What can I do if my system starts up with a floppy disk and a flashing question mark on the screen?

Something is wrong with the system file on your hard drive. Since the computer can't go any further, it is asking you to insert a disk with a system file, such as the Disk Tools floppy disk or system CDROM that came with your system. Insert the Disk Tools disk into your floppy drive and the computer should boot up and allow you to run Apple's Disk First Aid utility. If you have a system CD, open the CD drive door, insert the disc, and close the door again. Then hold down the "C" key on your keyboard, and the system will start up from the CD. You can run Apple's utilities from the CD, or insert a floppy disk with third-party utilities of your own. (We recommend the careful use of Norton Utilities for troubleshooting.)

Does MacWerks sell used equipment?

MacWerks sells only the latest and currently available hardware and software. That means we don't sell Mac SEs, Quadra 800s, or 14.4 modems, but we can network you to resources to help you find older hardware and used equipment.

click here to link to the United Computer Exchange, a great source for pre-owned Macs with warranties...

Can I upgrade my Mac? What about my Powerbook?

There are four upgradeable "subsystems" in most Macs. Check our handy reference chart below for details on each:

Upgrades CAN be made to most subsystems of the Macintosh. Upgrades make your present system faster and more responsive, or increase your ability to load, store and run more programs. Power PC upgrades are available for many older Macintoshes, and there are many ways to speed up your system.

• When you upgrade your hard drive, MacWerks will install and upgrade your system software, and back up and transfer data (our reasonable in-shop labor rates apply to all installations, updates, and transfers of data or software.) For best results, however, we recommend that you reinstall application software from your original program disks.

Why can't I print?

"All I want to do is print this simple document!" But printing can sometimes be difficult. First, try turning the printer off at the power switch and then turning it back on. Then select your printer in the Chooser and try printing again. It's surprising how often this simple procedure works. If that doesn't help, try restarting your computer--after saving the document you're working on, of course!--and then try to print again from your newly-launched application, or by dragging your file to the Desktop Printing icon.

The next step is to check all your connections. Referring to the printer documentation if necessary, confirm that the printer cable is plugged into the proper port on both the computer and the printer, and that the connectors are firmly seated. If your printer supports several types of connections and you are unsure which one to use, please see Connections: below.

Connections: There are three different connection protocols for Mac-compatible printers: serial port, Local Talk, and ethernet.

• A serial port printer cable has a round male 8-pin plug at either end. It's used to connect one printer to one Mac, usually via the port on the back of the computer with a little printer icon above or beside it.
• Local Talk printers may be shared among different computers connected to a Local Talk network, but for each computer to see each printer, AppleTalk must be turned on and enabled for the printer port, and a properly-terminated Local Talk connector must attached to the printer port. After checking all connections, open the Chooser and select your printer's appropriate driver .
• Ethernet printers have either a "fat-phone" RJ-45 connector or a BNC connector that connect the computer and the printer to each other via wall jacks or cables mounted along the wall. Make sure the printer is plugged into its wall jack, and if you are using BNC connectors, make sure that opposite the wire going into the connector is a resistor cap. Turn the printer off and on and print a test sheet. You may need to save your document and restart either the application or the computer. Then go to the Chooser and select the appropriate driver for your printer. You should see its network name come up in the right hand window, and choose "Setup" if necessary. If its name does not appear, close the Chooser, check the connection at the computer and the wall jack, and try again.

  Drivers: Sometimes, a corrupted or mis-installed printer driver can slow down or prevent printing. Each model of printer has a printer driver that must be properly installed and then checked on in the Extension Manager control panel (system 7.5 and later).

  If you are using an Apple printer, the driver you need may already be installed on your hard drive, and available for selection in the Extensions Manager. If you are using a printer from Hewlett-Packard, Epson, or another manufacturer, you may need to install, or re-install, the driver software. The installation disks should have come with the printer, or the driver may be downloadable from the company's web page. Once you have the software, find and read the "ReadMe" file, then install the printer driver per its instructions.

  Restart your computer and open the Chooser. Select your new printer from the list of printer drivers in the left hand side of the window. You may also need to press the "Setup" button and follow the instructions in the resulting window if this is the first time you are running the printer, or if you have previously been using another printer with your computer.

If you feel like you're getting in over your head, give us a call at (561) 432-9000. If we can't help over the phone, you can bring your system to our store and check it in for a diagnostic report. If you need further repairs, we will present cost and time options for your approval before proceeding.