Q: I have 2005 G4 iBook; it's so slow; how can I speed it up?

Onyx, while one of the better applications for fixing issues, still can create issues.   People indiscriminately using such tools can kill the system launchservices cache when cleaning system caches, just as the system cache is being used.  The net result is applications that don't launch.  And then worse, cache files contrary to popular belief actually speed up the system.   So knowing what cache file to delete at the right time is a matter of voodoo science, since Apple's software dynamically opens and closes programs it doesn't tell you about.    And uses the cache files to optimize its system.   If you delete the wrong file, you will slow yourself down. Best to operate with such utilities only with a backed up system.   You don't know if the reason for a corrupt cache is a slowly dying hard drive, or a poorly written application.   But you don't want to essentially kill the patient to cure the cold.  Make sure there is always backup before such utilities are used.

If you suggest the use of OnyX for Tiger OS X 10.4.11 at least direct people who

honestly may think they need it, to a site where they won't get adware or other

malicious add-ons as part of their unsuspecting download. {Not softonic, etc.}

Titanium Software:

http://www.titanium.free.fr/index.php

(find onyx here, this is the maker's site)

•OnyX for Mac - Downloads: (all versions)

http://www.titanium.free.fr/downloadonyx.php

For the older iBook G4 (mid-2005) with limited resources, such as 37GB HDD

and up to 1.5GB RAM, and either 1.33GHz/1.42GHz, 12" or 14" display, a

good upgrade is to replace the tiny original hard disk drive with at least 160GB

and also get a replacement battery such as macsales.com has for these. The

same company also has a legacy SSD for ATA/IDE computers, that may help.

Alternative OS include linux unix derivatives for Mac, so the powerPC Mac

can dual boot into something other than OS X. (Since they can't run OS 9.2.2

as a native system under OS X) and if you do try Leopard 10.5.8, it is slower

than Tiger and not as polished a system as Tiger was in the PowerPCs. Also

with a tiny hard disk drive, there is no room for swap files or virtual memory.

Although my iBook G4 (mid-2005) is like new, and could stand for upgrade to

some larger HDD or SSD, the costs are almost not worth considering.

Good luck & happy computing!