Check out my other Mac productivity tips!
No.1のオンリーワン企業で在り続ける。 当社の紹介 COMPANY サーバントップについて SERVICE 事業内容 INTERVIEW 社員インタビュー RECRUIT こんな人材を求めています.
One of the great takeaways from Tim Ferriss's podcast interview with Noah Kagan was the impact your mouse tracking speed can have on your productivity. By whacking the tracking speed up all the way, you can significantly increase the speed at which you get things done on your computer. If the increase in speed seems too much, give it 10-minutes and you'll be amazed at how quickly you can adapt to the new speed.
I currently use a MacBook and have had the trackpad/mouse speed all the way up for some time. However, I recently found myself thinking; I WANT MORE!
- The menu can be found by navigating to Studio One/Options/External Devices/Add Device (Mac OS X: Preferences/External Devices/Add Device). Set Up MIDI Keyboards A MIDI keyboard controller is a hardware MIDI device that is generally used for playing and controlling other MIDI devices, virtual software instruments, and software parameters.
- Back by popular demand comes another remastered virtual instrument by Big Tick Audio. This time its Ticky Clav, quite possibly the first virtual instrument that used physical modeling to emulate the hugely popular Hohner D6 Clavinet®, made famous by Stevie Wonder's hit song Superstition.
- (no TimeMachine, backup software or bootable clones) then erase and install the operating system. Run a ClamXav scan on the user files before returning to the machine. Erase all other drives, clones, TimeMachines etc. Erase, formatting, OS X installs on Mac's.
Unfortunately, Apple's upper limit on tracking sensitivity isn't as high as I'd like. So, I started Googling around to try and find a quick and easy solution for increasing the trackpad/mouse speed.
I came across an app called BetterTouchTool that lets you customise the tracking speed and add a tonne of other trackpad functionality to your computer. It looks nice, but all I wanted to do was increase the trackpad speed without fluffing around with a tonne of other features and settings (plus I'm overly cautious about adding unnecessary apps to my computer when a simple terminal command or Automator workflow will do).
It didn't take long, but I found a way to customise the trackpad speed using Terminal.
Use the following steps to increase your trackpad sensitivity:
Step one: Open Terminal (located in the Utilities folder of your Applications. Or Spotlight search 'terminal').
Step two (optional): Enter the following command to view your current speed:
This will return a number that represents the tracking speed.
Step three: To speed up your mouse tracking, you can simply change this number by typing the following command, replacing the 'mouse speed' with a new number such as 5.0:
The maximum mouse speed you can access from the System Preferences is 3.0. I changed my speed to 7.0 which is perfect for my liking.
Step four: Restart your computer.
To revert the speed back to normal, you can adjust the mouse tracking speed in system preferences, or use Terminal to set the value back to 3.0.
Check out my other handy Mac tips:
Mac PRAM, NVRAM, CUDA/PMU &Battery TutorialWhat, When & How?
Last Update on 9 October 2009
The information in this tutorial primarily applies tolegacy Macs, through the G4 models, using OS 7.x, OS 8.x and OS 9.x .However, some of the information also applies to legacy Macs operatingon OS X.
Your Mac has a microcontroller/memory chip whichstores data that is important to its successful startup and operation.This data is maintained when you shutdown or unplug the Mac by a batterywhich provides power to the chip. This chip controls the Parameter RAM(PRAM), Non-volatile RAM (NVRAM), the real-time clock and Apple DesktopBus (ADB). Also the chip sends a constant signal to the power supply,and if this signal is not within specifications, the Mac will eithershutdown or freeze.
When Mac users are having problems with their Mac,troubleshooting suggestions are frequently made to: 'Zap the PRAM', 'Zapthe NVRAM', 'Reset the CUDA (or PMU)', or 'Replace the internal memorybattery'. Then the question arises: What is the PRAM, NVRAM, CUDA/PMUand Battery? When do I zap, reset or replace? How do I zap, reset orreplace?
This information has been compiled from the Apple CareKnowledge Base, Apple's manuals, numerous web pages, and several Macbooks. Also included are links to additional information and severaluseful utilities.
The table below provides a list of many (but, probablynot all) problems/symptoms relating to PRAM, NVRAM, CUDA/PMU and theinternal memory battery. If one matches your problem/symptom, refer tothe noted section and corrective action. There may be otherhardware/software anomalies, which require separate corrective action,that cause the listed problems. For what it's worth, read the MacGurusite Mac Troubleshooting.What Works.What Doesn't..Summarizing, the site states:
1. Extensions troubleshooting worked 56% of the timesit was tried.
- Extensions troubleshooting is the most widelyapplicable troubleshooting step. It is appropriate for any error type 1,2, 3, 10, 11, 25 or freezing in addition to miscellaneous weirdbehavior. If the issue occurs on startup or in multiple applications,this is the best bet.
- When all third-party hardware and software have beeneliminated and the issue persists on startup or in multipleapplications, reinstalling system software may be appropriate.
- Disconnecting SCSI devices is appropriate when acomputer starts with a only gray screen and a pointer, but goes nofurther. Random hard freezes and recurring directory corruption can alsobe signs of SCSI chain problems. Many users do not realize that all SCSIdevices must always powered on before the computer is started and thenleft on at all times while the computer is being used.
These are all valid troubleshooting steps. They have ahigh likelihood of resolving your problem. In contrast, the followingtroubleshooting steps are tried way too often.
1. Rebuilding the Desktop worked 0%of the time that it was tried. It was tried 54% of the time.
- Rebuilding the Desktop should only be tried to resolvegeneric file icons. A single generic icon is often a file level problem(such as a bundle bit), that rebuilding the Desktop won't fix. In rarecases, application/document connection problems can be fixed byrebuilding the Desktop.
- Moving Preferences should only be tried when an issueis isolated to a specific item (Finder, Control Panel, application).Usually, the program will crash on startup or the application-specificsettings fail to 'stick' when you quit the application.
- Resetting the PRAM should only be tried in cases wherePRAM-resident Control Panel settings are not 'sticking'. Keep in mindthat resetting the PRAM resets all of the Control Panel settings totheir defaults and requires you to reset any settings you changed.Resetting PRAM can affect ADB and serial port issues.'
This came from another Mac site.
'NORTON UTILITIES:
Never DEFAULT install Norton Utilities on your system. The default install puts what I consider crap all intoyour system. Crashguard, Filesaver, and Disklight cause far moreproblems than they are worth. If you have already done this disable fromthe extensions manager: crashguard, filesaver, disklight, and the autoupdate features. I love Disk Doctor and Speed Disk but I run them fromthe CD when needed.
NEVER RUN NORTON 3.5 or earlier on an HFS+ FormattedDrive. It will destroy the contents of thedrive. You may be able to recover it with the patch someone put out forNorton called Drive Fix 1.1. A proper version of Norton 5.0 or laterwill probably fix it as well.
NEVER RUN NORTON Disk Doctor 6.0.2 or earlier on anOSX system. Norton 6.03 or later for OSXsystems is okay and it has to be run from OS 9 or by booting from theCD. Use the Get Info from under the file menu after selecting the DiskDoctor icon to see what version you are running.'
Problem/Symptom | Refer To |
Zip disks do not appear on the desktop or eject | PRAM |
CD-ROM or DVD-ROM disc does not appear on the desktop | PRAM |
Flashing '?' at startup, or Startup is not normal, orComputer malfunctions; starts up from wrong startup disk | PRAM |
Hard disk won't mount or boot-up | PRAM |
Freeze when booting-up Tip - Most likelycause is related to SCSI devices/connections or corrupted Finderpreference file | PRAM |
Mac is very slow when booting up Tip - If zapping PRAMdoesn't work, trash Finder preference file and reboot. | PRAM |
No sound from one or both of the Apple Pro Speakers | PRAM |
iMac: Address and Illegal Instruction errors duringstartup | PRAM |
USB-equipped computers encounter a gray screen whenwaking from sleep or a 'Finder has unexpectedly quit' error when goingto sleep | PRAM |
Remote Access alert when receiving an incorrectresponse, or no response from the modem | PRAM |
Mac OS 9: Modem makes no sound | PRAM |
Getting Type 10 or 11 errors repeatedly | PRAM |
Every time the computer starts up, a text-basedcommand-line-interface appears that says: 'To continue booting, type'mac-boot' and press return. To shut down, type 'shut-down' and pressreturn. | PRAM |
Startup problems after crashes, freezes or powerinterruptions (improper shutdowns) | PRAM |
When Shutdown selected, Mac Restarts Tip - Energy Saver on someMacs/OSs can cause this problem. Set Energy Saver to Never. | PRAM |
Corrupted data to output devices like printer, modemFAX. i.e., Printer prints 'garbage' characters. | PRAM |
Hard drive won't spin up or you get 'Sad Mac' error Tip - Defective RAM or badRAM card connection also causes this. If you install new RAM, you shouldzap PRAM. | PRAM |
Virtual Memory won't stay Off | PRAM, Battery |
Serial port problems; requires reset (See Tip in PRAM section) | PRAM, Battery |
Selected printer inChooser won't stay selected | PRAM, Battery |
Can't access any external connected SCSI, FireWire orUSB device. | PRAM, Battery |
Nothing on display, or no power at all | PRAM, CUDA/PMU, Battery |
Open Firmware not booting normally into OS | NVRAM |
Display problems | NVRAM |
Battery replaced, but will not boot from HD. Will bootfrom CD. | CUDA/PMU |
Battery replaced, but will not boot & no display. | CUDA/PMU |
Nothing works, no power (appears to be failed powersupply) | CUDA/PMU |
Startup fails or shuts down after adding RAM, PCIexpansion card, or processor upgrade card. | CUDA/PMU |
USB port(s) not operating | CUDA/PMU |
The date/time is reset to 1956 or 1904 | Battery |
Depressing keyboard power switch won't start up Mac | Battery |
Mac (some) won't start up; or you hear a startupchime, but the screen remains blank | Battery |
The graphics hardware in some Macs will fail to workcorrectly; boots but won't display anything (no video) | Battery, PRAM |
AppleTalk is turned On, when it was Off, whenever youshutdown and then startup | Battery |
Selected printer no longer prints; it gives you anerror saying the port is in use (by AppleTalk). Tip - To possibly avoidthis problem, go to AppleTalk control panel and set AppleTalk to Remoteinstead of Printer port. | Battery, PRAM |
Boots from the wrong startup disk when started up | Battery |
The selected AppleTalk port has been changed | Battery |
Monitor gets set to Black & White Tip - If Mac boots toB&W and then reverts to color, trash Finder Preference file andrestart. | Battery |
Can't access internet (because date/time incorrect) | Battery |
Can't access external hard drive | Battery |
PRAM
PRAM is a small amount of memory continually poweredby the internal battery to retain its contents even when the computer isshut down or unplugged from AC power. PRAM maintains information such asbackground color, default video selection, network information, serialport information, and default highlight color.
Even though you may not know what in PRAM is causingissues on your computer, resetting this information can often be animportant troubleshooting step. This is particularly true when serialdevices are connected to the computer, or when networking software is inuse.
Zapping the PRAM resets your Mac to the factorydefaults, so anything you have customized (like background or highlightcolor) is reset, the alert sound may be different, and AppleTalk willmost likely be turned Off. Date and Time is not reset. Generally, youonly only need to zap PRAM if the PRAM-resident settings are not'sticking', however, system crashes can result in corrupted PRAMsettings. Zapping PRAM can also affect ADB (ports that connect thekeyboard and mouse) and serial port issues. Use the control panels toset the computer back to the way it was before the PRAM was reset. SomeMacs may not have all the settings described below.
- AppleTalk Control Panel (& Chooser) - Statusof AppleTalk
- Chooser - Serial Port configuration and Portdefinition, Serial printer location
- Appearance Control Panel - Application font
- Keyboard Control Panel - Autokey rate, Autokeydelay
- Mouse Control Panel - Double-click time, Mousescaling (mouse speed)
- Startup Disk Control Panel - Startup disk
- General Controls Control Panel - Menu blinkcount, Caret blink time (insertion point rate), Folder Protection
- Monitors & Sound Control Panel - Monitordepth, Attention (beep) sound, Speaker volume
- Memory Control Panel - 32-bit addressing (OS7.x), Virtual memory, RAM disk, Disk cache
- Date & Time Control Panel - Set Time Zone,Set Daylight Saving Time (but not Date and Time)
- Energy Saver Control Panel - Sleep settings,Scheduled Startup & Shutdown
Also see Mac OS X: What'sstored in PRAM
There are several Apple Care Knowledge Base documentsrelated to resetting PRAM:
Resetting yourMac's PRAM and NVRAM
When to reset NVRAM or PRAM
RAM Disk:Resetting PRAM Causes Loss of RAM Disk Contents
CAUTION - Zapping PRAMwill erase all data in your RAM disk. Backup any important RAM disk databefore zapping PRAM.
According to Apple, there is no value in resetting thePRAM as a troubleshooting tool for software problems. There have been afew, unconfirmed reports that resetting the PRAM helped to reset a NuBusvideo card when the monitor displays only static. These reports are notverifiable and there are no PRAM values or settings for NuBus slots.
PRAM vs. the Finder Preferences File - TheFinder Preferences file also stores some user-selected settings. Inparticular, the Finder Preferences file stores: the Finder version; allsettings from the Finder Preferences window except Label colors andnames (which are kept in the System suitcase file); last window size andposition for Clipboard, Copy windows, and the About this Computerwindow; where Sherlock was last located; and the location of the Trash.It also stores the On or Off status of the 'Warn Before Emptying' checkbox (located in the Trash's Get Info window). These settings areseparate from PRAM settings and are not reset when you zap the PRAM.Problems with these preferences settings are usually solved by replacingthe Finder preference file.
A freeware utility called PRAM Inspectorlets you see exactly what is stored in your PRAM, so you can detect PRAMproblems by yourself. The figure below shows the PRAM Inspector windowand PRAM contents.
Tip - Make a desktoppicture (Command+Shift+3) of PRAM Inspector's window, print and save itfor future reference when you have problems.
Tip - Before you zap PRAM,try this corrective action since it may solve your problem. Start up(depress Shift key) with Extensions Off . Trash the following Preferencefiles (don't worry, new ones will be generated) and restart: ASLM,Finder, Mac OS, System. Some of you Control Panel settings may change.For example, if Virtual Memory was Off, it will now be On.
There are several ways to zap or reset the PRAM.
A. The Apple OS steps to zap/reset PRAM
Note: This procedure may not work with some keyboardsfrom manufacturers other than Apple.
- 1. Make sure the Caps Lock key is not engaged.
- 2. Restart your computer and immediately hold down theCommand (Apple)+Option+P+R keys.
- 3. Keep holding down the keys until you hear thestartup sound/chime a second time, then release the keys. (Tip - Otherssuggest that you hold down the keys until you hear 3 or 4 chimes.)
- 4. The PRAM is now reset.
- 5. If you had special settings in any Control Panels,open those Control Panels to reset the desired settings.
Tip - Some third-partysoftware programs also store information in PRAM. You may have toreconfigure video cards after resetting PRAM, and other aspects of yourwork may be affected.
B. Using TechTool Lite
The freeware utility TechTool Lite from MicroMat--makers of TechToolPro--does a very good job of helping you reset your PRAM (but notNVRAM). It also offers you a way to save your previous PRAM settings ifyou ever want to revert. This is the best way to zap PRAM. The figurebelow shows the TechTool Lite window.
Tip - For a description ofhow to reset the Power Manager and PRAM in a PowerBook, refer to theAppleCare Knowledge Base document PowerBook: Resetting Power Manager.
Tip - If you get a 'portin use' error, try this before zapping PRAM. Sometimes a Restart willeliminate the error. Or use the freeware utilities ResetSerialChannel or PortPeek. A badprinter cable connection may also give you an error saying the port isin use.
Tip - Some newer monitorshave internal logic memory that, when corrupted, causes displayproblems. Use this procedure by a Mac user to reset the monitor memoryif your monitor has separate power and video cables. Power everythingdown, disconnect the video cable from the Mac. Then turn the monitor on,wait 15 to 20 seconds, then turn it off; wait about 10 seconds, thenrepeat this cycle 3 or 4 times. Then reconnect the video cable and bootback up. Also refer to How to Reset Your Monitor If It's Acting Funny
NVRAM
NVRAM is found on Macs that have a PCI bus. Sometimesit is important to reset the NVRAM so that the computer will redetectdevices and cards that are installed, and software settings. NVRAMstores the following information:
- Patches to the boot code which need to run before diskI/O (Input/Output) starts up.
- Settings such as monitor resolution that is stored bydrivers or applications.
- Information necessary to generate the video display.
- Information for Open Firmware to boot normally into anOS.
- PRAM settings. (Note - Clearing the PRAM only clears aportion of the NVRAM.)
Resetting your Mac's PRAMand NVRAM
'To continue booting, type 'mac-boot' andpress return' Message
There are several ways to zap or reset the NVRAM.
CAUTION - Zap/reset ofNVRAM on older Macs with G3 and G4 upgrades MAY eliminate a special fixinstalled (from a floppy) with the upgrade. Check you upgradedocumentation.
Tip - Before you reset theNVRAM, try this. Trash the Display Preference file and restart. I had aproblem where the brightness of the display looked like a moon-litnight, although the cursor was bright (and the startup screen wasbright). Trashing the preference file corrected the problem.
A. The Apple OS steps to zap/reset NVRAM
- 1. Shutdown the Mac (do not use Restart command)
- 2. Start up and immediately (before gray screenappears) depress the Command (Apple)+Option+P+R keys.
- 3. Wait for the Mac to automatically both chime andrestart. Hold the keys depressed while it does this at least two times.Now release the keys and let the Mac completely start up.
- 4. Immediately go to the System/Preferences folder andtrash the Display Preferences file.
- 5. Restart the Mac.
- 1. Set all the Extensions Off from the ExtensionManager.
- 2. Shutdown the computer.
- 3. Remove all the peripheral devices.
- 4. Start up and immediately depress theCommand(Apple)+Option+P+R keys. (Note - If you don't depress the keys'immediately', you'll only reset PRAM.)
- 5. Wait for the Mac to automatically both chime andrestart. Hold the keys depressed while it does this at least two times.Now release the keys and let the Mac completely start up.
- 6. Immediately go to the System/Preferences folder andtrash the Display Preferences file.
- 7. Restart the Mac.
Most of Apple's Macintosh computers since the firstiMac have shipped with Open Firmware, a hardware component level BIOS.[Examples of machines that do NOT use Open Firmware: Apple Power Macs ofthe earlier generation (NuBus-based), Power Mac clones that areNuBus-based, 68k Macs, and other 68k-based Macs.] Holding downCommand(Apple)+Option+O+F keys on startup will present you with a grayscreen with a command prompt. At this screen you can enter various openfirmware commands to configure or reset your OF settings. From this OFscreen, you can 'deep reset' your PRAM and NVRAM settings. At theprompt, type, followed by the Return key:
- 1. Type: reset-nvram
- 2. Press Return key (will return to you to the prompt,your nvram settings are now factory default)
- 3. Then type: reset-all
- 4. Press Return key (will reset your logic board andPRAM settings)
- 5. The reset-all command should cause the computer torestart. If this occurs, you have successfully reset the Open Firmwaresettings.
- 1. Type: set-defaults
- 2. Press Return key
- 3. Then type: reset-all
- 4. Press Return key
- 5. The reset-all command should cause the computer torestart.
D.ResettingCUDA and removing the battery will also zap/reset NVRAM (see below).
CUDA/PMU
Most PCI-based Power Macs have a small button switch(red or gray/silver), called the CUDA, on the logic board. Pressing theCUDA switch (see figure) resets all data (PRAM, NVRAM, clock and other)stored in the microcontroller/ memory chip. The function of the Cudachip is to:
- Turn system power On and Off
- Manage system resets from various commands
- Maintain PRAM
- Manage the real-time clock
There are several ways to determine if your Mac has aCUDA switch and where it is located. Its location varies from model tomodel, but a visual scan of the logic board should reveal it. Go to MacGuru's Power Mac Mother Boards and look at thelogic board picture for your Mac and the marked CUDA location.
- 1. The 61, 71 and 8100s do not have a CUDA.
- 2. On the 73, 75, 7600s it is directly under the backof the processor. You may have to pull the processor to see it.
- 3. On Beige G3's it is directly left of the PCI slotsnear the edge of the logic board.
- 4. On the B&W G3s, you will see two buttons behindthe PCI slots marked 'Power On.' The left one (as you face the front ofthe Mac) is the normal Power button. The right one is the CUDA button.
- 5. On G4s it is in the right rear of the logic boardnear the battery.
- 6. On the 6400 and 6500, look at this site.
- 7. On the iMac it is located near the RAM modules.
- Power Mac G4 (AGP Graphics/Gigabit Ethernet): Resettingthe PMU on the Logic Board This Apple document is written forthe AGP Graphics/Gigabit G4s, but applies to most all G4s except the PCIGraphics (which has a CUDA).
Apple'sService Manual procedure for resetting CUDA after you remove/gainaccess* to the logic board (See Note 1 below) is:
- 1. Remove or disconnect the memory battery. Leave thebattery disconnected for 5-10* minutes.
- 2. Reinstall or reconnect the battery.
- 3. Depress the CUDA button (for 5 seconds) with anon-metallic (plastic, wood, etc.) device.
- 4. Reinstall the logic board.
*(Other sites say 10 minutes minimum.)
Tip - Sometime a Mac willnot start up after experiencing an AC input power failure. Usually aCUDA or PMU reset will fix the problem.
Tip - Other sources sayjust depress the CUDA button (with no mention of disabling the battery).This would be quicker and OK for a first try at troubleshooting.
Tip - I found this on aMac site. 'Sometimes computers lose their mind. Don't ask me why or howit happens but it does. Sometimes you simply have to totally dischargethe computer. One thing I have learned about the Blue and White G3 andthe Gray G4 computers is that sometimes pushing the CUDA (PMU) is notenough. If your machine still is dead, then try the following.
* Unplug the Unit
* Remove the Battery
* Push the CUDA (PMU) Switch (count to 5 slow)
* Push the Start button on the front of the computer (count to 5 slow)
* Let the unit sit for 15-30 minutes
* Replace the Battery
* Plug it back in, and push the start button
If it doesn't work I usually repeat the steps above,pull the ram, and let it sit longer. If it doesn't work after this, itis take it to the shop time.'
Tip - Another great tipthat many times works - Resetting the Logic Board
Resetting the logic board can resolve many system problems. Whenever youhave aunit that fails to power up, you should follow this procedure before replacingany modules.
- 1 Unplug thecomputer.
- 2 Press the PowerOn button on the front of the unit.
- 3 Open the sideaccess panel.
- 4 Remove thebattery from the logic board.
- 5 Wait at least 10minutes before replacing the battery.
- 6 Make sure thebattery is installed in the correct +/- direction.
- 7 Reassemble thecomputer and test the unit.
Note:
This procedure resets the computer's PRAM. Be sure to check thecomputer's time/date and other system parameter settings
After you reset CUDA/PMU, you may have to reset the Control Panels asdescribed above for PRAM, and reset the date and time. If you saved theTechTool Lite PRAM information, use TechTool to reset the Control Panels.
Here's some additional AppleCare KnowledgeBase documents related to startup problems.
Sometimes a CUDA/PMU reset (and/or battery replacement) does not solvethe problem of the Mac appearing to not having power to the computer. Inthis case, it could be a failed power supply. Some Mac power supplieshave an internal fuse, however, the supply must be removed and thesupply case opened to examine if the supply has a fuse. If you have avolt/ohm multimeter, power supplies can be tested for voltage output.
- Power SupplyAdapter Pinouts
Youcan also check eBay and my favorite, LEM-Swap for buying& selling Mac stuff.
Battery
The memory battery is a very important part of yourcomputer, and all Macs have one. This battery keeps a small amount ofmemory active to store important information when you turn off yourcomputer, or the computer is unplugged from AC power. The informationactually stored varies from Mac to Mac. Some of it deals with thecomputer's PRAM and NVRAM, but one of the most easily apparent piece ofinformation it maintains is the date and time. The battery also powersthe SoftPower (Power key) circuit and ADB control.
There are several Apple Care Knowledge Base documentsrelated to batteries:
Whenthe battery dies or you take out the battery, the clock stops andresets to a default date and time. Many older Macs reset to August 27,1956. This is the birth date of one of the designers (Ray Montagne) ofthe CUDA microcontroller. The original Mac clock was designed to workuntil 2040 (The only computer with no Y2K problem!!!). Newer Macs resetto a different default date - the date that the clock shows when theclock registers are filled with zeros. The date is (midnight) January 1,1904, defined as time zero for the clock. Year 1904 was selected as thestart date because the simplest rule for leap-years can be used (everyfourth year has an extra day), which simplifies day and datecalculations. Year 1900 was not a leap year, and so would havecomplicated matters. Apple has since redesigned its date utilities tohandle dates until 29,940 (Do you think your current Mac will last thatlong?).
Macs (and clones) use one of two different batteries -a 3.6 volt lithium, 1/2 AA size or a 4.5 volt alkaline. The tables belowshow which Macs use which battery.
A low voltage battery can cause the memory informationto become corrupted. You can check the battery voltage, while installedon the logic board (Mac power Off), with a DC voltmeter. If below 3.0volts for the 3.6 volt lithium or below 3.8 volts for the 4.5 voltalkaline, it's a weak, unreliable battery. Depending on the length oftime that you Mac is shutdown or unplugged, a lithium battery may last3-10 years and a alkaline battery may last 2-7 years.
Tip - If your batterylife is not very long, one possibility is that there are externalperipherals attached to the system which remain On when the system isturned Off. It is possible that this situation produces a negativebias on the system board that drains the battery. Try turning offexternal peripherals like modems, printers, etc. when you turn yoursystem off via the keyboard and see if this has any effect.
Blackjack (21) mac os. Tip - If you do not have avoltmeter, remove or disconnect the battery and unplug the Mac's ACpower cord. Wait at least 30 minutes for the residual power, from acapacitor, on the memory chip to dissipate. Do not install or reconnectthe battery. Start up the computer. If it starts normally and finishesthe boot process, the battery is defective.
Also, a useful freeway utility is PRAMBattery Checker - Checks if your PRAM battery has died.
There are three different 3.6 volt Tadiran modelnumber lithium batteries used in Macs:
- TL5101/S (950 mAh)
- TL5151/S (750 mAh)
- TL2150/S (850 mAh, high drain)
The 4.5 volt alkaline battery is a Rayovac modelnumber 840. The Rayovac models 841 and 844 are substitutes.
Bali Basik (no Movements) Mac Os X
Replacement batteries may be obtained from mostcomputer stores or Radio Shack (about $13 + tax for the3.6V Lithium). Some camera stores have the 3.6 volt lithiumbatteries. Local Batteries Plus stores have Apple/Mac memorybatteries. Here's the part numbers and prices.
1/2AA 3.6V Lithium, P/N LITHS14250BA, $8.99 + local sales tax
4.5V Alkaline, P/N COMP3LF22BP, $14.99 + local sales tax
Number wizard (rbrt_grr) mac os. For web purchases, go to Sourcesfor Logic Board Batteries , or use the table below that providessome sources and prices (along with web links) for the 3.6V and 4.5Vbatteries.
SOURCE | 3.6V BATTERY | 4.5V BATTERY | SHIPPING |
Headgap | $7.44 | $9.99 | Included |
SynapTech | $6.00 | $6.00 | |
Other World Computing | $4.99 | $7.99 | Additional |
Mega Macs | $4.99 | _ | Additional |
Here are some creative ways that Mac users have made substitutebatteries. Apple keyboard a1048 price.
Changing the battery is not too difficult once yougain access to the logic board. If you have an older iMac,additional information is provided in iMac Battery Replacement Manual, or Howto Change the Battery (in tray loading 233mhz, 266mhz & 333mhziMacs), or Howto Replace iMac Battery If you have a G4, here's a QuickTime movie of battery replacement. Caillou os 2019 edition mac os.
For the 3.6 volt lithium battery, pry off the batteryretainer (see figure) and pull out the battery. Insert the new battery,making sure of the +/- orientation, and snap on the retainer. For the4.5 volt alkaline battery, unplug the connector and pull the batteryupward off of the Velcro strip. Install the new battery on the Velcroand plug in the polarized connector. Before installing the new battery,wait at least 30 minutes for the residual power, from a capacitor, onthe memory chip to dissipate.
After you replace the battery (See Note 2 below), youwill have to reset the Control Panels as described above for PRAM, andreset the date and time. If you saved the TechTool Lite PRAMinformation, use TechTool to reset the Control Panels.
NOTES
Note 1. CAUTION - Resetting the CUDA/PMU or replacing the batteryrequires that you have access to the logic board. Electro-staticdischarge may damage sensitive logic board circuitry, or you may come incontact with AC power. Ensure that your Mac is turned Off, but remainsplugged in to the grounded AC power. Attach a grounding strap to theMac's metal case and to yourself, or as a minimum, touch the metal case.
Note 2. Safely Disposing Of Batteries - Used lithiumbatteries should be recycled. Many Radio Shack locations take them back.If you do decide to trash a lithium battery, place it in an empty 35mmfilm container and tape the container lid. Alkaline batteries aremercury free and you can trash them.
Note 3. Thereare several maintenance things that Mac users can do to make theircomputer operation more reliable and usage more enjoyable.
- As a minimum, interface the power to your Mac from asurge protector and route your dial-up/broadband through a surgeprotector.
- If you can afford one, get an uninterruptable powersupply (UPS) that provides battery back-up power during power failuresand can shut the Mac down automatically during a prolonged power outage.
- Do not unplug the Mac from AC power or turn Off powerstrips for prolonged periods since the internal memory battery willdischarge and may fail. Memory batteries are not rechargeable.
- Backup you files frequently, especially importantfiles, to another hard drive, to Zip or floppy disks, to CDs/DVDs, toflash drives or to an offsite storage location.
- Keep about 10% to 15% free space on small harddrives/partitions.
- Defragment your hard drive periodically. Not required for OSX.
- Periodically run a disk utility like Disk First Aid,Norton Disk Doctor, Tech Tool or DiskWarrior to keep the file structurein order.
- Rebuild the desktop periodically.
- Examine the files listed in the Trash BEFORE you emptythe trash.
- Keep your Mac clean, inside and outside.
- Defragmenting your Mac's hard diskFor OS 9 and below.
Here's some links related to maintenance on your Mac.
Tip - You may want to print this page so you can referencethe information and procedures when you have problems.
If you have comments, suggestions, or to report a'dead' link send me an E-mail.