WD98: Optimizing Your Macintosh System Configuration

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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).

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MORE INFORMATION

Memory 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.
1. On the Apple menu, point to Control Panels and click Memory.
2. In the Memory dialog box, under Virtual Memory, click On.
3. In the Size box, set the minimum virtual memory size.
  
  NOTE: If you are using RAM Doubler 2.0.x, Virtual Memory is unnecessary.

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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.

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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.

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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:
1. Move one of the files from the problem folder to the folder on the desktop.
2. Restart your computer.
3. 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:
1. Move one of the files from the desktop folder back to its original folder in the System folder.
2. Restart your computer.
3. 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, view the following hardware and software third-party vendor contact information: http://support.microsoft.com/gp/vendors/en-us (http://support.microsoft.com/gp/vendors/en-us)

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 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/184594/EN-US/ ) 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 &amp; Groups
       Map                         Views

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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.

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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:
1. On the Apple menu, click Chooser.
2. In the Chooser dialog box, select your printer icon.
3. If Background Printing is available for your printer, click the On or Off option as appropriate. Then close the Chooser dialog box.

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