OnyX Maintenance ... is it good for your system?

[mgpg89]

Is OnyX maintenance good for your system?
I've read that if you perform it too often, your system might even get SLOWER ...

which things should I do and which things shouldn't I (onyx options)?



the whole idea is: make my system faster
will onyx do this?

 

[hughvane]

Short answer - yes!

Onyx is the best of the maintenance programs available for OS X. I know nothing of damage from too much use, but regular system cleaning helps the OS to run more smoothly, if not exactly "faster". Something like a sluggish browser is usually the result of an overload of caches.

By 'regular', that should be taken to mean as often as once a week for heavy use of your Mac, less often for lighter use. My eMac runs about 15 hours a day, most days, and I run Onyx about 2 or 3 times a month.

Which functions of Onyx to use?
1. Repair permissions
2. Run maintenance scripts
3. Update system optimization
4. Clear browser caches.

Others are more in the category of "do it if you want" One function I use is Onyx' capability to park screenshots where you want them, rather than on the desktop.

 

[mgpg89]

Short answer - yes!

Onyx is the best of the maintenance programs available for OS X. I know nothing of damage from too much use, but regular system cleaning helps the OS to run more smoothly, if not exactly "faster". Something like a sluggish browser is usually the result of an overload of caches.

By 'regular', that should be taken to mean as often as once a week for heavy use of your Mac, less often for lighter use. My eMac runs about 15 hours a day, most days, and I run Onyx about 2 or 3 times a month.

Which functions of Onyx to use?
1. Repair permissions
2. Run maintenance scripts
3. Update system optimization
4. Clear browser caches.

Others are more in the category of "do it if you want" One function I use is Onyx' capability to park screenshots where you want them, rather than on the desktop.

OK thanks a lot.
How long do you think the maintenance takes (with the 4 tasks mentioned above) ?

I'll do one right away tonight.

Can you schedule Onyx to do it automatically, let's say, each friday night at 3am? Or would I have to use iCal along with an automator workflow?

 

[Thrash911]

Which functions of Onyx to use?
1. Repair permissions
2. Run maintenance scripts
3. Update system optimization
4. Clear browser caches.

Can you (or any other) clarify "Update system optimization"?

 

[hughvane]

Can you (or any other) clarify "Update system optimization"?

In the Maintenance section of Onyx is the option to either Update Optimization or do Full Optimization. The latter takes a long time and is largely unnecessary in OS X. Optimization is intended to take system files that have been scattered about in the day-to-day running of the computer and regroup them for more rapid access. Update is probably all that's required. It's an option for you to use, not an absolute necessity.

 

[hughvane]

OK thanks a lot.
How long do you think the maintenance takes (with the 4 tasks mentioned above)?

The first time you run Onyx, it may take as long as 15 minutes, depending of course on how many files need checking. Thereafter, the process may take 5 - 10 minutes.

Can you schedule Onyx to do it automatically, let's say, each friday night at 3am?

Short answer - I don't know. Check the Prefs of Onyx for any automation function. Given the relatively short time it takes to carry out maintenance, it's not something I use.

I think it fair to say that one of the best things about Onyx is its safety, ie. it isn't going to mess up your OS, so you can afford to experiment.

 

[Thrash911]

In the Maintenance section of Onyx is the option to either Update Optimization or do Full Optimization.

Thanks. ..but I don't see it. Is it perhaps in the newest beta build? I use the latest stable version. Normally I don't mind beta stuff, but with these kind of programs, I'm not sure if it's a good idea. But, it is in the beta, right? Have you had any problems or "quirks" with the beta?

 

[hughvane]

Thanks.but I don't see it.

See screenshot.

Is it perhaps in the newest beta build? Have you had any problems or "quirks" with the beta?

I'm using v1.8.5 for Tiger. The screenshot I've attached may not be that which displays in the Maintenance section of the Leopard-compatible version.

I too am hesitant about anything 'beta' but Onyx has a terrific track record. From what I know and have read, Onyx is both safe and secure for Leopard up to v 1.9.9, which I see is still available for download, so perhaps you should try that.

 

[Thrash911]

From what I know and have read, Onyx is both safe and secure for Leopard up to v 1.9.9, which I see is still available for download, so perhaps you should try that.

I am using v1.9.9, and I don't have the "Optimize" tab. Maybe it's some Tiger-only stuff? Thanks for all your time. At least, I was not blind..