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The major thing on the Mac is to make sure that the hard drive is not so full that there is no room left for cache files. Try to keep 15% of the disk free.
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The major thing on the Mac is to make sure that the hard drive is not so full that there is no room left for cache files. Try to keep 15% of the disk free.

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Also, run Software Update just to make your friend has been downloading updates from time to time.
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Also, run Software Update just to make your friend has been downloading updates from time to time.

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If your friend has MS Office, make sure it is set to update automatically. (It does not update through Apple's software update.)
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If your friend has MS Office, make sure it is set to update automatically. (It does not update through Apple's software update.)

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The best tool for average folks to do some clean up (especially to free up some hard drive space on cramped SSDs) is CleanMyMac. I don't like many of this class of application, but this one is good.
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The best tool for average folks to do some clean up (especially to free up some hard drive space on cramped SSDs) is CleanMyMac. I don't like many of this class of application, but this one is good.

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I know windows machines and the tools to clean them up / delete temp files / update apps, etc. &nbsp;A friend wants me to help him with his 5 - 6 year old Mac. &nbsp;I know I can go into about this mac, check for updates (or similar), go to flash site, acrobat, shockwave, etc to update each of those. &nbsp;<br />
<br />
Is there a better way to do that? Are there temp files or other things to delete? &nbsp;What are the leading utilities for macs that need to be updated? &nbsp;Any advice? &nbsp;<br />
<br />
thanks!
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I know windows machines and the tools to clean them up / delete temp files / update apps, etc.  A friend wants me to help him with his 5 - 6 year old Mac.  I know I can go into about this mac, check for updates (or similar), go to flash site, acrobat, shockwave, etc to update each of those.  

Is there a better way to do that? Are there temp files or other things to delete?  What are the leading utilities for macs that need to be updated?  Any advice?  

thanks!

Cleaning up / tuning / updating a mac?

Mac OS X is the desktop operating system from Apple Inc., found on Macintosh computers. OS X consists of a Mach/BSD-based kernel, operating system interfaces primarily based on FreeBSD and additional frameworks (written in C, C++ and Objective-C providing user interface and application-level services.

Mac OS X

Apple's early computers ran on a variety of operating systems, including a Pascal version and one based on CP/M, before releasing its ProDOS with the advent of its 16-bit computer. With the release of the Lisa, which had its own OS, Apple and computing entered the graphical age; it was followed by the Macintosh, which offered a series of "System" operating systems. Other Mac operating systems included PowerPC until Apple acquired NeXT and folded it into the Mac OS. Current operating systems for Apple devices are Mac OS-X and iOS.

Apple OS

Programs written for the Apple operating systems are distinguished from software created for other operating systems in that it must be approved by Apple for use on its devices, whether it is from Apple (Final Cut, iWork, Keynote, Logic Pro and GarageBand are popular titles), or is a third party application from Parallels, Nuance, Microsoft and Amazon, among many others.