If your PowerBook refuses to respond to the keyboard, trackball, or trackpad input, you are experiencing what is known as a "freeze," "hang," or "crash." To recover from this condition with the least amount of data loss and the least amount of corruption of your system, you will have to reset your PowerBook. According to the model of PowerBook you are using, follow the resetting procedure explained below.

Attempt to Quit or Cancel

Try these steps in the order presented first. If the first step is not successful in cancelling the action, try the second step. If the second step does not make the application quit, try the last step. If this still does not work, move on to the Resetting section.

1. Press Command-Period

2. Press Command-Q

3. Press Option-Command-Escape (Forced Quit)

PowerBook 100

The reset button is on the left side of the unit, marked by a triangle. Push the button to reset your PowerBook. Since the PowerBook 100 has no Power On button, this is the only way to escape a freeze.

Remaining Powerbook 100 Family (except the 190)

The reset button is on the back of the unit, inside a little hole next to the power button. The hole is marked with a triangle. Push the button using a straightened paper clip.

PowerBook (Duo) 200 Family & 2300 Series

Press the Control, Command and Power On keys simultaneously.

PowerBook 500, 190, 2400, 3400, 5300, G3, and G3 Series

Press the Control, Command, and Power On keys simultaneously .

Note : Do not turn the computer off with the power button when it is frozen. Doing so can damage or corrupt your system software.

Diagnosing System Hangs or Freezes

Most system hangs, freezes, and crashes are caused by software. After you experience several repeated system hangs or freezes, try to power on your computer while holding down the Shift key. This will disable software extensions that could be the cause of the problems.

If, after you turn off the extensions, you no longer experience the freezes and crashes, you will need to narrow your search for the suspect extension.

To do this, first note when the freeze occurred. If you see a pattern, you may be able to identify which application or control panel is to blame.

For instance, if you continually crash when you're in a particular word-processing application, remove all of the extensions related to that application from your System folder and/or Extensions folder.

If you consistently crash when running a particular Control Panel, such as a clock or screen saver, remove that item from the Control Panels folder. If you recently loaded new items into your System folder, Control Panels folder, or Extensions folder, remove those items first.

Compatibility Issues

If you identify or suspect that you have identified an extension that is causing your system to freeze, the application, extension, or control panel may be incompatible with the PowerBook. In these cases, contact the software vendor.