Trying to help a friend

Techstdt · 11-06-2007, 05:57 AM

I'm trying to help a friend who runs a Mac. I don't know much about them...but I understand their core is Unix. I can work with that through command prompts. How do you pull up a command prompt using a Mac?

sinclair_tm · 11-06-2007, 08:33 AM

the terminal app found in the utility folder in the applications folder. just remember, not ever version of os x used the same shell. and although it is unix based, the commands may be sightly different. whats wrong with the mac. if you tell us, i'm sure we can find a simple way to fix it.

Techstdt · 11-06-2007, 04:47 PM

He's having connectivity issues...I'll instruct him on how to run some TCP utilities and we'll see what's going on. I'm betting he picked up a virus that's wreaking havoc. His virus protection is not up to date. I'll have him try the commands to see is he can reach across the internet. If so, I'll assume his issues are internal and attack the problem from there.

I'll let you know what's going on.

sinclair_tm · 11-07-2007, 10:36 PM

is this on a mac? there are no viruses that can effect him. how is he trying to connect, e-net or wireless? has he made sure that the network interface is turned on, and set up correctly in the network preferences? if wireless, is all the configuring been done correctly on the router and mac? when it comes to macs having issues connecting to networks, its never a virus, but always either software configured wrong, or hardware not fully setup. i had problems with my ibook once with wireless, weak signals, dropping connections, not seeing networks, only to find out that the antenna wasn't completely plugged in to the wireless card. they had inserted the cable, but didn't give it the snap to secure it in place, so it was moving around when i moved the ibook.

Techstdt · 11-10-2007, 08:18 AM

Sorry I couldn't get back to you, I've been busy with work among other things.

Thank you for your help and suggestions...problem is solved. I didn't mention that I live about 200 miles from my friend with this problem, so I was walking him through my repairs via the phone. One of my first questions was if he was connected and I got the "Of course, dumb a**." response from him. So I started chasing down the next corridors...

I got on his case again about being sure he had connection. He checked his connection and found he did not get his RJ45 clip to snap in. Since he's done that...I'll just say you look like a genius.

Thanks for the assistance!

sinclair_tm · 11-10-2007, 02:46 PM

the snap will get you every time.

11-06-2007, 05:57 AM	#1 (permalink)
Techstdt Registered User Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 8 OS: xp sp2	Trying to help a friend I'm trying to help a friend who runs a Mac. I don't know much about them...but I understand their core is Unix. I can work with that through command prompts. How do you pull up a command prompt using a Mac?

11-06-2007, 04:47 PM	#3 (permalink)
Techstdt Registered User Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 8 OS: xp sp2	Re: Trying to help a friend He's having connectivity issues...I'll instruct him on how to run some TCP utilities and we'll see what's going on. I'm betting he picked up a virus that's wreaking havoc. His virus protection is not up to date. I'll have him try the commands to see is he can reach across the internet. If so, I'll assume his issues are internal and attack the problem from there. I'll let you know what's going on.

11-10-2007, 08:18 AM	#5 (permalink)
Techstdt Registered User Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 8 OS: xp sp2	Re: Trying to help a friend Sorry I couldn't get back to you, I've been busy with work among other things. Thank you for your help and suggestions...problem is solved. I didn't mention that I live about 200 miles from my friend with this problem, so I was walking him through my repairs via the phone. One of my first questions was if he was connected and I got the "Of course, dumb a**." response from him. So I started chasing down the next corridors... I got on his case again about being sure he had connection. He checked his connection and found he did not get his RJ45 clip to snap in. Since he's done that...I'll just say you look like a genius. Thanks for the assistance!