WD98: Optimizing Your Macintosh System Configuration (184839)
The information in this article applies to:
- the operating system: Mac OS 8.0
- the operating system: Mac OS 7.5
- Microsoft Word 98 Macintosh Edition
This article was previously published under Q184839 SUMMARY
This article describes how to get the best possible performance from
Microsoft Word by optimizing your Macintosh system. To do this, you can
make adjustments to your system software (extensions, and fonts), and
hardware configuration (processor type, speed, amount of memory, and
available hard disk space).
MORE INFORMATIONMemory Allocation
When you install Word, the amount of memory Setup allocates to Word is
based on the amount of memory installed in your Macintosh. On some
systems, Word may run faster if you increase the amount of memory
allocated to it (with additional memory, Word performs less frequent disk
swapping). This is especially true if you usually use Word to work on long
documents. To add more memory to Word, follow these steps:
- Quit Word if it is running. (On the File menu, click Quit.)
- In the Macintosh Finder, click to select the Microsoft Word icon.
- On the File menu in the Finder, click Get Info.
- Increase the value in the Preferred Size box (System 7.5, 8.0 and
8.1). As a reference, if you have 16 megabytes (MB) of random access
memory (RAM) on your Macintosh, change the Preferred Size setting to at
least 6000 K. With 16 MB of RAM, you can go as high as 9000 K.
- Close the Microsoft Word Info dialog box, and then restart your
Macintosh.
- If you have a Power Macintosh, turn on the Virtual Memory option.
- On the Apple menu, point to Control Panels and click Memory.
- In the Memory dialog box, under Virtual Memory, click On.
- In the Size box, set the minimum virtual memory size.
NOTE: If you are using RAM Doubler 2.0.x, Virtual Memory is
unnecessary.
Fonts
Fonts, especially Type 1 PostScript fonts, consume system resources
on your Macintosh. Review the fonts installed on your computer and
remove any you don't need. (To remove a font, drag it out of the
System file in your System Folder to the desktop or another folder.)
Additionally, there may be separate suitcases in your Fonts folder that
contain large numbers of fonts. If necessary, drag the suitcase out of the
Fonts folder in your System Folder to the desktop or another folder.
System Conflicts
Extensions and Control Panel devices are memory-resident programs that
add functionality to the Macintosh system. These programs, which are
generically referred to as INITs or extensions, are located in the
Extensions and Control Panels folders in the System folder.
Sometimes these files conflict with one another or with a program such as
Word, thereby affecting performance. To determine whether an extension
conflict is affecting your system's performance restart your computer with
all extensions turned off (also called a "clean boot"). To do this, follow
these steps:
- Switch to the Macintosh Finder.
- Hold down SHIFT and click Restart on the Special menu.
- Continue holding down SHIFT until the "Welcome to Macintosh. Extensions
Off" message appears.
- Start Word and do some work.
If Word performs better, you can conclude that one or more extensions are
affecting the performance of your Macintosh. Proceed to the next section.
NOTE: To reactivate extensions, restart your Macintosh by clicking Restart
on the Special menu. Do not hold down the SHIFT key.
To Isolate the Problem Extension
To isolate the extension that is causing a problem, follow these steps:
- Move the Control Panel folder from the System folder to the
Macintosh desktop.
- Restart your computer (on the Special menu, click Restart).
If the problem no longer occurs, one of the Control Panel devices
is the culprit. On the other hand, if the problem still occurs, one
of the files in your Extensions folder is probably causing the
conflict. Now that you've identified the "problem folder," you're
ready to isolate the conflicting extension in that folder.
- Move the Control Panel folder back to the System folder.
- Open the problem folder (either the Control Panel or Extensions
folder), and move half the items from that folder to an empty
folder on the Desktop.
- Restart your computer. If the problem still occurs, then the file
causing the conflict is one of the items that remains in the
problem folder in the System folder. In this case, continue with
step 6.
On the other hand, if the problem no longer occurs, then the file
that is causing the conflict is one of the items you moved to the
empty folder on the desktop. In this case, skip to step 7.
- If the INIT or extension causing the conflict remains in the
problem folder, follow these steps:
- Move one of the files from the problem folder to the folder on
the desktop.
- Restart your computer.
- As long as the problem continues to occur, repeat steps 6a and
6b. Once the problem stops occurring, you can conclude that the
last item you removed from the problem folder is the one that
conflicts with your system. Skip to step 8.
- If the INIT or extension causing the conflict is in the folder on
the desktop, follow these steps:
- Move one of the files from the desktop folder back to its
original folder in the System folder.
- Restart your computer.
- Repeat steps 7a and 7b until the problem recurs. When this
happens, you can conclude that the last item you moved is the
one that conflicts with your system.
- Once you identify the extension or Control Panel device that
conflicts with your system, call the manufacturer of the extension
to see if they know about the problem or have a solution for it
(such as reinstalling the extension or changing its settings). The
manufacturer may have an updated version of the extension that
solves the problem.
For information about how to contact third-party manufacturers, click the appropriate article number in the following list to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: 65416 Hardware and Software Third-Party Vendor Contact List, A-K
60781 Hardware and Software Third-Party Vendor Contact List, L-P
60782 Hardware and Software Third-Party Vendor Contact List, Q-Z
If you still need help after you contact the manufacturer, for more
assistance troubleshooting extension conflicts on the Macintosh,
call Apple Technical Support at (800) SOS-APPL 767-2775).
The third-party contact information included in this article is provided to
help you find the technical support you need. This contact information is
subject to change without notice. Microsoft in no way guarantees the
accuracy of this third-party contact information.
For additional information about known extensions that conflict with Word,
please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
184594 WD98: Summary of Known Third-Party Extension Conflicts
NOTE: The majority of Control Panel devices and extensions do not cause
system conflicts. In general, printer drivers, network drivers, and fonts
in the Extensions folder do not conflict with most Macintosh systems.
Likewise, the following table contains the standard Control Panel devices
that Apple ships in the Control Panels folder. These items rarely cause
problems:
Cache Switch (68040 Memory
processors only) Monitors
Color Mouse
Date & Time Network
Easy Access Numbers
File Sharing Monitor Sharing Setup
General Controls Sound
Keyboard Startup Disk
Labels Users & Groups
Map Views
Rebuild the Desktop
The Desktop file is a hidden database file that contains information about
the files, folders, and other resources on your hard disk. You should
rebuild your Desktop file on a regular basis, as frequently as once per
month, to maintain overall system performance. You should also rebuild your
Desktop file after installing any software. To rebuild your Desktop file,
follow these steps:
- Hold down COMMAND+OPTION and start your computer. (Or, if your computer
is already running, click Restart on the Special menu.)
- Hold down COMMAND+OPTION until the "Would you like to rebuild the
Desktop" message appears.
- Release the COMMAND+OPTION keys and then click OK.
Other Suggestions- If you don't need the millions of colors your Macintosh supports, reduce
the number of colors from millions to thousands, or 256. (NOTE: 16
colors is not a recommended setting and is not available on System 8.0
or later.) With fewer colors active, your Macintosh does not take as
long to redraw the screen, and overall performance may improve. To
change the Colors setting, point to Control Panels on the Apple menu,
and click Monitors (in System 7.5), or click Monitors & Sound (System
8.0 and later).
- In Word, work in normal view instead of page layout view whenever
possible. In page layout view, Word takes longer to redraw the
screen.
- Select the Background Printing option that best fits the way you
work. With Background Printing turned on, your document prints a
bit more slowly, but you can continue working in Word while your
document is printing. With Background Printing turned off, your document
prints quickly, but you cannot work in Word until the print job is
finished. To change the Background Printing option, follow these steps:
- On the Apple menu, click Chooser.
- In the Chooser dialog box, select your printer icon.
- If Background Printing is available for your printer, click the
On or Off option as appropriate. Then close the Chooser dialog box.
Modification Type: | Major | Last Reviewed: | 10/4/2002 |
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Keywords: | kbenv kbhowto KB184839 |
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