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FunkySkunky

Anyone have advice on maintaining a healthy MacBook? I've had it for a few months and it still runs beautifully. I'd like to get a one-up on the system before it starts to perform poorly.

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rodge

sure.

use disk utility everyday. repair disk permissions when your start up your computer, and before you shut it down (or sleep). i think this is probably the most important thing you can do.

also, your mac will do some very important organizational tasks (similar to pc defragging) that are auto scheduled for 2am. you can change this time, but it requires using the terminal and some "risky" commands that could destroy potentially everything you know . if your like me this is not a problem, as i have my comp on all night running torrents anyway (which i also don't recommend as your drives will be sluggish). if you must shut things down or sleep, get a third party defragger like idefrag or do this: launch the terminal (utilities folder), type the following exactly "sudo periodic daily weekly monthly", then press return, type your password when prompted, and your good. nothing will write, there will be no visuals, just assume it's happenening. it's done when the terminal prompt returns (5 minutes or so).

umm. limit the number of startup items.

delete things. keep a slim drive and it will perform much better. MUCH better.

...don't drop it?

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My primordial nature has no liking for the life in the cities.
To be free from the noise I built a little thatched cottage.
Far away in the depth of the mountains.
Wandering here and there I carry no thought.

FunkySkunky

Thank you much Rodge!

fight4theright

I beg to differ. Mac OS X runs repair and diagnostic scripts all the time without the end users interaction. Constant use of Disk Utility's repair permissions function, although it won't harm anything, is essentially useless unless you have had disk problems. That is somewhat analogous to defragging your hard disk on a PC every time you shut down or boot up. Its time consuming and won't do a damn thing.

Third party defraggers are not needed, as the Unix file system operates on much different principles than FAT32 or NTFS.

I would recommend a utility such as MacJanitor (Mac OS X Software) if you do not leave your computer on 24/7. This basically forces all repair scripts to run when you want them to.

Otherwise, OS X will run flawlessly for months (or years) without any real interaction on your part. Take good care of the machine physically, and it will treat you well in terms of hardware. I think alot of PC users make the assumption that excessive software maintenance is required, although it really isn't.

I have no idea what rodge is saying about running torrents all the time....the only thing that will slow is your internet connection. Most torrent clients use very little system resources. As soon as the program is exited, the drive is no longer in use, thus it will not remain 'sluggish'.

I also would recommend, unless you have had past experience, that you do not use terminal for things that can be accomplished with the GUI. Terminal use is risky business unless you know what you're doing, so I suggest you steer clear of rodge's suggestion in that regard.

Happy Mac use, and enjoy the engineering masterpiece that is the MacBook.

--Fight

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FunkySkunky

Thanks a lot Fight!

 

rodge

hey, thanks fight...been reading up on permission repairing. seems like half the mac world suggests it for just about everything, and the other half doesn't use it for anything. i'm starting to see just how pointless it is. do you still use it after you run apple product installers or updates? permission repairing is something my boss has been preaching to me for years about (im an engineer at a recording studio), i'd like to go back with some info to shove in his face

thanks for macjanitor link, faster than terminal.

so about the torrents. at my home setup, i often get these soft freezes that last anywhere from 5-20 seconds. i always assumed it was because i never give my drives a break (being that it happens more frequently when im running torrents all night, and less freqwuently when i shut it down). i have replaced my drives since it began happening awhile back, and no change. it seems to freeze more often with apple programs, especially mail. any ideas? (dual 1.8 g5)

also funky, im sure you have already but if not, let fight know about ur permission errors...he might have something more to add.