My Mac computer is really slow and is really low on memory, how to fix this?

Question

I have a Mac OS 9, so it's an older Mac computer. When we first got it, it worked just fine. Now it's very slow and when we got on the internet it just shuts down or it freezes really easily. It always says we're low on memory. We want it to stop doing that and hopefully become a bit faster too. Any suggestions?

Answer 1

You say it ran fine when you first got it and now it is slow. I'll address that first.

I'll assume that you have not done any upgrades to your computer since you bought it. If that's the case then you probably have a G4 GigaBit Ethernet computer (came stock with OS 9.0.4).

Without any details of what is happening and the absence of any maintenance history, I would suggest (first) that you rebuild your desktop (hold down the Command and Option keys during the boot-up sequence, then answer yes when appropriate). Next, run the disk repair utility that came with OS 9. It is in the "Utilities" folder which is located in the "Applications (OS 9)" folder (assuming that no one has moved the folder). The utility looks like a speeding ambulance. This will give you an idea on the condition of your hard drive and its root level "health". Over time (and usage) the files on your Mac (like any other computer) will become unorganized, fragmented and or corrupted. The more your Mac has to search for bits of like information, which may be scattered all over the hard drive, the longer it will take it to perform, i.e. the slower it will become.

NOTE: You will not be able to effect any repairs since the computer is using the drive as a boot drive. More then likely you will have to boot and run your Mac from a third party maintenance software CD or the disk repair utility on the Mac OS CD you got with your computer to "fix" your drive.

I have found that using Disk Doctor or Disk Warrior dramatically increases computer efficiency, but if maintenance has not been kept up you will be better off just wiping the hard drive and reloading the operating system and all you software.

The above suggestions work with any Power Mac computer running most any operating system, so if you have anyother computer besides the one I named, then the suggestions will still work on what you have.

Freezes are usually attributed to lost files or corrupted resource forks. In the latter case, re-load the software. I have not had a problem with Internet Explorer on any of my Macs except for the fact that Microsoft stopped development of future versions of IE for Macs. The last version of IE for Mac is 5.2. Most popular Internet sites today require 128 bit encryption minimum. IE 5.2 meets that criteria, but just barely. A lot of popular web sites also have video clips or animated graphics which may require that your browser have available "plug-ins" (extensions) the access and view those "extras". Many of the modern plug-ins are not available to IE 5.2. I would suggest FireFox as a substitute browser. It is available for the classic Mac OS.

Extra RAM is always a good thing, especially for the older Macs. Put as much RAM as you can in that ol' Mac. It will greatly increase the performance. Be sure to get the right kind of RAM. Look at the existing RAM and try to find the same type (and brand), if possible. If you have the G4 as mentioned then it is likely that you have 64 or 128MB of PC100 RAM (stock). Earlier Macs have differing types of RAM. Beige G3 - PC 66, Pre-G3 - 168 pin DIMM (either EDO or FPM).

You don't need a new computer, especially if the one you have works for you. You may, at worst, need to re-load the operating system.

Run the maintenance software, rebuild the desktop, install more RAM, download and install FireFox (appropriate to your OS). Thats it. You will notice a vast improvment in performance.

One other note... If you have to reload the OS... Get a faster hard drive.

Rich

Answer 2

Options

Purchase RAM
Visit http://www.crucial.com to purchase ram.

Try a different internet browser. I have had a lot of issues with Internet Explorer running a mac. I suggest trying an alternative browsers such as wamcom, Netscape, iCab, and Opera.

Be sure to only have open 1 application at a time to prevent other open items from taking the RAM.

When you are ready to upgrade your mac I would either get an entry level macbook ($1,000) or a new G5.

Good luck
Chadwick

Answer 3

With the Classic Mac OS (9 and earlier) its reliance on system extensions for every program that installed was a common source of problems - the more programs that were installed, the less stable a system became. To resolve this, many OS 9 users relied on Conflict Catcher.

http://www.digitalriver.com/dr/v2/ec_MAIN.Entry17c?CID=15769&SID=1839&SP=10007&PN=5&PID=159763&CUR=840&DSP=&PGRP=0&ABCODE=&CACHE_ID=0

Answer 4

Virtual memory is space on your hard drive that is dedicated to the storage of temporary internet files. This dedicated space can not be used for anything other than temporary files, so by increasing the amount of virtual memory space on your hard drive, you are reducing the amount of available storage space for permanent files and programs. It's minimal, the max is around 1GB, just thought I'd explain how it works. You can increase the amount of space used for virtual memory by clicking Tools in the upper right of your browser, select Internet Options, in the window that opens on the General tab in Browsing History select Settings. In the next window you can adjust the amount of space to be used for storage of your temporary internet files. These temporary files are copies of web pages you've been to that help load that web page faster if you decide to return to it, nothing important. The easiest thing to do when you get the little balloon that says low virtual memory is to click Tools, select Delete Browsing History and in the window that opens, on Temporary Internet Files, click Delete Files, then Yes. You won't lose anything important, only temporary files that your system will eventually delete on it's own in a few days.

Answer 5

Get Mac Computer Slow Help http://goo.gl/em9QWP

Answer 6

Add more memory.