The dreaded MAC

[DaHazeMan]

Would anyone happen to know about the dreaded sMACks?

We're having trouble when using MAC OS 8.1 along with the Aladdin Stuffit expander...when we try to choose a network printer using Laser Writer 8 it just freezes the whole computer up (despite all mac users' claims that macs don't crash!).

Now I know most of us don't use MAC's (I try to stay away from them myself!) but we need to figure this out.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[DaHazeMan]

Am I to think that no one here knows anything about MAC's?
I thought maybe someone would know something.

[struggles]

Be patient Grasshopper, someone who knows macs will be along real soon....hehe

[Michael Chiew]

DaHazeMan

Macs do freeze up on you like any other computer but they're such lovable machines you generally forgive their lapses because they're a dream to use, not own. You don't own a Mac. It owns you!

Just kidding.

Seriously, though, Macs do not have problems like IRQ conflicts or Windows General Protection faults. The OS is a superlative piece of software. It doesn't carry the baggage of the past such as
Windows do with DOS. So Windows 95/98 must be backward compatible.

I've had 3 Macs. I still have them. Two are 8 years old, the third is a recent acquisition - a G4. I've never had big trouble with my Macs. My 8 year olds run like a dream. Changed battery on one of them recently. No big problems. Sure, I've had small iritations, e.g., freezing when 2 different versions of software collide. Solution was simple. Switch off, switch on. It's back to square one (like the PC, I guess). I love my Macs, and have a love-hate relationship with my PCs.

My baby (G4) of 7 months tries its best. It's efficient, it runs graphics-inntensive programs such as Macromedia Dreamweaver, Fireworks, Flash and Freehand plus other memory-gobbling software. Handles these with complete ease. It does crash on me but only when I'm on the Internet (so far). I don't blame my baby, I blame the vagaries of the Internet.

Anyway, let's talk about your problem.

Can you describe in exact detail the sequence of events that led to the freeze. You said you're having trouble using Stuffit Expander and choosing a network printer only to have the system freeze up on you.

Is this a new machine. Is it the first time you're experiencing it. Did you do anything (add a component, install a program) in recent times. Are your printer settings correct. Is this a home network or an office network. If it is the latter, your system administrator should be able to get you off the hook.

Do you do a lot of downloading from the Internet, using Stuffit Expander to decompress files.

After you restart the Mac from the system freeze, does it work again as normal.

DaHazeMan, don't let a freeze up downgrade your opinion of the Mac. Think of it as a challenge to free it from the bond, or bonds, of colliding radicals caught in the same trap by accident.

It seems to me that you need an urgent solution to your problem, judging from the tone of your post. I'm going to suggest something that's easy to do - re-install your OS. Do a clean installation. This way everything currently in your System Folder and Extensions will be deleted and a new set installed.

First, run your anti-virus program just in case there is viral infection.

If your system is virus-free, launch the Installer (OS installation CD). To create a new System Folder, click OPTIONS button. Check PERFORM CLEAN INSTALLATION box. The old System Folder will be renamed PREVIOUS SYSTEM FOLDER. You have to delete this folder after your clean installation.

After you've done this, re-install your printer driver. If you can get a printer driver upgrade, so much the better. Make sure your printer and network settings are correct.

Michael Chiew

[DaHazeMan]

Thanks for replying Michael. I'll give you a little more info.

I am one of the system administrators (sort of!). I'm one of two college students who work for Computer Services that are trying to figure out this problem. The more knowledgeable full-timer has been on holidays for over a month, and we have to get the Mac lab up and running.

We're using Power Macintosh 5500s. I guess they're getting some G3's for the 3rd year Graphic Design students, but the 2nd year students still have to use the old ones.

We're having a problem making Stuffit work with the networked printers. Capturing the printers works as long as Stuffit is not installed. And vice versa. We need both; the only solution we could find was to upgrade the OS. Unfortunately, we're only licensed for OS 8.0 and 8.1. We've tried using 8.0, but Stuffit requires the update to 8.1 because of carbonlib (I don't understand completely...the other "Mac guy" was explaining rather quickly!). If we try to install carbonlib on its own, it tells us to upgrade to 8.1.

So...we're confused (me more than him!). Does any of this make sense? Do you have any suggestions?

This might be a little easier if you could email me at work. jgingrich@conestogac.on.ca Thanks in advance for your help.