# I need Mac help please **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 5, 2007, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-mac-help-please/418076 "2007-09-05T02:30:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![The\_Surb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ce73a5/32.png) [@The\_Surb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Surb)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2007, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-mac-help-please/418076/1 "2007-09-05T02:30:21Z")
I am trying to help someone with their IBookG4. It is running Mac OSX 10.3.9 with 7.68 MB memory. It keeps getting an error message that says a certain system is failing. For example it wiil say that the Safari system is failing. I haven’t seen this message but she has on several systems. Can I re-install the operating system like Win XP? Just do an over-the-top installation? Is it fairly self-explanatory on the disks what to do? I found a website that says I can do an install and then migrate the files but any other tips and tricks would be GREATLY appreciated. Also, there is only one user on this system, any idea what authorizations I need to be aware of? Here is the website that shows how to re-install [here](http://www.macfixit.com/article.php?story=20070507084548849) Thank you ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2007, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-mac-help-please/418076/2 "2007-09-05T02:33:30Z")
The EXACT error message would be a big help. I’ve never seen or heard of an error message like this one. You can do an “Archive and install” which will preserve her old system, and install a new one, keeping all her personal settings. You then must do all the system updates. ---
**Author:** ![thirdname](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d07c76/32.png) [@thirdname](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thirdname)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2007, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-mac-help-please/418076/3 "2007-09-05T02:35:58Z")
Just a minor correction: it’s 768 MB of RAM, not 7.68. ---
**Author:** ![AHunter3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ahunter3/32/368_2.png) [@AHunter3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHunter3)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2007, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-mac-help-please/418076/4 "2007-09-05T02:37:36Z")
Do the kind of install known as an “archive-and-install”. All programs and user settings and preferences, bookmarks, passwords, emails, etc, will be preserved; but the core OS will be over-installed upon. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2007, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-mac-help-please/418076/5 "2007-09-05T02:47:04Z")
I wouldn’t do anything until you actually see the message. If she is a novice user, she might be mis-interpreting some stupid web pop-up trying to sell her anti-virus software. ---
**Author:** ![Anaglyph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Anaglyph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaglyph)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2007, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-mac-help-please/418076/6 "2007-09-05T06:43:11Z")
I second Beowulff. This does not sound like any error message I have ever seen on the mac. Tell your friend to take a screen shot of the message the next time it pops up (Pressing Command (the key with the apple symbol on it), the shift key and 3 simultaneously). This will place a file with an image of the screen on the desktop. If you post the text of the error message, we will be much better able to advise you. ---
**Author:** ![drachillix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2007, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-mac-help-please/418076/7 "2007-09-05T06:44:59Z")
[QUOTE=Anaglyph] I second Beowulff. This does not sound like any error message I have ever seen on the mac. Tell your friend to take a screen shot of the message the next time it pops up (Pressing Command (the key with the apple symbol on it), the shift key and 3 simultaneously). This will place a file with an image of the screen on the desktop. If you post the text of the error message, we will be much better able to advise you. [/QUOTE] \ Oh the problem is you bought a mac… [/\] ---
**Author:** ![NinetyWt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/cc9497/32.png) [@NinetyWt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinetyWt)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2007, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-mac-help-please/418076/8 "2007-09-05T06:53:18Z")
[QUOTE=drachillix] \ Oh the problem is you bought a mac… [/\] [/QUOTE] Wait, now! I only opened this thread because I saw **Drachilix** post and I thought to myself, “Hmm, he has some thoughtful insight on this problem”. 😃 The REAL problem is that … DOS is dead. _snif_ ---
**Author:** ![drachillix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2007, 7:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-need-mac-help-please/418076/9 "2007-09-05T07:00:27Z")
[QUOTE=NinetyWt] Wait, now! I only opened this thread because I saw **Drachilix** post and I thought to myself, “Hmm, he has some thoughtful insight on this problem”. 😃 The REAL problem is that … DOS is dead. _snif_ [/QUOTE] Wow..2 years in the biz and I am developing a bit of a rep 😃 I am a Jedi 😃 \