Raymond.CC Blog

Category: Apple Mac OS X

  • Memory Test for Mac OS X

    Mac can be conveniently purchased from the Apple store and most of configuration allows you to upgrade the memory so that you don’t need to open the case and take the risk in using an incompatible memory which would cause system lockups. The only thing is the upgrade from Apple store cost a lot more money if compared to the one that it purchased from a computer store. For example, an additional 2GB of memory cost $50 at Apple Store while it only cost less than $10 if you search in Pricewatch. If you’re willing to take the risk in adding extra memory in your Mac either to save money or perhaps you have a few lying around, it is best to run a memory test to make sure that the RAM is fully compatible and won’t make your Mac unstable.

    Here we suggest 3 different methods to easily run a memory test on your Mac OS X including the latest Mountain Lion 10.8.

    1. Rember

    Rember

    Rember is actually a GUI for the popular command line memory testing tool called Memtest OS X. Instead of typing commands in terminal, you can run the test by clicking a button. You are able to test a selected amount or all of the memory, specify the number of times the tests should run and also viewing of the log. Rember includes Memtest OS X in the package so there is no need to manually download and install the memtest. Running Rember will show a table displaying the detected memory on your Mac. Select the amount of memory to test, number of loops and click the Test button to start checking the memory. When the tests is finished, Rember will show the test results.

    Rember runs in Mac OS X which means that not all of the ram can be tested due to a portion of RAM being reserved for housekeeping.

    Download Rember

    2. Memtest86+

    Memtest86+

    If your Mac has a SuperDrive, you can burn the pre-compiled bootable ISO image of the Memtest86+ and boot up the Mac with the disc. Just press and hold the C key when starting up Mac to boot from the disc. The good thing about Memtest86+ is it runs by itself without relying on the operating system, giving you a more accurate memory test result.

    Download Memtest86+

    3. Apple Hardware Test

    Apple Hardware Test

    This is the recommended way by Apple to test your memory using their diagnostic tool. If you have an installation disc, insert the disc, restart your Mac, press and hold the C key. Select the language for the Apple Hardware Test and click the Test button to start testing. You can also tick the “Perform extended testing” option which would perform a more thorough test that takes considerably more time to complete. On the latest Mac OS X Mountain Lion, the Apple Hardware Test is already pre-installed and it doesn’t come with an installation disc. Simply boot up, press and hold the D key to start the Apple Hardware Test.

    You can also see the amount of memory installed on your Mac at the Hardware Profile tab to confirm that the memory is correctly installed and detected. There are some Apple Hardware Test images that can be downloaded for older models. Do note that the Apple Hardware Test images are machine specific meaning that you cannot use the iBook version on a Mac Mini.

    Download Apple Hardware Test

  • Install Mac OS X 10.4.3 on Intel (Part 3) • Raymond.CC

    You should now have the file macosx_10.4.3_8f1111_for_dtk_userdvd.iso after using UltraISO to convert .dmg to .iso.
    It is “possible” to burn the .iso file to your DVD but it wouldn’t work because it’s still original Apple Mac OS X.
    You’ll need to patch some of the files in order to boot Mac OS X from the DVD disc.
    The patching process can be very confusing but thanks to JaS, he has created a generic patch for Mac OS X.
    You can try looking for the file 1111a.Generic.Patch.v4.2b.zip on the internet. It’s everywhere!

    Inside the 1111a.Generic.Patch.v4.2b.zip, there is a total of 5 files.
    – JaS 1111a Generic Patch.V4.2b.rtf
    – JaS.1111a.Generic.Patch.V4.2b.ppf
    – md5summer.exe
    – ppf-o-matic3.exe
    – PPF-O-Maticv30.dmg.gz

    Run ppf-o-matic3.exe and you should see the screen below.
    PPF-O-Matic
    Click on the diskette icon from the ISO File line and browse the macosx_10.4.3_8f1111_for_dtk_userdvd.iso which you’ve created from UltraISO.
    As for Patch, browse to JaS.1111a.Generic.Patch.V4.2b.ppf
    Finally, click on the Apply button, and you’ll have a fully working patched macosx_10.4.3_8f1111_for_dtk_userdvd.iso which you can burn it on a DVD RECORDABLE disc.
    I’ve read somewhere that you can only use a DVD RECORDABLE disc to burn the Mac OS X 10.4.3. DVD REWRITABLE will NOT work! Not sure, haven’t tested that.

    I use Nero to burn the .iso file to DVD recordable disc.
    Launch Nero and click on the Open button to load the .iso file and burn it.
    After completed burning the Mac OS X 10.4.3 DVD, reboot your computer and set your BIOS to start from DVDROM….
    Installation for Mac OS X 10.4.3 will start…. Just follow the simple step by step information.

    Didn’t find what you want? The links below could help:

  • Install Mac OS X 10.4.3 on Intel (Part 2) • Raymond.CC

    After you’ve managed to download macosx_10.4.3_8f1111_for_dtk_userdvd.dmg, you’ll need to convert .dmg to .iso to burn it to DVD.
    For your information, .dmg extension is Macintosh OS X Disk Copy Disk Image File and it is unreadable by Windows.

    To convert .dmg to .iso, you can use UltraISO. UltraISO is not only used to convert .iso to .dmg, UltraISO is an ISO CD/DVD image file creating/editing/converting tool and a bootable CD/DVD maker , it can directly edit the CD/DVD image file and extract files and folders from it, as well as directly make ISO files from your CD/DVD-ROM or hard disk. At the same time, you can maintain the ISO bootable information, thus creating your own bootable CD/DVDs. You now have the power to make and edit your own ISO files, and then burn them to CD/DVD for your own needs.

    This is where you find the option to convert .dmg to .iso
    Convert .dmg to .iso

    This is the window to convert .dmg to .iso
    Convert .dmg to .iso
    Just browse and load the macosx_10.4.3_8f1111_for_dtk_userdvd.dmg file at the Input Image Filename(s): and select the output directory where you’d like to have your new .iso file created and saved to.
    Finally, click Convert button and wait for around 10 minutes, you’ll get your newly converted .iso file from .dmg.

    Continued on Part 3…

    Didn’t find what you want? The links below could help:

  • Install Mac OS X 10.4.3 on Intel (Part 1) • Raymond.CC

    I will write a part by part guide on how to install Apple Mac OS X 10.4.3 on your Intel’s computer.
    First of all, it is most important to check Hardware Compatibility List (HCL).
    Check here if you intend to install Mac OS X 10.4.3 on your notebook/laptop/portable.
    Click here to check for supported hardwares for Mac OS X 10.4.3 on Intel
    If you think your computer can support running Mac OS X 10.4.3, then you can “TRY” to install. Please do backup your files before you begin.

    First step is to get the Mac OS X 10.4.3 installer which is in .dmg format.
    Usually the filename is macosx_10.4.3_8f1111_for_dtk_userdvd.dmg and it’s 2.80GB in size.
    I will not teach you how to get it, but you can use your friendly google search engine to search and read up on how to obtain the .dmg file.

    Continued on Part 2…

  • Easier way to remote control Mac via Apple Remote Desktop

    Yesterday I blogged about remote controlling Mac OS X from Windows by installing VNC server on Mac OS X which is very troublesome due to the conflict with Apple Remote Desktop (ARD) on port 5900.
    Today I found a much easier way to access Mac OS X via Windows.


    It is also being done using VNC Viewer but this time without installing anything on Mac OS X.
    Just merely a single check and that enables you to remote control Mac OS X from Windows via VNC Viewer.
    Here’s the simple step to remote control Mac OS X via Windows with VNC Viewer…
    1. Go to System Preferences from your Mac OS X Dock.

    2. Click on Sharing
    Mac OS X System Sharing

    3. Check on the Apple Remote Desktop to enable service. After that click on Access Privileges…
    Mac OS X Apple Remote Desktop settings

    4. Make sure you check everything and finally the most important box to enable by checking is “VNC viewers may control screen with password:”
    VNC viewers may control screen with password

    Once you’ve done all that, you do NOT need to install any third-party VNC server such as OSXvnc or cotvnc on your Apple Mac OS X.
    You can now use any VNC Viewer from your Windows operating system to remote control your Apple Mac OS X.

    Isn’t that cool 😉

  • Bypass Hard Disk Encryption Software and Format Your PC

    There is more and more people concern about their system security, beside installing antivirus programs on their system, they want more stuff to ensure the system is secure, such as malware removal programs like Spybot, HijackThis or something such as hard drive encryption program which can protect your hard drive data using encryption method to create a secure safe box surrounding your hard drive. With this method of encryption, unauthorized user are not allow to access your system without access key, and they cannot even simply format your system by just inserting the OS installation CDs.

    Recently I am creating standard OS image for a company and I have to work with few demo units to perform the OS image creation. Unfortunately, one of the Table PC was installed with encryption software. The worst is, the customer forgot the administrator password for the encryption software and if I cannot do anything on this, we will need to replace the hard drive, after that will need to send the encrypted hard drive back to the manufacturer and perform a low level format on it… Definitely I do not want this happen and I tried to search online for solution.


    Apparently, I called Raymond for help, asking him what are the tools that available at Internet allow me to perform low level format on the hard drive, and also most importantly, the software should be able to intercept Master Boot Record (MBR), as the encryption software already modified the content inside the MBR, so that other people cannot simply insert an OS bootable disk to perform a wipe off on the hard drive.

    Well, there is software called – Darik’s Boot and Nuke, although the name sound very crazy and scary, but it is very useful when you want to perform ‘emergency data destruction’. This tool will wipe off the hard disks of most of the computers during system boot up, and it is easy to use. You guys can go to this website and download the tool from there. The website also provides additional instruction and information on how to use the tool to perform low level format on your hard drive. This is an Open Source solution, which not only available for Intel based system, it also can wipe off Mac system.

    To use this tool, just simply follow below steps:

      1. Download the .iso source, and then burn it into CD
      2. Insert the CD into your system, and allow your system boot using CD-ROM
      3. Wait for the Darik’s Boot and Nuke console to launch, type ‘autonuke’ command (Or you can press the F3 key for additional list of quick commands)
      4. Wait for the program to perform low level format on your hard drive, reboot your system after the format is complete.

    I tried this software and found that is useful, thanks for Raymond sharing this with me, and now I would like to take this opportunity to share with you guys. Hope you guys like it.

    Related posts:

  • Changing or Spoofing Hard Disk Hardware Serial Number and Volume ID
  • Wipe Your Hard Disk Before Lending or Giving Away
  • A FREE Hard Disk utility to Benchmark and Test your hard drive
  • Find Out What Program is Secretly Accessing Your Hard Disk Drive
  • Accelerate Hard Disk Drive to Speed Up File Transfer