Freeware OnyX 1.4.9 is a maintenance, optimization, and personalization utility for Mac OS X. OnyX 1.4.9 works with all Macintosh computers running Mac OS X version 10.3.x (with BSD subsystem). OnyX is a utility designed for maintenance, optimization and personalization of Mac OS X. It also makes it possible to configure certain hidden parameters of Finder, Dock, Safari, to remove a certain number of files and folders that become cumbersome, preview the different logs and CrashReporter, and more.
More info and download link here.
I encountered an issue with an earlier version of OnyX, where it would hang up the entire system while trying to repair permissions. Since both Disk Utility and Cocktail did not have a problem doing the same task, I trashed OnyX, figuring it wasn’t quite ready for prime time. Now that I have paid for Cocktail, I doubt that OnyX has any added functionality, but the lure of updated (and free) software is a siren song that is so hard to resist…
(this post brought to you by the magic word ‘outside’…)
The average Mac hard drive with OS X is never more than 15% fragmented because disk optimization is done after every Apple-assisted install. In addition, OS X is simply very intelligent with disk utilization. Optimizing an otherwise healthy Mac has no effect.
To run a “Disk Doctor” type program, simply restart your Mac. Mac OS X performs these doctor functions automatically. The system checks the hard drive’s health (and fixes the problems) before doing anything else.
A more common problem is a 3rd party application install screwing up the permission settings on system files. This is fixed by Apple’s Disk Utility if you experience a program not functioning properly, kinda “screwy”, as if it can’t find preference files or certain settings.
If you keep your Mac powered up and not asleep overnight, UNIX automatically performs a self-maintenance routine; cleaning cash�s, updating databases, etc.
Summary:
Mac OS X is a very good disk manager all on its own. It is not uncommon for these universal “fix-it” programs to create more problems than they solve. If your Mac remains seriously messed up after the above suggestions, the best advice is to do an “Archive and Install” of the latest OS and then update it with the latest combo update. If this still doesn’t solve your problem, bring your Mac to an Apple store. The people at the Genius Bar are great and very helpful, and often at no charge if the problem can be solved on the spot.
After using Onyx, it does all that it claims. It is very good ONLY IF YOU KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING!!! There are no descriptions as to what each item does. In many cases, these functions may take a long amount of time and cannot be halted during mid-execution without possible harm.
It has very poor feedback. In most cases just a tiny blue progress bar. Sometimes, it appears to have locked up. To see the results, you have to find the right log in a separate icon/function.
Summary;
Good, ONLY if you know exactly what each function does and if you don’t need any feedback. It IS possible to cause unrecoverable damage if you start a function such as “Optimize” and then force restart the computer. Easy to use: THAT may be it’s worst downfall.
True. Put it in the hands of a newbie grandma and the system could potentially become well and truly stuffed,
however,
I have found the app very useful to optimise my backup server (beige G3 running 10.3.3). That machine had so many probs I did actually notice a speed up after running maintenance, permissions and optimisation.
Then again, a newbie might not have their own admin password