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TICKET ARCHIVE -> Computer is very slow after crash

wushuzig - Jul 17, 2007 - 7:00 am

Hello,

Whilst my mac was shutting down, I accidently switched off the the power from the mains.

When I rebooted the mac, it is sometimes very slow. Sometimes it is fine but 60% of the time it runs very slow and when its slow I can hear a noise in the computer like its trying to do something. It may take 3 or 4 minutes to open an application then 3 or 4 minutes to open a document.
Can someone help please?
I am running OSX 10.2.8.

Thanks very much

Cheryl - Jul 17, 2007 - 10:07 am

Seetal,

What happened is that you cut the power before the system could shut itself down properly. What you need is to start up the computer using a third party disk utility such as Disk Warrior or TechTool Pro. Using the CD disk of either one of those inserted in the optical drive, restart the computer and immediately hold down the C key.

The start up may take a while, but once it has started with the disk, allow it to repair the hard drive. You may need to run it a second time to make sure it has found all the problems and repaired them.

Once down, restart the computer and give it a try.

Cheryl

wushuzig - Jul 20, 2007 - 3:09 am

Thanks very much for your advice. I haven't got Disk Warrior or Tech Tool Pro so I tried it with the disk I got with the computer and used the disk utility tool. But it didn't fix the problem, I tried it 2 times. So I guess the next step for me is to buy Disk Warrior or Tech Tool Pro.
Thanks again for your advice, I will let you know how it goes once my copy of Disk Warrior has arrived.

Regards

Seetal

Cheryl - Jul 20, 2007 - 6:15 am

Seetal,

Please keep me posted. This ticket will close in three days with no activity, so I will watch it and reopen it when it closes.

Do you have a backup of your important files (pictures, music, documents, installers)?

Cheryl

wushuzig - Jul 26, 2007 - 8:09 am

Hi Cheryl,

Just to keep you posted aswel as another question.
I am running Mac OX 10.2.8 and has been quite hard tracking down a version of Disk Warrior that is compatible but I have finally found one on ebay but will take a few days to get here.
Another question I have is, I have just recieved Broadband internet at home via cable but haven't been able to get it to work after following the instructions, I am seeking advice from the service provider but just wondering, can the problem I am having with my mac in any way effect the internet working??
Thanks again so much for your help

Seetal

Cheryl - Jul 26, 2007 - 9:12 am

Seetal,

Yes, if you have corrupt or misbehaving files within the system, you could indeed have trouble getting on the internet.

By the way, there is no need to install any programs from your cable company. Just check the Network Panel in System Preferences. Depending on how you are connected - USB or Ethernet - I can help you get everything working.
Does the instructions show PPoE or DHCP for connection?

Cheryl

wushuzig - Jul 26, 2007 - 9:17 am

Thanks again Cheryl,
The instructions show a DHCP connection and I am using Ethernet.
Thanks
Seetal

Cheryl - Jul 26, 2007 - 9:34 am

Seetal,

Go to System Preferences>Network
Choose Built-in Ethernet from the Show pop-up menu
Click the TCP/IP tab
Choose Using DHCP from the Configure pop-up menu (you want automatic)
Click Apply Now

You should now be able to connect and browse using Safari or preferred browser.

Does this help?

Cheryl

wushuzig - Jul 26, 2007 - 9:40 am

Thanks Cheryl,

The instructions you gave me are similar to what I have tried but has not been working. I am currently at work but will be receiving a call from Virgin Media (the service provider) tonight when I get home, they will hopefully help with this. If it still doesn't work I assume it must be the problem I am having with my mac and will have to wait for my diskwarrior to arrive.
If you have any more suggestions it would be much appreciated.

Thanks again.

Cheryl - Jul 26, 2007 - 11:39 am

Seetal,

What you might need to do is reinstall the OS. You can try the Archive and Preserve install. This will not touch any of the programs you have installed or your home folder.

Start up from your Mac OS X Install Disc 1 (10.2)
Select your language.
go to the Installer menu and select Disk Utility.
Click on the second hard drive icon in the side bar, then click on Repair Disk.
Watch the activity screen. If it does any repairs - you will need to click on the Repair Disk button a second time after the first pass is done. The object is to make sure it finds all the problems and repairs them. You may need to hit that button a third or fourth time to get no references to repairs made.

Now click on Repair Permissions. When done, quit Disk Utility.

Click Continue. The Important Information window appears.
After reading or printing the information, click Continue. The Software License Agreement window appears.
After reading or printing the information, click Continue.
An agreement sheet appears. If you agree with the license agreement, click Agree. The Select a Destination window appears.
Click the volume that you wish to install to.
Click Options. The installation options sheet appears.
Select Archive and Install.
Select the volume which already has Mac OS X installed.
You should also select Preserve Users and Network Settings, to preserve network and Home directory settings.
Click OK.
Click Continue to begin the installation.

Once installed, you will need to use Software Update to update the OS and get all the security updates. Before you do this, you need to check to see that you do have a good internet connection using the Network Panel to check the settings.

Hopefully that will get you working. Keep me posted.

Cheryl

Cheryl - Jul 29, 2007 - 12:11 pm

Seetal,

I reopened the ticket so that I can make sure you are running smoothly.

Please keep me posted on how you are doing.

Cheryl

wushuzig - Jul 30, 2007 - 3:10 am

Hi Cheryl,

Hope you had a good weekend.
I followed the instructions and did a reinstall and archive of the operating system but it didnt really make a difference. The computer is still slow when I start it and still makes that murmuring noise so I pateintly awaut the arrival of my Diskwarrior.
Regarding the internet, I have spoke to Virgin Media technical support a few times and they have finally come to the conclusion that the modem they sent me is faulty so they are sending and engineer around tomorrow. Hopefully it will work then. I will keep you informed about everyting.
Thanks again

Seetal

Cheryl - Jul 30, 2007 - 8:37 pm

Seetal,

You state that you have a 60 GB hard drive. Open a window and at the very bottom it will show how many items in that window and the amount of free space. You should have 9 GB or more of available space. This is so the system can use the free space for virtual memory. That is like emergency memory for the computer. If you do not have that or close to it, then it is time to clean up the hard drive.

First you can delete the previous System folder. That will be on the hard drive itself and not in any folder. Then you can start in your downloads folder, documents folder and saved email attachments folder. Delete all those files that you will never use, are too old to matter, or just will never get to it. Email attachments - usually jokes or pictures - usually are see them once, then you really should trash them unless they are important.
Empty the trash.

Keep me posted on everything.

Cheryl

Cheryl - Aug 3, 2007 - 3:58 pm

Seetal,

Can you please update me on how you are doing?

Cheryl

Cheryl - Aug 5, 2007 - 8:09 pm

Seetal,

Please update me on how you are doing.

Cheryl

wushuzig - Aug 7, 2007 - 3:32 am

Hi Cheryl,

Hope you are well.
DiskWarrior has finally arrived and I used it last night and now all is well, my mac is fine now.
Regarding the internet, the engineer came round and found that the cable line outside the house had been cut which is why the internet wasn't working. They are coming on saturday to reinstall all the cables.
Thanks very very much for your advice, its much appreciated, you really are a mac genius!! Will you marry me?? Thanks again

Seetal

Cheryl - Aug 7, 2007 - 7:48 am

Seetal,

Glad that everything is working smoothly. I wonder how that cable got cut, perhaps a repair guy with an anxious utility knife? I have to turn down your proposal as I am taken.

I will close this ticket since your problem is solved.

Cheryl