Some e-mails and web address show the text as F/F and some other mixed up ones. Not all the text just some. I can copy it into a layout program and then read it. It’s happening on several different Macs, all on different OS software.

As hard as it is to find information on this problem, it is a remarkably common Mac issue. It is either a font cache issue or an incorrect font substitution problem. If the characters in the email overlap and don’t look spaced evenly, then it is likely a font cache corruption. If the characters are unreadable, but are orderly and evenly spaced, then it is probably a font substitution issue.

Font Cache Problem

For Mac users, font cache problems show up in browser and email applications as well as graphic documents. When the fonts are activated, they are cached for use - some are handled by the operating system and some by the applications themselves. It is easy for these cache files to become corrupt and result in crazy, overlapping unreadable fonts as a result of incorrect or corrupt encoding information when mapping the character codes.

In order to fix this, you need to use a program like Smasher from Insider Software to “smash” the font caches. While this is a paid program, you should be able to clear these caches using the demo mode.

Incorrect Font Substitute Problem

If the font problem is still not fixed, it is probably an incorrect font substitute problem. When a document calls for a specific font and it is unavailable or inadequate, the operating system chooses another font which results in an incorrect substitution. The fonts in question are usually Times Phonetic or Helvetica Fractions fonts. You can try to find these particular fonts in the fonts folders and delete them, or use the program Font Agent Pro to manage all of your fonts. This program will show you a preview of the font so that you can see if it matches what you are seeing on your screen. You can then easily find and delete the font that is causing the problem.

Even though I can’t see what is on your screen, I’m fairly confident that one of these two solutions will work for you.

Formatting your External Hard Drive for Mac

There is a good chance that your external hard drive is still formatted for a PC, not a Mac, as most components are pre-configured for use on Windows compatible systems. If this is the case, then your external drive is likely formatted as NTFS, which is normal in a PC, but not prime for Mac. Mac operating systems can read from NTFS drives but they can’t write to one, which means that you could open files from your external drive but not save files to it. You can resolve this by reformatting the drive for your Mac operating system and an HSF+ configuration.

Check your External Drive Format

First of all, you can check the drive to see if this is the problem.

1. Connect the drive to your computer
2. Locate the icon on your desktop
3. Hold down the CTRL key and then click on the icon
4. Now click on Get Info
5. If properly configured, the drive will be formatted as Mac OS Extended. If not, it will show as PC Exchange

Save all Files from your External Drive

If it shows as PC Exchange, follow these directions to change it. You should realize that formatting the drive will remove any files, programs or other information that you have managed to save to it so far, so be sure to transfer all important data off the drive before you proceed.

Format your External Hard Drive

1. Open the Applications folder
2. Choose Utilities, then Disk Utilities
3. There will be two icons for each drive listed
4. Select the first external drive listing then click Erase
5. Choose Mac OS Extended
6. You might also want to check the external user’s manual to see if there are any other recommended steps or advice.

Choose Clear File Names

Another good tip is to remove any special punctuation symbols such as / or + from your file names because they can interfere with normal paths. Alphanumeric file names are the best and safest option for communicating between devices. I hope this does it for you, good luck!

Charging iPods from Mac Laptops

Yes, Mac laptops won’t charge through their USB ports when they are hibernating because the computer stops sending power to the ports. In fact, having an iPod plugged in when the computer isn’t active will actually drain the iPod’s battery. Mac designed its laptops this way to prevent external devices like iPods from overheating if they are left plugged in to the computer for too long, and to protect the computer from being on for too long, especially if you wander away. If you want to leave your iPod charging overnight, you can use an AC adaptor instead, which won’t risk any damage to the computer or the device.

Getting Around iMac Sleep Settings

There are internal settings that you can change to alter the iMac’s sleep settings. The thing about changing the settings is that there might be times when you want the computer to sleep when you aren’t using it, and you might also want to heed the advice that warns against overheating and so you might not want to change the settings permanently. In this case, you can program your computer to keep it active. For example, keep iTunes on repeat so that the program stays on and prevents the computer from hibernating. This way you can let the iPod charge without changing the sleep settings, but be sure not to leave it on too long.

Mac Energy Conservation

To conserve energy, all Macs are programmed with the ability to sleep. When the computer isn’t used for a pre-set amount of time it will go into a low-power mode until you activate it again. The sleep setting also conserves power and battery life. There are times, however, when you want to override the sleep settings in order to burn a CD, download a program or charge your iPod.

Change your Mac Sleep Settings

If you decide that you do want to change the settings, here’s how to do it.

1. Open System Preferences and click Energy Saver, this will show you your current settings
2. Choose Battery or Power Adapter, or both
3. Click the Sleep tab
4. Move the arrows along the sliding scale to change the settings
5. Click the Options tab
6. Make any other adjustments that you want

Good luck!

Microsoft introduced a cool new feature known as System Restore when it launched the Windows XP operating system. This feature allows Windows users to roll back their system to previously set “restore point.” For example, if you were to create a restore point today and then have major problems with your computer a week from now, you could perform a System Restore and roll back the computer to today’s settings. It’s like time travel in a geeky sort of way. What’s neat about System Restore is that it doesn’t affect your data - just your system files.

System Restore for Mac

But alas, you have a Mac so the Windows tool doesn’t apply to your situation. Some would argue that since the Macintosh operating systems are much more stable than Windows, a system restore-type utility is not necessary. However, computer errors and file corruption happen, even on Macs.

Time Machine

Apple introduced the Time Machine utility with OS X Leopard. This utility is more like a full backup utility than the System Restore utility. If you have OS X Leopard or above, check to see if you have a backup from before your current problems began. More information about Time Machine is available on the Apple Web site.

Disk Utility

The Mac OS X (OS X 10.4 and above) Disk Utility is one option available to Mac users, but it requires that you create backup images of your disk and store them on an external drive. It is not automatic, nor is it as easy to use as System Restore. The Disk Utility can verify and repair disks, so it’s worth trying. For example, if your Mac has file system errors such as after power surge or unexpected shutdown, it’s smart to run the Disk Utility. You’ll need your original installation CD or DVD. Boot up from the disk and choose the Disk Utility. Click the First Aid tab, choose the volume that you wish to repair, and then click Repair.

Mac Safe Boot

Mac Safe Boot, which is similar to Windows Safe Mode, is available for the Mac OS X 10.2 and above operating systems. When you start your Mac in Safe Boot, it will automatically check and repair the disk. Reboot your Mac while holding the Shift key to enter Safe Mode.

Mac FSCK

Mac’s FSCK utility is used when Safe Mode or the Disk Utility either do not work or are unavailable. This is a command line utility that requires using either the Terminal Application or Single User Mode. Once at the command line prompt type in:

/sbin/fsck -fy

From there, the process will go through a series of five phases and will then give you one of two messages: the volume appears to be OK or the file system was modified.

If the file system was modified, you should continue running the FSCK command several times until you receive the “the volume appears to be OK” message. Once the volume is okay, reboot.

Mac Cloning Software

Another option is to invest in Mac cloning software. Many programs are available that will clone your drive and allow you to easily restore it should something go wrong. Two popular programs to consider are Carbon Copy Cloner and SuperDuper.

While the Mac doesn’t have the same System Restore utility that Windows offers, options are available. If all else fails, backing up your data and then restoring the Mac operating system from CD is a final resort.

Related Articles:

Windows System Restore  

Transferring Outlook Express Address Book to Mac

Outlook Express and Internet Explorer

Well, before you think about installing Outlook Express 6 onto your new iMac, you might want to think for a few minutes about the new options that are presented to you. As a former PC user, you are very used to using Outlook Express, which is the email program that is associated with Internet Explorer. Outlook Express is a free program, it isn’t part of the Microsoft Office software suite, but it is used with Internet Explorer, the popular Microsoft web browser. Now that you are using a Mac, you are not going to continue using Internet Explorer, since Microsoft stopped supporting Mac operating systems in 2006.

Mac Web Browser - Safari

Mac now promotes its own web browser called Safari, which I am sure you have noticed set on your computer. There is another very popular web browser for Mac called Firefox, which many Mac users think is superior. You can download Firefox for free.

Download OE for Mac

Back to your question, since you aren’t going to use Internet Explorer anymore, you are going to want to update your email server. There are patches and freeware programs out there that claim to offer tweaked versions of IE and OE for Mac, but I’m not sure you want to row your boat upstream. If it were me - and it has been - I would embrace the changes and get on with a Mac compatible email program.

Import your OE Address Book to your Mac

The email program built into your OS X system is called Mail. If you choose to set up Mail, then you can import your address book into your new account. You could also choose another email client that isn’t associated with your computer operating system or web browser for more versatility now and in the future. Here is the Mac OS X Help page with simple instructions for transferring your address book from a Windows computer to a Mac. Let me know if there is anything else, and enjoy your new Mac!

Troubleshooting HP Scanjet Scanner on Mac OS

Even though I am sure you have already thought of this, it’s always a good reminder to check all your cables. I’m not sure that a loose cable could be causing your problem, but it’s sure a pain to go through a bunch of other steps only to realize that something isn’t connected properly.

Sort Out your Driver Issues

First of all, we need to sort out that missing driver and make sure that you have the correct driver installed. However, it is unlikely that the driver is causing your printer production problems. To deal with this and with the scanner issue, I am going to suggest that you start by removing the scanner drivers and reloading them as well as the scanner and reinstalling it. Before you do, be sure that you have the installation CD that came with your scanner.

Remove the Driver and HP Scanner Software

To find and remove the scanner driver open a new Finder window, choose your hard drive, then System, then Library, Extensions and folder. If there is a driver installed you might need to check with HP for an uninstaller. To remove the HP scanner application and all of its associated folders, please follow this link to the HP Support Document for uninstalling HP Scanjet Scanners in Mac OS.

Reinstall the Scanner Software and Update with Mac Drivers

Once you’ve safely removed all the software, you should consult the user manual for directions to install the scanner. Make sure that you follow the instructions in order because they can be sensitive. Once you have installed the program you should update the drivers for Mac OS X, which you can find here.

Check the Bulb and Have the Unit Repaired

It is also possible that there is a bulb burnt out in your scanner so that your images are being underexposed. When you try to scan, watch for the light to get bright. If you think this is the issue, I suggest you contact an HP Customer Service representative for information on where and how to go about having the bulb replaced and the model repaired. If you don’t get any help there, you can find a local repair person in your area who might be able to fix it. Sadly, it seems that often the price of a new scanner is less than the cost of repairing your existing machine so this one might need to be recycled.

Using Mac Mail Stationary

How to Use Mac Mail Stationary

Using email stationary is fun and adds a creative and interesting touch to your correspondence. You can absolutely set custom stationary or create your own designs to accompany your emails on your Mac but you will make these changes in your email account, rather than to your computer settings.

Open Mac Mail

If you are using Mac OS X Leopard mail, there are over 30 professionally designed email templates included in your application. To start using your Mac mail stationary, first click Mail in your Applications directory or from your dock if the icon is stored there. On the left column, choose your email account. Next, click New Message on the toolbar, or click the File tab, then New Message to open a blank email.

Customize your Mail Toolbar to Show Stationary

On the top toolbar, choose Show Stationary. If this listing doesn’t appear, you can adjust the toolbar settings by press the Ctrl key and click on the toolbar and choose Customize Toolbar. This will let you configure the toolbar options. Click and drag the Stationary icon over the toolbar and drop it to add it to the list. Click Done when you’re finished.

Choose a Mac Mail Template

Now, once you click Stationary, a new field will appear in the Mail window, right under the address bar. This is the template pane. Click it to open the template options and then click to choose the one you want to use. It will open and automatically fill the email page, displaying the way it will when your contact opens your message.

Create your Own Mail Templates

Using the existing Mac stationary files you can make changes and save your own templates without losing the original design. By opening a copy of the file, you can make adjustments without permanently changing the original file. To create your own template, first select the file that you want to use and click File on the taskbar, then select Get Info. Under the General tab of the Info window, choose the checkbox for Stationary Pad.

Add Photos from your iPhoto Library

You can also click the Photo Browser option from the toolbar to add personalized photos to your templates. The Photo Browser will link to your iPhoto library, allowing you to browse and choose your photos.

Resolving Mac OS X Glitches and Errors

Reset the RAM and System Settings

Sometimes regular wear and tear from long periods of use can cause your operating system to get sluggish and refuse some commands. To reset the RAM and resolve any potential system problems, sometimes a simple restart is enough. Click the apple in the top left corner of your screen then choose Restart.

Force Quit Problem Programs

Another option for stalled programs is a Force Quit. This command will close a program that refuses to respond to the Quit command. From the icons in the dock, place your cursor over the open program, then press the button on your touchpad or mouse. This will open the program menu and display its status. From here, choose Force Quit. If you can’t get a program to quit normally or if it is preventing the operating system from quitting, Force Quit is a good option. Restarting the problematic program usually resolves the issue.

Change Screen Resolution to Resolve Desktop Issues

Another suggestion to resolve desktop icon issues is to change the screen resolution. Click the Finder icon and choose System Preferences. Click to open the Displays Panel, and then select the Display tab. Now, there are a number of resolution settings on the left of the window. Change the resolution then quit and close the window. Repeat the steps to reset the resolution -1024×768 is the recommended setting.

How to Open Stuck Folders

For the seemingly locked folder but not actually locked, try this:

• Open Finder, click Applications then Utilities
• Click to open Terminal
• Type in sudo chflags -R nouchg followed by a space
• Drag the locked folder into the Terminal window
• Press Return
• Put in your password and then Return

Repair Permissions to Resolve File Control Issues

For the file that won’t allow you to drag and drop it in the folder, try this to repair the permissions:

• Click the Finder icon, then choose Applications
• Click to open Utilities, then select Disk Utility by clicking it twice
• Choose the second icon for the hard drive on the left side and then choose the First Aid tab
• Click Repair Permissions
• Let this run then quit Disk Utility
• Reboot the computer and try it out

Run a Disk Repair

If you are still having issues:

• Turn the computer off and put the original mac os x disk in the disk drive
• Boot the computer. Immediately press and hold the ‘c’ key
• Don’t click the Installer Screen, but choose the Installer Menu and choose Disk Utility
• Choose the second icon from the bar on the left of the window, then click Repair Disk on the lower right side
• If the system performs repairs, click Repair Disk again after the first attempt
• Click Repair Disk until it performs no more fixes
• Choose Repair Permissions
• Close and quit Disk Utility and reboot the system

I hope these fixes solve your problems!!!

Troubleshooting a Dead PowerBook

Try to Force a Reset

Some well known Mac reset tips include a three-step process of pressing keys repeatedly to try to force your PowerBook to restart. First, force quit by pressing Option, Command and Escape. Second, restart by pressing Control, Command and Power. Third, force shut down by pressing and holding the Power button down for ten seconds. Repeat these steps until the computer responds, or until you are quite sure that it won’t.

Reset the PRAM

When your Mac won’t turn on Apple suggests that you start by resetting your computer’s PRAM - parameter random access memory - a small amount of RAM that is used to house particular settings. To reset the PRAM you basically need to reset the motherboard battery that powers it.

How to Reset the PRAM on a PowerBook G3

To reset the PRAM, first plug your PowerBook into a wall outlet with a working power cord. Make sure to test the cord with another computer and the socket with another electric device to make sure that the power source and the cord are both good. Double-check that the power cord is securely connected to the computer and remove any external devices that are plugged into your computer, including printers, speakers or your iPod. On your keyboard, locate the command key, the option key, the P and the R. When you turn your computer, press these four buttons at the same time and hold them down right away, before the grey start up screen appears. If this works, you will hear the start up sound again and you should be alright.

Reset the PMU

Since you are troubleshooting a PowerBook, you will reset the PMU - the Power Management Unit - which is a chip built into the motherboard that allows the computer to retain settings after it loses power. If these steps don’t work at first, you can repeat them until they do. Apple offers detailed instructions for different PowerBook G3 models and years that you can access here.

Troubleshoot the Logic Board and Other Hardware

If this doesn’t fix it, you might have a faulty hardware component, most likely the logic board. If this is the case, you will need to replace the logic board and can take it to an Apple shop for replacement and repair.

Install Adobe Flash Player for Mac OSX

About Adobe Flash Player

Adobe launched the latest release of Flash Player - version 10 - in October, 2008. Adobe Flash Player 10 is compatible with Mac, Windows and Linux operating systems, with talk of a program for Solaris available within the year. To determine which version of Adobe Flash Player you have on your system you can follow this link to the Adobe test page.

System Requirements

There aren’t specific drivers that you need to run Adobe Flash Player and the program should contain everything that it needs to run on your computer providing your system meets some requirements. To run Flash Player 10 your Mac needs to meet the following levels.

• Processor: PowerPC G3 500MHz/1.8GHz or Intel Core Duo 1.33GHz or faster

• 128 MB - 256 MB RAM

Flash Player on Older Operating Systems

There is a note on the Flash Player Troubleshooting site that says “starting with the Adobe Flash Player 10 release, new versions of Flash Player are no longer available for Macintosh OSX 10.1-10.3 operating systems” because the developments of the Flash program are no longer supportable by older operating systems. If this is your situation, there is a technical note issued by Adobe available here that details how you can run Flash Player 9 on an unsupported machine.

Troubleshooting Flash Player OSX Installation

If you are running an OSX operating system later than 10.3, you can follow the steps below to troubleshoot your installation. Between each step you should visit the Adobe test page to check if the changes have taken effect and Flash Player has successfully installed.

1. Make sure that you have the most recent Flash Player - 10.0.12.36. If you are working with an older version, you can get the latest download from the Adobe Flash Player Download Center.
2. The next step is to remove any Flash Player installations. Flash Player doesn’t work well if there are existing versions or unnecessary files on your computer. To remove Flash Player download and run the Adobe Uninstaller. Once you are finished with the uninstall you can get a fresh download of the latest release from the link in step 1.
3. If a clean installation doesn’t get Flash Player up and running, you might need to update your web browser. It is a good idea to keep all your software up to date so that your system runs at its optimal level but sometimes we don’t notice that there are updates available until something stops working. Visit the website for your browser - such as Firefox or Internet Explorer - and download the latest version.