How To: Enable Username and Password Autosave in Safari

This is dumb.  I almost can't believe I'm writing this, except for the fact that the default settings for Safari are so ridiculously stupid.  By default, Safari will NOT ask you to save your username and password for any account on any site you visit.  Period.  Want to turn it back on?  Here's how:

1. In Safari, go to FILE >> PREFERENCES >> AUTOFILL
2. Check the USERNAMES AND PASSWORDS checkbox.

That's it.  Done.  Seriously.

How To: Unlock a Locked Volume

After reinstalling 10.6 on one of my MacBooks, I found that I was locked out of one of my volumes on a USB drive. After some quick googling, I found that there were quite a few others that have had this same exact problem. Here's a quick fix that solved my problem.


Type ls -alO /Volumes

Check to see i f the results show that you have the "uchg" flag set on any of the locked volumes.

If so, type sudo chflags nouchg /Volumes/VolumeName and replace "VolumeName" with the name of your volume.  Remember, if you have spaces in your volume name, include quotes around it.

How To: Remove Passwords from Password-protected PDF Files

Here's another trick I found that came in real handy about a month or so ago. 

NOTE: You must have admin rights and the ability to print the file in question.

1. In Finder, press Shift-Command-G, or select Go » Go to Folder.
2. Type /var/spool and press Return.
3. The spool folder will open, and inside there will be several folders. The cups folder will have a red Stop sign on it.
4. Select it, and then press Command-I (or use File » Get Info).
5. In the Sharing & Permissions section of the Get Info window (at the bottom), click the lock to open. You will need your administrator password.
6. Now click the "+" sign and add yourself to the list. You only need 'read only' privileges.
7. Now open the cups folder.
8. View the cups folder as a list (View menu) and sort by Date Modified.
9. Open up your favorite PostScript printer by going to Print and Fax in System Preferences and selecting it from the list on the left. If you don't have one, install one.
10. Pause the printer.
11. Print your PDF to this printer. It will complain that the printer is paused. Click Add to Queue and not Resume.
12. The print file will show up in the cups folder at the top with an obscure name like d00023-001 (ignore the corresponding file c00023).
13. Drag this print file to your Desktop (or wherever). You will need your administrator password again.
14. Add .pdf to the end of the file name, and open with Preview.
15. Delete the print job in your PostScript printer.

How To: Run Boot Camp in x64 Mode

Here's another problem I ran into recently.  I was trying to run Windows 7 x64 in Boot Camp on my new MacBook Pro and ran into a bunch of trouble trying to get the Boot Camp drivers to install.  Long story short, this is what it took to get the job done:

1 . Boot into Windows 7 and insert your 10.6 DVD

2.  Right-click on Start » Programs » Accessories » Command Prompt

3.  Select Run as Administrator

4.  Type cd /d D:, then press Enter

5.  Type cd Boot CampDriversApple, then press Enter

6.  Type BootCamp64.msi, then press Enter

How To: Enable Native NTFS Read/Write Support

NTFS?  On your Mac??  Outrageous!  Sadly, I can think of several reasons myself why this could be a necessary evil.  The problem is, while OS X 10.6 supports NTFS straight out of the box, it does not support read AND write.  Use this little trick to enable native read/write support.

1. In Terminal, type diskutil info /Volumes/volume_name, where volume_name is the name of the NTFS volume. From the output, copy the Volume UUID value to the clipboard.
2. Back up /etc/fstab if you have it; it shouldn't be there in a default install.
3. Type sudo nano /etc/fstab.
4. In the editor, type UUID=, then paste the UUID number you copied from the clipboard. Type a Space, then type none ntfs rw. The final line should look like this: UUID=123-456-789 none ntfs rw, where 123-456-789 is the UUID you copied in the first step.
5. Repeat the above steps for any other NTFS drives/partitions you have.
6. Save the file and quit nano (Control-X, Y, Enter), then restart your system.

This works with both 32- and 64-bit kernels and, after rebooting, NTFS partitions should natively have read and write support.

How To: Boot into 64-Bit Mode by Default

Straight out of the box, Snow Leopard is one cool OS.  BUT... by default, you're only running in 32-bit mode.  Sure, you could hold down "6" & "4" at boot until you see the little spinning gear but that can be a pain if you reboot regularly or if you have a MacBook and are constantly on the go.  It's also a real pisser when you forget and have to power down again and go through the whole process a second time.  That's where this little tip comes in handy.

In order to enable 64-bit mode by default,  navigate the the following folder:

/Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration/

Now edit the file "com.apple.Boot.plist" in TextEditor.

Search for the lines that read:

<key>Kernel Flags</key>
<string></string>

Between the STRING flags, add the following:

arch=x86_64

Save, reboot and never worry about missing that 5 second window to activate 64-bit mode ever again.


BTW - you may need to modify permissions on the file and folder it resides in to be able to save the file.

How To: Calibrate a MacBook / MacBook Pro Battery

Want your battery to function at it's fullest capacity?  Apple's got instructions for that.

1. Plug in the MagSafe power adapter and fully charge the MacBook or MacBook Pro battery until the light on the MagSafe connector changes to green and the Battery icon in the menu bar indicates that the battery is fully charged.
2. Allow the battery to rest in the fully charged state for two hours or longer. You may use your computer during this time as long as the power adapter is plugged in.
3. Disconnect the power adapter with the computer on and start using it with battery power. When the battery’s charge gets low, you’ll see the low battery warning dialog on the screen.
4. Continue to keep your computer turned on until it goes to sleep. Save your work and close all applications when the battery’s charge gets low and before the computer goes to sleep.
5. Turn off the computer or allow it to sleep for five hours or longer.
6. Reconnect the power adapter and leave it connected until the battery is fully charged. You may use your computer during this time.