Meeting: November 2001 - OS9 Tips and Tricks

November 10, 2001 Meeting Summary

OS 9 Tips & Tricks Index

1. To get a picture of your computer screen

2. To Zap your pram (pee-ram)

3. To Rebuild your desktop

4. To startup without extensions

5. To increase memory of a specific application

6. To get RoadRunner email from Internet

7. How to change printer default page setup

8. To customize your apple menu

9. How to customize folders or icons

10. Customized alert sound

11. To fix a flashing question mark at startup.

12. Difference between RAM and harddisk space

13. Good applications to know and where to find them...

14. Good URL’s to know….

Thanks to: Keith Cooper, Tom Bidwell, Gene Nowlan and Kathy Holton

1. To get a picture of your computer screen

a. shift-command-3 takes a picture of the entire screen and makes a file called picture 1 on the desktop.

b. control-shift-command-3 takes a picture of the entire screen and copies it to the clipboard.

c. shift-command-4 gives you a cross hair to select an area to save.

d. control-shift-command-4 gives you a cross hair to select an area to copy to the clipboard.

2. To Zap your pram (pee-ram)

a. Hold the option-command-p-r keys while starting up. Hold for 4 to 5 bongs.

NOTE: You can do this once a month, more if your computer is experiencing problems such as freezing, not recognizing the printer or modem, etc.

3. To Rebuild your desktop

a. Hold the option-command keys while starting up, until is asks you if you are sure you want to rebuild your desktop. Say "yes".

NOTE: You can do this once every 2 or 3 weeks. Do this if your icons look funny, different or if they do not work as they used to.

4. To startup without extensions

a. Hold down the shift key while restarting your Mac

5. To increase memory of a specific application

a. click on the application not an alias (do not open it)

b. command-i brings up "Get Info"/ or click File/Get Info

c. select memory from the drop down menu

d. increase the Preferred size and then the minimum size

e. close the "Get Info" screen

NOTE: This is also the place to lock and unlock the file.

6. To get RoadRunner email from Internet

a. Go to http://stny.com/RoadRunner/Services/index.html

b. Click on email

7. How to change printer default page setup

a. Hold down option key while exiting page setup This will keep your personal settings.

8. To customize your apple menu

a Double click "Hard Drive" icon to open

b. Double click "System Folder" folder to open

c. Single click "Apple Menu Items" folder to select

d. Make an alias of "Apple Menu Items" folder by pressing command-m keys

e. Drag the alias of the Apple Menu Items into the Apple Menu folder

f. Now you can easily open the Apple Menu Folder from the desktop

g. Single click on your "Hard Drive icon to select it. Make an alias of it. command-m

h. Open the Apple Menu Items folder and drag the alias of your HD into it. Close all

i. Now you can browse your HD and all folders via the Apple Menu at top

9. How to customize folders or icons

a. Make or copy an image, artwork or design for your new icon

b. An easy way to do this is by using command-shift-4 keys to take a picture. See Item # 1

c. After you take the picture, open up your hard drive and double-click on the file called
"Picture 1"

d. Press command-a to select all, press command-c to copy the selection. This
puts a copy of your selection on the temporary Clipboard (see Edit/Show Clipboard).

e. Select an icon of a file, folder or hard drive by single-clicking

f. Go to File/Get Info or command-i

g. When the Info box opens, single click on the current icon at the top left of the box

h. Paste your new icon image by pressing command-v or Edit/Paste

i. Close all windows. Your new folder icon should be visible

10. Customized alert sound

a. Go to Apple Menu/ Control Panels/ Sound

b. Click on "Inputs" Tab and select "Built-in Mic" if you have one. Otherwise you need
to use an external mic plugged into your Mic Port

c. In the Sound Control Panel, click on "Alerts" tab

d. Click "New Sound"

e. Click "Record" and make your sound. Click ‘Stop". Then "Play"

f. Save it if you like it or make adjustments and repeat recording steps

NOTE: You can also record short phrases or music from a CD for an alert (Keep it short.)

11. To fix a flashing question mark at startup.

a. This means your Mac cannot recognize your system folder.

b. Put in your original CD that came with the Mac

c. Restart the Mac again holding down the "C" key. This will start up the mac using the CD's system folder.

d. Select install from the window that will open and reinstall the operating system.

e. It will probably ask you something like... "There is already Mac OS x on this startup disk, Do you want to reinstall?" and say yes. This will take about 10 minutes.

f. When it is done, restart, eject the CD and all should work fine.

12. Difference between RAM and harddisk space

a. RAM is memory

b. Harddisk is storage

13. Good applications to know and where to find them...

a. iTunes http://www.apple.com/itunes/

b. Sherlock OS8.6 and above

c. iMovie http://www.apple.com/imovie/

d. Digital Color Meter
(OS9 and OSX) (Found in Applications/Apple Extras/ Monitor Extras Folder )
This tiny 76k application can be used to determine exact hex color of a pixel.

e. FM EggTimer 1.2 Find at: http://www.versiontracker.com/ (Freeware-86k-Control Strip Module)

14. Good URL’s to know….

a. Version Tracker http://www.versiontracker.com/

b. Mac Fix It http://macfixit.com/

c. Mac In Touch http://macintouch.com/

d. FinMUG http://homepage.mac.com/finmug/

e. Macintosh Product Guide http://guide.apple.com/usindex.lasso

f. Mac Instruct http://macinstruct.com/

g. Apple Software Update http://www.apple.com/support/ Click on Downloads

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November 10, 2001 Meeting Summary OS 9 Tips & Tricks Index
		1.	To get a picture of your computer screen
		2.	To Zap your pram (pee-ram)
		3.	To Rebuild your desktop
		4.	To startup without extensions
		5.	To increase memory of a specific application
		6.	To get RoadRunner email from Internet
		7.	How to change printer default page setup
		8.	To customize your apple menu
		9.	How to customize folders or icons
		10.	Customized alert sound
		11.	To fix a flashing question mark at startup.
		12.	Difference between RAM and harddisk space
		13.	Good applications to know and where to find them...
		14.	Good URL’s to know….

			Thanks to: Keith Cooper, Tom Bidwell, Gene Nowlan and Kathy Holton

1.	To get a picture of your computer screen
	a.	shift-command-3 takes a picture of the entire screen and makes a file called picture 1 on the desktop.
	b.	control-shift-command-3 takes a picture of the entire screen and copies it to the clipboard.
	c.	shift-command-4 gives you a cross hair to select an area to save.
	d.	control-shift-command-4 gives you a cross hair to select an area to copy to the clipboard.

2.	To Zap your pram (pee-ram)
	a.	Hold the option-command-p-r keys while starting up. Hold for 4 to 5 bongs.
			NOTE: You can do this once a month, more if your computer is experiencing problems such as freezing, not recognizing the printer or modem, etc.

3.	To Rebuild your desktop
	a.	Hold the option-command keys while starting up, until is asks you if you are sure you want to rebuild your desktop. Say "yes".
			NOTE: You can do this once every 2 or 3 weeks. Do this if your icons look funny, different or if they do not work as they used to.

4.	To startup without extensions
	a.	Hold down the shift key while restarting your Mac

5.	To increase memory of a specific application
	a.	click on the application not an alias (do not open it)
	b.	command-i brings up "Get Info"/ or click File/Get Info
	c.	select memory from the drop down menu
	d.	increase the Preferred size and then the minimum size
	e.	close the "Get Info" screen
			NOTE: This is also the place to lock and unlock the file.

6.	To get RoadRunner email from Internet
	a.	Go to http://stny.com/RoadRunner/Services/index.html
	b.	Click on email

7.	How to change printer default page setup
	a.	Hold down option key while exiting page setup This will keep your personal settings.

8.	To customize your apple menu
	a	Double click "Hard Drive" icon to open
	b.	Double click "System Folder" folder to open
	c.	Single click "Apple Menu Items" folder to select
	d.	Make an alias of "Apple Menu Items" folder by pressing command-m keys
	e.	Drag the alias of the Apple Menu Items into the Apple Menu folder
	f.	Now you can easily open the Apple Menu Folder from the desktop
	g.	Single click on your "Hard Drive icon to select it. Make an alias of it. command-m
	h.	Open the Apple Menu Items folder and drag the alias of your HD into it. Close all
	i.	Now you can browse your HD and all folders via the Apple Menu at top

9.	How to customize folders or icons
	a.	Make or copy an image, artwork or design for your new icon
	b.	An easy way to do this is by using command-shift-4 keys to take a picture. See Item # 1
	c.	After you take the picture, open up your hard drive and double-click on the file called "Picture 1"
	d.	Press command-a to select all, press command-c to copy the selection. This puts a copy of your selection on the temporary Clipboard (see Edit/Show Clipboard).
	e.	Select an icon of a file, folder or hard drive by single-clicking
	f.	Go to File/Get Info or command-i
	g.	When the Info box opens, single click on the current icon at the top left of the box
	h.	Paste your new icon image by pressing command-v or Edit/Paste
	i.	Close all windows. Your new folder icon should be visible

10.	Customized alert sound
	a.	Go to Apple Menu/ Control Panels/ Sound
	b.	Click on "Inputs" Tab and select "Built-in Mic" if you have one. Otherwise you need to use an external mic plugged into your Mic Port
	c.	In the Sound Control Panel, click on "Alerts" tab
	d.	Click "New Sound"
	e.	Click "Record" and make your sound. Click ‘Stop". Then "Play"
	f.	Save it if you like it or make adjustments and repeat recording steps
			NOTE: You can also record short phrases or music from a CD for an alert (Keep it short.)

11.	To fix a flashing question mark at startup.
	a.	This means your Mac cannot recognize your system folder.
	b.	Put in your original CD that came with the Mac
	c.	Restart the Mac again holding down the "C" key. This will start up the mac using the CD's system folder.
	d.	Select install from the window that will open and reinstall the operating system.
	e.	It will probably ask you something like... "There is already Mac OS x on this startup disk, Do you want to reinstall?" and say yes. This will take about 10 minutes.
	f.	When it is done, restart, eject the CD and all should work fine.

12.	Difference between RAM and harddisk space
	a.	RAM is memory
	b.	Harddisk is storage

13.	Good applications to know and where to find them...
	a.	iTunes http://www.apple.com/itunes/
	b.	Sherlock OS8.6 and above
	c.	iMovie http://www.apple.com/imovie/
	d.	Digital Color Meter (OS9 and OSX)		(Found in Applications/Apple Extras/ Monitor Extras Folder ) This tiny 76k application can be used to determine exact hex color of a pixel.
	e.	FM EggTimer 1.2 Find at: http://www.versiontracker.com/ (Freeware-86k-Control Strip Module)

14.	Good URL’s to know….
	a.	Version Tracker		http://www.versiontracker.com/
	b.	Mac Fix It		http://macfixit.com/
	c.	Mac In Touch		http://macintouch.com/
	d.	FinMUG		http://homepage.mac.com/finmug/
	e.	Macintosh Product Guide		http://guide.apple.com/usindex.lasso
	f.	Mac Instruct		http://macinstruct.com/
	g.	Apple Software Update		http://www.apple.com/support/ Click on Downloads