You might think that the Mac's OS X operating system is the most stable thing in a universe that's anything but stable. Yeah, it is, but that doesn't mean you should forget some of those great old tricks you used to use when your Mac misbehaved using System 9. One example is zapping your PRAM.

[Warning: Proceed at your own risk. As with performing any computer maintenance or making changes to a computer's system, make sure you know what you are doing before you proceed; maintenance like zapping PRAM is usually routine and benign, but there's always the chance for things to go wrong. The first thing you should ALWAYS do before working on a computer is to make a complete backup so you can get things working again if there is a problem.]

You remember how to do it: You hold down the Apple + Option + P + R keys. Okay, it really would be easier if you had three hands, but it can be done. While holding down those keys, power up your Mac and wait for it to chime three or four times. Don't panic if it doesn't happen right away, as there's a lot most Macs have to do to prepare to actually power up completely. Once you have heard the final chime, let it boot up as normal. This is a useful thing to do if you're experiencing some odd behavior that Disk Utility doesn't seem to notice or want to fix (it's not perfect, after all). It's also something you should do every once in a while. You don't wait for your car to fall apart before changing the oil, do you? Consider this the Mac equivalent of changing your oil. Maybe even do them both on the same day. Remember: A healthy Mac is a happy Mac, making you a happy Mac user!