iMac Spinning Color Wheel

iMac Spinning Color Wheel

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The customer’s iMac, desktop computer, started to display a color spinning color wheel on the display and the user could not perform any computer activity. There are a number of almost secret Mac utilities one can very easily employ to try to fix these problems. Let’s go down the list as I had to do to find a fix for this computer. My list order can be changed. The order I show here can be changed. My point is to try them all until the computer is fixed.

#1 I reset the non-volatile RAM (NVRAM) using Macworld procedures outlined below (my changes included):

To reset your NVRAM, you use exactly the same procedure you once used to reset PRAM.
Shut down your Mac.
Press the power button, and as soon as you power up the laptop, hold down Command-Option-P key and -R key.
Keep holding down those keys until you hear a SECOND chime.  For me this took a long, long, time.  After you hear the second chime then let go of all the keys and allow your Mac to continue starting normally.  The startup process for me took some time.
Then check the Startup Disk, Display, and Date & Time panes of System Preferences to make sure they’re set the way you want them.
If you hold down Command-Option-P-R at startup and you see nothing but a gray screen that doesn’t change for several minutes—no Apple logo, no progress bar, no second startup chime—don’t panic. The most likely cause is that your Mac isn’t registering the key presses due to wonkiness with a USB device. Disconnect all USB devices (except your keyboard, if it’s a wired keyboard), hold the power button down until the Mac shuts off completely, and then press it again and immediately hold down Command-Option-P-R.

#2 I reset the System Management Controller (SMC)
Before you can reset your SMC, you must shut down your Mac. After that, the procedure varies depending on the type of Mac you have.
Desktop Macs: Disconnect the power cord (either from the Mac or from the AC outlet). Wait 15 seconds and plug it back in. Then wait another 5 seconds and turn the iMac back on by pressing the power button for 8 seconds or more.

#3 Safe Boot:
I performed the safe boot.

  • Press and hold the Shift key immediately after you hear the startup tone.
  • Release the Shift key when the Apple logo appears. Safe Boot appears on the Mac OS X startup screen.
  • Failure to solve the problem but this allowed me to launch Disk Utility and Activity Monitor (shown below).

#4 Disk Utility:
I ran the disk utility and it showed nothing wrong with the hard drive.

#5 Activity Monitor

I got the computer to run for a short time so I launched Activity Monitor. This application can be found in Applications > Utilities. When it is launched it can appear quite intimidating. A long list of current computer activities is shown with the most demanding activity listed at the top and boy does the list constantly change. The trick is to concentrate on the top list of items because they use the most computer time/resources. Instantly I spotted “Backup” being the top list item. That did NOT make sense to me.  I was not running any backup application.  I double clicked on that task.  A window appeared on the screen showing that task information.  From that window I selected “Quit” option. The computer began to work way better.

#6 System Preferences

I then went to the computer “System Preferences” and mouse clicked on “Users & Groups”. I mouse selected the customer’s “Current User” name. I then mouse selected “Login Items” and found that the “Data” hard drive appeared. That is WRONG!  There is NO computer application called “Data”.  I mouse selected “Data” and mouse clicked the negative or minus icon to delete that start up item.

#7  Time Machine

I went to view the Time Machine settings and found that the customer had chosen to backup “Applications”.  In my opinion, this was a mistake.  You typically want to backup your data such as documents, pictures, movies, etc.  I removed Applications as a backup.  To really make sure the customer’s computer was working, I turned Time Machine off.  Let’s see how the computer works for a week or two.

The computer worked quite well after these changes.

 

Revised:  8/24/2022.  Removed web page links because they were broken.

Some Republicans Allegedly Become Criminals

Some Republicans Allegedly Become Criminals

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The Republican Party wants to close down the Russian investigation. The obvious reason is those Republicans intend to participate in the criminal activity by protecting the alleged criminals. If successful, the pending criminal Republicans can cover and protect all the participants, including themselves.

The facts show that the Muller investigation has exposed serious crime. These criminals have in most cases, attacked the United States institutions. Following is a list proof that the Russian investigation is a viable and fruitful investigation:

Trump Investigation score card so far (May 2018):

  • More than 100 criminal counts have been issued.
  • Criminal counts have been cast against 19 people.
  • Three Trump associates have been charged. Two have pleaded guilty.
  • Criminal counts against three companies.
  • Thirteen Russians are accused of meddling in the 2016 presidential election.
Apple AirPods Definitely Work With LG V30 Cell Phone

Apple AirPods Definitely Work With LG V30 Cell Phone

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I have been annoyed with my JayBird X2 Bluetooth headsets for a number of reasons.

  • The ear pieces do not seem to fit into my ear very well.  I have to keep pushing the earbuds into position from time to time on my weekend walks.
  • When I take a walk with my wife, I notice that the cord connecting both headsets rubs against my shirt collar and at times the cord pulls on one of the ear pieces and I have to push the earpiece back into my ear.
  • The rubber fins keep coming off the ear pieces when I take the headsets out of my pocket.  I have lost a number of them.
  • Getting the JayBird X2 Bluetooth to sync to my cell phone, about half the time, takes repeated efforts to pair with my LG V30 cell phone.  I have even had to do a cell phone restart to get the pairing to work.  I am not sure where the problem lies, the cell phone or the headset.  The JayBird X2 does pair with my Toshiba Satellite Windows 10 laptop.

I love to sit watching news programs from my Macbook Air every night while eating dinner.  I never use the JayBird but instead use a wired headset,  I use only one earpiece, for some reason.  I would love to have a single Bluetooth headset instead of wired.

I think I began seeing only a few individuals wearing the Apple AirPods early 2018.  They look sort of dorky.  I went with my daughter when she shopped at the Apple Store for an Apple Pencil.  I decided to buy the Apple AirPods.  No Apple sales person could confirm if the AirPods would work with my Android phone or not.  A sales lady fired an AirPod up to pair with my phone but there were so many Bluetooth devices in the store that it failed to show.  I went home and did a quick research and one web site report gave some hope that the AirPods should work with the LG V30.  I drove back to the store and purchased the AirPods.  If they did not work, I could take them back for a full refund.  When I got to my car, I opened the box and took out the AirPods and tried to pair them with my cell phone.  THEY WORKED!  I used one of the AirPods to listen to my favorite Pocket Cast show, Background Briefing.

Here is what I like about the AirPods:

  • The case that you store the AirPods in is extremely clever. The case is extremely small.  The earpieces seem to get sucked into the box each time you put them in.  The case can charge the earpieces multiple times with no USB cable attached!  So put the earpieces back into the case each time.  The LED under the lid will show you when they attain full charge.
  • The pairing button on the back side of the box is a bit hard to view but clever.
  • The case lid snaps shut nicely.  The lid activates the LED indicator inside the lid.  Note that if the lid is left open, the LED indicator will not show.  To see the LED status light if it extinguishes, just close the lid if it was left open and then open it again.
  • The LED light inside the case shows you the status of the headsets when the headsets are inside the case:
    • RED = Charging
    • AMBER = Not Fully Charged.
    • GREEN = Fully charged.
    • WHITE FLASHING = Pairing.
  • I found that the whole case slips into my jeans coin pocket.
  • The unit comes with a USB charge cable.  If you buy the unit, remove the bottom cardboard piece under the AirPod case to find the cable.
  • The audio quality is very good.  I think it is a bit better than the JayBird X2.
  • The earpieces are very comfortable.

Note:  (Alternative to pairing using the case)  I have had the headsets loose pairing.  This can happen when I place my cell phone down on a table and walk away some distance.   All I need to do is put the headset into my ear and go to the audio source (cell phone, laptop, etc.) and initiate the pairing from the source.  The headset will give me a brief tone indicating that pairing has taken place.

What I do not like about the AirPods:

Once I paired my Airpods to my LG V30 Cell phone it would not pair with my MacBook Air.  This should be an embarrassment for Apple.

Here is what I do like with the JayBird X2:

These headsets pair with my LG V30 with some difficulty.  They Pair easily with my MacBook Pro.  They pair easily with my Toshiba Satellite Windows 10 laptop.

I love the audible messages that the JayBird X2 is turned on, turned off and paired.

The JayBird X2 seems to be the better value if you have a number of different devices that you want to use them with.

 

What I am concerned with:

  • The AirPods earpieces do not seem to lock into my ear canal tightly but I found they do stay in place.  The JayBird X2 have rubber fins that sort of help keep the earpiece in place but I have more trouble keeping them in place than the AirPods.
  • These AirPod earpieces are so small, I am worried that I will loose them.
  • The case is so small that I might loose the whole unit.  I get a lot of free address labels because I donate money to charities.  I put one of those address labels on the case.
This post was written and put up, May 11, 2018.  As I gain more experience with the Apple AirPods, I may modify this post. This post  was updated May 29, 2018.
Comet SBB5 2M / 70cm Dualband Mobile Antenna Review

Comet SBB5 2M / 70cm Dualband Mobile Antenna Review

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I really recommend the Comet SBB5.  This is a 2 meter and 440 antenna.  It does not require a ground plane.  It is almost double the length of the SBB2 which is an awful antenna.   My SWR analyzer showed a near perfect SWR for 2 meters using the SBB5.  Typically this antenna is attached to a vehicle.  I volunteered to provide communications for a walk and run event at a local university.  From past experience working this event, I found that the tall cement and steel buildings that stand like mountains between me and the event control operator posed attenuated signal strength.   Using an improved antenna is one solution to ensure clear communications.  You can not walk around using the antenna.  Typically each operator is assigned a fix position along the walk run walk routes.   The event starts at 7am and finishes at 11am.  I am not going to stand for 4 hours.  I decided to bring a beach chair.  I also took the ProLine MS220CR microphone stand and attached a TRAM Model 3270 to the end of the mic stand so I could screw in my antenna.  I also had a ABR Industries 6 foot RG316/U with SMA Male connector to allow me to use my HT radio with this antenna.  I can thus sit in my chair and transmit using a superior antenna at a raised elevation.

Antenna is Recommended.

Comet SBB2 Dual Band Antenna: 146/446 MHz Review

Comet SBB2 Dual Band Antenna: 146/446 MHz Review

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This review is for ham radio licensed individuals:

Like an idiot, I assumed the Comet SBB2 antenna was resonant for 2 meters when I purchased it.  The package shows “146/446MHz”.  After having this antenna for years, I decided to test it with my MFJ HF/VHF SWR Analyzer, model MFJ-249.  The results were awful.  My MFJ unit only tests 2 meters and not 440.   The 2 meter test results shows the antenna to be resonant close to 160 MHz.  I have two of these antennas.  By looking at the two antennas, it was obvious that I had one older and one newer version.   Both antennas gave the same results.  The SWR reading was in the red for 2 meter operation.  This antenna has Allen wrench locking screws that makes one believe this antenna can be tuned.  I could not adjust this antenna.  Comet should do a recall or offer a repair kit.  Not Recommended.

I really recommend the Comet SBB5.  It is almost double the length of the SBB2 but my SWR analyzer showed a near perfect SWR for 2 meters.  Recommended.

I hope to soon buy a MFJ SWR tester that will cover 440 and update this report for that band.

Product Warning: Neutrogena Naturals Purifying Cream Cleanser

Product Warning: Neutrogena Naturals Purifying Cream Cleanser

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September 6, 2017, my daughter used Neutrogena Naturals Purifying Cream Cleanser.  Soon after applying this her face became red and felt hot.  Her face looked like she had been out in the sun with no sun block for way too long.  Not recommended.

Checked and updated: April 7, 2018