LM_NET: Library Media Networking
Thank you for all the responses. It seems that many people have the same
problem. Below are the different suggestions I received.
Alas our 15 wonderful new imacs have had some freezing problems as well. I
ended up throwing out the system software and reinstalling it (my adventure
into brain surgery) and that seemed to fix the problem. Luckily when
things don't go well I just send them on down to our tech guys to fix.
I have five iMacs in the library/lab and I hate them. I do find that
sometimes
a wack on the side can do a lot! I think these machines are probably great
in
homes, but they're just now made to take the heavy use they get in school.
Buy
G4s, but the price is high.
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Are you using Epson Printers and a UMAX Scanner? In the most recent
edition of MacHome Magazine (Which just arrived this past Wednesday) there
is an article on page 84 indicating a major conflict between the drivers of
those two devices.
If you have these extensions installed, go to the extensions manager and
shut one of them off. Then restart and see if the problem still exists.
If so, go to the extensions manager again and shut off the other. This
should tell you which one is making your computer act up.
Hope this helps.
I also have some iMacs and had the same problems. I was also unplugging
until I found the following. On the side with the keyboard outlet there are
two little white buttons. Pressing the one with the triangle will reboot
the computer.
I bought 5 imacs with a grant that I got for my library. They were on
sale and the button on the front was a design flaw and shuts down the
computer completely if it is pushed, therefore I have not been able to
use some, they won't replace them, but they will come out and fix them.
Needless to say, I will not be buying anymore imacs because with all the
problems and the software being so hard to come by, I will be purchasing
PC's in the future. A little more expensive, but worth it.
Madeline Wood
Martha, we also have experienced the same problems in a couple of OS 9
iMacs. We found that somehow the system software had gotten corrupted. A
re-install of the system software has since fixed the problem. Hope that
works for you, too! DJR
Martha, Go into the System Folder/Control Panels and remove the Energy Saver
Control Panel.
We had similar problems. There were conflicts with this panel.
We also had two brand new ones with bad keyboards. They were replaced
immediately.
Do you have an Apple Authorized Dealer nearby? Take them in with your
paperwork.They'll get to the root of the problem.
I am a computer teacher with a lab full of imacs (purchased in Sept.
of 1999). We too experience the freezes. Unplugging - or putting a
paper clip in the top hole of the panel on the right side of the
computer) reboots or at least turns "off" the computer. I read
somewhere that since they have the USB ports, there can't be a
combination of "hot keys" like apple + option + power on, to reboot
them.
The newer models that we bought for the classrooms this year have a
reboot button in that panel on the right (small circle with a triangle
on it).
sometimes the culprit is that there isn't enough memory allotted for
an application. If you know of a certain program that it freezes with,
you can "up" the ram. To do this, you would double click on the folder
for that program - click only ONCE on the icon that would normally
launch the program - go to File, Get info - Memory - and increase the
bottom number (I try to triple it at least). (Hopefully you purchased
extra RAM with the computers). We bought all of ours with 96 MB of Ram
-- and we still freeze occasionally.
Sad to say my students are used to the possibility of freezing - maybe
one student once a day is all that it usually happens - they have
learned to save often - or move over with a friend if they're in the
middle of a game-like program.
We have ours on a network with Macintosh Network Manager--the freezing we
experienced came from the F1-12 keys being enabled. Unfortunately, every
time someone turns the computer off, the default is to enable the F keys.
If you go under the apple to controls and choose keyboard--check the box
to disable the function keys. I know F11 or 12 was shutting the whole room
down in one of the labs....
Usually freezing is caused by not having enough memory allocated to an
application. Highlight the application, select "Get Info" from the file
menu and double it.
Also, to reset, there is either a little tiny button on the right where the
plugs are or, if they are older iMacs, there is a little hole into which you
insert a paper clip. This way, you don't have to unplug them.
Press Shift, option and the turn on button and hold for 5 seconds to turn
off new imacs
--
had same problem with our imacs. eventually reinstalled system and no
trouble since. Also, you can reboot using tiny (read MINUTE) button
on right side. There are 2 tiny "holes" ...one of them has tiny
switch. just press finger against these tiny "holes" and imac will
reboot. do go for more. we love them. had mucho problemo when 1st
received, but bugs seem to be worked out by now.
You are probably experiencing a third-party extension conflict. Extensions
are those little icons that troop across the screen when your computer is
booting up. My guess is that some software you loaded on the iMACs other
than the system software is causing the problem. I would recommend buying a
copy of Norton System Works, (the new version of Norton Utilities), and run
Disk Doctor. This is the best way I know of to clear up extension
conflicts. The other option especially if your computers are new is to call
Apple Support and let them walk you through steps to find the conflict.
You no doubt have numerous answers by now that are more complete than
this, but I'll add my 2 cents. I presume your iMacs are the newest
generation. If so, I think the reboot involves holding down the control and
command keys while pushing the power button. The help index will tell you
the proper keys. Also, I suspect the old paper clip in the hole on the side
panel still works too. Our iMac freezes were generally due to having limited
RAM. We kicked them up to 64 or 96 and have had very few troubles since.
Martha, you're not alone!
We have had many freezes with our iMac, and I thought you had to unplug
them, too. However, there is an access panel on the right-hand side of the
case which flips down to reveal two small holes just large enough to allow
the insertion of an unbent end of that high-tech sanity-saving device known
to some as the "paper clip." I think the hole you insert it in is the one
with the triangle mark underneath it, which will cause the unit to restart.
In our case, the freezes might have been caused by our file-server
environment and clashes between OS 8(?) in the iMac and the version 7.5
running in our Centrises.
I also love (NOT!) the newly-designed CD-ROM drawer, which exposes a
moveable (and intricate-looking) piece of hardware. The CD has to be gently
pressed down onto the spool, which is hard for some kids to do. One of my
colleagues says that CDs can disappear into the drive if not firmly pressed
onto the spindle--another use for your now-unbent paper clip--so if a CD
goes missing, look to the iMac as a possible hiding place!
Good luck with your decision. I'm waiting to hear on a decision from my
school board soon on technology upgrades.
Whatever happens, keep smiling! My motto is, "If we have to do it, we might
as well have fun!"
I find that turning off the sleep function (in control panels then energy
saver) helped on the freezing, although I still have problems once in a
while. You don't have to unplug -- reboot by pushing the button (or using a
paper clip end on the older models) in the little accessible plug area on
the right side.
Martha Gomez
Media Specialist
Springview Elementary
Miami, FL
mgom@mindspring.com
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