Apple Logic (1.1) - Manual (Page 105)

Chapter D Optimizing Your Audio Computer System 105
Troubleshooting
They may be rare, but every computer user inevitably experiences seemingly severe
computer problems at some point. These may be crashes where the mouse freezes, the
screen locks up, or the display is plastered with error messages. Even mature, well-
written operating systems cannot protect you completely from hardware conflicts,
bugs, or other problems.
Experience has shown that such system problems are rarely caused by a defect in our
programs or hardware products. All Apple hardware and software is rigorously tested
by a diverse range of musicians and studio users, from a variety of fields and uses, who
look for any faults or problems.
This doesn’t mean that the possibility of errors can be completely ruled out; problems
can crop up periodically. This is not unexpected as the various applications, operating
system versions, and drivers, are all developed, and improved in parallel by unrelated
programming teams, which leads to occasional compatibility problems. We do,
however, provide fixes in the form of software updates, as soon as we become aware of
such problems, and are grateful to any users who make us aware of them.
If you suffer from system crashes or errors, you may well find the tips in this chapter
helpful, even if the problems are ultimately unrelated to Apple products. In most cases,
these problems, once identified, can be rectified with a minimum of effort, although
tracing the cause of such problems can be time consuming. You will be able to
overcome most of these problems without needing to consult an expert—this chapter
will guide you on how to proceed. It is best to eliminate the classic causes of problems
before you suspect a hardware defect, or another fault—especially before sending your
machine in for repair, or your software for a refund. Take care, though: some of these
suggestions may only cure the symptoms, and could therefore complicate the
identification of the actual cause of the problem. Persistent problems will require the
advice of an expert.
If you bought your computer and audio hardware at the same time, it is a good idea to
test that the computer is functioning as expected, with just a mouse, keyboard, and
display attached, before installing the audio interface and additional hardware (external
hard disks, printers etc.). All new Macintoshes ship with pre-installed software, which
should allow you to test that everything is working correctly. Once you have switched
everything off, you can proceed with the installation of any additional hard disks,
modems, scanners etc., if applicable. Once done, check that everything is working as it
should be. If so, you can unplug all cables from the back of the computer and begin
the installation of your audio hardware.