Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
If you're getting a network error or you can't access the Internet, the router may be at fault. Power off the router and
then power it on again. Wait until the status lights stabilize and then try accessing the network. If you still can't access
the Internet, try the same thing with your modem.
Close all programs.
If you have lots of programs going, device drivers (the little programs that enable OS X
to communicate with devices, and vice versa) may get weird because there isn't enough memory or other re-
sources. You can often fix flaky behavior by shutting down all your open programs and starting again.
Log out.
Logging off serves to clear the memory by shutting down your programs, but it also releases much
of the stuff MacBook Air has loaded into memory, thus creating a slightly cleaner palette than just closing your
programs. To log out, pull down the Apple menu and choose Log Out
User
(where
User
is the MacBook Air
username), or just press Shift+ +Q.
Reset the device's default settings.
If you can configure a device, perhaps some new setting is causing the
problem. If you recently made a change, try returning the setting to its original value. If that doesn't do the
trick, most configurable devices have some kind of Restore Default Settings option that enables you to quickly
return the device to its factory settings.
Upgrade the device's firmware.
Some devices come with
firmware,
a small program that runs inside the
device and controls its internal functions. For example, all routers have firmware. Check with the manufacturer
to see if a new version exists. If it does, download the new version and then see the device's manual to learn
how to upgrade the firmware.
Firmware updates for the MacBook Air can be particularly tricky. Be sure to follow the instructions and do not
interrupt the restart sequence. When restarting your network, remember to follow this sequence: Reboot the di-
gital modem, reboot the wired or wireless router, and then restart your MacBook Air.
Restarting MacBook Air
If a hardware device is having a problem with some system files, logging off MacBook Air won't help because
the system files remain loaded. By rebooting MacBook Air, you reload the entire system, which is often enough
to solve many computer problems. You reboot MacBook Air by pulling down the Apple menu, choosing Re-
start, and then clicking Restart in the dialog that appears.
Power cycling MacBook Air
For problem devices that don't have a power switch — basically, anything inside MacBook Air, including the
display — restarting MacBook Air might not resolve the problem because the devices remain powered up the
whole time. You can power cycle these devices as a group by power cycling MacBook Air:
1. Close all running applications.
2. Pull down the Apple menu and choose Shut Down.
MacBook Air asks you to confirm.
3. Click Shut Down.
MacBook Air shuts down the system.
4. Once MacBook Air shuts off, wait for 30 seconds to give all devices time to spin down.
5. Turn MacBook Air back on.
Forcing the issue: Making a stuck MacBook Air restart or shut down
If things go seriously awry on MacBook Air, you may find that you can't do anything and your applications are
frozen. You can bang away at the keyboard all you want but nothing happens. The mouse pointer doesn't even
