Comments on: Customize your OS X clock and use it as a system lockup monitor http://osxhelp.com/customize-your-os-x-clock-and-use-it-as-a-system-lockup-monitor/ Insanely Simple Tutorials for the First Time Macintosh User Fri, 25 Jul 2008 01:15:25 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: namchampa http://osxhelp.com/customize-your-os-x-clock-and-use-it-as-a-system-lockup-monitor/#comment-6121 namchampa Mon, 26 May 2008 18:17:35 +0000 http://osxhelp.com/?p=159#comment-6121 http://paulstamatiou.com/2006/06/11/how-to-display-date-in-os-x-menu-bar http://paulstamatiou.com/2006/06/11/how-to-display-date-in-os-x-menu-bar

]]> By: namchampa http://osxhelp.com/customize-your-os-x-clock-and-use-it-as-a-system-lockup-monitor/#comment-6120 namchampa Mon, 26 May 2008 18:16:59 +0000 http://osxhelp.com/?p=159#comment-6120 actually - i remembered how, but here's a good link that explains the process. actually - i remembered how, but here’s a good link that explains the process.

]]> By: namchampa http://osxhelp.com/customize-your-os-x-clock-and-use-it-as-a-system-lockup-monitor/#comment-6118 namchampa Sat, 24 May 2008 11:17:41 +0000 http://osxhelp.com/?p=159#comment-6118 A wee question re. the display. On my old MBK I had the time/date menulette configured so that it read e.g Sat 24th May 2008 12:15. At the moment, the display simply reads Sat 12:15, and try as I might (in Open International), I can't seem to re-create the display as I'd had it, for my new MBK. Ideas? btw, the site is FAB! Thank you. A wee question re. the display. On my old MBK I had the time/date menulette configured so that it read e.g Sat 24th May 2008 12:15. At the moment, the display simply reads Sat 12:15, and try as I might (in Open International), I can’t seem to re-create the display as I’d had it, for my new MBK.
Ideas?
btw, the site is FAB! Thank you.

]]> By: Mike http://osxhelp.com/customize-your-os-x-clock-and-use-it-as-a-system-lockup-monitor/#comment-6043 Mike Mon, 12 May 2008 00:51:35 +0000 http://osxhelp.com/?p=159#comment-6043 Very helpful. I've done a number of reboots and wondered if I had waited if it would have worked itself out. Thanks! Very helpful. I’ve done a number of reboots and wondered if I had waited if it would have worked itself out. Thanks!

]]> By: Scott Haneda http://osxhelp.com/customize-your-os-x-clock-and-use-it-as-a-system-lockup-monitor/#comment-5869 Scott Haneda Tue, 29 Apr 2008 02:14:56 +0000 http://osxhelp.com/?p=159#comment-5869 @Judie, thanks for your comment. I do want to point out, this is just a small technique I have used in the past to give me a quick hint as to the state of my computer. It worked much better on OS 9 since that OS was not nearly as resilient. The best point of this tip is that there are times when you think the machine is stuck, and you end up rebooting, and possibly losing unsaved data. This will give you one last chance to see what is going on, and hopefully, allow you to wait it out. At least, give you the data you need to know if waiting it out is even a wise use of your time. @Judie, thanks for your comment. I do want to point out, this is just a small technique I have used in the past to give me a quick hint as to the state of my computer.

It worked much better on OS 9 since that OS was not nearly as resilient. The best point of this tip is that there are times when you think the machine is stuck, and you end up rebooting, and possibly losing unsaved data.

This will give you one last chance to see what is going on, and hopefully, allow you to wait it out. At least, give you the data you need to know if waiting it out is even a wise use of your time.

]]> By: Jack http://osxhelp.com/customize-your-os-x-clock-and-use-it-as-a-system-lockup-monitor/#comment-5845 Jack Sun, 27 Apr 2008 06:21:22 +0000 http://osxhelp.com/?p=159#comment-5845 @jp Look into HughesNet. The only requirement is to have a clear view of the southern sky. Basic plan is 700kbps down and 128kbps up. @jp Look into HughesNet. The only requirement is to have a clear view of the southern sky. Basic plan is 700kbps down and 128kbps up.

]]> By: Judie http://osxhelp.com/customize-your-os-x-clock-and-use-it-as-a-system-lockup-monitor/#comment-5844 Judie Sun, 27 Apr 2008 03:51:33 +0000 http://osxhelp.com/?p=159#comment-5844 Thanks, Scott. This sounds like a great little tool. At least I'll know if it is is isn't locked! I was having locking issues last week because I clicked on the screen saver that uses the mosaic. It jammed twice so I gave it up. It was still "acting up" and luckily my guru reminded me to dump the preference file. It's been fine for days now. But this little helpful technique of the flashing time separators and changing seconds (hey, I'm going with both *G*) will be very helpful. Judie Thanks, Scott. This sounds like a great little tool. At least I’ll know if it is is isn’t locked! I was having locking issues last week because I clicked on the screen saver that uses the mosaic. It jammed twice so I gave it up. It was still “acting up” and luckily my guru reminded me to dump the preference file. It’s been fine for days now. But this little helpful technique of the flashing time separators and changing seconds (hey, I’m going with both *G*) will be very helpful.

Judie

]]> By: WetcoastBob http://osxhelp.com/customize-your-os-x-clock-and-use-it-as-a-system-lockup-monitor/#comment-5814 WetcoastBob Fri, 25 Apr 2008 18:44:41 +0000 http://osxhelp.com/?p=159#comment-5814 I will be updating when my present project is complete. (I don't need the distraction at the moment) Cheers Bob I will be updating when my present project is complete. (I don’t need the distraction at the moment)

Cheers
Bob

]]> By: Scott Haneda http://osxhelp.com/customize-your-os-x-clock-and-use-it-as-a-system-lockup-monitor/#comment-5795 Scott Haneda Fri, 25 Apr 2008 00:46:06 +0000 http://osxhelp.com/?p=159#comment-5795 @WetcoastBob, you did not even need to tell me, I knew you were on 10.3 or 10.4 :-) You are in a rough spot, Caroline's laptop did this all the time as well. To my knowledge, and reading support articles on the matter, networking on older OS X's is not so great when you leave a connection open. The same happens to .mac users as well. Unfortunately, the best I can tell you is to update to 10.5, where to date, I have not had an issue with this. Sorry I can not be of more help. @WetcoastBob, you did not even need to tell me, I knew you were on 10.3 or 10.4 :-)

You are in a rough spot, Caroline’s laptop did this all the time as well. To my knowledge, and reading support articles on the matter, networking on older OS X’s is not so great when you leave a connection open.

The same happens to .mac users as well.

Unfortunately, the best I can tell you is to update to 10.5, where to date, I have not had an issue with this.

Sorry I can not be of more help.

]]> By: WetcoastBob http://osxhelp.com/customize-your-os-x-clock-and-use-it-as-a-system-lockup-monitor/#comment-5773 WetcoastBob Thu, 24 Apr 2008 16:17:51 +0000 http://osxhelp.com/?p=159#comment-5773 Thanks for this. I have had problems with the beachball every now and again which is quite frustrating because I could not figure out what is wrong. As it turns out, this happens when I have been networking between my iMac and MBP, close the lid on the MBP and try to work on the iMac. The iMac, when it discovers a broken connection, freezes while it tries to re-establish connection with the MBP. If I am quick I can wake the MBP from sleep and the connection is re-established. Sometimes it has been a while between closing the MBP and resuming work on the iMac and I sit there wondering what is up. Now I will go look at the clock and see what is happening and maybe it will jog my memory that I broke the connection. By the way, is there anywhere I can go to change the amount of time spent trying to re-establish contact? (I am running Tiger) Thanks for this. I have had problems with the beachball every now and again which is quite frustrating because I could not figure out what is wrong.

As it turns out, this happens when I have been networking between my iMac and MBP, close the lid on the MBP and try to work on the iMac. The iMac, when it discovers a broken connection, freezes while it tries to re-establish connection with the MBP. If I am quick I can wake the MBP from sleep and the connection is re-established.

Sometimes it has been a while between closing the MBP and resuming work on the iMac and I sit there wondering what is up. Now I will go look at the clock and see what is happening and maybe it will jog my memory that I broke the connection.

By the way, is there anywhere I can go to change the amount of time spent trying to re-establish contact? (I am running Tiger)

]]> By: jp http://osxhelp.com/customize-your-os-x-clock-and-use-it-as-a-system-lockup-monitor/#comment-5660 jp Mon, 21 Apr 2008 19:08:47 +0000 http://osxhelp.com/?p=159#comment-5660 Scott/Jim..Thanx to your efforts, I have determined my average dial-up speed on the new iMAC...The download manager idea did the trick....unfortunately, the test determined that 'speed' as being 3Kb/Sec! This is with a new apple external modem and phone line. One can only hope for future better service for outlying areas. Thanx again for the sage and timely advice. J.P. Scott/Jim..Thanx to your efforts, I have determined my average dial-up speed on the new iMAC…The download manager idea did the trick….unfortunately, the test determined that ’speed’ as being 3Kb/Sec! This is with a new apple external modem and phone line.
One can only hope for future better service for outlying areas.
Thanx again for the sage and timely advice.
J.P.

]]> By: Scott Haneda http://osxhelp.com/customize-your-os-x-clock-and-use-it-as-a-system-lockup-monitor/#comment-5485 Scott Haneda Sat, 19 Apr 2008 16:20:53 +0000 http://osxhelp.com/?p=159#comment-5485 @jp, aside from installing a 3rd party network tool, which I am hesitant to recommend at this point, I can think of one other method. Try downloading any file in Safari, makes little difference what, just try to have it be large. You can find a file at macupdate, or versiontracker, just any software should be fine. Look at your Safari downloads manager window, that will also tell you the speed at which a file is being downloaded. @jp, aside from installing a 3rd party network tool, which I am hesitant to recommend at this point, I can think of one other method.

Try downloading any file in Safari, makes little difference what, just try to have it be large. You can find a file at macupdate, or versiontracker, just any software should be fine.

Look at your Safari downloads manager window, that will also tell you the speed at which a file is being downloaded.

]]> By: JimB http://osxhelp.com/customize-your-os-x-clock-and-use-it-as-a-system-lockup-monitor/#comment-5347 JimB Thu, 17 Apr 2008 21:24:42 +0000 http://osxhelp.com/?p=159#comment-5347 @jp, I use http://www.speakeasy.net/speedtest/ for my tests-I generally will do it a couple times if I'm suspicious with the results. I do sympathize~it wasn't that long ago I suffered dial-up, playing solitaire waiting for pages to load. Even the lowest dsl offering is a huge improvement ;) @jp,
I use http://www.speakeasy.net/speedtest/ for my tests-I generally will do it a couple times if I’m suspicious with the results. I do sympathize~it wasn’t that long ago I suffered dial-up, playing solitaire waiting for pages to load. Even the lowest dsl offering is a huge improvement ;)

]]> By: jp http://osxhelp.com/customize-your-os-x-clock-and-use-it-as-a-system-lockup-monitor/#comment-5345 jp Thu, 17 Apr 2008 21:23:20 +0000 http://osxhelp.com/?p=159#comment-5345 Scott-Thanx for your prompt response re:Activity Monitor...I have tried to no avail - I get the monitor pane, but no activity on the network tab, even when loading web pages/mail. Perhaps dial up speeds are too low to register? A lengthy review of AppleHelp was not fruitful, and ;speedtest.net only measures broadbandspeeds (don't I wish!)...Thx..J.P. Scott-Thanx for your prompt response re:Activity Monitor…I have tried to no avail - I get the monitor pane, but no activity on the network tab, even when loading web pages/mail. Perhaps dial up speeds are too low to register? A lengthy review of AppleHelp was not fruitful, and ;speedtest.net only measures broadbandspeeds (don’t I wish!)…Thx..J.P.

]]> By: Scott Haneda http://osxhelp.com/customize-your-os-x-clock-and-use-it-as-a-system-lockup-monitor/#comment-5262 Scott Haneda Wed, 16 Apr 2008 21:17:16 +0000 http://osxhelp.com/?p=159#comment-5262 @Jim, thanks for the appreciation. This was a bit of a strange post, and I hoped people would understand what I was getting at. It is by no means a 100% perfect way to test a locked up machine, but for a quick glance method, it has served me well over the years. @Jim, thanks for the appreciation. This was a bit of a strange post, and I hoped people would understand what I was getting at. It is by no means a 100% perfect way to test a locked up machine, but for a quick glance method, it has served me well over the years.

]]> By: Scott Haneda http://osxhelp.com/customize-your-os-x-clock-and-use-it-as-a-system-lockup-monitor/#comment-5261 Scott Haneda Wed, 16 Apr 2008 21:16:02 +0000 http://osxhelp.com/?p=159#comment-5261 @jp, there are a few ways to determine download speed. One is to use a service, such as http://www.speedtest.net/ though at times, they can be inaccurate. If you look at /Applications/Utilities/Activity Monitor, you can see there is a Network tab at the bottom, that will show you, in real time, the data in and out in Bytes. @jp, there are a few ways to determine download speed. One is to use a service, such as http://www.speedtest.net/ though at times, they can be inaccurate.

If you look at /Applications/Utilities/Activity Monitor, you can see there is a Network tab at the bottom, that will show you, in real time, the data in and out in Bytes.

]]> By: JimB http://osxhelp.com/customize-your-os-x-clock-and-use-it-as-a-system-lockup-monitor/#comment-5252 JimB Wed, 16 Apr 2008 19:18:45 +0000 http://osxhelp.com/?p=159#comment-5252 That is a great technique~I've made the changes. I've had those freeze ups and wondered if it was an app or OS. Thank you! That is a great technique~I’ve made the changes. I’ve had those freeze ups and wondered if it was an app or OS. Thank you!

]]> By: jp http://osxhelp.com/customize-your-os-x-clock-and-use-it-as-a-system-lockup-monitor/#comment-5249 jp Wed, 16 Apr 2008 16:56:04 +0000 http://osxhelp.com/?p=159#comment-5249 Scott-Many thx for your helpful site. I started following it even prior to buying my iMAC last week. I've made the clock change in hopes I will not have to cold boot ever again! I am on dial-up and Safari seems to load even slower than my old 386. How do I determine my download speed in Safari? Your sage advice would be greatly appreciated. J.P. Scott-Many thx for your helpful site. I started following it even prior to buying my iMAC last week. I’ve made the clock change in hopes I will not have to cold boot ever again!
I am on dial-up and Safari seems to load even slower than my old 386. How do I determine my download speed in Safari? Your sage advice would be greatly appreciated. J.P.

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