Clemente Tech News – November 2003

Clemente Tech News | November 2003 | Volume 4 | Issue 3

Time to pull the plug?

Has your new iMac or eMac frozen? Did the system appear to crash? Are you reaching for the power plug because you can’t restart any other way?

Just a minute!

Before pulling the plug from the back of the computer or from the wall/power strip, try this: press and hold the computer’s power button for about 8 to 10 seconds. This shuts your computer off. Then restart by pressing the button again, as you do to turn the machine on.

Removing the power plug while the computer is on – whether or not the computer appears to be functioning – can permanently damage the computer’s circuitry. Before going to that extreme, try to reset the computer using the power button.

The power button, indicated by this symbol, is located on the front of the iMac computer and on the right – near the power plug – on the eMac. NOTE: The blue (indigo) and white (snow) iMac models also have a reset button on the right side of the machine. Find this button [show] and press it to restart your computer.

Back to the basics

Boggled down with a lot of info about the “care and keeping” of today’s modern computers with all their power and technological ingenuity? How about a refresher on some computer basics?

Just as a reminder, make sure the computer tables in your classroom are clear of any books, papers, magazines, posters, clothing, school bags and other paraphernalia. Remember that the computers generate a lot of heat that can quickly ignite a fire if not properly ventilated.

Also be wary about food, drinks, candy, gum, wrappers and similar products near the computers. Food items can cause paper jams in printers, broken keyboards or mice, and even damaged disk/CD-ROM drives.

Students should seek permission from their teachers before bringing in any disks or CD’s they would like to use on the computers. Of course, if you or a student has a program you would like installed on any computer, please contact your network administrator or tech assistant for help.

Get out of here!

Now you’ve done it! You’ve placed a CD or floppy disk in a network computer drive, and don’t know how to get it back out. No problem. Your Mac Manager panels can help you.

When a floppy disk or CD-ROM is inserted, the media will show as a separate panel just like your programs and documents folders. Simply go to the media’s panel. When you see the blue outline around the panel, go to the “Special” menu and select “Eject…” (The shortcut is to hold down the Apple [command] key and press E.)

Ron Walker, Webmaster, Clemente School Internet Website
Bruce Stern, Webmaster, School Intranet Website
T Martin, Editor, Clemente Tech News

CWASP

Clemente Tech News – November 2003