How to Zap the Ram on an Intel MacBook or MacBook Pro

If your MacBook or MacBook Pro has been experiencing networking, sound, printer, video or other issues, resetting or zapping your PRam (parameter random access memory) might be the solution to bring your Mac back to full health. Zapping your Mac’s PRam cleans out the parameter settings and returns your computer to its default settings.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Quit all of your active applications and shut down your Mac.

2. Once your computer is completely shut down, find the following key combination on your computer "Command, Option, P and R." You will need to hold all of these keys down simultaneously once you reach Step 4.

3. Restart your Mac.

4. As your Mac begins the restart process, hold down the key combination, "Command, Option, P and R," and keep holding them as your Mac reboots. You should see a gray screen on your Mac, continue holding the key combination as your Mac reboots with the start-up sound again. Continue holding the key combination and let your Mac cycle through the reboot process 3 or 4 times just to be sure that the PRam is completely flushed.

Tips & Warnings

• Your PRam has been reset and your Mac PRam settings have been returned to their default values. Some setting such as the clock and date may need to be set.