Mac Tune-up Checklist

[300DDR]

Was posted in response to another post on Mac forum… but more useful here I think:

Although I don't do tune-ups myself anymore (working on data recoveries), here is what I used to do (or at least use as an outline):

*Note: if the computer is "slow" it's important to make sure the hard drive is PERFECT with NO bad sectors. Best to run TechTool Pro to check for bad sectors first, then continue.

*Note: it's important to check Activity Monitor to see if anything is taking up lots of CPU and Console message (look for repeating messages that look strange -- they will become obvious the more you look at them).

*Note: some of this stuff is just my personal preference on how people should use their Macs (i.e., some Onyx stuff, etc).

1) Backup/Clone computer first (ask client for this option and charge something for it, it's safer, and if they are very concerned about their data, you'll make a few extra bucks. And if something goes wrong, you've got a backup)

2) Reset PRAM & PMU or SMU

3) Safe Boot, get to login window, restart

4) System Preferences:

- Energy

- Never, Never, Off, Highest

- Expose/Spaces

- Disable spaces and all hot corners

- Keyboard/Mouse

- All Controls

- Check Network Settings
- Check Sharing
- Accounts

- Check login items

5) Copy to Desktop: Latest combo update, smart reporter, onyx, tinker tool

6) Install Latest Combo Update, restart

7) Run "Software Updates," restart

8) Check for individual application updates

9) Install Smart Reporter, Onyx, Tinker Tool, OmniDiskSweeper

10) Onyx

- Parameters

- General

- Speed of display sheets: fast
- Screen capture format: jpeg

- Finder

- Remove graphic effects

- Safari

- Uncheck: Automatically open PDFs

- Spotlight

- Enable calculator, dictionary

- Misc

- Uncheck: Verify Disk Images

- Automation:

Everything but:

- Display of folder contents

- Computer will restart after this

11) Tinker Tools (tinker tool stuff optional)

- Maintenance:

- Clear Directory Cache
- Check for CUPS repair

- Clean Up:

- Web caches
- Remove font cache files
- Remove log archives/files
- *only if need free space* Emulated Forks: ".__" & ".DS_Store"
- CUPS: Remove temp CUPS files
- Core Dumps

- System:

- Hard Drives: Put hard disks to sleep: Never
- Volumes: Automatically Mount
- Journaling: Check for journaled

- International:

- Remove unused languages

- User:

- Verify Preferences
- Verify Login Items
- Check Sys Prefs for damage, repair if necessary

- Clean Up:

- User, system, device/kernel caches

- Restart computer

12) Backup, check, and remove bad fonts using Font Book

13) OmniDiskSweeper (check for areas taking up lots of space, i.e. Log files, cache, etc).

14) Check applications: Remove unused applications

15) DiskWarrior

Now it's FAST!

Hope this helps, please don't distribute this.

[Method]

I'm guessing this is written for Macs running Snow Leopard and under?

Some of these suggestions aren't available on Lion and considering Mountain Lion is out next month you may wish to update your suggestions...

[300DDR]

It was written then, but all options should still be there… what isn't? I don't work on Macs anymore, so maybe the forum's Mac members can add to it/update it.

[Method]

Originally Posted by 300DDR

[INDENT]
- Energy

- Never, Never, Off, Highest

Doesn't correlate to Lion Energy Saver prefs

Originally Posted by 300DDR

- Expose/Spaces

- Disable spaces and all hot corners

Exposé and Spaces were removed in Lion.

Originally Posted by 300DDR

- Keyboard/Mouse

- All Controls

This doesn't make sense in Lion as the options are now seperated.

Originally Posted by 300DDR

- Spotlight

- Enable calculator, dictionary

You can do this with spotlight normally without tweaking.

[300DDR]

Updated for Lion:

Originally Posted by Method

Doesn't correlate to Lion Energy Saver prefs

Never, Never, Off, Off, Off, Off

Originally Posted by Method

Exposé and Spaces were removed in Lion.

Now called Mission Control:
Uncheck All, Hot corners->turn all off

Originally Posted by Method

This doesn't make sense in Lion as the options are now seperated.

Still there, in "Keyboard Shortcuts" tab

Originally Posted by Method

You can do this with spotlight normally without tweaking.

Yep, appears to be turned on be default now.

[anonymous Mac Tech]

In my personal experience, if a Mac is running slow, there is almost always reason for it beyond any kind of maintenance. But the maintenance suggestions offer some valid checks. Once you find and fix the problem (i.e. dying drive, lack of RAM, 3rd party app, multiple user login items, OSX reinstall, stuck print job) it's happy again and runs fine.

[petrinoda]

Awesome list ... Thanks for this 1

[300DDR]

You're welcome, enjoy! And if you find discover anything else, might as well add to this page.

[Ccomp5950]

Had a buddy that wanted a tuneup for his mac and took it to the apple store.

Their process is this:

1.) Throw away old computer
2.) Sell new one.

[300DDR]

Hahah! Yep, that's their version of a tune-up. A bit more expensive for sure