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Apple Guide slow down: more info

O'Grady's PowerPage has a statement from Connectix that says that the Apple Guide slow-down in which RAM Doubler has been implicated (see MacFixIt's previous item on this) is more likely a general extended memory issue. That is, Apple's virtual memory will cause the same problem. This puts it in the same category as the other virtual memory related slow-downs we have noted here.

SupraSonic modem and Now Contact conflict: a follow-up

Brian Robison (of Diamond Multimedia) wrote me with the following information regarding our previous report of a conflict between Now Contact and SupraSonic modems:

"Diamond Multimedia is aware of the dialing problem with Now Contact, and we are currently working with Now to get this problem solved. The original post from Now (as quoted on MacFixIt) stated that the SupraSonic "responds too slowly to AT commands." This is not entirely true. The reason the SupraSonic 288/336 V modem will not dial with Now Contact is that the software talks to modem at 300 bps. The SupraSonic … Read more

Cursor freeze at startup due to defective mouse?

Apple is aware of a problem where the cursor freezes at startup (in the top left corner of the screen) as the Finder loads. The cause of the problem (although still under investigation) appears to be with a certain batch of mice, not with the computer itself or with software. My source informs me that it may ultimately be due to a firmware bug that has existed for years and has only now surfaced for some reason. If you think you have this problem, check with Apple for advice as to what to do.

Mac freezes when changing font size from Views control panel

Go to the Views control panel. Use popup menu for font size to change the size from its current setting (probably 9 point for Geneva) to another size (10 point). Now click on the desktop background. Now reverse the procedure, going back to 9 point. Click on the desktop again. Do this a couple of more times if needed. Eventually, you will get a system freeze that requires restarting the Mac to fix. At least that's what happened to Ric Camp when he tried this on avariety of different Mac models. I also confirmed it on my 7500.

Troubleshooting Mac OS 7.6.1 revised

Now that the initial flow of troubleshooting reports about Mac OS 7.6.1 tapered off, I decided to overhaul the Troubleshooting Mac OS 7.6.1 page. I have tried to eliminate redundancies, delete already out-of-date information, and combine related items into a single section. This major revision also now includes a table of contents, listing all the problems and issues covered. Here's just a sampling of what you will find: 1. L2 Cache problem 2. Disk Cache reset slowdown 3. Virtual memory slowdown 4. Half minute startup delay / Startup Disk control panel 5. Blinking question mark at startup … Read more

Week-end Updates

a. MacsBug 6.5.4a3 is out. It's needed for Mac OS 8.0 compatibility.

b. Yank 1.3.1 is out. This utility can be used to uninstall applications and their associated files in one step.

New Download Library policy: A few of the most often updated files in the Download Library will now be represented by links to a web or ftp site where the latest version can be found - rather than by having the actual file on my web site. The first use of this policy is with:

c. Fonts Manager 3.6.5 This … Read more

Week-end web site listings

A collection of web sites with troubleshooting relevance:

a. Check out the Mac and Mac Clone Performance Comparison Page for dozens of pages of performance data.

b. Can't recall an obscure keyboard combination? Try the Mac Boot Key Combos page. Of course, the Shortcuts Apple Guide document (accessed from the Finder) is another useful source of this type of info.

c. The Daily Mac OS Info Page is yet another general Mac news page.

Cable modem "health check" error: a follow-up

Drew Weaver writes that Road Runner confirms that a new version of the Toshiba login software is due in a few weeks and that this should fix the "health check" error problem ( as previously reported here). This has been confirmed by Jeff Keller who points out, for those unfamiliar with this stuff, that the Toshiba software is used at the cable company end of the system.

However, Drew also notes: "An enterprising Mac programmer beat them to the punch with a beta login for Mac users on Motorola cable modems. It has only been tested with RR … Read more