Clean Up Your Desktop - Speed Up Your Laptop

Here is an easy tip to speed up your Mac, and possibly reduce the frequency of the rainbow beach ball:

Reduce the icons on your Desktop!

Why? Mac OS X treats each desktop icon as its own little window. With only a few icons the result is minimal. But teachers with a habit of using their desktop for storage may be paying a price in speed and stability. This is especially true if your desktop is loaded with picture files.

So clean up the mess and speed up your computer. To do so, follow the folder scheme already established on your mac.  Drag documents to the documents folder, pictures to the pictures folder, music to the music folder, etc.  Add additional folders within those folders to organize your work by subject, year, or whatever makes sense to you.  Start dragging those files off your desktop in to the folders!  You'll notice a big difference in speed!

Back Up Your Data!

It is necessary that you periodically back up all your data files (lessons, plans, pictures, etc.- anything you don't want to lose.)  Two easy methods of backing up your data are: 

1. Copying your data to a flash drive.
2. Copying your data to the server.  
1. From the Finder --Go --Connect to Server --select or enter afp://shieldsmac.cape.k12.de.us --Connect.  You may have to enter your First and Last Name as it appears on your pay stub (no spaces or periods) - use your state ID without any preceding zeros for your password. Select your folder (with your name) then OK.   You will see a pretty close resemblance of the folders that you have on your computer. Drag the files that you want to back up from your computer to the appropriate server folders.  

• Tip: Place a folder on your desktop and call it Backup Folder.  COPY the files you want to back up (from your Desktop, Documents Folder, /Music/iTunes, etc) and PASTE them into the Backup Folder. Then just drag the Backup Folder to your server Desktop or Documents Folder.

• If you need help doing this, please let me know and I will show you how.
• Download "Backing Up Your Data" for a quick reference as to where your documents reside (or SHOULD reside!) on your Shields mac laptop.