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TICKET ARCHIVE -> Apple Apps Won't Respond
Barbara2476 - Aug 4, 2005 - 4:23 pm
I have a G5 running OS 10.3.9 - yesterday applications such as iPhoto, iChat, Safari, etc, that had been working fine now refused to open. I finally have to force-quit them to make the spinning pizza stop. Other applications (such as MS Office, Adobe CS) are working. If I log in as another user, the problem appears to go away. (At least with Safari; I haven't really set up other apps for the other users to try them out.)
I'm a long-time Mac user but not a techie, although I do try to do a lot of my own troubleshooting. So far I've tried safe reboot, permissions repair (which I can only do logged in as the other user), reset the PRAM. I even tried using the terminal (which is way out of my league) to type in "sudo plutil -s ~/Library/Preferences/*.plist" which I read about on this web site as a solution to a similar problem. But I haven't been able to resolve the problem.
I haven't installed any new software unless it was auto-updates from Apple.
I have computer support locally, but my office has the only two Macs in the building, so the support is stronger on the Windows side of the house.
Any suggestions?
I'm a long-time Mac user but not a techie, although I do try to do a lot of my own troubleshooting. So far I've tried safe reboot, permissions repair (which I can only do logged in as the other user), reset the PRAM. I even tried using the terminal (which is way out of my league) to type in "sudo plutil -s ~/Library/Preferences/*.plist" which I read about on this web site as a solution to a similar problem. But I haven't been able to resolve the problem.
I haven't installed any new software unless it was auto-updates from Apple.
I have computer support locally, but my office has the only two Macs in the building, so the support is stronger on the Windows side of the house.
Any suggestions?
skapp - Aug 4, 2005 - 7:05 pm
This may help:
Complements of MacJack:
1. Navigate to YourHome/Library/Fonts - drag this folder to the desktop.
•*Restart and test your applications.
• If they work start adding the fonts back few at a time.
( A likely suspects are Time RO & Helvetica Fractions, also if you do not use Classic you can trash the classic fonts.)
2. Check Preferences Thoroughly:
• Go to Users/Your_Name/Library/Preferences and trash the files:
- com.apple.ATS.plist
- com.apple.BezelServices.plist
Restart. If this did not help, go to Users/Your_Name/Library and drag the folder Preferences to the desktop. Restart and see if this solved the problem
• Navigate to YourHome/Library/Preferences drag this folder to the desktop.
• Restart and test your applications.
• If this works, save the old preferences folder somewhere else or on disk, name it "old prefs" .
*** Note: A very important file is the "com.apple.Mail.plist" preference file located in the Preferences folder which contains all email account settings and general mail preferences (hold this one and replace if your problem is not with Mail).
You'll have to go through some of your System Preferences and apps to set the preferences back to how you like them. (Or if you have the time and inclination, "cherry pick" through until you find the problem one or two.)
3. Check Permissions Inside Home Folder
*** • Navigate to yourhome/library.
*** • Get Info (Command + i) on the "Applications Support" folder.
*** • Open the "Ownership & permissions" disclosure triangle.
*** • Make sure you are the owner, with "read and write" access.
****• Click on "apply to all"
*** • If this is correct, open the "Applications Support" folder and do the same procedure (Command+I) for the folders with the names of the applications you are having trouble with.
Note:
The reason to check this is because repairing permissions with Disk Utility doesn't touch permissions inside your home folder.
And this may also help: Apps Unexpectedly Quit.
Complements of MacJack:
1. Navigate to YourHome/Library/Fonts - drag this folder to the desktop.
•*Restart and test your applications.
• If they work start adding the fonts back few at a time.
( A likely suspects are Time RO & Helvetica Fractions, also if you do not use Classic you can trash the classic fonts.)
2. Check Preferences Thoroughly:
• Go to Users/Your_Name/Library/Preferences and trash the files:
- com.apple.ATS.plist
- com.apple.BezelServices.plist
Restart. If this did not help, go to Users/Your_Name/Library and drag the folder Preferences to the desktop. Restart and see if this solved the problem
• Navigate to YourHome/Library/Preferences drag this folder to the desktop.
• Restart and test your applications.
• If this works, save the old preferences folder somewhere else or on disk, name it "old prefs" .
*** Note: A very important file is the "com.apple.Mail.plist" preference file located in the Preferences folder which contains all email account settings and general mail preferences (hold this one and replace if your problem is not with Mail).
You'll have to go through some of your System Preferences and apps to set the preferences back to how you like them. (Or if you have the time and inclination, "cherry pick" through until you find the problem one or two.)
3. Check Permissions Inside Home Folder
*** • Navigate to yourhome/library.
*** • Get Info (Command + i) on the "Applications Support" folder.
*** • Open the "Ownership & permissions" disclosure triangle.
*** • Make sure you are the owner, with "read and write" access.
****• Click on "apply to all"
*** • If this is correct, open the "Applications Support" folder and do the same procedure (Command+I) for the folders with the names of the applications you are having trouble with.
Note:
The reason to check this is because repairing permissions with Disk Utility doesn't touch permissions inside your home folder.
And this may also help: Apps Unexpectedly Quit.
Barbara2476 - Aug 5, 2005 - 8:52 am
It was the first thing you suggested - the fonts folder. (Not surprising - we're a publications office.) Thank you so much. I can't believe how quickly you responded and how many great suggestions you offered. I'm back in business - THANKS!
skapp - Aug 5, 2005 - 1:28 pm
Barbara,
Glad to have been of service.
Glad to have been of service.
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