Like a genius:how to diagnose and fix common Mac problems without visiting an Apple Store.(TROUBLE-SHOOT)

You can count on it. Sometime, probably when you least expect it, something will go wrong with your Mac. If you can't figure out how to fix the problem yourself, you'll be forced to beg for help from a local computer genius--whether it's a friend or relative or, if you live near an Apple retail store, someone who dispenses advice from behind a counter.

But I'll let you in on a little secret: you, too, can be a Mac genius. Troubleshooting isn't magic. It's a skill that any experienced Mac user can cultivate. By arming yourself with the tools and tidbits that I've compiled in this article, you will in many cases be able to fix your computer by yourself rather than having to ask for help.

I'll show you how to diagnose and remedy common problems on your own, as well as figure out when matters have gotten beyond your capabilities. And in case you really do end up needing to take a trip to the Genius Bar, I'll also show you how to prepare so that you can maximize your results in a minimum of time.

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One thing every good genius knows is that sometimes what looks like a complete computer meltdown actually has a simple fix. Here are a few tried-and-true remedies you shouldn't forget in the rush to try more-complicated and possibly unnecessary troubleshooting techniques.

Restart Yup, simply choose Restart from the Apple menu. It's amazing how often this can eradicate whatever was bothering your Mac. Always try it first.

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You may be able to save time by instead quitting all the applications that you don't need to keep open. If the problem you're experiencing comes from your Mac's having too little free memory, this might be sufficient to get the gears turning again. Web browsers in particular can eat up a lot of memory.

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Repair Your Disk If it doesn't appear that a single application is causing your troubles--for example, if all applications crash on launch--try repairing the drive using Disk Utility (/Applications/Utilities). Open the utility, click on the First Aid tab, and then click on Repair Disk (see "First Aid for Failing Macs").

Unfortunately, if the problem drive is your startup disk (which is almost always the case), you'll run into an immediate dilemma: the Repair Disk button will be dimmed and you won't be able to select it. To find out how to circumvent this obstacle, see "Repair Your Startup Disk."

Make Sure Things Are Up-to-Date Does a particular program consistently crash whenever you try to perform a particular action, such as saving a file? If the symptom doesn't occur with any other applications, check to see whether there's a newer version of the problem software. Oftentimes, the new version fixes some bug (or some conflict with other software) that is causing the symptom.

Many programs can now automatically check for updates upon launch. Take advantage of this option--if you see a dialog box asking whether you want to check for updates, accept the offer. Other software comes with a separate update utility that can launch on a schedule--say, once a week. For example, look for the Microsoft AutoUpdate program in your Applications folder if you want to check any of your Office programs right away or set up a schedule.

To check for updates from Apple, select Software Update from the Apple menu. You can set Software Update's preferences to alert you to new updates when they're available.

For a program that doesn't offer this sort of help, use your Web browser to check for an update, by going either to a site such as VersionTracker (www.versiontracker.com) or to the company's Web site.

Reinstall If the misbehaving software turns out to be the latest version, there's a chance your copy of it may be corrupted. In that case, it might help to reinstall the software, by either downloading it from the Web or pulling out your original CD.

Unfortunately, reinstalling won't fix problems involving a program's support files. For example, numerous programs place files in youruserfolder/Library/Application Support. Simply replacing the main …