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slowdowns

Q&A: MacFixIt Answers

MacFixIt Answers is a feature in which I answer Mac-related questions e-mailed by our readers.

This week, readers wrote in with questions on fixing a stuck locking mechanism for a MacBook lid, the inability to boot to or otherwise use the Recovery HD partition in OS X Lion and Mountain Lion, and tackling nonspecific slowdowns in OS X. I welcome contributions from readers, so if you have any suggestions or alternative approaches to these problems, please post them in the comments!

Question: Stuck locking mechanism for a MacBook lid MacFixIt reader Dominic asks:

The locking mechanism on the lid of … Read more

OS X Lion slowdowns; could it be the hard drive?

There may be times after upgrading your Mac's operating system that you experience odd slowdowns on the system, either problems with general workflow or issues with booting the system.

Apple's original hardware that shipped with its systems should run its supported operating systems very acceptably; however, some people may have upgraded hardware components of their systems (hard drives, RAM, etc.) and suspect incompatibility with those components as a root cause of the problems.

MacFixIt reader Bruce wrote in with such a concern:

Prior to updating to OS X Lion, I had one of those hybrid SSD drives installed … Read more

Intermittent freezes could be a failing hard drive

Older computers will often start to slow down for no apparent reason. Even when not used frequently, slowdowns may occur where the system may pause for a few seconds and then run fine for a little while. In OS X, when these pauses occur you may see the spinning color wheel and not be able to do anything with your system until the problem resolves itself.

Usually these pauses are a result of hardware I/O problems, where the system is waiting for a local hardware device to resume proper communication. Though improperly configured drivers for peripheral devices are likely … Read more

Ballmer urges stimulus approval

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer sent a letter Wednesday to every member of Congress urging speedy approval of the pending financial recovery bill. Ballmer has been calling for congressional action on the matter.

Here is the text of Ballmer's letter, as posted to Microsoft's Web site:

February 11, 2009

Dear member of Congress:

Microsoft strongly supports passage of the conference agreement announced today between the House and Senate on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (H.R. 1), and I urge Congress to act now. We believe the final conference agreement will help families during this difficult … Read more