Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
How can I make my computer run like it did when it was new?
- Thread starter agmetal
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Nope, everything should still work like it did.
The problem with this option though, is that if there was anything on your hard drive that was slowing down your computer (which is a very high probability, corrupted files are a huge source of speed loss) it will be re-copied to the hard drive.
You've done all the quick, easy, and free things. If you're still not satisfied...
1) Lower your expectations. If you want it to run like it did in 2003, then downgrade to Jaguar and it will be very snappy again.
2) Buy more RAM. This is the single biggest thing you can do to speed-up your Powerbook. Sorry it isn't free.
3) Wipe your hard disk and reinstall OS X. Use an external DVD drive or a friend's Mac (via FireWire) if you don't trust your own optical drive.
4) Have a qualified technician open it up and clean inside. All compressed air does is dislodge stuck crap and blow the crap all around.
1) Lower your expectations. If you want it to run like it did in 2003, then downgrade to Jaguar and it will be very snappy again.
2) Buy more RAM. This is the single biggest thing you can do to speed-up your Powerbook. Sorry it isn't free.
3) Wipe your hard disk and reinstall OS X. Use an external DVD drive or a friend's Mac (via FireWire) if you don't trust your own optical drive.
4) Have a qualified technician open it up and clean inside. All compressed air does is dislodge stuck crap and blow the crap all around.
I don't expect to get it back to its new performance, necessarily, but at least the way it was 2-3 years ago.
I'm gonna see about getting some help at my college's computer support center.
You seem t to be un happy with the advice we have all given you.
You've had some great advice here and if you have followed it the machine should be running better except that is unless there is a fault, in which case you should have it looked at by a qualified tech.
I'm not really unhappy with the advice, but I'm not willing or able to spend any money on my computer right now, so I'm looking to do everything I can for free. I'm probably going to end up reinstalling the OS, but it might be a couple days because I'd like to do it under the supervision of someone who knows what they're doing (plus have another computer on hand to rescue me with if my optical drive fails).
I don't know what apps you have but try to remember that newer software is always more demanding. stuff like safari 3 is not going to run as smooth as the safari version you had on Jaguar, same for all your other apps. Download older versions if you must.
Your fans have to be removed to be properly cleaned. blowing dust wont get the gunk off the blades and that can make them unbalanced and loud, just like a wheel on a car
10.2 would be slower. It doesn't do hot-file optimization or auto defrag of files smaller than 20MB. 10.3 is the first good release of OS X.
Disable Spotlight and Dashboard. This article from 2005 claims reducing the amount of icons in one's dock improves performance. But definitely disable Dashboard and Spotlight.
I use Dashboard fairly often, but I never use Spotlight, so I'll see what happens if I disable that.
LOL, I hate that guy on the commercial. And what idiot producer didn't notice that one of the computers in the commercial is a Mac??? Who believes that crap???