What is it doing specifically? you probably having alot running and its taxing the computer's resources. This is a common thing that happens to windows machines and can be resolved with out replacing or installing anything.

She's running a 5.5-year-old Macbook. She is typically running Photoshop, browser, livestream, and sometimes iTunes.

I see, Even photo shop shouldent cause that on any computer however old it is. Normally the system would just run slow and dump it in to page file, but what we are probably seeing is a error on conflict usually seen in a RAM library not working correctly, if the crashing is caused when photo shop is up. Probably a stack overflow, a lot of possibility and I would assume conflicting software is the cause. She might have the best luck with backing up all the information on her hard drive and doing a vary nice format to the hard drive, the long one, and reinstalling MAC. Also get all updated drivers, another fix would be blowing out the dust in the computer it might be overheating especially in photo shop as that program taxes the video card with work. also update or backdate the video card driver.

If she can get this one fixed it can hold her over till a new machine can be bought.

Nice to see a typical 'know it all' spew out BS from their ass. I'd give you credit if you had the common sense to speak in layman's terms, instead of half technical BS. I'm a Network/System admin and systems engineer.. I can see right through your 'knowledge.' The OS is a modification of UNIX(1). It's using SWAP, not Page File. Page File is the name for the Windows kernel/OS products. Also, a RAM library? WTF is that? RAM is handled by the mainboard and the kernel's ability to access the memory bus through the CPU and/or North Bridge, there is no "library" for accessing RAM (2,3,4). In order for a "RAM library" to be loaded, it would have to be loaded into the RAM to begin with, which means.

1: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Mac_OS_X
2: http://www.howstuffworks.com/ram.htm
3: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Random-access_memory
4: http://computer.howstuffworks.com/motherboard4.htm

Forgot to include source of SWAP vs Page File.. here: http://www.techarp.com/showarticle......143&pgno=1

Well then were is your advice to fix the issue. Sorry my terms are not from a text book, an how do you know she is running the unix OS? Not sure how old OSX is but yeah. I guess my confusion with the Ram Library was are or less the ram addresses, ya know that place were the information go's to. your right I have no formal training. I play with Micro controllers and I am a aviation electrition. I play with my little windows and GNU boxes in my spare time, I am better in electronics. So I haven't spent the years staring in to Wikipedia for information or some collage classes. I dont know the fancy terms.

>an how do you know she is running the unix OS?
- A table has been flipped just now. Perhaps multiple tables at the same time.

>You are an aviation electrician
Please let me know what aircrafts you work on so I know which ones to avoid boarding.

I dident know mac stole unix before OSx, also I work on the CH-46 and V22- osprey. If it makes you feel better I am also a quality control inspector, and a diagnostics analyzer. Aviation is my education dont challenge me on that. Still were is your fix advice?

I never said I was going to provide a solution to her problem "My computer is old and doesn't work" is far too vague information for me to even bother.

Also, what type of engine does the V-22 Osprey have and what nickname does that engine have?

Are you serious right now? What pictures? It has the RR 1107C that delivers about 6k shaft horse power and there interconnect by a drive shaft through the wing. Each engine is controlled by two Full Authority Digital Engine Controllers also known as a "FADEC" and there the same engines on the c130, that's why there is all that white smoke on start up because the engines were not designed to be up-right on the Marines are looking at a similar engine that GE makes that is designed to do that. There crappy engines that fail after about 500 flight hours currently with our aircraft. I think the Nick name is Liberty, not to sure about that one because we dont ever call it a nick name, and we go by the part number or simply call it a engine or power plant not the nick name.

You guys... Please no fighting :c Thank you all for wanting to help. I really do appreciate it... but please don't fight. I'm not that tech savvy yet and I know that's really bad considering I'm going into electronics with the navy in January but... Gah just... come on! No need to fight so much :[

I talked with my parents and they're willing to loan me the money for a new comp. Once I get it, I plan on doing a sweep of my current computer and see what I can salvage. I backed up all my files already so nothing will be lost. There have been so many other issues with this laptop that I'm just ready for a new desktop with a larger display for working on art.

Thank you all for caring and wanting to help but no more fighting okay? *hugs everyone*

It's all good. Which computer do you have in mind?

I'm going with an iMac. I've got Photoshop CS4 and Microsoft Office for mac so I figure I'll just stick with it. I'm not savvy enough to keep up a pc like I know I should and I never had an issue I couldn't resolve with my macbook until about 4 months ago.

But! But! Paint Shop SAI!!

:< I know... But I can't afford to buy PS again and that's my primary program T_T

There are other means of getting it. If you know what I mean. :P

Also, you can possibly get a student discount if you have an .edu email address on most online webshops.

No .edu mail. :c

download photoshop from the pirate bay or something, those versions with the most seeds are clean.

Allison 501-M80C AKA T406

I never said she was running UNIX. You clearly didn't read completely where I said "The OS is a modification of UNIX." As for advice to resolve the issue, that would depend on her technical level. As for my knowledge, it's much more from experience and exposure than text books and wikipedia. I merely supported everything I said, rather than blasting out random technical nonsense. Cleaning dust will not fix the issue she was having. For the issues being experienced, it's a possibility of corruption of HDD space, causing bad/faulty code to load from Photoshop. It could be a lack of memory. It could be a problem with SWAP. It could just be a lack of processing power. There's many possibilities of what could be wrong, and fixing it is a difficult task of troubleshooting and narrowing down. If you, as you claim, are knowledgeable with electronics, you should easily know what it is like to back trace a fault in incorrect wiring, accidental wrong component, a backwards diode, or simply a bad component. You have to isolate the problem and not just randomly try this and that without having a clue. The only solution you provided was to format+reinstall and to clean out dust. I agree with the format and reinstall, but only as much as I agree with ripping apart a circuit and rebuilding it to fix an issue.

Well the dust is for over heating, a bit of a long shot, but I have a asus G73JH. The little heat sinks behind the fans will collect dust until there is no airflow, my computer would shut off when the temperature got to high with something video intensive. I tuned on my computer and used CPUZ's hard were monitor to see it was over heating, took it apart to find that. Now I vacuum it weekly. I dont think that here issue is hard were really, It would be software or yeah crappy part on the hard drive. I not too mac savy since I only play with windows or GNU. RAM library is something for Micro controllers now that I think of that, But you can access logs of what your ram was doing when it crashed at least with windows. I have resolved issues like that using CPUZ for the log. I dident mean to go around spewing BS I thought I had okay info, and was not thinking about who I was saying it to. I dont want to fight, with anyone but ill back up what I say, but your right I was wrong in some places, your vary right. I am not afraid to admit that. But I do play with computers, I do program Micro controllers, I do shell code for a hobby. But its all self taught. And tell ya what, if your in San Diego or ever in San Diego I would be happy to show you the aircraft I work on. So I am not shouting BS I am just a hobbyist that tried to help.

I have heard a lot of people try and appear knowledgeable while talking complete BS, but yours is somewhere near the top.

Thanks, Its really nice to see that when you attempt to help a fur the best you can you get crucified for it. I never went to school for this, this was all stuff that was taght to me by a friend or a hobby.

Help is only helpful when the help provided is actual.

Has anyone tried what I have said? I am being called out for calling it "Ram library and saying page file "witch is windows" thats about it, then a spew of wikipedia

well i don't think "backing up all the information on her hard drive and doing a vary nice format to the hard drive" would be quite helpful, and "reinstalling MAC"? a mac is the closed system altogether

Check out http://www.indiegogo.com/ maybe people can help you with donations, lol.. Worth a shot.

Thanks Fox, I'll check it out. Hopefully I can get a bank account set up soon and have commissions going. I don't like taking charity money. I feel like I gotta earn it...