"GUIDE:" Threads, what should be next? [Archive]

edesignuk

Sep 20, 2004, 05:39 PM

The GUIDE: Networking Windows with OS X (http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=54704) thread was well worth the time to write up, it has had over 10,000 views and people have been referred to it countless times to answer there PC/Mac file sharing queries. It has done it's job.

What other subjects are there that come up all the time, and that you think someone could write up a simple, but definitive guide for, that would be as useful to the forums as the networking thread?

IMO having more of these for the most common (not one for everything you can think of, there's macosxhints.com for that) questions would be great for the forums. It's just a question of deciding what is needed, and who knows the subject best to write up a good guide.

jeremy.king

Sep 20, 2004, 05:55 PM

How about a sticky/guide on how to
1. zap PRAM
2. repair permissions
3. fsck

This is always a universal answer to everyones problems.

Or another guide on "How to search before posting a question" :eek:

varmit

Sep 20, 2004, 05:56 PM

edesignuk

Sep 20, 2004, 05:57 PM

How about a sticky/guide on how to
1. zap PRAM
2. repair permissions
3. fsck

This is always a universal answer to everyones problems.Those are very good suggestions. 3 simple things that people get told to do all the time, but they don't always know how to do them.

edesignuk

Sep 20, 2004, 06:32 PM

OK, that one's done :)

GUIDE: Zap PRAM, Repair Permissions, & run FSCK (http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?p=1044668#post1044668)

jeremy.king

Sep 20, 2004, 06:40 PM

Holy crap, I'm famous!

Thanks for the props, eDesign :)

Laslo Panaflex

Sep 20, 2004, 06:40 PM

OK, that one's done :)

GUIDE: Zap PRAM, Repair Permissions, & run FSCK (http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?p=1044668#post1044668)

hey, they look good. But I read and heard somewhere that there isn't any benefit to boot to CD to repair permissions, you might want to look into it becuase it would make repairing permissions easier for the novice.

edesignuk

Sep 20, 2004, 06:44 PM

hey, they look good. But I read and heard somewhere that there isn't any benefit to boot to CD to repair permissions, you might want to look into it becuase it would make repairing permissions easier for the novice.I thought you either needed to be logged in as root, or boot off the CD to give the repair process the necessary permissions to repair permissions to system files?

edesignuk

Sep 20, 2004, 06:47 PM

It's been made a sticky :cool:, thanks to which ever mod got my msg :)

Rower_CPU

Sep 20, 2004, 06:53 PM

I thought you either needed to be logged in as root, or boot off the CD to give the repair process the necessary permissions to repair permissions to system files?

Not from what I've heard - Apple doesn't recommend it when they discuss repair permissions.

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=152064

edit - Your welcome. :)

edesignuk

Sep 21, 2004, 03:13 AM

Not from what I've heard - Apple doesn't recommend it when they discuss repair permissions.

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=152064

edit - Your welcome. :)
OK, best go and make some changes....:)

edit: done :cool:

Diatribe

Sep 21, 2004, 03:51 AM

edesignuk

Sep 21, 2004, 03:53 AM

How about making it into a trouble shooting guide where the first thing to do IS repairing permissions, then .... and...
Because if you turn it into that and mark it accordingly a lot of threads wouldn't be posted since that is all it takes sometimes. (Besides the newbs that don't read FAQs before posting :p :D )
That's the thing, no one reads the FAQ's, the point of these GUIDE threads is not to expect people to read them first, but to be able to just point someone in their direction when they ask a common question. So if someone is having problems with their Mac and we tell 'em to reset their PRAM, we can link to this thread to show 'em how to do it rather than constantly explaining.

Diatribe

Sep 21, 2004, 04:02 AM

That's the thing, no one reads the FAQ's, the point of these GUIDE threads is not to expect people to read them first, but to be able to just point someone in their direction when they ask a common question. So if someone is having problems with their Mac and we tell 'em to reset their PRAM, we can link to this thread to show 'em how to do it rather than constantly explaining.

I guess you're right. Oh well can't change the world... :D
How about adding how to erase plists to reset apps or delete entire apps?

tateusmaximus

Sep 21, 2004, 06:11 AM

in what situation would you use fsck and zap the PRAM?
what is PRAM and fsck?

edesignuk

Sep 21, 2004, 06:51 AM

in what situation would you use fsck and zap the PRAM?
what is PRAM and fsck?
If you have a problem and the need arises that you need to know, then you will be directed to this thread.

tateusmaximus

Sep 21, 2004, 07:20 AM

how very helpful of you

edesignuk

Sep 21, 2004, 07:38 AM

how very helpful of you
Thanks :D :p

Diatribe

Sep 21, 2004, 07:52 AM

Maybe my suggestion didn't stand out enough... :D :p

How about adding how to erase plists or adding how to erase entire apps?

edesignuk

Sep 21, 2004, 07:54 AM

Maybe my suggestion didn't stand out enough... :D :p

How about adding how to erase and explain plists or adding how to erase entire apps?
I think that kind of advice would be better left to being application specific responses to request for help with specific applications. Trying to write a guide that covers all for this would be a bit much.

Diatribe

Sep 21, 2004, 08:03 AM

I think that kind of advice would be better left to being application specific responses to request for help with specific applications. Trying to write a guide that covers all for this would be a bit much.

I don't know. I for one would find it helpful not having to explain what a plist is, where to find it and how to get rid of it. And it helps resolve problems quite often. Just my 2 cents.

Also I think a guide on the simple stuff everyone likes to ask and thousand threads are about like short cuts and how to change icons, etc. would be nice.

edesignuk

Sep 21, 2004, 08:33 AM

I don't know. I for one would find it helpful not having to explain what a plist is, where to find it and how to get rid of it. And it helps resolve problems quite often. Just my 2 cents.

Also I think a guide on the simple stuff everyone likes to ask and thousand threads are about like short cuts and how to change icons, etc. would be nice.
Best get writing them up then! :)

Diatribe

Sep 21, 2004, 08:42 AM

Best get writing them up then! :)

I for one do not know how to change icons, that's why it would be an awesome guide. :D

edesignuk

Sep 21, 2004, 08:50 AM

Also I think a guide on the simple stuff everyone likes to ask and thousand threads are about like short cuts
You don't have short cuts in OS X, you have an alias ;)

Maybe that's another idea, the switchers dictionary.

Explorer = Finder
Shortcut = Alias
Control Panel = System Preferences
Wallpaper = Desktop
etc...

Diatribe

Sep 21, 2004, 09:10 AM

You don't have short cuts in OS X, you have an alias ;)

Maybe that's another idea, the switchers dictionary.

Explorer = Finder
Shortcut = Alias
Control Panel = System Preferences
Wallpaper = Desktop
etc...

I guess you don't need those anymore when Tiger comes out...
But I meant keyboard short cuts since there seem to be a lot of threads about those.
And if there'd be one to tell me how to change icons that'd be great too. :rolleyes:

blackfox

Sep 21, 2004, 10:04 PM

jeremy.king

Sep 21, 2004, 10:24 PM

I might suggest a guide thread on how to (intelligently) use the search feature here...FWIW

Or how to read an entire thread before you post?

Or another guide on "How to search before posting a question"

blackfox

Sep 21, 2004, 10:28 PM

Or how to read an entire thread before you post?
My apologies... :o

jeremy.king

Sep 21, 2004, 10:41 PM

My apologies... :o

I was just being sarcastic...no worries man. I guess I'm in one of those moods - happy that I campaigned successfully for a programming category! :)

jackieonasses

Sep 21, 2004, 10:48 PM

That's the thing, no one reads the FAQ's, the point of these GUIDE threads is not to expect people to read them first, but to be able to just point someone in their direction when they ask a common question. So if someone is having problems with their Mac and we tell 'em to reset their PRAM, we can link to this thread to show 'em how to do it rather than constantly explaining.
actually, when i was a newb (back in feb. or something) i was one of the few i guess that actually read all of the sticky's.

and i am going to put this here: i was trying to find a place to tell the moderators how they do such a gosh darn good job! definate props!