Sparrowhawk said:
I checked the Accounts utility, but since I'm the only person who's every used the eMac, only my name is listed as administrator. Regardless, I attempted to change the name simply by retyping the same name and password, but afterwards Finder Help still only flashes by.
Attempting to change the current administrators name, and creating another account - are not the same.
To create a new account:
Launch "System Preferences' and click on the 'Accounts' Utility icon.
If the pad lock at the lower left is closed - click on it, add you current admin. password (if you have one), in to the respective field of the 'Authenticate' dialog box, and click on the 'OK' button.
Under the left column list of current accounts (a single one for you presently) are '+' and '-' buttons, click on the '+' button.
Enter a new accounts name, short name (if you so desire), password (if you so desire), verify (if you so desire), and password hint (if you so desire); and, place a check mark in the 'Allow user to administer this computer' check box. Click on the 'Create Account' button.
[My primary account is 's' and my other (administrator) account is 'd', with no passwords. I am not as paranoid as others.]
If you choose not to include a password an alert box will appear asking you 'Are you sure you want to do this?', click the 'OK' button.
Your new account should now be listed in the left side column of the 'System Preferences' 'Accounts' utility panel.
With either your original account or the newly created account selected, directly beneath the left side accounts column is 'Login Options', click on it.
Place a check mark in the 'Automatically log in as:' check box, and from its popup menu select your original account. Also, place a check mark in the 'Enable fast user switching' check box.
The following are suggestions only:
From the 'View as:' popup menu select 'Name'.
Click on the 'Display login window as:' 'List of users' radio button.
Place a check mark in the 'Show the Restart, Sleep, and Shut Down buttons' check box.
You may now quit (via 'System Preferences, Quit' menu item) / close (via the 'red' jelly bean 'close' button) 'System Preferences'.
Along the upper right portion of your menu bar you should see your current account name as a menu. Click on your account name menu, keeping the mouse button pressed, and select the newly created account menu item. You may asked for the newly created account's password (if you entered one during the creation of the new account), enter it, and continue.
Once the Desktop of the new account appears, select 'Finder's 'Help, Mac Help' menu item. Does it now launch and run as expected?
If so, you confirmed a problem only confined to your original account. This is typically associated with a file or files related to said application.
If not, your problem is a system wide related one. Thus, it may be difficult to correct. Your only recourse is to do the now common MacOS X problem solving action, as Windozer's have been doing for years - re-install MacOS X and enjoy the time spend updating the OS, and perhaps re-installing other software.
P.S. To return to your original account, select the 'Apple menu's, Log Out ...' menu item. Or use 'Command <shift> Q'. You will be asked if you really want to log out, just click on the 'Log Out' button. When the log in accounts window appears select your original account.
To delete the new (or any none primary) account:
Launch "System Preferences' and click on the 'Accounts' Utility icon.
If the pad lock at the lower left is closed - click on it, add you current admin. password (if you have one), in to the respective field of the 'Authenticate' dialog box, and click on the 'OK' button.
Select the account you want to delete (the new one in your particular case), in the left side column, and click on the '-' button beneath the column. You will be prompted via a 'sheet' - 'Are you sure you want to delete the user account "..."?', click on the 'Delete Immediately' button.
You may now quit (via 'System Preferences, Quit' menu item) / close (via the 'red' jelly bean 'close' button) 'System Preferences'.
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P.S. To btoth.
Good catch on the '~/Library/Caches/com.apple.helpui/TOCCache.plist' file.
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Sparrowhawk said:
Is it possible that some sort of plist file needs to be removed? I am unclear on the function of plists, but removing them seems to have helped in the past. However, I don't care to experiment when I have so little knowledge of the Mac's inner workings. Other suggestions?
'.plist' files are just preferences files. They may contain settings you made via an application's 'Prefereneces ...' menu item window. Some '.plist' files also contain the size and position of an application's window, at the time the application was quit'ted, etc.
To view a .plist':
If you installed the 'Developer' tools, deep within the 'Developer' folder will 'Property List Editor' ['/Developer/Applications/Utilities/']. By double-clicking on any '.plist' file, 'Property List Editor' should launch and the respective '.plist' file opened.
An alternative is to just drag the '.plist' file onto 'TextEdit'. You will see the '.plist' file in XML format, not as clean as with 'Property List Editor'.
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Sure, System 1.0 through 9.2.2 are (were, to some) easier to use, manage, troubleshoot, and be productive with. Sadly, we now have a (sparingly) Macintosh, (more and more like) Windoze, UNIX based hybrid OS, and have to deal with it, as such.
Sincerely yours,
BarHar
