Home > Administrative Offices > Information Technology > Helpdesk > Step by Step Tutorials > Mac OS Guides > VSU Campus iMac Lab New User's Guide > Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I:
- Hardware
- Programs
- Files
- CDs and DVDs
- Jumpdrives and Other USB Devices
- Internet
- Printing
How do I startup the computer?
The power button is located on the bottom left hand corner of the back of the monitor. Press the power button to turn the computer on.
How do I determine if the Mac is on or off?
Look on the front of the monitor. In the bottom right corner, if a round dot is lit but the screen is blank, the computer is in sleep mode, but is powered on. By pressing a key on the keyboard, you can de-activate sleep mode and use the computer. If this light is off and the screen is blank, the computer is off.
How do I restart the computer?
Look in the upper left hand corner of the screen for an Apple icon. Click on it. Then, on the drop-down menu, click Restart.
How do I shutdown the computer?
Look in the upper left hand corner of the screen for an Apple icon. Click on it. Then, on the drop-down menu, click Shut Down...
The mouse on an iMac is similar to the mouse on a PC. However, unlike a PC mouse, it does not have a right-click button. Instead, you will press the control key on the keyboard. While holding the control key down, click the mouse. Also, to scroll, roll the ball near the center of the mouse.
The keyboard on an iMac is somewhat different from a PC keyboard. Mac keyboards have 2 USB ports on either side of the wire. Also the CD / DVD eject is on the keyboard. It is located in the upper right corner of the keyboard.
Plug the headset into the headphone jack on the right side of the back of the monitor.
How do I change the sound volume?
Use the volume keys located on the upper right hand corner of the keyboard.
The dock is the bar across the bottom of the screen that features a list of programs.
To start a program, locate in the dock. Click on the icon and the program will start.
How do I switch between windows?
To switch between open windows, look at the bottom of the screen in the dock. Programs that are running will have a small arrow underneath their icon in the dock. Just click on the icon to switch to that window. If you have multiple windows of the same program open, press the control key on the keyboard. While holding the control key, click on the icon for the program using the mouse. In the pop-up menu that appears, select the window you wish to open.
To minimize windows, click on the yellow circular button that resembles a minus sign.
To maximize windows, in the upper left hand corner of the window, click on the green circular button that resembles a plus sign.
While a program is running, there will be a small arrow below its icon in the dock at the bottom of the screen. Click on the icon for the program and it will bring the program to the foreground. On the top of the screen, click on the menu named after the program you are running. In the drop-down menu that appears, click Quit.
How do I stop a non-responsive program?
To stop a non-responsive program press Apple key, Alt/Option key, and Esc key at the same time to bring up the Force Quit window. Click on the program you want to quit. Then click Force Quit. Continue to click on programs that then click Force Quit until all non-responsive programs have been stopped. You may then close the Force Quit window.
How do I find the files that I saved?
The default save location for documents is the Documents folder. To access the Documents folder, click on the Finder icon in the dock. Then, double-click on the Documents folder.
To copy a file, click on the file. While holding down the mouse, drag the file to the device or folder you want to copy the file to. Then, release the mouse.
How do I delete a file?
To delete a file, press the control key on the keyboard. While holding the control key, click on the file using the mouse. Then click on Move to Trash.
How do I convert documents from PC to Mac?
Microsoft Office 2003 documents do not require conversion. Neither Microsoft Office 2007 nor Microsoft Works documents can be opened on the iMac.
How do I convert documents from Mac to PC?
No conversion is required.
If a file is zipped, double-click the file. The file will be extracted and an icon for the unzipped file will appear on the desktop.
On the right hand side of the monitor, there is a slot to insert either a CD or DVD. Make sure the front of the disc (the side with the label) is facing you when you put the it in. Push the disc slightly until the computer catches the disc and pulls it in.
How do I write to a CD or DVD?
Once the CD is inserted into the iMac, an icon for the CD will appear on the desktop. Double-click on the icon to make a CD window appear. Locate the file you want to write to the disc, click on the file and, while holding down the mouse, drag the files into the CD window. Repeat this step until all files you want to write to the disc are shown in the CD window. Now click on the radiation symbol icon to begin the writing process. A new pop-up window will appear. Here, you may select a name for the CD, choose what speed you want to burn it at, and if you want to save the burned files to the hard drive. Finally, click Burn. The computers in the iMac labs are not equipped to write to DVDs.
To eject a CD/DVD, press and hold down the eject key on the keyboard until it ejects. This key is located at the top right hand corner of the keyboard.
How do I connect a jumpdrive or other USB device?
There are two USB ports on the keyboard on either side of the wire. There is an additional USB port on the back of the computer. Plug the device in. If the device cannot be connected with little effort, you may have the USB plug upside-down. Flip it and re-attempt to insert it. A desktop icon for the device will appear.
How do I write files to a jumpdrive?
After you have connected a jumpdrive, an icon for the device will appear on the desktop. Double-click on the icon and a jumpdrive window will open. Locate the file you want to save to the jumpdrive, click on the file and, while holding down the mouse, drag the files into the jumpdrive window. In most applications, to save directly to the jumpdrive, click on the Where: drop-down menu in the Save As dialog box.
How do I open files from a jumpdrive?
After you have connected a jumpdrive, an icon for the device will appear on the desktop. Double-click on the icon and a jumpdrive window will open. Locate the file you want to save to the jumpdrive, double-click on the file. In most applications, you can open directly from the jumpdrive by clicking on the jumpdrive in the Open dialog box. Then, select the file you are attempting to open and click the Open button.
How do I eject a jumpdrive or other USB device?
Press the control key on the keyboard. While holding the control key, click on the device's icon on the desktop using the mouse. In the drop-down menu that appears, click Eject. After clicking Eject, remove the device from the USB port.
Note: If you get an error message saying the device could not be ejected, make sure you have closed all programs that are accessing data from the jumpdrive and attempt to eject it again. If you still receive the error message, shutdown the computer and then remove the jumpdrive.
How do I find the Internet browser?
iMacs do not have Internet Explorer. Instead, the iMac's default browser is Safari. Mozilla Firefox is also available on Macs. To open a web browser, click on the icon for it in the dock.
If you are using Safari, click the Safari menu. Then click Reset Safari... A pop-up window will appear. Click on Reset. If you are using Firefox, click on the Tools menu. Then click Clear Private Data... A Clear Private data window will appear. Finally, click Clear Private Data Now.
To print double-side click the File menu. Then click Print. Click Copies & Pages. Then, click Layout. Under Two-Sided, select the radio button titled Long-Edged Binding. Finally, click the Print button.
Print only selected text from a web browser?
You can print only selected text in Mozilla Firefox.To do so, click the File menu. Then click Print. Click Copies & Pages. Then, click Firefox. Check the box in front of Print Selection Only. Click the Preview button. Ensure that the document looks the way you wish. Finally, click the Print button. You cannot print only selected text in Safari. However, you can copy the text and paste it into a document, such as in Microsoft Word.