Mac OS X: The Missing Manual, Second Edition

The Setup Assistant

When the Mac “comes to” after a basic installation, the first thing you experience is some arty, liquid visual effects, some jazzy music, and an animated stream of Welcome messages in various languages. Once Apple has finished showing off its multimedia prowess, you arrive at a Welcome screen.

Once again, you’re in for a click-through-the-screens experience, this time with the aim of setting up your Mac’s various settings. After answering the questions on each screen, click Continue.

1. Choose your area of the country.

   If you chose English as your primary language during the installation phase, for example, you’re now asked which particular regional form of English you speak: United States, Australia, Canada, or United Kingdom. Select the appropriate one and click Continue.

2. Choose a keyboard layout.

   The Character Palette describes the purpose of keyboard layouts. Most people can click right past this screen.

3. Fill in the Registration Information screen, if you like.

   This is your chance to become a grain of sand on the great beach of the Apple database. Click Continue.

   Note

   If you’re not interested in providing your personal information to Apple, or if you’ve already done so during a previous installation, press

   

   -Q. A message offers you Skip, Shut Down, and Cancel buttons. If you click Skip, you jump straight ahead to step 5.

4. Answer “A Few More Questions.”

   This window includes ...