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Sep 06, 2016 Method 1: Start computer in safe mode and then perform clean boot. Step 1: Start computer in safe mode. When you hit the power button in Windows 8.1 (through Charms Bar), hold down the Shift key when clicking the Restart button. The next screen will present you with three options. Click Troubleshoot. Wipe up ASAP anything that spilled on the keyboard or trackpad and turn off your computer until you can get to someone to clean it professionally. Best to use a high quality isopropyl alcohol (85% or better) and the most important trick here is to use just a little on a cloth (lightly dampened) then wipe the trackpad and the rest of the case. Apple says you should use a soft, slightly damp, lint-free cloth to clean your iPhone. Google, on the other hand, says you can even use ordinary household soap on a damp cloth for removing stains. Both agree that cleaning wipes — those that have 70% isopropyl alcohol — are fine, too.
Macs have a reputation for reliability, but they’re not perfect. Computer software is extremely complex, and problems happen — even with Macs. When your Mac slows down, gets stuck, locks up, or other problems arise, every Mac user should first follow these basic troubleshooting remedies:
- Back it up: The first rule of computing. Apple’s Time Machine automates the process if you attach a second hard drive and turn on Time Machine. Also consider doing a periodic manual backup of your most important files to DVD-R or an additional external hard drive.
- Reboot: Select Restart from the Apple menu.
- Check the hard drive: Run Disk Utility in the Utilities folder. Select your hard drive. Click the Repair Permissions button. Then click the Verify Disk button. If Verify Disk reports a problem, you can boot from the installation disc that came with your computer by inserting it and holding down the C key when you reboot. Running Disk Utility from that system will give you an option to Repair Disk. Do it.If you can’t find your installation disc, do a safe boot. Shut down your Mac. Press the power button. Right after the startup sound, hold down Shift. After safe boot is complete, restart your Mac. Safe boot repairs your file system as it starts up.
- Fix preference file: If an application is acting up, the file where it keeps your preference settings (called a plist file) might be messed up. One way to deal with this is to change some preference settings and quit the application. For Finder problems, also change the System Preferences Appearance settings.Another approach is to quit the troublesome application, open the Library folder in your home directory, and then open the Preferences folder. Find the .plist file for the troublesome application and change its name by tacking the word old or something similar to the end of the filename. Then restart the application with its default preferences.
- Zap PRAM: Every Mac stores some basic info it needs in a small, separate memory called parameter RAM, or PRAM. To reset it, hold down the P and R keys while you reboot.
- Replace the battery: If you have a new Mac, you won’t run into system battery problems for years. But if you have an older Mac that is behaving weirdly — a common symptom is the wrong date at startup — the small battery on the motherboard that keeps the clock and PRAM working might have run down. These batteries are easy to replace on older Mac desktop machines and not so easy on all-in-one units.Replacing a battery is also a common solution to problems with wireless devices. If your wireless keyboard and mouse don’t seem to be working, replace their batteries.
- Review Login items: These are listed in System Preferences under the Accounts icon. Check to see whether something that doesn’t belong has slipped in.
- Figure out whether it’s the hardware: If your Mac is crashing frequently, it may be a hardware problem. For starters, disconnect all peripherals and see whether you still have problems. If they go away, reconnect devices one at a time to try and isolate which one is the evildoer. If the problems don’t go away, try running the diagnostic disc that came with your Mac. It typically offers you a fast and more thorough mode. Try the fast mode first. Then do the slow test overnight. If the diagnostic program reports an error, write down exactly what it says, with all the error numbers, and bring that info along with the sick computer to your service tech or have it ready when you call AppleCare.
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MacBook Pro :: The Screen Keeps Going Pixelated?
May 3, 2012I have a macbook Pro 13', bought in 2010. Recently my screen has been going pixelated at random times, it normally goes away fairly quick but is happening more and more. I'm wondering if it is the Video Card which needs to be replaced?
Info:
MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.7.3)
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MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.7.3)
MacBook Pro :: Screen Has Turned All Pixelated?
Mar 26, 2012my late 2006 MacBook Pro's screen has turned all pixelated. Not sure if there's a way to fix this or if I should just take it in to the Genius Bar.
MacBook Pro :: 17 Inch Screen Is Pixelated?
Jun 19, 2012I was using my computer and it was just fine. I closed it carefully (as always) and left for a few minutes. When I came back and opened it up, the screen was completely pixelated. I turned it on and off and read several forums and tried cleaning the drives and nothing is working at all. As I've been working on it parts of the pixelation of bright colors have begun flashing a little bit. Not a lot but a little. Black doesn't seem affected by the pixelation but you can see lines in the white areas. Also when images are fading in and out, they don't become pixelated until they are at their brightest. When they are fading in and out they appear fine.The graphics card in my computer is a Nividia GeForce GT 330M. SO I'm guessing from this that the graphics card is damaged or whatever. I can't afford to have apple repair it for $400 and the nearest apple store to me is two hours away.
Info:
MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.7.4), Nividia GeForce GT 330M GraphicCard
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MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.7.4), Nividia GeForce GT 330M GraphicCard
MacBook Pro :: Screen Flickering Magenta / White And Pixelated Image
Jun 12, 2010I'm having a problem on my mbp screen, although it happened only once just an hour ago. The screen goes flickering magenta and white and some pixelated image. I needed to force shutdown using the power button because it seems to stalled. After restarting, it went to normal. I dunno if it has anything to do with the gfxstatus utility that I've installed the night before. I know it might be the nvidia graphic card itself but I just don't have a clue right now. My MBP is just 8 days old and my 1 to 1 exchange has expired since it covers the 1st 7 days only.
My MBP spec:
MacBook Pro 17' AG, i5 2.53 Ghz, 4gb RAM, 500gb Hitachi HD, 512mb nVidia GT330M video card, Mac OSX 10.6.3, with everything updated. Tthe attached pic is not showing the exact image since the screen was flickering etc and I'm just using a camera photo. I just noticed while I'm just surfing this forum + facebook, my temperature is at 67-70 degree celcius, which is high (normal around 38-45). I look at Activity Monitor and found that Kernel Task is using up to 80% of CPU. I have a feeling that this is not normal, and it had not happened before.
My MBP spec:
MacBook Pro 17' AG, i5 2.53 Ghz, 4gb RAM, 500gb Hitachi HD, 512mb nVidia GT330M video card, Mac OSX 10.6.3, with everything updated. Tthe attached pic is not showing the exact image since the screen was flickering etc and I'm just using a camera photo. I just noticed while I'm just surfing this forum + facebook, my temperature is at 67-70 degree celcius, which is high (normal around 38-45). I look at Activity Monitor and found that Kernel Task is using up to 80% of CPU. I have a feeling that this is not normal, and it had not happened before.
MacBook Pro :: OSX 10.4.11 Boots Up To Frozen Blue Screen With Little Pixelated Squares
Apr 27, 2012My MBPro, OSX 10.4.11 boots up to frozen blue screen with little pixelated squares.
Info:MacBookPro, Mac OS X (10.4.11)
Info:MacBookPro, Mac OS X (10.4.11)
IMac :: Screen Capture Pixelated Screen At Start Up OSX10.5.4?
Dec 4, 2008This is the image I get on my iMac 2.4 GHz Intel Core Duo OSX10.5.4. I have repaired permisions and removed all login items. Once I move the cursor or open up a window the screen clears behind the cursor or window etc.. It freezes up at least once or twice a day..
I started up again and attached another screen, the image was normal on both screens. But alone the iMac still starts up with the pixelated screen.
I started up again and attached another screen, the image was normal on both screens. But alone the iMac still starts up with the pixelated screen.
Mac Pro :: Screen Capture Pixelated Screen At Start Up OSX10.5.4?
Dec 3, 2008This is the image I get on my iMac 2.4 GHz Intel Core Duo OSX10.5.4. I have repaired permisions and removed all login items. Once I move the cursor or open up a window the screen clears behind the cursor or window etc..Any suggestions? It freezes up at least once or twice a day..
Mac Pro :: Screen Is Getting Pixelated And The Browser Window Is Repeating Itself Throughout The Screen?
Apr 25, 2012My work and Home MAC PRO are both doing the same stuff. The screen goes black and when I have an opened window it repeates itself when I drag it throughout the screen?
Info:
Map Pro
Info:
Map Pro
PowerPC :: Powerbook G4 Screen Red Pixelated / Screen Going Out?
Jul 8, 2008I have a G4 Powerbook 1.67 that I don't take anywhere. It just sits on an iCurve as a home computer. Never been dropped, damaged, looks as good as new.
That said, the screen sometimes gives me these red moving pixels which distorts the screen image a bit (pic attached). And lately the screen has been going out at times with lines across the screen, then intermittent blackouts.
That said, the screen sometimes gives me these red moving pixels which distorts the screen image a bit (pic attached). And lately the screen has been going out at times with lines across the screen, then intermittent blackouts.
Mac Pro :: Distorted Screen - Almost Pixelated
Feb 18, 2010Sometime this morning the screen on my mac became very distorted (almost pixelated.) I restarted while holding the shift key and it was resolved for about five minutes, then started up again. A friend suggested it could be a blown video card? I've attached a photo.
Mac Pro :: Screen Suddenly Freezing Up And Becoming Pixelated?
Dec 26, 2010I own a Mac Pro (2x2.8ghz Quad Core Xeon, 6gb DDR2 Ram, Nvidia 8800GT, running in 64-bit mode), and a 30' cinema display. I am running OS 10.6.5 at the moment as well.
What happens (and its been happening all day, rarely happened in the past), is that my entire screen freezes up for no real reason, and becomes completely pixelated and nothing but my cursor moves.
The pixelation even makes it through the force shut down and into the grey apple startup screen, the logo is pixelated there as well.
For some reason, I can't seem to reset the PRAM (no second startup chime?), and I can't seem to enter safe-mode either (shift at startup?)
Right now, the problem isn't happening, but at this rate I expect it to start pixelating very, very soon.
Does anyone have any tips?
I have AppleCare, but I need to fix this asap. I'm a photographer and a very big project depends on it (needs to be submitted by tomorrow morning).
What happens (and its been happening all day, rarely happened in the past), is that my entire screen freezes up for no real reason, and becomes completely pixelated and nothing but my cursor moves.
The pixelation even makes it through the force shut down and into the grey apple startup screen, the logo is pixelated there as well.
For some reason, I can't seem to reset the PRAM (no second startup chime?), and I can't seem to enter safe-mode either (shift at startup?)
Right now, the problem isn't happening, but at this rate I expect it to start pixelating very, very soon.
Does anyone have any tips?
I have AppleCare, but I need to fix this asap. I'm a photographer and a very big project depends on it (needs to be submitted by tomorrow morning).
Mac Pro :: Screen Distorts And Pixelated - Nothing Responds
Mar 4, 2008I've had two crashes (really weird ones) since I got my mac pro 3 weeks ago. Is that too many to have and should I be worried about this?
Description: The screen distorts - I see a version of the app I had open but it's all distorted and pixelated. There are medium to small squares everywhere that imbue things w/ different colors. I can move a version of the pointer around (almost like a pointer attached to a box) but I can't click on anything. Nothing responds.
Description: The screen distorts - I see a version of the app I had open but it's all distorted and pixelated. There are medium to small squares everywhere that imbue things w/ different colors. I can move a version of the pointer around (almost like a pointer attached to a box) but I can't click on anything. Nothing responds.
OS X Yosemite :: Getting Pixelated Screen Since Updating?
Dec 9, 2014Since updating to Yosemite I get a pixelated screen on my IMAC .
IMac :: Pixelated Screen Display At Startup
Oct 30, 2010I own an early 2008 iMac running Snow Leopard. A few months ago, it started getting a little buggy and running slow, you know, things you would expect from a computer that's now 2 years old. But then it started freezing and giving me 'kernel panics'. Of course, the first thing I did was install VirusBarrier and remove any and all viruses it could find, and I repaired the disk and disk permissions and ran all the diagnostic tests from the install DVD. Then I left it unplugged for a day, upgraded the memory from 2 GB to 4 GB and did everything a second time. After all that, everything seemed to work just fine.
Now it seems to be starting all over again! This time the virus scan only picked up a few Windows viruses on an old external hard drive and repairing the disk, disk permissions, and running diagnostics turned up nothing. I've done everything I know to do, short of taking the thing back to Apple! Right now, the main issue is this bug at startup that's really just freaking me out. Linked is a video of what happens. The apps that run at startup are BumpTop, HughesNet Status Meter (as of last month), and Brother Printer Utility. [URL]
Now it seems to be starting all over again! This time the virus scan only picked up a few Windows viruses on an old external hard drive and repairing the disk, disk permissions, and running diagnostics turned up nothing. I've done everything I know to do, short of taking the thing back to Apple! Right now, the main issue is this bug at startup that's really just freaking me out. Linked is a video of what happens. The apps that run at startup are BumpTop, HughesNet Status Meter (as of last month), and Brother Printer Utility. [URL]
Mac Pro :: Pixelated Screen When Wake Up From Sleep Or Booting Up?
Sep 17, 2008I'm on Mac Pro os x 10.5.4 and having a problem with my computer waking up from sleep or as it is booting up.
As it wakes up from sleep, the screen becomes blank or shows weird, pixelated bars all over the screen. When I try to move the mouse or press something on keypad, the computer freezes after and I would have to force shutting it down by pressing the power. It doesn't always happen, but quite often these days.
Also, when it's booting up, it sometimes will freeze with a blank screen in the middle and won't show the desktop.
Everything worked fine until a few days ago, and i'm wondering what's suddenly causing this problem.
As it wakes up from sleep, the screen becomes blank or shows weird, pixelated bars all over the screen. When I try to move the mouse or press something on keypad, the computer freezes after and I would have to force shutting it down by pressing the power. It doesn't always happen, but quite often these days.
Also, when it's booting up, it sometimes will freeze with a blank screen in the middle and won't show the desktop.
Everything worked fine until a few days ago, and i'm wondering what's suddenly causing this problem.
IMac :: Screen Pixelated While Playing Videos?
Jan 21, 2009Whenever I play HD movies on my iMac in full screen with QuickTime, you can always see the pixels, some are big some small, like boxes. Is there any fix to this? also this is a Aluminum mid level 20 inch iMac
IMac :: 17 G4 Tiger Display Pixelated On Screen?
Jun 19, 2010I have an iMac G4 running 10.4.11. (not intel). When I turned it on today, it was all pixilated, little white squares in between the colored ones. I can hardly make out what is on the screen so I can?t really choose anything using the mouse. Everything else seems normal except for the the screen.
IMac :: Pixelated Screen At Login And Kernel Panics
Oct 14, 2010Got the iMac 27' Late 2009 (bought it when it came out). Its always had the 'pixelated' issue (see attachment) just before the login screen appears but I've never bothered too much as its not been a problem, until recently where I am getting a lot of 'Kernel Panics' (screen wipes down and locks done entirely, have to restart to get the system up and running again). I am starting to think that the screen issue is finally starting to shows its true colours. Yes, I've done the PRAM resets, disk repairs, up-to-date with all the software etc. No joy.
OS X :: IMac 24' 2006 - Odd Pixelated Line On Screen?
Jan 14, 2010I have a late 2006 24' IMac which has a myriad of issues. The most concerning to me at this point is the occasional appearance of a 1-2 pixel wide horizontal line which runs from 2' across to sometimes as much as 12' across the screen. It happens most often on the desktop and in firefox. It disappears as mysteriously as it appears.
Could the graphics card be going bad? Any ideas on what might be happening and how I might be able to solve this.
Could the graphics card be going bad? Any ideas on what might be happening and how I might be able to solve this.
IMac :: Bad Graphics Board - Screen Messed Up?
Sep 10, 2010Am having a problem with the screen getting 'messed up' is the best way that I can describe it. Happens with all different apps running but nearly always shows up when trying to edit a photo in iPhoto. When I make an adjustment there (like sharpening) the photo will turn all red and the system will lock up. This does not always happen, but just most of the time. In other apps, it can result in just messing up that page or the entire screen. I can replace the Graphics card myself if that is what the problem is but is there any way to test it before laying out the $250?
MacBook Pro :: What To Do If The Images Are Pixelated On Computer
Mar 31, 2012What should I do if the images on my Macbook pro are pixelated? I have turned the computer off and on three times.
Info:
time capsule, Mac OS X (10.5.8)
Info:
time capsule, Mac OS X (10.5.8)
OS X :: Video Pixelated / Grainy On MacBook Pro 13'?
Sep 10, 2009I just got my uMBP 13 a couple of days ago, and today for the first time tried to play some .avi videos I have. I'm using vlc to play them. On my 4 year old Windows XP SP3 laptop they play clearly and sharp without any pixelation or graininess. But on my mac, these same videos pixelate and appear grainy when played. And now that I think about it, the Welcome animation that you see when you turn on your mac for the first time was pixelated and grainy as well. I didn't pay it any attention at the time because I was so excited about finally getting my mac.
MacBook Pro :: Pixelated Text And Graphics In Retina?
Jul 1, 2012Why are text and graphics in pixelated in Numbers and iBooks applications, to name two, on the MacBook Pro Retina? All updates have been downloaded.
Info:
MacBook Pro with Retina display, Mac OS X (10.7.4)
Info:
MacBook Pro with Retina display, Mac OS X (10.7.4)
MacBook Pro :: Pixelated Tear In Dock When Reflecting Windows
Jul 4, 2012I just got my MPB Retina and I'm loving it except for one tiny thing: I noticed that in the bottom corner of the dock when I have a window open you can see tiny pixelated tears from the reflection of the window. Here is a picture to show the tear: Here is a picture to show my dock with no windows open/tears:This could easily be a minor problem that Apple needs to fix with a software update, but I've been getting nervous with all of the problems people have been reporting about the screen.
Info:
MacBook Pro with Retina display, Mac OS X (10.7.4)
Info:
MacBook Pro with Retina display, Mac OS X (10.7.4)
Cleaner On Mac Screen Messed Up Computer Screen
OS X :: Text Messed Up On MacBook Pro
Feb 25, 2009Last night I re installed Leopard (archive and install) in order that I could partition my disk and run boot camp. Everything seemed to work well but now a lot of my text and the names of documents have letters that appear jumbled and out of order. For example spotlight doesn't work as you cant read any of the options and the menu bar is hard to decipher as well. I have attached a few pictures of the problem.
MacBook :: External Display, And Distored Pixelated Dithered Colours?
Apr 18, 2009new Dell S2209W monitor to hook up to the Macbook as an external display and so far have been pretty disappointed. Sadly, it's not the monitor I'm disappointed in. First of all, a few comparison shots between the Macbook connected to S2009W and a PC connected to the S2009W:Macbook connected to Dell S2209W:PC Laptop connected to Dell S2209WSo what would you even call that effect? The colors in the shadows looked very dithered or pixelated on the Macbook, yet on the PC laptop the image looks great. Both laptops (the Macbook and PC) are running at the same, native resolution of 1920 x 1080. The wallpapers are scaled the same way on both.
MacBook :: Red Light In Headphone - Sound Messed Up
Feb 4, 2009I was just listening to some music through some speakers on my old 1.8ghz cd macbook and then I unplugged the cable from the headphone jack and noticed that there was a red glowing light coming from the headphone jack. Now my sound is messed up, sound works properly only when something is plugged into the headphone jack. Nothing will play through the internal speakers when I try to adjust the volume with nothing plugged in I get this.
MacBook Pro :: Samsung XL2370 Monitor To Hook Onto MBP 15 - Image Is Pixelated And Blurry Green
Jan 29, 2010I just bought a Samsung XL2370 monitor to hook onto my MBP 15'.
Problem: the image is pixelated and blurry green. I can slightly see the background though. Screen works fine on a Windows pc. Before I hooked up a 19' on my MBP and that also worked.
I tried the menu but no luck. And when I choose the auto adjustment a message appears 'not available'.
Problem: the image is pixelated and blurry green. I can slightly see the background though. Screen works fine on a Windows pc. Before I hooked up a 19' on my MBP and that also worked.
I tried the menu but no luck. And when I choose the auto adjustment a message appears 'not available'.
MacBook Pro :: Finder Window Text Messed Up Graphically?
Mar 13, 2012Cleaner On Mac Screen Messed Up Computer Windows 7
My finder window is messed up graphically. My MBP hangs or freezes. I recently migrated my files and software from my older 2005 MBP running 10.5.8.