Hardware Reference
In-Depth Information
Basic Troubleshooting Steps
First, you can often fix a problem by shutting down all your open programs and start-
ing again. This is a particularly useful fix for problems caused by low memory or low
system resources. Next, log out of your user account, which clears the memory and
gives you a slightly cleaner slate than merely closing all your programs. Finally, re-
start Mac Pro to reload the entire system, which is often enough to solve many prob-
lems.
Did You Get an Error Message?
Unfortunately, most computer error messages are obscure and do little to help you
resolve a problem directly. However, error codes and error text can help you down
the road, either by giving you something to search for in an online database or by
providing information to a tech support person. Therefore, you should always write
down the full text of any error message that appears, or press
+ + to place
an image of the screen on the desktop.
Did You Recently Change Any Settings?
If the problem started after you changed an application preference or an OS X pref-
erence via System Preferences, try reversing the change to see if that solves the
problem. Even something as seemingly innocent as activating a screen saver can
cause problems, so do not rule anything out. If you determine that changing a pro-
gram's setting causes the problem, check with the software developer to see if an
update to the program is available.
Did You Recently Install a New Program?
If you suspect a new program is causing system instability, restart Mac Pro and try
operating the system for a while without using the new program. If the program has
any login items that load at startup, be sure to deactivate them (see the section “
By-
pass Login Items
”). If the problem does not reoccur, the new program is likely the
culprit. Try using the program without any other programs running. Also check that
the program is compatible with OS X Mavericks.
