Hard Drive Maintenance

The only utility that you really need on your computer is already included.

It is called Disk Utility.

It's location on your system is:

Hard Drive --> Applications --> Utilities

This utility is used to verify / repair your systems "permissions". These are essentially access privileges for all the important system files. These permissions occasionally get changed to an improper setting. So, you can repair them using the Disk Utility to put everything back as they should be.

For Mac OS X 10.2 or later, open Disk Utility (/Applications/Utilities/). Select your Mac OS X startup volume in the column on the left of the Disk Utility window, then click the First Aid tab. Click the Repair Disk Permissions button.

It is highly recommended that you repair your permissions both before and after any new software or update is installed (especially Mac OS updates). This will eliminate a lot of potential problems.

There is also an option in the same utility to "verify" the disk. This should check for file corruption and other damage.

If you find any, you can boot from one of the original system startup / installation CD/DVD's and run the utility again. Then, you can use the "repair disk" option.

You cannot usually repair a startup volume if it is currently your main startup disk (as in you have your system currently booted from it). So, this is where booting from one of the CD/DVD disks comes in.

There are many other disk utilities out there, but I have never found them necessary for myself.

You don't really need to worry much about file fragmentation. But, there are utilities for that. But, if you choose to use a defragmenter, be very careful about your selection. I have heard of some of them corrupting files on the Mac (especially if your current OS version is not explicitly supported - sometimes you only need to be off by one small revision number).

I hope this helps.

Being a long-time PC user and a recent Mac switcher, I've had plenty of time to "worry" about this problem. However, it's not a problem, or even something you have to worry about.

If you read the Apple knowledge base articles, like on optimization (defragmenting), they state you really don't need it, and also that there are thousands of small files, that if moved, can make your system slower. So that is something to consider.

I let my OS work for me, I don't do any work I don't have to. The only app I used was Macaroni, as it has a localization removal, so I can get rid of all those language files I never use and save space.

I've tested my mini running idefrag, diskwarrior, cleaning log files, etc. And I saw no benefit over my daily use without doing those things as opposed to spending time to do them.

For me, when my system starts slowing down, maybe in a year or two, I'll simply do a clean install of the OS (which is what Apple says in it's article if your system becomes slow). Once you start installing utilities, they can often break more than they fix, and if you run them after an OS update, and the software itself isnt' updated for the latest OS version, you can hurt your system.

I for one will not install third party utilities on my system. I have DiskWarrior (not installed), so if my HD is giving me problems, I can try that. Aside from that, I keep a clone of my drive, which I backup once a week, or when I make major changes. This is a very safe way to go.

Also, you don't want to have to be a slave to your computer like PC users. It took me a few months, but I'm finally out of that mindset. I let my OS work for me.

Bryan

How can I maintain the integrity of my computer? Is
there a way to make sure my computer performs at same
level and speed as it did when I first opened the
box. Is there any software included?

There are maintenance routines that the OS runs periodically, see info here http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=107388 You can let the OS run them on its built in schedule or you can run them periodically.

I also have found that over time Safari will start taking up more and more RAM. Quitting it will free up the RAM

Surf around the OSX discussions and you will find more tips

Also, if you don't have your install CD handy to check your drive, you can run fsck.

1. Reboot/Startup holding your Command-S key down.
2. At the command line type the following and hit 'Return.'

/sbin/fsck -fy

3. After it has check/repaired your disk, type 'reboot' and hit 'Return' again. Unit will bootup normally.

I recommend doing this after any "forced" restart also.

- Bmer
Mac Owners Support Group
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