WARNING If you have a problem with your computer and nothing presented in this chapter solves it, consult the service and support information that came with your computer for instructions on how to contact an
Take your time
When you see an error message, you don’t have to take action immediately. The message stays on the screen until you click the OK (or Restart) button or turn off the Macintosh.
To help diagnose and correct the problem, follow the suggestions in this subsection. Gather as much information on the situation as you can. Then follow the instructions in the next subsection, “Start Over by Restarting Your Computer.”
mMake a note of exactly what you were doing when the problem occurred. Write down the message on the screen and its ID number (if any). List the programs you were using and the names of any items you know have been added to the System Folder since the system software was installed. This information will help a service person diagnose the problem. (It is helpful to keep a printed copy of the items in your System Folder. For instructions
on printing the contents of a folder, see the “Printing” topic of Macintosh Guide, available in the Guide [h] menu.)
mCheck the screen for any clues. Is a menu selected? What programs and document icons are open? Note anything else that seems relevant.
mIf you were typing text and were not able to save it before the problem occurred, you can write down the parts of the text still visible on the screen so that some of your work will be easy to replace.
mAsk other Macintosh users about the problem you’re having; they may have a solution for it.
