How to Ping an IP Address on a Mac (6 Steps)

Open a new Finder window.
Navigate to the 'Utilities' folder, which can be found in the Applications section of the Mac hard drive.
Double-click on the 'Network Utility' icon to start the networking application.
Click on the 'Ping' tab at the top of the application window.
In the main field, type the IP address you wish to ping, and enter the number of ping attempts you would like to complete.
Click the 'Ping' button to begin testing the connection. Ping results will appear in the main application window.
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How Do I Use Photo Booth to Record Secretly? (5 Steps)

Remove Photo Booth from the OS X dock by clicking the icon and dragging it off or by right-clicking the icon, selecting
Options and unchecking the
Keep in Dock menu item.
Click the
Launchpad icon, then click
Photo Booth to start the program.
Click the
FIlm icon to put the program into video mode. Click the
video camera icon to begin recording.
Click
Photo Booth in the menu bar and select
Hide Photo Booth. The Photo Booth window will disappear. Position your device so that the camera is pointed in the direction you wish to record.
Cut a small piece of electrical tape and place it over the green video recording indicator light; otherwise, the light will give away the fact that the Mac’s camera is on.
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How to Start the Diagnostic Mode on a MacBook Pro

Remove any external peripherals from your Macbook Pro, such as mice, keyboards or monitors.
Restart the Mac laptop.
Press the 'D' key as your computer boots and continue holding it until you see a gray start screen.
Choose your language and press right. Select the basic test battery by pressing 'T' or perform the more extensive hardware test by checking 'Perform extended testing.'
Click 'Test.' All test results appear on your Macbook Pro's screen.
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How to Remove an Icon From the Toolbar

Open the Windows program where the toolbar is located by selecting its name within the 'Start' menu.
Right-click anywhere in the open area on the right side of the 'Help' menu. Scroll down and select 'Customize.' Wait for the 'Customize' dialog box to load.
Select and drag the toolbar icon you want removed to the 'Customize' dialog box. Repeat for each icon you want removed. Select 'Close.'
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How to Make a Quality Video on a MacBook Pro

Position the MacBook Pro so it's facing the subject that you want to shoot video of. For example, you could place it on a table and have people sitting in chairs across from the laptop. The MacBook Pro’s built-in camera is located just above the display.
Click “iMovie” on the dock of your MacBook Pro to launch Apple’s native video making application.
Click “File” from iMovie’s menu, and then click “Import from Camera.” The video recording window opens, and the light next to the built-in HD FaceTime automatically turns on, showing that the camera is working.
Click the “Capture” button in the video recording window. A dialog box appears. Click the “Save To” drop-down menu, and then click a folder on your MacBook Pro where you want to save the video.
Click the “Capture” button again to start shooting video. You can pick up the MacBook Pro and walk around if you want to create a moving shot, such as for documentary-style footage. You could also sit in a chair and hold the MacBook while someone pushes you around to get a smoother tracking shot.
Click the “Stop” button on the Video Capture window when you're finished, and then click “Done.” A thumbnail image of the video appears in the iMovie Event Library pane. Shoot more videos clips with the camera to make different scenes. For example, you could shoot over the shoulder of one person during a dialog, showing the other person’s face, and then switch angles to shoot over the shoulder of the other person. You could move the MacBook far away to get a long shot of a scene showing everyone in the room, and then shoot another segment with close-ups.
Drag the thumbnails for each video segment that you shot into the Projects panel. Drag the thumbnails to the left or the right to reposition them in the time line. Click a thumbnail and drag the right edge to the left to shorten a clip.
Click the transition button, marked with an icon of two triangles on the iMovie toolbar, to add a transition between two clips. The Transitions browser opens. Drag a transition, such as Dissolve or Wipe, in between two clips to apply it.
Click the title button, marked with an icon of the letter “T” on the iMovie toolbar, to add text to your video. The Titles browser opens, with various static and animated title styles. Drag a title style thumbnail onto the clip’s thumbnail to apply it. Double-click the clip’s thumbnail to see it in the Viewer panel with the text box superimposed above the video. Click the text box and type your own words to replace the placeholder text.
Click the music button, marked with a musical note on the toolbar, to add music to your video. The music browser opens. Click a folder containing the music you want to use. Drag the name of a sound effect or music track onto the thumbnail of a video to add it to your movie.
Click “Share” from the iMovie menu, and then click an option to export the video, such as “QuickTime.” Type a name for the exported video, and then click the folder on your Mac where you want to save it. Click “Save.”
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How to Block and Unblock Internet Sites (On a Mac)

DECIDE WHAT YOUR GOAL REALLY IS IN BLOCKING SITES.Be clear about this up front so you can find the best solution. Is this blocking for you? Is it for your kids? Is it to keep employees off of certain sites? Answer these questions first before stabbing in the blocking-sites-darkness.To block certain types of sites for all users on a computer or system - use OpenDNS.com, see step 2.
To block specific sites one at a time use the terminal command in Step 3.
To log (rather than block) specific sites use covenanteyes.com see Step 4.
To only ALLOW certain sites use the parental controls option, see Step 5.
USE FREE OPEN DNS TO BLOCK CERTAIN TYPES OF SITES FOR ALL USERS.This is a great option for small businesses or households with agreed upon and uniform standards for internet usage. See the resource section for a link. Go to the site (see resource link near the bottom of this page). Click on the 'start using open dns' button. Choose whether you want the blocking to occur at the computer level, the router level, or the server level. Follow the step by step instructions. They have pictures... it really is simple. Best of all, it is FREE!
TO BLOCK SPECIFIC SITES USE THE TERMINAL COMMAND IN MACOSX TO BLOCK THEM ONE AT A TIME.Few people really want to block only one or two sites. This is a wieldy way to provide internet security. But if that is your specific need this is for you. Another ehow article gives the detailed instructions (it's a bit technical) for this process. So it is linked both in the related articles to the right titled 'How to block access to websites in MacOS X' and in the resource link section at the bottom.
TO LOG EVERYTHING YOUR COMPUTERS VIEW, USE COVENANT EYES. This program will log and score every site that is viewed by a computer on which it is installed. It will not allow the internet to run if it is disabled and will send you an alert if it is uninstalled. You set the preferences as to how often to receive reports. Go to covenanteyes.com and click the 'sign up now' button. It will guide you through the process. For around $8 a month this is a relatively cheap option that covers up to three computers.
TO ONLY ALLOW CERTAIN SITES USE PARENTAL CONTROLS. If you are using the Leopard system then you can use the 'Parental Controls' feature found in System Preferences. Click on accounts. Check the box for parental controls. You can click on the content tab and then tick limit access to adult sites. You can also use button to add specific criteria to your block. Alternatively, simply add the specific sites you want allowed to the bookmark bar and type in your administrator's password. Then only those sites can be viewed.
TO UNBLOCK SITES ON A MAC.To remove parental controls simply return to the systems preference, accounts, then parental controls section. Un-click the parental control box. Un-click any content specific controls. To remove open dns.com simply drag the program folder from applications into the trash. Isn't Mac great?
If you worked at the router or server level you will have to undo those steps and reconfigure your system to allow direct access to the internet.To uninstall covenant eyes you need the password to get an uninstall code. It cannot happen late at night.
** See more tips and warnings in the next section below.
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How to Set Auto

Select 'System Preferences' from the 'Apple' menu, located at the top of your Macintosh's screen.
Click the 'Power' or 'Energy Saver' icon, and click the 'Schedule' button in the lower-right corner of the window. Click the empty box beneath 'Start up or wake' to add a check to the box. Click the arrow on the menu to the right of the checked box, and select 'Shut Down.'
Click the middle drop-down menu, and select 'Every Day,' 'Weekends' or 'Weekdays' from the menu depending on your preference. Alternatively, select a specific day of the week from the menu.
Type the time you want to schedule the automatic shutdown, and enter 'AM' or 'PM' in the field. Click the OK button to save the automatic shutdown rules.
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How to Upgrade Photo Booth for a Mac

Go to the official Apple Photo Booth and iChat upgrade page (see Resources).
Click the 'Download' link in the top right corner of the page to start the download. Choose a folder to save the file to, if prompted to do so.
Open the file once it finishes downloading. Depending on the computer settings, the file may open automatically.
Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the installation process.
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How to Disable Laptop Tracking

Locate your laptop's service tag and serial number. Keep them both on hand for reference.
Locate the installed Computrace software on the list of programs in the Start menu. Make note of which version you have, e.g., LoJack Premium, Standard or Student.
Fill out and submit a request for the product to be removed by contacting Absolute. Refer to the Resources section for a link to the contact form.
Await confirmation that your removal request has been processed. This confirmation will be sent to the E-mail you provided when the request was submitted.
Establish an Internet connection and Absolute Software will automatically trigger an uninstall of the Computrace LoJack software. Restart your computer to complete the changes.
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How to Find the Model Number for a MacBook (9 Steps)

Turn your MacBook over and look for the text located on the bottom casing.
Look for the segment of text that shows the 'Model No:' text. Model numbers start with one or two letters, followed by a series of numbers.
Locate the retail box your MacBook came in and view the model number information on the sticker. The sticker usually appears on the outside flap.
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How to Repair a 1720 Smart Hard Drive (4 Steps)

Open the 'Start' menu and click on 'Run.'
Type in 'cmd' and press 'Enter.'
Type in 'chkdsk x:' and press 'Enter,' where 'x' is the drive letter of the hard drive displaying the error message.
Type in 'chkdsk x: /f' and press 'Enter' if errors are found on the drive. This will automatically repair those drive errors.
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How to create a stop

You will need to have a Mac /Apple computer with high speed internet connection and a digital video camera to try this project. Once you are connected go to -- http://www.download.com/SingleFramer/3000-2186_4-10784553.html --- and download the Free 'SingleFramer' Software for Mac. I have provided links to the software download and my Stop-Motion film in Resources below.
Once you have downloaded the Freeware (SingleFramer) , install and open the application. Make sure you have your digital video camera plugged in, If you have the Apple isight camera already on your Macbook you don't need to worry about plugging in a digital video camera.
Click on the SingleFramer icon in Applications and click Watching - 'Start Watching'. You should now see a Live video of what your camera sees.
Now it's time to go get your characters. If your kids have any toys with movable parts like the Wall-e robot ... these will make easy characters to start experimenting with. We used a Tin can robot with arms made from straws. So just about anything will work. Think of a short 10-20 second story line. Something as simple as a robot rolling across the screen and waving could be a good 1st movie.
Once you have your character set up in front of your camera you can start. On Single Framer click 'Movie setup', 'Start New DV Movie' Give it a title like 'Movie-clip1' and make sure you see where it is being saved.
Make sure your character is set up how you want and click on the green circle that says 'Grab Frame'. You will hear a click (like a camera shutter). Then you can move your character slightly and click 'Grab Frame' again.
Keep doing this until you have about 10 seconds of footage. There is a running total to the bottom right of the screen that will tell you how many Frames have been captured and how many seconds recorded.
When you are finished your little movie click the red circle that says 'FINISH' You can now go to iMovie and import 'Movie-clip1' from where it was saved. In iMovie drag and drop this 'Movie-clip1' to the story board. You can now add music and a Title in iMovie. When you are happy with the finished product you can share on Youtube and send an email to your friends to show them your work. That's it - Your 1st Stop-Motion Animation has been created, produced and uploaded for the world to see. Now you just sit back and wait for the accolades, Oscars and awards to roll in.
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How to Use the Calendar on an iPod

Connect the iPod to the desktop computer using the USB sync cables. Open iTunes and start the synchronization process.
Sync your iPod up to your desktop computer. Depending on your operating system or individual settings, you may need to manually open up the programs that have calendars which you wish to sync up to the iPod.
Allow the syncing process to finish. Now, pull up the main menu on the iPod. You can do this by turning the iPod on or by clicking the center button twice. This will open the main menu, no matter where you were on the iPod.
Choose the 'Extras' option from the menu. Now, select 'Calendar' to view dates and calendars.
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How to Eject the Nook (4 Steps)

Click on the “Start” button in the lower left-hand corner of your computer screen.
Click “Computer.” A new window pops open on the screen.
Right-click on the Nook or Nook Color underneath the “Devices with Removable Storage” heading in the “Computer” window.
Click “Eject.” If the Nook is currently communicating with your PC, it will finish any operations before disconnecting. A pop-up window appears in the computer screen’s right-hand corner when the Nook’s USB cable is ready to remove.
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How to Reset MacBook Memory

Shut down the MacBook by clicking the Apple Menu and clicking 'Shut Down.'
Start the MacBook and immediately hold down the 'Option,' 'Command,' 'R' and 'P' keys.
Release the keys when the MacBook restarts on its own.
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How to Download Movies From My Hard Drive to iTunes

Start iTunes, and click 'File' on the program's menu.
Click 'Add to Library,' and click the movie's filename in the Open menu.
Click 'Add' or 'Choose' to import the movie.
Click 'Movies' in the iTunes' side menu, and select the imported movie.
Click 'Advanced' on the iTunes' menu and click 'Create iPhone or iPod Version' or 'Create iPad or Apple TV Version.'
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How to Unlock a MacBook Without a Password

Insert the Mac OS X install disc in the MacBook and restart the computer. Hold the 'C' key while the computer starts to force it to start from the disc.
Choose your language and click the 'Arrow' icon. Click 'Utilities' and select 'Reset Password.'
Click the hard drive in the window to select it. Click the username for the main account in the drop-down menu. Type a new password, then re-enter it in the confirmation text box. Type a password hint for the account. Click 'Save.'
Click 'OK' on the confirmation pop-up window. Click 'Installer,' then 'Quit Mac OS X Installer.' Click 'Restart' to reboot the MacBook.
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How to Sync the Samsung Galaxy S with iTunes

Download and install the iTunes Agent software from ita.sourceforge.net.
Connect the Galaxy S to your computer using the appropriate USB cable.
Slide down the Android notification drawer once the device is connected to your computer and select 'USB Connected,' then tap 'Mount.'
Click 'Start,' then 'Computer' and double-click the Galaxy S device icon.
Click 'File' and select 'New,' then 'Folder.' Type 'Music' as the name for the folder.
Right-click the iTunes Agent notification icon located beside the clock in the system tray, and select 'Preferences.'
Click the 'New' button.
Type 'Galaxy S' as the name of the device and select 'iTunes' from the 'Synchronization Pattern' drop-down menu.
Click the 'Choose' button beside the 'Music folder' text box and select the 'Music' folder you created earlier as the destination for synced files.
Click the 'Create' button beside the 'Recognize by folder/file' text box, and again select the 'Music' folder you created earlier.
Click 'Save,' and then click 'Close.'
Click 'Start,' type 'iTunes' in the search box at the bottom of the menu, then press 'Enter.'
Click the triangle beside the 'My Devices' folder in the 'Playlists' section of the iTunes sidebar to display the 'Galaxy S' playlist option.
Drag and drop music that you want to sync to your Galaxy S from the iTunes library to the Galaxy S playlist.
Right-click the iTunes Agent notification icon in the system tray and select 'Synchronize devices' to sync your Galaxy S with iTunes.
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How to Restore Imac to Factory Settings (16 Steps)

Insert the Mac OS X Install DVD into the iMac optical drive with the computer running. Restart the iMac and hold the 'C' key while the computer restarts. This forces the computer to start up from the DVD.
Select the language when prompted and press the 'right arrow' key to continue. Click 'Utilities' in the menu bar and select 'Disk Utility.'
Click 'Macintosh HD' in the Disk Utility window and select the 'Erase' tab. Click 'Erase' to erase the hard drive. This process completely deletes all applications and files stored on the computer. Be sure your data is backed up before erasing the hard drive.
Click 'Erase' when promoted to confirm the selection. After the process is complete, click 'Disk Utility' in the menu bar and select 'Quit Disk Utility' from the drop-down menu.
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How to Pan in AutoCAD With a Touchpad Mac

Start AutoCAD and open your project.
Place two fingers on the touchpad and drag them to pan the project view. You can move your fingers in any direction, as long as both fingers remain on the trackpad.
Hold down the space bar, place one finger on the touchpad and drag it around to pan the project view. As when using the two-fingers method of panning, you can move your finger in any direction on the touchpad as long as you hold down the space bar.
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