Although most computers are made to overcome problems on their own these days, there are always little problems that can turn your day from productive into chaotic. Apple Mac computers work a little differently to a PC and if you haven't used one before, it can be confusing. Below are just four common Mac problems and how to fix them.
Running out of disk space.
One problem many have with their computer is that it works slowly or simple tasks are taking too long to complete, take a look at the boot drive to see if it is too full. This can be done by pressing CMD + I to Get Info on it. Check how much space is free and if it looks low, you'll need to offload some stuff like photos and videos onto a hard drive or some CDs. If it comes to actually upgrading the storage space on your Mac, then SimplyFixIt have a number of options, including installing Apple Fusion Drive into Macbook Pro or iMacs. Once you see the speed boost that Fusion Drive gives you, you'll wonder how you managed without it. It may also be wise to consider fitting more RAM to your Mac to improve its performance and storage.
Losing a file.
If you are unsure where a file is, the first thing to do is go to Spotlight, a search system within all Mac OS X operating systems. You can bring up the Spotlight search by pressing CMD and the space bar. Type in as much of the filename as you remember and Mac will go searching for you. If you've overwritten your work or emptied the Trash, it may be a little harder. Fortunately, Apple does have software to find files that don't currently exist but have been backed up. This can be found in an OS X 10.5 system or later. If you don't have this, shut down your Mac immediately because the more you use the Mac, the less chance there is to recover the file(s). SimplyFixIt can help you recover lost files, even if your Mac is completely dead.
Frozen app.
A common problem with any computer is when a program, or app, freezes. If an app is not responding or has frozen, you may need to force quit it. This can be done by holding CMD+Alt+esc to bring up the 'Force Quit' window or by clicking the 'Force Quit' option from the Apple menu. After you have closed the application, try relaunching it. If there are still problems, consult one of our Mac experts at SimplyFixIt.
Mac won't start.
A lack of response from the power button could be from a number of things. The first thing to check is the fuse plug as it could have blown. Unfortunately, this doesn't fix a lot of them, but you might be one of the lucky ones! The best thing to do is to pop your Mac into one of the repair centres and speak to our Mac specialists. They can do a quick diagnosis for you and give you the options. It may even be that they are able to get you up and running, there and then.
For more information or to get your Mac computer looked at by a professional, head into a SimplyFixIt Repair Centre near you. They deliver all your service and solution needs so you can get back to using your Apple Mac sooner.