Your Mac running slow? Clean it up! (Disk utility & more per Apple Support)
I've had major crashing problems with my intel-based iMac since I got it. I've posted about that here on this board. During troubleshooting, I had to call Apple Support. They started by telling me we needed to "clean" my mac. Then they proceeded to guide me through, step-by-step, until my Mac was clean. I was told this would make it run like new again. Fast and furious, just like before you added crap programs and bad fonts.
Many of you might already know this and probably even have a "better way" however, I am not a techy. I'll assume the vast number of people who read this aren't either. So, I imagine this will go a long way in cleaning up the mess that could be making your Mac sluggish. AND, hopefully save you a call to Apple, which can save you $$$!
First, quit all programs, leaving the Finder opened.
Click the Mac HD > Library
Find the "Caches" folder and click it opened.
Click a file and select all and send it to the trash.
Now, click your home folder (with your name & the little house).
Click the "library" folder there and find the "Cache" folder.
Do the same thing. Select all and move to trash.
Now, empty trash.
Now, do a shut down.
Once it's shut down hold the shift key down while hitting the power button to turn the computer back on.
Keep the shift key in until the spinning circle, circles 3 times, then let go of the shift key.
It will take about 5 minutes for the computer to start up from here.
Now, you'll do disk utility.
So, go to your Mac HD > Applications and select Disk Utility.
On the left, you'll see the very top item that says something like... 465.8 GB WDC WD5000. (Yours will be different.)
Just below that, kind of tabbed over you will see "Macintosh HD". Click that.
Then, click Repair Disk Permissions.
This will take about 5-15 minutes perhaps more depending.
Now, you are going to do another Shut Down.
This time, you are going to hit the power button "ON" and quickly & immediatly hold in the following 4 keys: P, R, Command, Option.
Keep these 4 keys held down together until your computer chimes 2 times.
Now, you're done.
Many of you might already know this and probably even have a "better way" however, I am not a techy. I'll assume the vast number of people who read this aren't either. So, I imagine this will go a long way in cleaning up the mess that could be making your Mac sluggish. AND, hopefully save you a call to Apple, which can save you $$$!
First, quit all programs, leaving the Finder opened.
Click the Mac HD > Library
Find the "Caches" folder and click it opened.
Click a file and select all and send it to the trash.
Now, click your home folder (with your name & the little house).
Click the "library" folder there and find the "Cache" folder.
Do the same thing. Select all and move to trash.
Now, empty trash.
Now, do a shut down.
Once it's shut down hold the shift key down while hitting the power button to turn the computer back on.
Keep the shift key in until the spinning circle, circles 3 times, then let go of the shift key.
It will take about 5 minutes for the computer to start up from here.
Now, you'll do disk utility.
So, go to your Mac HD > Applications and select Disk Utility.
On the left, you'll see the very top item that says something like... 465.8 GB WDC WD5000. (Yours will be different.)
Just below that, kind of tabbed over you will see "Macintosh HD". Click that.
Then, click Repair Disk Permissions.
This will take about 5-15 minutes perhaps more depending.
Now, you are going to do another Shut Down.
This time, you are going to hit the power button "ON" and quickly & immediatly hold in the following 4 keys: P, R, Command, Option.
Keep these 4 keys held down together until your computer chimes 2 times.
Now, you're done.
iMac Intel Core 2 Duo, Mac OS X (10.5.7)
