John's macOS / Mac OS X tips

Sometimes keys annoy you and you keep typing incorrectly, e.g. from being used to a Windows keyboard or similar. Plus CAPS LOCK is pointless. In my case I kept hitting right alt instead of right command. So I made right alt to also be a command key. hidutil property --set '{"UserKeyMapping":[{"HIDKeyboardModifierMappingSrc":0x7000000E6,"HIDKeyboardModifierMappingDst":0x7000000E7}]}' That's all it takes. List of keys here: https://developer.apple.com/library/archive/technotes/tn2450/_index.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/DTS40017618-CH1-TNTAG8 Command syntax is here: https://developer.apple.com/library/archive/technotes/tn2450/_index.html

On some occasions, like myself, you may be forgetful, and forget what you set your bootup ("firmware") password to. Unfortunately for you, if you boot in recovery mode using Command-R, it still wants you to remember your original password to erase the old one.  The proper way to do this is to take the computer to Apple with proof of purchase and they will do it for you. However, if like me you only buy their much older machines due to their upgradability, you may find that you don't have proof that you bought it in an apple store, e.g. second hand, or you lost the proof years ago. So, how do you reset it? The answer unfortunately, is with great difficulty. This blog page tells you how. Please note that I disclaim responsibility for the below - if you blow up your Macbook it's your fault. Do not follow these instructions. I followed these: https://blog.wzhang.me/2017/10/29/removing-mac-firmware-password-without-going-to-apple.html However, they are not 100% clear on al...

 I find that the disk utility GUI app is unreliable so I prefer to create disk images on the command line. This is also more efficient if you want to create more than one and don't want to click 100 times to do it.  hdiutil create -size 150m -encryption -type SPARSE -fs HFS+ disimagename.sparseimage If you don't want encryption, remove the -encryption part If you don't want the image file to be size-flexible, remove the word SPARSE and change the extension from .sparseimage to .dmg Obviously, the size 150m means 150 megs. You can change that to g for gigs etc. If you want to encrypt from a specific source folder, use: hdiutil create -encryption -stdinpass -srcfolder source_folder encrypted.dmg This will create the image file out of the folder "source_folder" Without encryption: hdiutil create -srcfolder source_folder not_encrypted.dmg

1. Remove the drive 2. Place the drive in another machine 3. Navigate to /var/db  delete the file .AppleSetupDone Alternatively type sudo rm  / var / db /.  AppleSetupDone

  bless --mount /Volumes/Macintosh\ HD/ --setBoot assuming the drive name is "Macintosh HD"

When installing Mac OS from the command-R internet recovery boot up, you can use command-L to show the logs. Sometimes you will find that the installation does not happen and you see an error "Chunk validation failed". Apparently this means your SATA cable or hard drive is faulty.  https://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/258522/mountain-lion-reinstall-failure

 There are a variety of ways to set your profile picture, all except the way you actually want to do it. 1. You can link your apple ID to your laptop account and inherit your apple ID profile photo. But you can then also have apple stalking you even more. 2. Or you can use the photo booth (camera) or built-in camera (ie the camera again), and since these default to your webcam on your laptop, the photo has you with a ginormous nose and bad lighting. 3. Or, if you want to just do what you would expect to be able to do, namely, just use whichever photo you already have on your computer that doesn't HAVE to be inside iphoto or whatever that nonsense app is called these days, you can do this (assuming your login name is john ): sudo dscl . delete /Users/john jpegphoto sudo dscl . delete /Users/john Picture sudo dscl . create /Users/john Picture "/Users/john/Desktop/selfie.jpg"

This is a list of apps that I can recommend that do a really good job of what they're meant to do. Most are available in the app store but some are not. Generally apple does not allow apps in the app store that modify the behaviour of the computer itself (utilities). A Better Finder Rename 9 - bulk rename files Adapter - convert video files from one format to another Adblock Plus - to block adverts online Adobe Acrobat Reader - PDF viewer - needed for form-type pdfs (e.g. tax returns) Android File Transfer - to copy files off an android phone AnyDesk - to remotely control your machine - cross-platform Art Text 2 - to create logos Backup and Sync - Google drive sync tool (copy files automatically from your machine to google drive) Bartender 3 - to compact all the menubar icons into fewer icons Battery Health 2 - to show your battery status BitdefenderVirusScanner - to scan for viruses. Not that I've ever had one. Boostnote - a notepad which is for programmers to save code...

 Main page:  https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT211683 10.15 https://apps.apple.com/us/app/macos-catalina/id1466841314?mt=12 10.14 https://apps.apple.com/us/app/macos-mojave/id1398502828?mt=12 10.13 https://apps.apple.com/us/app/macos-high-sierra/id1246284741?mt=12 10.12 http://updates-http.cdn-apple.com/2019/cert/061-39476-20191023-48f365f4-0015-4c41-9f44-39d3d2aca067/InstallOS.dmg 10.11 http://updates-http.cdn-apple.com/2019/cert/061-41424-20191024-218af9ec-cf50-4516-9011-228c78eda3d2/InstallMacOSX.dmg 10.10 http://updates-http.cdn-apple.com/2019/cert/061-41343-20191023-02465f92-3ab5-4c92-bfe2-b725447a070d/InstallMacOSX.dmg