Free, Expert Mac Answers on the Radio

There's no such thing as a dumb computer question on WGN AM 720's Website Wednesday Night. Steve & Johnnie have provided this forum for many years, delivering computer-users from their frustration, while remaining entertaining. As Johnnie says, 'You weren't born knowing this stuff!' Here's a safe place and a time where you can learn.

11PM until 3AM CST (Chicago-time!) on AM 720, live over the web!.

Mac-geek Gray Rothkopf, Apple Certified Systems Administrator (ACSA), OnDeckTech Manager and former Service Business Manager at the Apple Store North Michigan Avenue, participates as the mac guy weekly with special guests Mike DiMichele and the Netsquirrel himself, Patrick Crispen, in a marathon of Mac and PC questions, answers, self-mockery and laughs. Call-in and get your technology and Mac questions aired live! 312-591-7200. The call isn't toll-free, but our answers are!

Check out our free Mac forums here, where you may share your experiences, leave questions, answers and comments on all things Mac, and related to Apple technology. Not just basic questions, also covering Active/Open Directory, Xserve, Xsan, Xraid, Filemaker, Security, OS X Server and more!

See our WGN Show Notes, archived with our newsletters and opinions at our Mac Blog.

Proper Care and Feeding of Your Mac

The Top 11 things you can do to keep your Mac in tip-top shape. Why eleven? Because you can get 10 anywhere, but we give you more!

1. Back-up!
   Backing up your data is probably the one piece of advice that most people already know. It is also the most often ignored piece of advice.

2. Check for software and system updates
   Your Macintosh (by default) checks in weekly with the mother-ship and asks you about downloading updates.

3. Occasionally shut down your computer
   About once a week or so a shut down or a restart is appropriate to reset your Macintosh.

4. Repair permissions
   Use the Disk Utility program that comes with OS X, highlight your disk drive and click the ‘Verify Permissions’ button and when finished the ‘Repair Permissions’ button.

5. Leave your computer awake overnight to run its internal maintenance scripts
   Apple Macintosh OS X has certain internal maintenance scripts that it runs while you are away. The problem is that the computer needs to stay awake (not in sleep mode) for them to run.

6. Put nothing in your Root directory
   This is the ‘Top Level’ of your primary hard drive and nothing should ever be saved or stored there.

7. Remove outdated, upgraded or unused applications
   A bit of housekeeping can usually help. If you’ve upgraded an application and the old copy remains, you can usually safely un-install or delete that application. We do not mean to suggest that you remove basic system applications or utilities (they may be needed later for support).

8. Cleanliness is next to Godliness
   Especially important to tower Macintoshes is keeping the insides clean and dust free. Make sure to use an electronics dusting spray and not your vacuum cleaner.

9. Perform a ‘clean’ install of your OS once a year
   Once a year or so, back up your computer and perform a ‘Clean’ Install of your system software.

10. Register your computer, purchase and activate your AppleCare
    Remember to register your computer. OnDeckTech strongly recommends the purchase of an AppleCare contract for all of your eligible systems. It will extend your warranty coverage to a full three years. (We’ve got AppleCare for all of ours)

11. Remove foreign fonts and localization files
    Download the free application ‘DeLocalizer’ and use it to remove foreign fonts and localization files from your Macintosh.

Please feel free to submit questions or comments at our Free Macintosh Help Forums.