A.K.A Shortcut Nirvana There's tons of hints and goodies here to make using your favorite Mac programs that much more of a pleasure.

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Is it better to start fresh?

Q Why do a clean install?

A If you encounter frequent system crashes, it's a good idea to do a clean install of your system software. This is sort of like getting a new car instead of fixing up that old junker you've been driving. When you do a clean install, you're actually putting a new System Folder on your hard drive rather than just replacing certain items in the old one. Apple's made it easy to perform a clean install with the new Installer. Simply click the Options? button and choose the Clean Installation option. Alternatively, you can move the old System file out of the System Folder before your launch the Installer. This tricks the application into thinking the hard drive doesn't have any system files on it.

What did you think they were for?

A They're decorative, but they're also fully functional. You didn't think Apple would include a handle on the iMac or two on the new G3s if they didn't intend for you to use them. According to Apple, the handle on the iMac can be used to carry the machine, though they suggest you cradle the bottom of the computer in your other arm to balance it. As for the new G3s, each handle is tested to support close to three times the weight of a fully loaded machine. So carry on.

Tell me something I didn't know

A When you run the iMac Firmware Updater, it copies itself into the Startup Items folder before it updates the firmware. Then, when you restart the machine, it checks that the update was successful and then displays the message box you're encountering. Once you click the OK button to dismiss the message box, the updater is supposed to move itself to the Trash. However, if an item of the same name is already in the Trash, the file remains in the Startup Items folder. To get rid of the error message, simply remove the updater from the Startup Items folder and empty the Trash.

Is it hot or is it just me?

A There's probably not going to be any Mac flambé for you anytime soon. Your PowerBook's going to run hot due to its high bus and processor speed. Practically speaking, the higher the speed, the hotter your PowerBook's going to run. Even with the heat, be assured that the computer meets, or exceeds, the safety standard for Information Technology Equipment (IEC 950, or UL 1950 if you're really interested). Even though Apple added a fan to the current G3 series of PowerBooks, you can do your part. First, you can slow down the processor by reducing the number of times a second it cycles. To do this, open the Energy Saver control panel and click the Advanced Setting button. Then activate the Allow Processor Cycling option, as shown in Figure A. Also, make sure that you keep the computer on a hard surface so air can flow under it.

Figure A: You can cool your computer down by activating the Allow Processor Cycling option.

Photoshop crash

A Other folks have encountered the same problem. The solution is to either turn off virtual memory or the ATI Graphics Accelerator 3.7.9. True, the solution will either eat up more memory or slow your graphics performance, but at least you won't crash when you try to move a graphic around.

Poor screen redraw with desktop pictures

A It's probably an alias problem rather than a memory issue. The Appearance control panel uses aliases to link the desktop picture. If the alias has been broken, the system will attempt to re-establish the link each time the screen's redrawn. To correct the problem, choose the Desktop tab in the Appearance control panel and click the Remove Picture button. You can then replace the picture to create a new alias.

SuperDisk error message

A If you attempt to install the Imation SuperDisk software on one of the second generation G3s (the one in the cool translucent blue case), you'll get an error message that the software won't work with that machine. Not to worry--the drivers you need to use the SuperDisk are already installed on the Yosemite models. All you have to do to use the drive is plug it in.

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