Standard Procedures for Eliminating Crashes
1. Quit Netscape. Open |System Folder | Preferences | Netscape f | and trash the Cache f folder in case any of the files in the cache have become corrupt. Be sure to empty the trash. You should do this after every crash.
2. Rebuild your desktop. Mac users are supposed to do it around once a month, anyhow. It helps your Mac keep track of data on your startup disks. Hold down command-option while starting up your computer. Keep holding down the keys until you see a message asking whether you want to rebuild the desktop. Click OK.
3. In case you have a HD problem, run Disk First Aid that comes with the operating system. If you start up from the system folder supplied with Disk First Aid, it will attempt to repair any problems it finds on the HD. Some people find that Norton Disk Doctor finds and repairs problems that Disk First Aid doesn't identify.
4. Zap the PRAM. Hold down command-option-P-R as you reboot. The easy way to do this without using your toes is to hold down command-option while you reboot, and then immediately hold down P-R. Be sure to reset any control panel settings that are changed by this process. It's a good idea to take snapshots (command-shift-3) of your control panels and save them on your backup disk, so you can refer to them when necessary.
There's an excellent freeware application called TechTool that you can use to zap the entire PRAM and delete the desktop file before rebuilding it. You can read about it and get it from: The Info-Mac HyperArchive (MIT)
5. Start a new Netscape preferences file. Since you'll have to fill out all the preferences information in the Options pull-down menu again, make a note of anything you think you may not remember.
Close Netscape. Open | System Folder | Preferences | Netscape f | and trash the Netscape Preferences file (but don't empty the trash until you're satisfied with the new preferences).
6. Check whether you have an extension conflict. Open the Extensions Manager control panel and use the set for your system. Restart the computer, use it, and see if you've eliminated the crashes. If you have, add back the extensions one at a time until you find the offender.
7. Visit some of the Mac help sites, such as:
- MacFixIt
MacInTouch
Apple Support and Information Web - (Check out the Tech Info Library)
