Urgent noob Mac help needed

Forums › Mac OS › Urgent noob Mac help needed

Rikkitic

Awrrr
19062 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 16302

Lifetime subscriber

#245152 21-Jan-2019 12:51

I have no experience with Apple. The OS doesn't make any sense to me. I have dabbled on occasion but always fled back to Windows with huge relief.

However, someone with even less know-how than me asked me to get their Macbook Air on-line. I thought that was something even I could handle but it has turned into a complete nightmare. One problem, maybe not the only one, is that as soon as I connected to the wi-fi it started updating all kinds of stuff because of course everything on it was hugely out of date.

There are lots of issues but the most immediate one is that the keyboard is producing garbage characters. For example, if I type z I get y. The @ symbol produces ". I have no idea why this is happening or how to fix it but I have to start here before I can tackle anything else. Can anyone help?

The OS version was El Capitain. I'm not sure if it still is. It may have updated. I am really drowning here.

Plesse igmore amd axxept applogies in adbance fir anu typos

Coil

6614 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2153
Inactive user

#2164681 21-Jan-2019 12:53

Z and Y, @ and " mix up is German keyboard.

Just use : key for @ for now. But change the region..

I bet they SSD will be full soon.

dfnt

1553 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1036

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2164709 21-Jan-2019 12:59

I can't help with the updates, you should just let it happen so that it can update. El Capitan is quite old now, 2015, Mojave is the latest version

The keyboard layout has probably been changed inadvertently, or a foreign language keyboard selected. You can check by clicking on the Apple symbol in the top left hand corner -> System Preferences -> Keyboard -> Input preferences

The default is ABC:

Just click the + button and select English then ABC and remove any other input method

You can also check the language and region in system preferences:

Jiriteach

1139 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 373

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2164711 21-Jan-2019 13:00

How about a restart into recovery mode. Disk utility and erase the hard drive then a reinstall of the OS. Does need to be connected to wifi to download the version of whatever is installed.

It’s is a straightforward process then to follow through the wizards to setup.

Other options are clearing NVRAM and SMC.

-- opinions expressed by me are solely my own. ie - personal

Rikkitic

Awrrr
19062 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 16302

Lifetime subscriber

#2164729 21-Jan-2019 13:12

Thanks for the quick replies. Everything Apple is a mystery to me but I did finally find the keyboard settings and yes, it was German for some unfathomable reason. It is now working correctly.

Next mystery: I have installed Kodi, sort of, but I have to keep starting it by clicking on the download. How do I get the Mac to accept it as a regular program on the desktop?

Also, I keep getting asked for permissions by all kinds of programs, especially the anti-virus. I have no idea what it is asking or what the options are so I just keep choosing forever and don't bug me about it again. Is there any way to just get it to accept all defaults without continually asking for permissions, like the Windows firewall does?

Plesse igmore amd axxept applogies in adbance fir anu typos

Coil

6614 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2153
Inactive user

#2164731 21-Jan-2019 13:15

Rikkitic:

Thanks for the quick replies. Everything Apple is a mystery to me but I did finally find the keyboard settings and yes, it was German for some unfathomable reason. It is now working correctly.

Next mystery: I have installed Kodi, sort of, but I have to keep starting it by clicking on the download. How do I get the Mac to accept it as a regular program on the desktop?

Also, I keep getting asked for permissions by all kinds of programs, especially the anti-virus. I have no idea what it is asking or what the options are so I just keep choosing forever and don't bug me about it again. Is there any way to just get it to accept all defaults without continually asking for permissions, like the Windows firewall does?

I have a solution for you :) Go back to Windows. That's too hard for a Mac.

I am yet to understand those few who think Mac are easier and faster etc. Never had this experience with one myself.

I think @gnfb loves his macs. He maybe able to help.

josephhinvest

1550 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 322

ID Verified

Trusted

#2164732 21-Jan-2019 13:15

Rikkitic:
Thanks for the quick replies. Everything Apple is a mystery to me but I did finally find the keyboard settings and yes, it was German for some unfathomable reason. It is now working correctly.

Next mystery: I have installed Kodi, sort of, but I have to keep starting it by clicking on the download. How do I get the Mac to accept it as a regular program on the desktop?

Also, I keep getting asked for permissions by all kinds of programs, especially the anti-virus. I have no idea what it is asking or what the options are so I just keep choosing forever and don't bug me about it again. Is there any way to just get it to accept all defaults without continually asking for permissions, like the Windows firewall does?

I have never installed antivirus on macs in 20 years and do not recommend it. Don’t enter your admin password if you don’t know what’s asking.

AliExpress

Shop now on AliExpress (affiliate link).

dfnt

1553 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1036

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2164735 21-Jan-2019 13:23

Just drag Kodi from the download folder to the applications folder. Generally apps are just containers so can run from anywhere, much like a standalone exe file on Windows

josephhinvest

1550 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 322

ID Verified

Trusted

#2164736 21-Jan-2019 13:24

Also if you have downloaded an application, just drag the file to the Applications folder in the root directory. That’s all you need to do. When it’s running, you can right-click on the icon in the dock and select “keep in dock” and the icon will stay there when you quit the app.

tdgeek

30048 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 9455

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2164748 21-Jan-2019 13:41

I use both, went to a Mac at home full time. The majority of stuff is the same, similar or not much different. Bit like the inside of a car, looks different, but each function has the Windows and Mac equivalents. Runs the same every year, that's a plus!

Rikkitic

Awrrr
19062 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 16302

Lifetime subscriber

#2164784 21-Jan-2019 14:37

I don't want to start a Windows vs Mac debate and I don't have a choice about the OS as I am doing this for someone else. It is starting to make a little more sense than it did at first. Thanks to everyone for the support and tips.

Plesse igmore amd axxept applogies in adbance fir anu typos

tdgeek

30048 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 9455

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2164789 21-Jan-2019 14:45

Rikkitic:

I don't want to start a Windows vs Mac debate and I don't have a choice about the OS as I am doing this for someone else. It is starting to make a little more sense than it did at first. Thanks to everyone for the support and tips.

What I did early on was Google for the Mac alternative when I got stuck

New World

Shop on-line at New World now for your groceries (affiliate link).

Behodar

11090 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 6070

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2164808 21-Jan-2019 15:10

A note about downloaded apps: Some are distributed in .dmg (disk image) files, which are a holdover from the days when software was distributed on CDs (the idea being that a developer could supply either a physical CD, or a .dmg image of that CD). When you click a .dmg it'll act as if you've inserted its CD.

Apple no longer recommends distributing software like this, but quite a few developers still do.