hemipteran : Less Than Optimal OptimizingWhen you arrive at the last phase angle of most Mac OS X update installation — anything from the fresh version of iTunes to a surety patch — the “ Optimizing System Performance ” message appears . Beware of a serious hemipteran that can bite at just this moment , possibly have corrupted system filing cabinet that make restarting your Mac unimaginable . Fortunately , this problem is easy to keep off : Just do n’t touch your Mac while the update is optimise — launch an diligence is especially dangerous , as doing so might activate an additional optimization process . Multiple optimisation process running at the same time are the cause of the problem . If this advice has arrived too tardily for you , an article on Unsanity’sWeblogexplains how to unmake the damage .

Bug : Do n’t ( Kernel ) PanicRecently , I make up one’s mind to take a prerelease version of Patrick Stein’sScreenRecycler(free ) for a tailspin . This promising public utility company allows you to apply the display on a “ bare ” Mac ( such as a laptop computer temporarily baby-sit groundless ) as a second monitor for another Mac . I deploy the program and restarted my Mac — and examine a kernel - panic substance . This is the fret - inducing content that states , “ You require to re-start your computer , ” in multiple linguistic communication . Every time I restarted , the message appear .

Fortunately , there ’s a round-eyed fashion around kernel panics — especially ones that occur at inauguration after you ’ve instal new software . resume your Mac and hold down the shift key immediately after the feeling sound . ( you could let go when the gray Apple logotype appears — seethis Apple articlefor more details . ) The Mac will bring up into Safe Boot modality . Next , navigate to the /System/ Library / Extensions brochure and locate a single file colligate with the program you just installed . Its name will end with the filing cabinet extension.kext — in my case , it was called ScreenRecyclerDriver.kext . ( If you ’re unsure which .kext single file is the relevant one , habituate CharlesSoft ’s $ 20Pacifistto reach the software ’s Installer package and see which .kext file was installed . ) cart the file to the Trash and reboot your Mac again normally , and all should be fine . Of course , this means that you ca n’t use the programme . But if it ’s a prerelease ( beta ) version , as my ver - Yisrael of ScreenRecycler was , the hemipteran will presumptively be squashed before the official release .

Fix : Vista Black ScreenIf you ’re using Boot Camp to operate Microsoft Windows Vista , and you have a Bluetooth gadget ( such as a shiner or keyboard ) , you may see a black screen when you awaken the Mac up from sopor — and detect yourself ineffectual to employ your Bluetooth gadget . To foreclose this , you need to install a Vista “ hotfix . ” The details are usable on Microsoft’sWeb site .

fixate : EyeTV Password ProblemsAre you have difficulty logging on to your Mac or accessing Keychain ? Do authentication duologue boxes go away ( in other run-in , crash ) almost straightaway after they come along ? If you ’ve recently install Elgato ’s $ 80 EyeTV 2.4 ( translation 2.1 , ) , it may be the trouble . The strange cause of this germ is an fundamental interaction between an MPEG QuickTime constituent installed by EyeTV in the /Library / QuickTime leaflet , and 3ivX and DivX components that , if present , are located in the same leaflet . One ready way of life to fix the problem is to withdraw the 3ivX and DivX part and re-start your Mac . instead , download the “ revised ” EyeTV 2.4 ( make turn 2654 or by and by — you may check this by select the EyeTV : About EyeTV menu item ) . If you check that you ’ve got that version , you ’ll head off the problem altogether .

[ Senior Contributor Ted Landau is the founder ofMacFixIt , a World Wide Web land site commit to reporting Mac problems and solutions . ]