Sick Of Your Mac Color Wheel?

As far as computers and operating systems have come, there are still situations in which we find ourselves becoming frustrated by slower performance.  For most of us Mac users it’s in the form of the infamous color wheel. In most cases this is a sign that the iMac is trying to perform a processor-intensive task. In layman’s terms, the computer can’t handle what it’s been given at that point in time.  Fortunately, there are a few things that you can do to help get rid of the spinning color wheel before you call your favorite Computer Repair Company in Tallahassee.

1. Software Updates

When’s the last time you ran an update?  Apple also recommends updating all software on a regular basis to keep your iMac functioning at its highest level. The most-important updates will include security updates, firmware and other system software. OS X is automatically set up to check for updates regularly, but you can do this manually by clicking on the Apple menu in the top left of your screen, choosing “Software Update,” and selecting the updates you wish to download.  We recommend updating “All”.  This is good to do before any computer repair is performed.

(Don’t forget to do this on your iPhone and iPad as well… App Updates!)

2. Clearing Cache

Using an Internet browser is one of the most-common activities performed on Macs, so running into the spinning wheel on a regular basis while surfing the Web can be frustrating. A common way to alleviate this is to clear the browser cache. Each browser will have a different path to clearing cache. In Firefox, press “Cmd,” “Shift” and “Delete” at the same time, and select how far back you wish to clear the cache. For those using Safari, press “Cmd,” “option” and “E” at the same time. When the confirmation window opens, click “Empty.”

3. Permissions Repair

Files, folders and applications all have certain permissions settings, determining whether they can be written on or read-only. From time to time, these permissions can get damaged, preventing the file or program from opening or running smoothly and creating overall computer performance issues. The best way to combat this is by doing a permissions repair using the Disk Utility program. It comes standard with all apple computers and OS X operating systems, and is typically found in the Utilities folder which is in your Applications folder. Simply open the program, select your hard drive, and click “repair permissions.”  Running your disk permissions could also help the life of your hard drive to prolong any computer repair you may need.

 

4. RAM and Hard Disk Space

The spinning color wheel is also an indication of generally slow performance and may be a result of lack of hard disk space or RAM (random access memory). Problems are more probable when your hard disk is nearly full, but all you have to do is free up some space. If there are files and programs that are seldom-used, you may want to move them over onto an external hard drive to free the space. If you are running some memory-intensive programs, you may not have enough RAM. The best solution in these cases is to upgrade to more RAM, which can be done by calling MacPro Services and asking us to install more RAM in your Mac.

 

5. Call Your Favorite Computer Repair Company

Here at MacPro Services, we have the most extensive computer diagnostics, tests, and techniques to figure out why you’re getting the beautifully frustrating color wheel.   If you have any questions about computer repair or have any other repair needs like iPhone Repair or PC Repair, feel free to contact us.