Mac Therapy: Mediating Conflicts Between the Internet and your Mac

Are you having connection issues with your Mac?

Relationships can be hard work, but Cupertino provides built-in Dear Abby services when your network and Mac won't play nicely.

The Mac OS X Network Diagnostics and Mail Connection Doctor can offer you great tools to to troubleshoot network issues.

If you're having trouble surfing, open your Network System Preferences and click "Assist Me" (Apple -> System Preferences -> Network -> Assist Me). You'll be asked whether you'd like help setting up a new network connection ("Assistant...") or troubleshoot a problem with your current connection ("Diagnostics..."). Network Assistant or Diagnostic will guide you through the troubleshooting steps any decent live Help Desk or Tech Support would work through with you on the phone, without the 40-minute wait on hold.

Likewise, if you're having trouble downloading or sending mail, there's a built-in Mail Connection Doctor in Apple's Mail program (open Mail, then Window -> Connection Doctor). It will tell you which SMTP servers are working (for sending your mail) and which E-mail accounts are connecting properly and which aren't for downloading.

If there are problems, Mail Connection Doctor will offer suggestions, and double-clicking on the message will bring you directly to your Mail Preferences so that you can easily try different configurations until you're up and running.

In addition, if you're having trouble with your wireless network, AirPort Utility (Applications -> Utilities -> AirPort Utility) can also guide you through problem-solving.

Listen to your Mac (it's always about communication, isn't it?), et voilà, no more relationship troubles.