Macintosh Notes 1/21/20

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Macintosh Notes 1/21/20

Upgrading your computer

"If it isn't broken don't fix it" – Upgrading to the most recent system on an old computer can often slow down your system.

You can ignore the red dots and numbers indicating you have an upgrade to complete.

 

Check which Operating System (OS) you are using

1.  Click the apple menu (top left)

2.  Choose About This Mac

3.  Your system will be displayed

 

I get a spinning pinwheel how can I improve performance?

*Check that all open applications your aren't using are closed – On the Dock look for the dot below the icon

Click hold on the icon to reveal a menu and choose Quit

*Open the Activity Monitor to see which applications are draining your CPU and Memory resources

Open the Activity Monitor by clicking on spotlight the magnifying glass (on the top right)

Type in Activi… and the Activity Monitor will appear

Double Click on the Activity Monitor

Watch and look at applications/processes draining resources

Log the name of the process and search google to understand what the process is for

To close the process click the process and then click the X on the top left to quit the process

*Check the Login Items that are set to open when you turn on the computer

Go to System Preferences ( in the Apple Menu)

Click Users and Groups

Click the Current User

Click Login Items

Click the item you do not want and click the –

 

I get TONS of junk emails everyday. What can I do?

Solution 1:Easiest is to get a new email and use it for friends and family.

Solution 2: Manage your email to filter out the junk messages. Start from the SOURCE, ie Gmail, Hotmail, Yahoo

Go into settings and create a filter to send specific emails from or containing keywords in the body to the trash or spam folder.

 

It's a new year so be sure you have a backup.

Use TimeMachine, an external hard drive connected to your computer that your system regularly backs up your files to. (check your backup is working, system preferences, TimeMachine)

OR

Use iCloud backup (System Preferences, iCloud, Check Documents & Desktop)

OR

Use another online backup provider like Backblaze, Carbonite, etc.

 

 

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