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About Steve Thompson
(Top Expert on this page)

Expertise
I can answer most questions on the Mac OS from version 4 to 10.5. I have particular strengths with AppleScript.

Experience
19 years working with Macs including 5 years at Apple (1991-1996)

Education/Credentials
Bachelors degrees in Computing, Maths and Business, Masters in Computing

   

You are here:  Experts > Computing/Technology > Focus on Mac Support > Macintosh OS

Questions Answered By Expert  Steve Thompson 
In Category  Macintosh OS

SubjectDate Asked

MAC 9.2 to OSX10/22/2009
  Q: I have an eMAC that runs Leopard. I think it's 10.4.1 but not sure. My stupid, stupid school tried ...
  A: Under the Apple Menu there's a thing called "Control Panels". In there, there's a control panel ...
Macbook OS X Password9/28/2009
  Q: I hope you can help me, I need to reset the password for my Macbook OS X as I have forgotten it and ...
  A: I've got a way that might work but I've never tried it so apologies if it doesn't - if it doesn't ...
Entourage9/18/2009
  Q: 3.9 OS. My Entourage stopped working. The top buttons don’t light up and don’t respond. When I ...
  A: Bill, Sorry it's taken me so long to get back to you. AllExperts either didn't send me an email or ...
iMac 10.1.27/21/2009
  Q: Our son purchased a used iMac with a 10.1.2 OS that was previously owned by a school district. He ...
  A: If he has the administrator password for the machine and he's been able to put the files in the ...
Windows OS7/8/2009
  Q: My boss has a dual OS in MAC (Windows and Tiger). I want to domain the windows OS to domain. Is it ...
  A: Do you mean "join the windows OS to a domain"? If so, it depends on how you have the dual OS set ...
clamshell ibook booting into open firmware6/12/2009
  Q: i am working on an ibook clamshell for a friend. it is running os9, but it never even gets to the ...
  A: Sorry this is late - didn't realise you'd left another question! 17/ata-4@1f000/disk@0:5 ... ...
clamshell ibook booting into open firmware6/11/2009
  Q: i am working on an ibook clamshell for a friend. it is running os9, but it never even gets to the ...
  A: Any kind of "DEFAULT CATCH!, code=300" error means that the firmware has failed its startup test for ...
Chooser problem12/11/2008
  Q: I run a Mac 7500/system 8.6. Usually very stable but suddenly when I now open the chooser to select ...
  A: Coax cable has BNC connectors on it - the type you twist on and twist off. You also wouldn't have a ...
fail to startup after power failure12/10/2008
  Q: I have had a repeating problem with my iMac G5 using OSx 10.4.11. I live in an area where there are ...
  A: Sorry about that. Clicked the wrong button. The grey screen shows while the Mac does a File System ...
G4 restoration12/10/2008
  Q: I have a G4 Power PC: SPECS: Name: Power Mac G4 Model: Power Mac 3,3 CPU: Power PC G4 (2.9) 1 ...
  A: All the blinking globe means is that the Mac has gone to look at your network to see if it can find ...
Password Reset12/9/2008
  Q: I have a preowned macbook that I need to clear/change the password for. I ordered the install disks ...
  A: Even easier :-) Put the OS X CD in to the drive of the machine and restart holding down the letter ...
Password Reset12/9/2008
  Q: I have a preowned macbook that I need to clear/change the password for. I ordered the install disks ...
  A: OK - a bit easier. First of all, anything that is considered a risky or dangerous action such as ...
Password Reset12/8/2008
  Q: I have a preowned macbook that I need to clear/change the password for. I ordered the install disks ...
  A: Can you confirm when the password appears? Is it right at the very beginning of the startup - within ...
Dual Processor Macs & Virus12/4/2008
  Q: Do you know if Dual Processor Macs are susceptible to Windows virus? Thanks much! Ron
  A: In order to be infected by a Windows or Microsoft Based virus, you need to be running Windows ...
MORE TIME11/20/2008
  Q: I was wondering would you please explain to me: how do our computers know when it's day light ...
  A: I'm in the UK. Here it's as simple as "last Sunday of March" and "last Sunday of October". There are ...
External hard disc11/19/2008
  Q: I have bought an external hard disc (WD) to my Mac G5, sys. 10.5.5. I have also installed Time ...
  A: I thought I'd answered this question - I remember typing out the answer. I obviously didn't send it! ...
How do you switch system preferences settings with AppleScript?10/25/2008
  Q: The computers in the computer lab are set to revert every time you log off. I change these settings ...
  A: Sorry its taken me so long to get back to you. I've been playing with this and I can't see a way to ...
router compatibility10/22/2008
  Q: Can a laptop go wireless from a desktop computer if the laptop is tiger and the other panther? ...
  A: As long as both computers have Airport cards in them, you can go to System Preferences under the ...
Leopard10/14/2008
  Q: Steve, I am about to upgrade to Apple's Leopard OS and please can you tell me when I do this do I ...
  A: You only need to disconnect an external drive if it contains an operating system. Even that isn't a ...
spyware,virus,trojans.10/12/2008
  Q: My iMac with osX 10.3.9 has been acting really weird lately. seems very slow. When i open ...
  A: I'm afraid you can only do it with the CD. You can buy one from an Apple Store or you could find ...
spyware,virus,trojans.10/12/2008
  Q: My iMac with osX 10.3.9 has been acting really weird lately. seems very slow. When i open ...
  A: It's possible that you may have those programs on your machine but they won't be doing anything. ...
iMac commands and compatibility10/11/2008
  Q: I’m using an iMac, OS X v.10.5.4, and most of what I do is in Quark 6.1 and MS Office:mac ...
  A: 1) This setting is saved in the normal.dot template, not as a feature of the program itself. Find ...
blocking users view of computers9/24/2008
  Q: We are attempting to stop students from seeing the boards computers from our mac computers. When we ...
  A: Depends on what you mean by "the boards computer". Could you clarify that for me? I'm guessing you ...
Disk spins, won't boot, chime or beep9/11/2008
  Q: I am temporarily living in South America where I have no access to Apple repair, and all the more ...
  A: Couple of things: There's a manual eject mechanism to the right of the CD slot. If you insert a pen ...
dead ibook9/9/2008
  Q: my ibook G4 recently died. It just clicked off and when I try to turn it back on, it clicks and ...
  A: I can't really answer this question and give you any confidence because "died" means so many things. ...
UNTITLED9/5/2008
  Q: I was wondering would you please tell me: would a scratched CD/DVD ruin your computers CD/DVD ...
  A: I can't say for certain - a slightly scratched up CD that's been on the floor or something similar ...
Mac Deleting Problem9/3/2008
  Q: 1. there are about 10 files in my trash that refuses to be deleted when i empty trash. i have ...
  A: For question 1, in the terminal type sudo chmod -R 777 ~/.Trash/ Enter your password when prompted ...
Re: OSx & OS98/20/2008
  Q: I have a Powermac G4 which is running on OSX10. I am trying to re-install OS9 Classic again for ...
  A: Acrobat 4.0 is a Carbon application and will only work on OS 9. - If you just need to view PDFs ...
Won't boot8/18/2008
  Q: I turned on my mac ii si this weekend and all I got was a pictograph of a disk and a blinking ...
  A: A IIsi is a very old machine - it's quite likely the hard disk has failed. However, the flashing ...
Opening New Documents7/28/2008
  Q: I have Office 2004 and when I try to open a new Word document it always opens with my father's ...
  A: Do a search on your machine for a Word document called Normal and throw it away. This is the ...
HOW MUCH IS LEFT - Mac OS X 10.47/27/2008
  Q: I was wondering would you please tell me: why can't I check my printer ink levels? P.S I have a ...
  A: I don't know the Epson 760 but on the last Epson printer I owned you could only check the ink levels ...
xcode7/24/2008
  Q: I am running a running a Mac os X 10.3.9 1.6 GHZ powerPC G5 recently when using Safari Debug has ...
  A: The debug menu has appeared because XCode is installed. It can be turned off use Safari preferences ...
Darwin7/14/2008
  Q: What exactly is Darwin? I have a PPC Mac running 10.3.9, and i just downloaded the Darwin Mac OS ...
  A: Darwin is the underlying Unix engine. It's the bit that drives OS X but it isn't OS X. You can't use ...
Applescript7/14/2008
  Q: Steve, I am working on a script that includes extracting the names of placed items from an Adobe ...
  A: I've just had a play with this. It seems that although Illustrator returns file paths it has no ...
imac G3 running OS 9.27/7/2008
  Q: ok..i've searched everywhere and it seems like you guys are the muses when it comes to this computer ...
  A: You do need an airport card but you're going to have trouble getting one for a G3 iMac. eBay might ...
CHECK UP - OS X 10.46/30/2008
  Q: I was wondering would you please suggest to me: how often should I do a software update within ...
  A: Apple don't release that many software updates. If you're using a broadband connection there's no ...
imac5/22/2008
  Q: i have been installing new programs on my imac and everything was running smoothly with no problems. ...
  A: Michael, Sorry I've taken so long to get back to you. I've been moving house. The beeping at ...
Sharing Address Book (vcards) file5/18/2008
  Q: I need to email a Mac (10.4.11, single processor) Address Book file to some Windows-only family ...
  A: First, create a group in Address Book for the names you want to export and then drag those names in ...
Face Recognition software5/18/2008
  Q: I am looking for face recognition software that would scan your face and then allow you to log in. I ...
  A: I haven't come across any software that will do that for OS X. There's a piece of software called ...
Erratic mouse behavior.5/12/2008
  Q: I'm working on an iMac G5 that is some 4 years old and runs on OSX 10.3.9. For some 2 weeks now, ...
  A: Luc, Based on the information that you've given me it actually sounds like your keyboard is the ...
Wireless network3/21/2008
  Q: . I am running an eMac V 10.4.11 with 38.16 GB capacity. Recently I upgraded to High Speed wireless ...
  A: What "high speed wireless gateway" did you upgrade to? When you say it's running slow do you mean ...
Deskjet driver3/14/2008
  Q: I have a HP Deskjet 5740 which is printing OK except PDF files, which it won't print for some reason ...
  A: I've been looking in to this. Spoke to a few friends but I don't have a DeskJet or an OS 9 machine ...
Deskjet driver3/14/2008
  Q: I have a HP Deskjet 5740 which is printing OK except PDF files, which it won't print for some reason ...
  A: 256 is not a lot of memory. What model Mac is it? You would only need to clear off stuff from your ...
upgrade for 9.2.1 to osx3/14/2008
  Q: i have a mac g4 and am now running 9.2.1 and would like to upgrad to OSX...i have the disks for ...
  A: If you have a 10.2 disk and you're receiving this message, the disk you have is an Upgrade Disk, not ...
Deskjet driver3/14/2008
  Q: I have a HP Deskjet 5740 which is printing OK except PDF files, which it won't print for some reason ...
  A: PDF files are a black art. A Deskjet doesn't have a PostScript interpreter like a laser printer does ...
LOCK-UP 2 - OS X 10.43/9/2008
  Q: On Wednesday the 20th June 2007 I stumbled on how to lock your folders by going into get info and ...
  A: The concept is that you're proving you're really you. The method is analogous to the "self destruct" ...
Applescript3/9/2008
  Q: Steve, I have an applescript that takes 2 text files created form filemaker text calculation fields ...
  A: It's easier to refer to things in AppleScript by where they are instead of explicit paths. This is ...
LOCK-UP - OS X 10.43/6/2008
  Q: On Wednesday the 20th June 2007 I stumbled on how to lock your folders by going into get info and ...
  A: As you know, OS X is based on the Unix operating system. Unix has the concept of a "super user" ...
operating system3/1/2008
  Q: I have an older blue clamshell mac ibook laptop with os9. Can I install osx in it?
  A: You can install OS X 10.0 and 10.1. You can also install 10.2 but it runs really slowly making it ...
printer without network interface card2/25/2008
  Q: We have a printer without network interface card plug with a ASANTÉ Friendlynet adapter on our ...
  A: You say you have a Windows 2003 server. You can plug the printer in to the server's parallel port, ...
loading new OS5/8/2007
  Q: My friend just installed a new (replacement) hard drive in his daughter's iMac. We have the disk ...
  A: It depends on which OS you're trying to install. If it's OS 9, you need to boot from the CD, use ...
MAC OS95/3/2007
  Q: I have a MAC OS 9 and I am very MAC illiterate. My computer is running very, very, very slow. I am ...
  A: Restart the Mac and hold down the shift kay as it starts up. Under "Welcome to Macintosh" you should ...
Transfering iTunes files to iPod5/2/2007
  Q: Steve, I just recently purchased a MacBook Pro and the largest iPod. I have a music library imported ...
  A: Connect your iPod and open iTunes. In the left hand pane, click on the icon for the iPod. Along the ...
Transfering iTunes files to iPod5/2/2007
  Q: Steve, I just recently purchased a MacBook Pro and the largest iPod. I have a music library imported ...
  A: Have you connected the iPod to the computer yet? When you do that you'll be taken through a setup ...
printing web page as pdf4/2/2007
  Q: I find that the pdf file created upon printing a web page from Safari, or Internet Explorer, or ...
  A: I'm afraid not. The Basic PDF renderer that's built in to OS X won't do the links unless they ...
Colloquy3/21/2007
  Q: Would you please be so kind as to direct me to a tutorial for Colloquy. Sincerely, Angel
  A: Colloquy is still under development so the features it has can and probably will change quite often. ...
I.E3/17/2007
  Q: Cany get I E to work it freezes up and never opens ANSWER: I'll need more information such as which ...
  A: You need to drag the icon for Internet Explorer, the blue letter e icon with a gold comet going ...
mac password3/16/2007
  Q: friend of mine acquired a mac computer and it has icons for different user and she can't get pass ...
  A: If you don't have ANY of the passwords, your only option is to reinstall OS X from the CD/DVD ...
Mac shortcuts2/8/2007
  Q: What keys are used in the Zoom In and Zoom Out keyboard shortcuts? The first key is the Apple key ...
  A: I can't remember the shortcuts but the symbols are as follows Flower - Command/Apple Key Hollow ...
Uploading html2/1/2007
  Q: I have a domain - bannerchat.net . How do I do it? I have a Mac with OS 10.3.9. I guess I have ...
  A: You should really ask this question in the Web section of AllExperts. If you upload a text file to ...
imac os x - wireless networking1/30/2007
  Q: I currently use netgear wireless adsl modem firewall router ( dg834gt) and a WG111T wireless ...
  A: You've got a couple of choices. You don't state which type of iMac you've been given but if it's a ...
password protecting for security1/29/2007
  Q: Steve, I do not currently own a Mac but will be purchasing a Mac Pro when the new operating system ...
  A: There's two options. You can password protect the operating system - it's Unix so it's quite secure. ...
Email for OSX1/25/2007
  Q: (I had a G3 before), with a 10.3.9 OS and am trying to get my email squared away. I tried the Mac ...
  A: Bob, Entourage is like OutLook but you have to pay for it. You haven't said what features of ...
BACKUP 3.11/12/2007
  Q: Begin backup at 2007-01-11 12:32:11.814 -0800 Scanning files... Acquired a destination for the ...
  A: There's your answer: There is not enough free space at the destination for the backup. Space ...
BACKUP 3.11/12/2007
  Q: When I run Backup, the result always is "Backup Failed'. I went to the Apple site and reinstalled ...
  A: Please launch BackUp, go to the Plan menu and chose "History". If you choose one of the failed ...

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