Mac OS X Tips Troubleshooting Guide

[Huntn]

I've got this MacOSX Tips and Troubleshooting Guide going, a basic compilation for basic users like myself who are not very knowledgeable with OSX. When I find something that is useful, I add it to this guide. Any well meaning suggestions are appreciated. Please point our errors. Thanks!

 

[benwiggy]

That's a considerable amount of work, for which you should be commended, but there are already many such guides.
http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13727_7-20110325-263/general-troubleshooting-steps-for-os-x/
http://www.thexlab.com/faqs/faqs.html
http://hints.macworld.com/article.php?story=2004011205473937

And some of the information is a bit slender.

I would be careful about making sure that things are actually correct. For instance, I take exception to the bit about memory in ML. You don't generally need to purge memory -- that's usually a misunderstanding about Inactive Memory. ML does use more memory, but that's because modern Macs have more memory. It's designed to use the memory available. Generally, using as much RAM as possible is a good thing.

Similarly, although I don't think you mention it, Repair Permissions is often quoted as a miracle cure, but its effects are actually quite limited.

 

[Huntn]

That's a considerable amount of work, for which you should be commended, but there are already many such guides.
http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13727_7-20110325-263/general-troubleshooting-steps-for-os-x/
http://www.thexlab.com/faqs/faqs.html
http://hints.macworld.com/article.php?story=2004011205473937

And some of the information is a bit slender.

I would be careful about making sure that things are actually correct. For instance, I take exception to the bit about memory in ML. You don't generally need to purge memory -- that's usually a misunderstanding about Inactive Memory. ML does use more memory, but that's because modern Macs have more memory. It's designed to use the memory available. Generally, using as much RAM as possible is a good thing.

Similarly, although I don't think you mention it, Repair Permissions is often quoted as a miracle cure, but its effects are actually quite limited.

I have updated the section on memory, have added your links to the guide and added a new section on phishing. I am not an authority. I reference this info myself. My goal is to provide accurate info. Thanks!