Mac basics

The following is a small selection of introductory texts from Indiana University's Knowledge Base. You can also search for particular words or phrases throughout the entire Knowledge Base with the full-text search.

Contents

• Basics and general information
• Networking and printing
• Email
• Software
• Troubleshooting
• Advanced Mac OS X topics

Basics and general information

• What is Mac OS X?
• How do I install or upgrade Mac OS X?
• In Mac OS X, how do I password-protect my computer?
• In Mac OS and Mac OS X, how can I protect myself from viruses?
• Where can I find a Macintosh user group?
• For Mac OS and Mac OS X, are there any tutorial programs?

For more information, search the Knowledge Base on Mac OS X, for example.

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Networking and printing

• Using Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard), how do I connect to the IU Secure wireless network?
• Using Mac OS X 10.3 (Panther) or 10.4 (Tiger), how do I connect to the IU Secure wireless network?
• In Mac OS X, how do I make a VPN connection to the IU network?
• At IUB or IUPUI, in Mac OS X, how can I manually configure my computer to connect to the network?
• At IUB or IUPUI, in Mac OS X, how do I connect to the modem pool using PPP and Internet Connect?
• In Mac OS X, how do I connect to and share files with a Windows computer?
• At IUB or IUPUI, using Mac OS X, what must I do to print from my personal computer to an RTC or STC printer?

For more information, search the Knowledge Base on Mac OS X ftp, for example.

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Email

• At IU, in Mac OS X, how do I configure Entourage 2004 or 2008 to access my Exchange account?
• At IU, in Mac OS X, how do I configure Entourage 2004 or 2008 to read my mail using IMAP?
• At IU, how do I configure Mac OS X Mail to read my mail through IMAP?
• At IU, in Mozilla Thunderbird for Mac OS X, how do I read my mail using IMAP?
• At IU, in Eudora for Mac OS or Mac OS X, how do I read my IU email using IMAP?
• In Mac OS X, how do I search for an address in the ADS Global Address List?
• In Mac OS X, how do I synchronize my Exchange Contacts with my local Address Book?

For more information, search the Knowledge Base on Mac OS X email, for example.

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Software

• How do I download and install software from IUware Online?
• For Mac OS X, what web browsers are available?
• For Mac OS or Mac OS X, how do I obtain and install system software updates?
• How do I run Windows or Windows programs on my Macintosh?

For more information, search the Knowledge Base on Mac OS X software, for example.

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Troubleshooting

• At IU, what issues have been identified with Mac OS X 10.5.3?
• In Mac OS X, how do I quit an application that isn't responding?
• Using Mac OS X, how do I repair permissions, and what does that do?
• In Mac OS X, what is First Aid, and when and how should I use it?
• In Mac OS or Mac OS X, what should I do if a blinking question mark briefly appears when I restart my computer, but then it continues to start up normally?
• In Mac OS X, if I have a VPN connection over the campus wireless network, why can I still not access IU sites?
• For my PowerBook or iBook, how do I extend the battery life?

For more information, search the Knowledge Base.

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Advanced Mac OS X topics

• What is Darwin?
• For Mac OS X, what is Aqua?
• In Mac OS X, what is the Terminal, and how do I access it?
• For Mac OS X, what are Quartz and Quartz Extreme?
• In Mac OS and Mac OS X, what are file types and creators?
• In Mac OS X, how do I assign an application to open certain file types?
• For Mac OS X, what are some useful keyboard commands?
• In Mac OS X, how can I type foreign language characters?
• In Mac OS X, how do I view invisible files?
• In Mac OS X, what is an alias and how does it work?
• How do I use my Macintosh as an external hard disk for another computer?
• In Mac OS X, how do I store file server passwords in my Keychain?
• In Mac OS or Mac OS X, how do I partition my hard drive?
• In Mac OS X, how do I run the X Window System?
• In Mac OS X, how can I find the MAC address of my Ethernet or wireless interface?
• At IU, using Mac OS X with PPP, how can I get automatic authentication to work?

For more information, search the Knowledge Base.

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