How To Handle a Mac Freeze

  • March 10, 2010
  • 2,177 Views
Please install Flash

Hypnotized by the spinning beach ball of death? Regain control of your Mac when it locks up.

You Will Need

  • Computer running a Mac OS
How To Handle a Mac Freeze: Force quit

Step 1: Force quit

Force quit an unresponsive application by either pressing and holding down Command Option Escape, or by clicking the Apple and selecting Force Quit. Then select the application and click the Force Quit button.

How To Handle a Mac Freeze: Quit processes

Step 2: Quit processes

Quit programs not listed in Force Quit, such as the dock, by going to the Utilities folder and opening Process Viewer. Select the process and click the Quit Process button.

How To Handle a Mac Freeze: Log out

Step 3: Log out

Log out if the computer remains frozen despite quitting applications and processes. Click the Apple and select Log Out; and then log back on to see if the problem is fixed.

How To Handle a Mac Freeze: Shut down

Step 4: Shut down

Shut down the computer if everything else fails by holding down the power button until the computer turns off.

Leave the computer off for two minutes to help prevent data corruption.

How To Handle a Mac Freeze: Restart

Step 5: Restart

Restart the computer by pressing the power button.

Go into safe mode to run a check of the hard drive by pressing and holding the Shift key when the computer chimes during startup.

How To Handle a Mac Freeze: Relaunch

Step 6: Relaunch

Relaunch your applications to make sure the freeze has been fixed.

Did you know? In 1997, Microsoft invested $150 million in Apple to develop Microsoft Office for Apple, and in exchange Apple put Internet Explorer on their computers.

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Comments (2)

anitalenor

Wish I had this info.with my old Imac! 10.3.9! Never heard any of these tips...when mine was frozen, it didn't let me do anything...? Ever! Thanks, wish I ould save these, for future use. I passed on to my fellow APPLE users! Thanks!

about 1 year ago by anitalenor

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anitalenor

what if we only want to receive ";APPLE";Tips of the day? Can you owner's seperate them, &; let us check a box, to receive them?

about 1 year ago by anitalenor

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