Tag: mac consulting

Just so long as you call me

Would you rather I call or e-mail questions to you?

Either is fine, though my responses to emails will be slower. I can also use text messaging via mobile phone 210.367.3420, AIM chat to s1r4real
(which forwards to my Treo iPhone), Skype to jjmarcus, remote control over secure VPN, Morse code, smoke signals… 😉

What is your billing policy regarding questions by phone or email or whatnot, i.e. when you’re not on-site? 

I charge per hour, pro-rated, for whatever interaction I have with clients, excepting getting-to-know-you calls or meetings, and little one-off chat messages. See more about our rates here.

Incoming mail has stopped coming in

Wondering why I am no longer receiving mail in Apple Mail.app. I have checked the settings, and every other thing I can think to do. I know the account is active because I can go to webmail and get the email.

So, in the left column, next to the word Inbox, is there a circle icon with a triangle or lightning bolt inside it? If so, click that, and take the account online. Then click Get Mail. Tell me if you get any errors.

I was also having a problem with continually having to put in my password on the other accounts.

It would be worth it to open Keychain Access and see if your keychain is unlocked. One should also periodically run "Keychain First Aid" from the application menu (the one next to the Apple menu that changes its name depending on what app you're in).

SuperDuper errors

A registered SuperDuper! user writes:

Got these errors in SuperDuper:

If SuperDuper ever throws a red “X” at you, go to the Log. See the button at the bottom called “Send to Shirt Pocket…”?

After you do what I suggest below, you’ll want to click that button, and do whatever it tells you.

It occurs to me that there is a chance that — don’t freak — you have data corruption. I’d bet even if you had it, it’s not bad, because you have been able to transfer and backup successfully at least twice.

But if you know how to run Disk Utility from your installer discs, that would be wise. Do it on both your internal and external drives. If you have TechTool, DiskWarrior, or Drive Genius, great, run ’em just for kicks.

And if you have anything with the name “Norton” on it, please put it in the nearest garbage pail. Seriously.

Airport Express not connecting consistently

We have been having trouble with our Airport Express. It is working very slow (takes about 1 min. or longer to load a page). The internet works fine when we plug it directly into the computer. It was working fine a month ago but now it won’t. I have tried resetting it and unplugging everything. We have had problems with this Express before (we had to unplug it fairly often just to get our computers to connect to it).

Unfortunately, I find Airport devices to be the most finicky of Apple products, often requiring more resets than a simple device like this should. That said, I also have never had an Airport unit actually be a lemon, except one that was really old.

So, I would absolutely recommend resetting the Airport Express back to factory defaults (pressing the reset button for about 15 seconds until the light blinks 4 times), and reconfiguring it with Airport Setup Assistant. If you have already done that, you might try switching cables out.

If THAT doesn’t work, and if it’s under warranty, please call Apple to get a new one. If it’s out of warranty, might as well buy a brand new, freaky-fast Airport Extreme!

Almost finished at SAY Sí

I've been working on the lab at SAY Sí's new facility since the very beginning of January, and I feel like it's finally just about done (at least on the new Intel iMacs; the G4 eMacs have to wait until the students are done with their current video project).

Learning to work with NetRestore and Casper Composer, and Portable Home Folders, has been exhilarating, and doing it all with Apple Remote Desktop over Gigabit, bending the machines to my will in a single keystroke… well, it makes me giddy. Yes, I know I need to get out more…