Tag: mac_os_x

Mac OS X: Switch between windows of same application

I’ve been working for quite a while with Apple Mac OS X. As a former Windows user I missed the possibility to switch between windows of the same application with an keyboard shortcut.

Cmd + TAB only changes between the open applications and does not replace the alt + TAB, which is known from Windows.

At least in the most recent version of OS X you can use cmd + > (german keyboard layout, cmd + ` with US layout) to change between windows of the same application. You can change this shortcut in the System preferences: System Preferences -> Keyboard -> Keyboard Shortcuts -> Keyboard & Text Input

Mac OS X and TRIM with 3rd party SSD

In short: If you have installed a SSD device from a 3rd party vendor to a Macbook ALWAYS disable tools for trim support in Mac OS X BEFORE resetting the NVRAM/PRAM for troubleshooting. Your Mac will stop during next startup with a stop-sign on grey background:

Mac OS X stop sign

After the last reboot on my Macbook Pro (late 2011) I have seen this error for the first time.

I tried the common troubleshooting steps (safe boot, reset SMC and repair disk/filesystem with Disk Utility) with no success. The safe boot stopped with the message “waiting for root device”.

At next I removed the SSD from the Macbook and could successfully boot from another SSD with OS X installed. So I tried to connect the estimated defective SSD with a SATA/USB Adapter to check if I can backup some files.

Surprise – the system booted automatically from my SSD when connected via USB.

I had no luck finding some tips for further troubleshooting. I finally decided to install the SSD back to the Macbook and re-install the OS with a bootable USB install device. All data and configurations were still available after the re-install and the system was working again.

To enable TRIM for a non Apple SSD device that was installed to my Macbook I am using Trim Enabler. The application disables a Kernel extension named kext-signing. This security setting prevents from installing 3rd party vendor firmware.

One week ago I had issues with high CPU usage and performed the NVRAM/PRAM reset. As described in the FAQ kext-signing needs to be enabled again before NV/PRAM reset.