Leopard (10.5) Finder not responding

kon21 · #1 October 26th, 2007, 03:53 PM

I just did a Archive and Install option on Leopard, machine does boot, but right as the finder should pop, i get the beach ball of death. cmd-opt-esc shows the finder is not responding. Forcing quiting it get a bit further, my startup items launch, but soon after that finder stops responding again.

Any thoughts on what I can do next?
I'm booting of the DVD right now to repair permission, perhaps that helps.
System won't let me even enter user account to crate a new clean profile.

Veljo · #2 October 26th, 2007, 04:10 PM

A few times I've had the Finder hang on me for a minute or so when copying lots of files across from my external hard disk, then after a long wait it finally woke up. Have you tried leaving your Mac for a good 5-10 minutes? That might be just what you need...if not, I guess it's time to start up in Target Disk mode, back up your stuff, format and do a clean install.

eric2006 · #3 October 26th, 2007, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Veljo

A few times I've had the Finder hang on me for a minute or so when copying lots of files across from my external hard disk, then after a long wait it finally woke up. Have you tried leaving your Mac for a good 5-10 minutes? That might be just what you need...if not, I guess it's time to start up in Target Disk mode, back up your stuff, format and do a clean install.

It's possible that com.apple.finder.plist has become corrupted in the install - deleting it may fix your problem. You can delete it with TDM or single user mode. Have you tried a safe boot?

aled · #4 October 26th, 2007, 04:22 PM

If you can get system preferences open from the dock, make a new user. Log in as that. If it works then it's a preferences problem on your main user.

You can use another computer to log into your files and move loads of com.apple.xxxxx pref files to another folder.

Then restart.

You could zap a few of the Cache files too in the various Library folders.

kon21 · #5 October 26th, 2007, 04:26 PM

Repair Disk option off the DVD gave my drive a clean bill of health.
Doing Permissions Repair now.

I believe I've tried Safe Boot (with the shift key) but the finder continued to lock up.

I'll check com.apple.finder.plist

I let the machine do it's thing for 30+min, finder never released.
I'll send updates as I keep trying.

Honestly, I think to do a clean install is probably the best option, that you dump half the software you probably don't use anyways.

aled · #6 October 26th, 2007, 05:49 PM

... clean install is best. Especially with a well used Tiger machine.

I've got a new user working, so I know the Finder isn't broken.

Loads of apps are working with my settings, ones I can get to without using Finder anyway. I'm going to use Target Disk mode to fix it in the morning.

My MacBook Pro update has gone smoothly tho. MySQL, PHP, Adobe CS3 all works. VMWare Beta 1.1 is poor at the moment. This morning when I updated it in preparation for Leopard it was running extremely fast on Tiger, I thought, wow - if it keeps working like that on Leopard, cool. But no.

**Giaguara** · #7 October 26th, 2007, 06:02 PM

Funny, I had that when I upgraded to 10.2 ..

ended up after fighting a few hours just wiping it, so another install on top of it. That fixed it as it was something in the core system that was way too odd.

Carrjar · #8 October 27th, 2007, 12:48 PM

I need help, so an update would be nice. I've tried to Archive and Install, did not work. Looks like my last resort in a clean install. I'm backing up right now. Anyway around clean install?