has 2GB Ram and 667MHz".)
According to her, it has been running incredibly slowly for a few months now, to the point where she wants to throw it out the window (gasp!!). She also says, that she rarely installs software updates (another gasp!!) and that she has "heaps and heaps" of music and photos on it and has never backed up (loudest gasp yet!!)
I'll run through all the usual steps (diagnose through Disk Utility etc), but she has moved to Australia from New Zealand and left her OS Install Disk back in NZ. My question is, if I need to do an Archive and Reinstall or Clean Reinstall, is it even possible to do this without her having to get her folks in NZ to mail her the disk?
Ta.
If you both have decent internet access, you might get on iChat and have her give you screen sharing access to help figure out the problem. You have nailed most of the (gasps). If her HD is full you won't be able to do much with archive and install!!
Similar Messages
-
I tried to remove Trovi from macbook pro but it doesnt go away
I tried to remove Trovi from macbook pro but it does not go away. Trovi opens right away
How to remove Trovi adware from Mac - MacSecurity
Helpful Links Regarding Malware Problems
If you are having an immediate problem with ads popping up see The Safe Mac » Adware Removal Guide and AdwareMedic.
Open Safari, select Preferences from the Safari menu. Click on Extensions icon in the toolbar. Disable all Extensions. If this stops your problem, then re-enable them one by one until the problem returns. Now remove that extension as it is causing the problem.
The following comes from user stevejobsfan0123. I have made minor changes to adapt to this presentation.
Fix Some Browser Pop-ups That Take Over Safari.
Common pop-ups include a message saying the government has seized your computer and you must pay to have it released (often called "Moneypak"), or a phony message saying that your computer has been infected, and you need to call a tech support number (sometimes claiming to be Apple) to get it resolved. First, understand that these pop-ups are not caused by a virus and your computer has not been affected. This "hijack" is limited to your web browser. Also understand that these messages are scams, so do not pay any money, call the listed number, or provide any personal information. This article will outline the solution to dismiss the pop-up.
Quit Safari
Usually, these pop-ups will not go away by either clicking "OK" or "Cancel." Furthermore, several menus in the menu bar may become disabled and show in gray, including the option to quit Safari. You will likely have to force quit Safari. To do this, press Command + option + esc, select Safari, and press Force Quit.
Relaunch Safari
If you relaunch Safari, the page will reopen. To prevent this from happening, hold down the 'Shift' key while opening Safari. This will prevent windows from the last time Safari was running from reopening.
This will not work in all cases. The shift key must be held at the right time, and in some cases, even if done correctly, the window reappears. In these circumstances, after force quitting Safari, turn off Wi-Fi or disconnect Ethernet, depending on how you connect to the Internet. Then relaunch Safari normally. It will try to reload the malicious webpage, but without a connection, it won't be able to. Navigate away from that page by entering a different URL, i.e. www.apple.com, and trying to load it. Now you can reconnect to the Internet, and the page you entered will appear rather than the malicious one.
An excellent link to read is Tom Reed's Mac Malware Guide.
Also, visit The XLab FAQs and read Detecting and avoiding malware and spyware.
See these Apple articles:
Mac OS X Snow Leopard and malware detection
OS X Lion- Protect your Mac from malware
OS X Mountain Lion- Protect your Mac from malware
OS X Mavericks- Protect your Mac from malware
About file quarantine in OS X
If you require anti-virus protection Thomas Reed recommends using ClamXAV. (Thank you to Thomas Reed for this recommendation.)
From user Joe Bailey comes this equally useful advice:
The facts are:
1. There is no anti-malware software that can detect 100% of the malware out there.
2. There is no anti-malware that can detect everything targeting the Mac.
3. The very best way to prevent the most attacks is for you as the user to be aware that
the most successful malware attacks rely on very sophisticated social engineering
techniques preying on human avarice, ****, and fear.
4. Internet popups saying the FBI, NSA, Microsoft, your ISP has detected malware on
your computer is intended to entice you to install their malware thinking it is a
protection against malware.
5. Some of the anti-malware products on the market are worse than the malware
from which they purport to protect you.
6. Be cautious where you go on the internet.
7. Only download anything from sites you know are safe.
8. Avoid links you receive in email, always be suspicious even if you get something
you think is from a friend, but you were not expecting.
9. If there is any question in your mind, then assume it is malware. -
Can someone connect in FaceTime if they are using a friends Macbook Pro, yet, doens't have an Apple ID?? For example, I have an IPAD and a Macbook Pro. Can I connect to FaceTime on my Macbook Pro and connect with a friend using my IPAD????
I have also tried changing the contact emails(you can contact me by) in Facetime(diff email for IPAD and Macbook Pro). Facetime tried the call, I see the accept buttom appear and it goes away as the call never connects? Any ideas??
-
I'm trying to hook up my Macbook Pro to my TV. I'm using the 'mini-display port to female HDMI" adapter. all i can see is my desktop background. no folders or icons and when i play a movie it goes blank.
Drag applications from your main desktop off the right side of the screen and they will appear on the TV. This is the extended desktop mode.
Regards,
Captfred -
I'm trying to hook up my macbook pro to my new LG tv, I have the desktop screen on my tv (I was told I had to open a 2nd desktop and then drag my dvd screen into it, it still doesn't work.
ok so you have a macbook pro with minidisplayport and you can see your desktop on your LG screen?
go to system preferences>displays>arrangement and turn off Mirroring (if it's on). This will give you two separate areas and look similar to this.
If you want quick access to this setting click the "show displays in meny bar"
a little pointer, you see on my setup that there is now one screen with no white bar at the top and one with. This marks where your main screen is (and where the menu bar and dock appear) you can click and drag this white bar to your new LG tv.
Most new tv's have a setting to fit the screen to the tv size. This is a setting that allows for edge to edge persision instead of overlapping which you'll see in older tvs. Take a look at your tv's manual for more about this sort of connection. -
I am trying to restore my old Macbook Pro data using Time Machine to a new Macbook Air from an external hard drive, but when I restore I get two diferrent loggin accounts and I only wnat one loggin account to access all my data/files?
This web site might answer all of your Time machine questions:
http://pondini.org/OSX/Home.html
Ciao. -
My early 2011 MBP 13" does not recognize my Sandisk 16GB 45MB/s Extreme Pro SDHC card. I went to the Genius Bar and we tried it in all the MacBook Pro's in the Apple Store and NONE could recognize the card. However, iMacs did. Any suggestions? Genius behind the Bar suggested wait for LION OS X release...
You really don't need to post multiple times, you will get attention eventually.
Find the reply here:
MacBook Pro 13 (MBP 8,1 random restarts) -
When trying to Airplay from my Macbook Pro Retina, to AppleTv3 it plays for only a few minutes, and then jumps back to the Mac. It seems to do this no matter what I play, music, movies or pictures. I just bought a new router. This could affect it.
I have been playing whole movies before from VLC without problems.
Any Ideas?Welcome to the Apple Community.
Yes it's network issues or settings that cause these types of problems most of the time.
The following article(s) may help you.
Troubleshooting AirPlay
Troubleshooting Wi-Fi networks and connections
Recommended Wi-Fi settings
Wifi Diagnostic Software (for Mac users)
You may also find some help on this page, where I’ve collected some of the more unusual solutions to network issues. -
I am trying to transfer files from MacBook Pro to new MacBook air using Migration assistant via WiFi connection - the two computers can't seem to find each other.
Any ideas?
BarryTry this article - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4889.
If it doesn't help, post back in this thread.
Best of luck,
Clinton -
Tried to upgrade HD in Macbook Pro 15" mid 2009.
Tried to upgrade HD in MacBook Pro 15" mid 2009. Upgrade HD is WD 1TB (WD10JPVT). Installed from scratch in a USB container. Within that container the disk boot and ran fine. The problem started when I installed in the computer. The disk boots fine, but runs EXTREMELY slow. I have reset the system management controller and PRAM. Any suggestions?
That could explain the lag. Go into Disk Utility, click on the storage DEVICE (above the Macintosh HD volume), then check how it shows up in the specs on the bottom of the window. MUST say:
Partition Map Scheme : GUID Partition Table
If not, you will have to repartition (click on the Options button, may need to delete the current partition) and format again. No other way. -
I have a HP wireless printer, and im trying to connected to my macbook pro. But will not connect..
I have a HP wireless printer, and im trying to connected to my macbook pro. But will not connect..
Isaaura - what printer model do you use?
While opening Safari click the Bookmarks icon and select Bonjour.. can you see the printer listed there?
(If Bonjour is not listed click Safari > Preferences > Bookmarks and check Bonjour within the Collections section)
Can you access the printer by typing its IP from Safari?
If the printer not available only thoguh Bonjour but an be reached by its IP, what router brand and model are you using?
Templeton Peck - correct me if I'm wrong, the different OS X forums have a dedicated forum for printing and scanning.. as Apple no longer produce printers about the last 2 decades I would assume those forums meant to deal with other manufactures over OS X..
john galt - Am I spelling OS X correctly? -
I am trying to turn off my macbook pro
I am trying to turn off my macbook pro and when i do it tells me to quit mail and try again and I've been doing that but it dosnt work
thanks
-
The scroll bar keeps disappearing as I am trying to scroll on the macbook pro osx 10.9 update installed.
Scroll bars have been doing this since Lion. You can set them to stay on in System Preferences.
-
How much does apple charge to fix a broken macbook pro screen?
How much does apple charge to fix a broken macbook pro screen?
No one here would know for sure...my guess? Somewhere around US $700. You'll get it done cheaper at a third-party repair shop.
-
Trying to track my stolen Macbook pro...any ideas will help?
Our home was recently broken into they made off with 2 Mac. One was a Macbook Pro purchased in 2009, and a New IMac desk top monitor (dummies left the mouse and key board). We hadent downloaded any type of "ifind" apps to either computer, that we know of. However i feel strongly that there has to be a way to track one, if not both, of these computers. Everything with Macs needs to be registered. So if there are any ideas suggestions on how i might have a chance at finding our stolen items. it would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks, Design3rMy Macbook Pro 13.3" was taken by a taxi driver in Kathmandu, Nepal. I had bought it from Toronto. (I have information about an appointment day and time at an Apple Store in Toronto; I don't have the serial number of the macbook; Can that appointment time at the Apple store for repairs will be able to find me the serial no.? Please advise and help).
Meanwhile I opened my Twitter account last week and found that someone had edited my Twitter details and has put his school name, his first name and the city name (Kathmandu) and had tweeted from my account. I found him from facebook and got his last name. From his pictures in Facebook I got the area. I went to that area and could find the house. I got the help of the police who raided his house. That was a young boy of 12 who was apparently trying to open a Twitter account on my macbook but I had my password saved.
When the police interrogated that child he told that he used to use a cyber cafe which has been closed down, but the owner was his Facebook friend. From his Facebook account we got the phone number of that cyber cafe owner and got the call details. But meanwhile at one police station an officer called him directly and ordered him to come to the police station. He came with a small acer laptop and pleaded innocent. The matter was referred to cyber crime branch of Kathmandu police. Now they are asking me to bring the IP address when my twitter account was opened on January 17th.
I am confused how to go about it. 90% investigation has been done by me but the police are not ready to do the rest 10%. Please let me know how can I find the IP address when my Twitter account was opened on January 17th? How can I get the serial number of my Macbook? Will the serial number be of any help in locating the Macbook? My Macbook was logged on to my name, can anyone log me off and use his own id to use the Macbook or will my name stay on it always for life? Please help with your advice. I have spent a lot of money on this matter.
Maybe you are looking for
-
New Hard drive and ram upgrade
Hi my mac tower g5 is running quite slow at the moment and the hardrive is really loud, so i can tell you its on its way out. Will replacing this make it run much faster or is it running quite slow due to the fact I am using a powerpc? I want to use
-
Twitter link--page appears only for a moment
On the homepage for my disabled grandson there is a link to twitter. All of a sudden it no longer works. When you click on the link the twitter page appears momentarily and then disappears. Eventually the stars appear at the top, but nothing else. Be
-
Basic problem in Multiprovider
Hi, I have created multiprovider on 2 ODS Objects. Example: The structure and data in <b>My 1st ODS</b>: DOCNO CUSTID INV_AMOUNT AMOUNT_PAID 1001 C01 500 200 The structure and data in <b>My 2nd ODS</b>: DOC
-
Module pool: taking checkbox in tab control
i want to take check box in tab control. when i click on button selectall--all checkbox checked and when i click deselect button -all checkbox deselected.-plz send coding for it-
-
Hi, i want set a parameter to my request, e.g. a message. This paramter must be represented in the request as a post-paramter, e.g. like a simple form with post-methode would do it. Ho can i implement that in my Servlet? Thanks Daniel :-)