hcn1@sphinx.uchicago.edu (howard charles nusbaum) (10/05/87)
We are having a strange problem with one of our Mac+ computers. We are running System 4.1 and Finder 5.5 with an older DataFrame 20 hard disk. The Apple Menu has started flashing on this machine and we have been unable to get it to quit. We have replaced the system pulled out the battery for 15 minutes and tried various other sorts of machinations and incantations. Nothing seems to work! Although this flashing apple doesn't hurt anything, it is a little bizarre and I would appreciate any info as to the cause and the fix. Thanks in advance for your assistance. Howard C. Nusbaum Dept. of Behavioral Sciences 5848 S. University Ave. The University of Chicago Chicago, IL 60637 (312) 702-6468
B5U@PSUVMA.BITNET (George A. Brownfield) (10/05/87)
I know this sounds stupid, but in the Mac labs here, the apple in the menu
blinking usually is from the alarm clock going off. Go under the apple, use the
DA Alarm Clock, and turn the alarm clock off by "opening" the clock (using the
trigger on the side), and see if the alarm clock icon looks like an alarm clock
going off. If not, that's not the problem. If so, click on the alarm clock icon
and a second digital clock will appear. Turn off it's "trigger", and the
blinking should go away.
-------
George A. Brownfield B5U @ PSUVMA (preferred)
Aerospace Engineering Major B5U @ PSUVM
The Pennsylvania State University GAB @ PSUECL
BITNET: B5U @ PSUVM, GAB @ PSUECL
UUCP: {akgua,allegra,cbosgd,ihnp4}!psuvax1!psuvma.bitnet!b5u
"We don't get laid much, but we're building your future."
- engineering majors, according to Robin Williams
hallett@lear.steinmetz (Jeff R Hallett) (10/06/87)
Organization: In article <2366@sphinx.uchicago.edu> hcn1@sphinx.UUCP (howard charles nusbaum) writes: > >We are having a strange problem with one of our Mac+ computers. >We are running System 4.1 and Finder 5.5 with an older DataFrame 20 >hard disk. The Apple Menu has started flashing on this machine and >we have been unable to get it to quit. We have replaced the system >pulled out the battery for 15 minutes and tried various other sorts >of machinations and incantations. Nothing seems to work! Although >this flashing apple doesn't hurt anything, it is a little bizarre >and I would appreciate any info as to the cause and the fix. > >Thanks in advance for your assistance. > >Howard C. Nusbaum >Dept. of Behavioral Sciences >5848 S. University Ave. >The University of Chicago >Chicago, IL 60637 >(312) 702-6468 Jeepers, to borrow a running gag from rec.humor, shouldn't this one be #56? Just because the Mac is billed to be the 'manual-less" computer doesn't mean you shouldn't read it!!!!!!! Read the part about the desk accessories that come with your System. You'd have found out that it is blinking because the Alarm went off in the Alarm Clock. Your dealer could probably have helped you as well. Jeff ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "The needs of the few outweigh the needs of the many" -- Kirk (STIII) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
patel@smu (10/06/87)
Try turning the alarm off with the Alarm Clock DA.
freedman@calgary.UUCP (Dan Freedman) (10/06/87)
In article <2366@sphinx.uchicago.edu>, hcn1@sphinx.uchicago.edu (howard charles nusbaum) writes: > > We are having a strange problem with one of our Mac+ computers. > The Apple Menu has started flashing on this machine ... Could it be that the alarm clock desk accessory has gone off? Pull down the alarm clock desk accessory, and make sure that the alarm is switched off. Your Mac owners guide should tell you how. Dan Freedman University of Calgary Computer Science Department
isle@dartvax.UUCP (Ken Hancock) (10/07/87)
In article <2366@sphinx.uchicago.edu> hcn1@sphinx.UUCP (howard charles nusbaum) writes: > >The Apple Menu has started flashing on this machine and >we have been unable to get it to quit. We have replaced the system >pulled out the battery for 15 minutes and tried various other sorts >of machinations and incantations. Nothing seems to work! Um, perchance did someone set the alarm clock to go off at a specific hour? The apple flashes if the alarm has gone off and not been reset since.... Ken -- Ken Hancock UUCP: isle@dartvax BITNET: isle@u2.dartmouth.edu DISCLAIMER: If people weren't so sue-happy, I wouldn't need one!
crimmins@uxc.cso.uiuc.edu (10/07/87)
/* Written 8:22 am Oct 5, 1987 by hcn1@sphinx.uchicago.edu in uxc.cso.uiuc.edu:comp.sys.mac */ > > We are having a strange problem with one of our Mac+ computers. > We are running System 4.1 and Finder 5.5 with an older DataFrame 20 > hard disk. The Apple Menu has started flashing on this machine and > we have been unable to get it to quit. Have you checked to make sure the alarm is not turned on? If the alarm is turned on, the machine will beep and the apple menu will flash until you open the alarm clock and shut it off. As far as I know, this is the only thing that causes the apple menu to flash. ---- Dan Crimmins crimmins@uiucuxc.cso.uiuc.edu University of Illinois {ihnp4,pur-ee,convex}! Computing Services Office - Micro Consulting uiucdcs!uiucuxc!crimmins
mlr@houtz.UUCP (M.ROBINS) (10/08/87)
I find it strange that there have been a couple of messages about blinking Apple menu's is this newgroup. The answers given each time to the fellows question was that the alarm clock must have tripped. Well----- I am also running a Mac+ and I just started to see the Apple menu blink. So--- I checked to see if I had my alarm clock set. Guess what----- I don't even have an alarm clock DA installed. Now what. Does anyone know what this really is??? (Is the battery going??) Mike Robins houtz!mlr
gae@osupyr.UUCP (Gerald Edgar) (10/08/87)
In article <1076@houtz.UUCP> mlr@houtz.UUCP (M.ROBINS) writes: > >Well----- I am also running a Mac+ and I just started to see the >Apple menu blink. So--- I checked to see if I had my alarm clock >set. Guess what----- I don't even have an alarm clock DA installed. You should INSTALL the alarm clock DA in order to turn off the alarm clock. How did it get set in the first place? Maybe some gremlin using your machine at night. Cosmic rays. Run-away program just before it bombed. Who knows? -- Gerald A. Edgar TS1871@OHSTVMA.bitnet Department of Mathematics edgar@osupyr.UUCP The Ohio State University ...{akgua,gatech,ihnp4,ulysses}!cbosgd!osupyr!gae Columbus, OH 43210 70715,1324 CompuServe
wade@sdacs.ucsd.EDU (Wade S. Blomgren) (10/08/87)
In article <1076@houtz.UUCP>, mlr@houtz.UUCP (M.ROBINS) writes: > I find it strange that there have been a couple of messages about > blinking Apple menu's is this newgroup. The answers given each time > to the fellows question was that the alarm clock must have tripped. > Well----- I am also running a Mac+ and I just started to see the > Apple menu blink. So--- I checked to see if I had my alarm clock > set. Guess what----- I don't even have an alarm clock DA installed. > Now what. > > Does anyone know what this really is??? (Is the battery going??) > It really is...the alarm clock. The alarm clock DA is just a mechanism for setting the date and time, and setting the alarm function. The date, time and alarm function are built in, regardless of whether you have the DA installed. To get rid of your blinking apple, you need to boot from a system disk that has the alarm clock DA installed, or install it temporarily in your system, and turn off the alarm. Really. Trust me. Wade Blomgren UCSD ACS wade@sdacs.ucsd.edu
sarrel@tut.cis.ohio-state.edu (Marc A. Sarrel) (10/08/87)
Even if you remove the Alarm Clock DA, it is my understanding that the alarm will still be set (assuming that it was set when the DA was removed). All that the Alarm Clock DA allows you to do is _change_ the time, date and alarm clock settings. If you remove the DA the settings are still there. Summary: try putting the DA back in and turning off the alarm. -- Marc Sarrel The Ohio State University 611 Harely Dr #1 Department of Computer and Information Science Columbus, OH 43202-1835 sarrel@tut.cis.ohio-state.edu Disclaimer: Hey, what do I know, I'm only a grad student.
oster@dewey.soe.berkeley.edu (David Phillip Oster) (10/08/87)
In article <1076@houtz.UUCP> mlr@houtz.UUCP (M.ROBINS) writes: >Well----- I am also running a Mac+ and I just started to see the >Apple menu blink. So--- I checked to see if I had my alarm clock >set. Guess what----- I don't even have an alarm clock DA installed. I hope this is the last word on this incredibly boring topic. The blinking can be caused by other software that has an "Alarm" function. Not all system files you own have the same collection of DAs installed. To turn it off: 1.) find a disk with Alarm Clock on the desk accessories menu (apple menu) one of Apple's standard distribution disks will do. 2.) open Alarm clock 3.) click on the little "lever" in the alarm clock window 4.) click on the picture of the alarm clock 5.) flick the siwtch to "off". --- David Phillip Oster --A Sun 3/60 makes a poor Macintosh II. Arpa: oster@dewey.soe.berkeley.edu --A Macintosh II makes a poor Sun 3/60. Uucp: {uwvax,decvax,ihnp4}!ucbvax!oster%dewey.soe.berkeley.edu
hcn1@sphinx.uchicago.edu (howard charles nusbaum) (10/08/87)
Thanks to everyone who graciously assisted in solving our problem with the blinking Apple. (For those few people left in the world who like me did not know this -- the blinking Apple means your alarm clock went off.) We had this problem spontaneously occur on three of our Macs after running some experimental code. Interestingly enough this problem showed up despite the fact that we did not ever use the Alarm Clock on these systems. A couple of individuals pointed out that the information regarding the blinking Apple is in the Owner's guide. In defense of my dumb question, and for the sake of greater tolerance everywhere, let me add the following: I did indeed read the documentation accompanying the Mac when I first bought it over a year ago. However, I have never used the Alarm Clock DA and so I was not familiar with its behavior. Unlike many people I do not memorize manuals -- I refer to them. Perhaps more important, I would point out that there is no index entry in the manual for "blinking Apple" and it is not listed under troubleshooting (since it is not a "problem"). Therefore without knowing the link between the Alarm Clock and the symptom I could not diagnose the problem. I truly appreciate the help provided to us. Thank you.
ml10+@andrew.cmu.edu (Michael A. Libes) (10/08/87)
The final word on the Blinking Apple:
It doesn't matter whether you have an Alarm Clock DA installed or not.
The alarm time is set in battery backed RAM and you're apple menu will not
stop blinking until you get a hold of the Alarm Clock DA and turn off the
alarm clock.
There is no other reason for a blinking menu!!!
Lunarmobiscuitsyap@ur-tut.UUCP (James Fitzwilliam) (10/09/87)
In article <1076@houtz.UUCP> mlr@houtz.UUCP (M.ROBINS) writes: > >Well----- I am also running a Mac+ and I just started to see the >Apple menu blink. So--- I checked to see if I had my alarm clock >set. Guess what----- I don't even have an alarm clock DA installed. >Does anyone know what this really is??? (Is the battery going??) Let me assume you mean "don't have [the DA] installed _on_that_disk_." The alarm clock setting seems to be one of those things that the Mac keeps in its little battery vault between uptimes. So if you leave the DA set for say, 7:30 PM on one disk, shut off the machine, then power up at 8:07 PM with another disk, the alarm will "go off" DA or no DA. Ironically enough I only figured this out for sure a little while ago when this happened to me on HyperCard, practically the only disk I _don't_ have Alarm Clock installed on! (-: Even if you have the DA nowhere, someone else may have unknowingly set your alarm, or if you have a new Mac it may have even come that way from the factory. (You never know). JMF arpa: syap@tut.cc.rochester.edu uucp: rochester!ur-tut!syap =======================================================================
Charlie_Alan_Bounds@cup.portal.com (10/09/87)
>Howard C. Nusbaum writes: >The Apple Menu has started flashing on this machine and >we have been unable to get it to quit. Sounds to me like the alarm clock has gone off. Usually turning off the alarm will cure your problem. I don't understand why pulling the battery doesn't fix your problem. Possibly the time when the alarm is supposed to go off is recorded in the system file and when you pull the battery and then reset the time it goes off again. Charlie Charlie@cup.portal.com sun!portal!cup.portal.com!charlie
afoster@ogcvax.UUCP (Allan Foster) (10/09/87)
In article <houtz.1076> mlr@houtz.UUCP (M.ROBINS) writes: >I find it strange that there have been a couple of messages about >blinking Apple menu's is this newgroup. The answers given each time >to the fellows question was that the alarm clock must have tripped. > >Well----- I am also running a Mac+ and I just started to see the >Apple menu blink. So--- I checked to see if I had my alarm clock >set. Guess what----- I don't even have an alarm clock DA installed. > The fact that you do not have the alarm clock DA installed has nothing to do with your alarm clock going off!!!! The alarm clock is actually part of the system and I think the time to go off is stored in parameter ram. The alarm clock DA is what enables you to turn it on and off as well as to set it. Install it and turn your alarm clock off!!!! Or use something like other or double apple and then you dont have to install the DA. So it is your alarm clock!!!!! Have fun > >Now what. > >Does anyone know what this really is??? (Is the battery going??) > No your battery is NOT going!!! It is your alarm clock!!!! > Mike Robins > houtz!mlr > Allan Foster Hey, You can't do that, You're DEAD --The living Daylights Allan Foster UUCP : tektronix!ogcvax!afoster GEnie : A.FOSTER AppleLink : UG0035 USPS : 1340 SE 89 Portland OR 97216 Voice : (503) 257-0573 Voice : (503) 252-1351 CSNet : afoster@Oregon-Grad
tomc@mntgfx.MENTOR.COM (Tom Carstensen) (10/10/87)
After read Mike Robins article I decided to post this so we can get rid of the wasteful articles about the blinking apple menu ONCE AND FOR ALL!!! 1) The blinking apple IS the alarm going off 2) If you dont have an alarm clock DA installed, INSTALL ONE and then turn the alarm off Now lets not see anything more about the bloody blinking apple menu. :------------------------------------------------------------: : Tom Carstensen Usenet: tomc@mntgfx.MENTOR.COM : : Mentor Graphics GEnie: : :------------------------------------------------------------:
ali@rocky.STANFORD.EDU (Ali Ozer) (10/10/87)
In article <2396@sphinx.uchicago.edu> Howard Charles Nusbaum writes: >A couple of individuals pointed out that the information >regarding the blinking Apple is in the Owner's guide. In >defense of my dumb question, and for the sake of greater tolerance >everywhere, let me add the following: I did indeed read the >documentation accompanying the Mac when I first bought it over a year ago. Sure. That's what they all say. "Oh, I didn't read MY owner's manual." Or "oh I lost MY owner's manual." Come on, admit it --- You went and copied your friend's Mac, didn't you? That's why you don't have an owner's manual. Kidding aside, yes, the blinking apple menu got me too, a few months back. (I never read the Mac owner's manual, mainly because I never saw one.) After half an hour of blinking apple, I got so annoyed (and my program was giving me a headache) that I simply swapped the blinking apple Mac with the next one (this was in a microcomputer lab... I could've gone to another Mac, I guess, but I wanted to keep on using that particular HD.) Next day when I came in the apple had stopped blinking and I never found out why it had started in the first place. Anyway, seems like a dialog box that has the three options [OK] [Snooze 10 minutes] [Throw Mac across the room] might've been better. Or (better yet, more drastic, and guaranteed to get your attention), the screen shifts down 30%, and the top section starts flashing, in red and black, a box with the words "ALARM", oops, wrong machine. Ali Ozer, ali@rocky.stanford.edu
milt@orstcs.CS.ORST.EDU (Milt Sagen) (10/11/87)
To those of you who think to much as been said already about the blinking apple: Why then add your own two cents worth? To those of you who regard the question as stupid: There are no stupid questions, only arrogant people giving answers.
singer@endor.harvard.edu (Richard Siegel) (10/11/87)
In article <966@mntgfx.MENTOR.COM> tomc@mntgfx.MENTOR.COM (Tom Carstensen) writes: >Now lets not see anything more about the bloody blinking >apple menu. > Hm. As a customer support person, I get lots of questions ranging from the simple (can't get "Hello World" to work), to the arcane (user is trying to write an INIT to set up a multitasking environment using multiple stacks). As such, I see now (I didn't used to) that it's important to realize that in such a high-population set (the set of all readers of comp.sys.mac, or the set of all LightspeedC users, or the set of all Macintosh users), there is going to be a large percentage of novices. It's very important to remember that we were all at one time computer (or Macintosh) novices, and to give due consideration to those who still are. I agree, 10 responses to a single question is a nuisance to read and is, to put it bluntly, a waste of space and time. I've made the mistake of responding to a question before reading further, and ended up contributing to a crowd of responses. Therefore, read *all* of the followups to a question and see if it hasn't already been answered. It'll save time, bytes, and frustration. What about a comp.sys.mac.newuser? Are there enough new user questions to warrant the creation of such a newsgroup? If not then how about a moderated newsgroup? --Rich **The opinions stated herein are my own opinions and do not necessarily represent the policies or opinions of my employer (THINK Technologies, Inc). * Richard M. Siegel | {decvax, ucbvax, sun}!harvard!endor!singer * * Customer Support | singer@endor.harvard.edu * * THINK Technologies, Inc. (No snappy quote) *
Charlie_Alan_Bounds@cup.portal.com (10/11/87)
Mike Robins writes:
=================================================================
I find it strange that there have been a couple of messages about
blinking Apple menu's is this newgroup. The answers given each time
to the fellows question was that the alarm clock must have tripped.
Well----- I am also running a Mac+ and I just started to see the
Apple menu blink. So--- I checked to see if I had my alarm clock
set. Guess what----- I don't even have an alarm clock DA installed.
==================================================================
What I found is that if you set the alarm clock and let it go off, then
remove it with the F/DA mover, that DOES NOT stop the apple menu from
blinking. You must re-install the alarm clock and turn it off. Then
remove the alarm clock if you don't want it.
Charlie Bounds Charlie@cup.portal.com
sun!portal!cup.portal.com!charliegraifer@net1.ucsd.edu (Dan Graifer) (10/12/87)
In article <966@mntgfx.MENTOR.COM> tomc@mntgfx.MENTOR.COM (Tom Carstensen) writes: >After read Mike Robins article I decided to post this so >we can get rid of the wasteful articles about the blinking >apple menu ONCE AND FOR ALL!!! > >1) The blinking apple IS the alarm going off > >2) If you dont have an alarm clock DA installed, INSTALL ONE > and then turn the alarm off > >Now lets not see anything more about the bloody blinking >apple menu. > >:------------------------------------------------------------: >: Tom Carstensen Usenet: tomc@mntgfx.MENTOR.COM : >: Mentor Graphics GEnie: : >:------------------------------------------------------------: Hey, ease off! We are all pleased that Macs are rapidly penetrating the University and Business world. Unfortunately, this means that we can safely predict that some poor new Mac user is going to come along every 3-6 months with a question that we all know the answer to because it has been discussed ad-nauseum on this forum in the past. Let's answer these requests politely, so that we don't scare the neophytes and amateurs (me!) off the net! If it really bothers you, put "blinking apple" into your Kill file for this newsgroup! Sorry about the flame, the tone of the above response to a legitimate question rubbed me the wrong way. Dan Graifer graifer@net1.UCSD.EDU Disclaimer: Nobody ever listens to me anyways; Why should they start now?