iTunes 4.5 freezing

bunner bob

Registered
Howdy,

I recently updated my G4/933 to 10.3.4, and also got iTunes 4.5. Started checking out the iTunes music store, and found iTunes would freeze up periodically (standard mouse pointer cursor, but it wouldn't move), requiring me to reboot.

So far the problems seem to have occurred when listening to a preview from the music store, and then clicking "stop", or trying to play a different preview. Haven't messed around within my own library lately so don't know whether the problem extends to that area too.

Other apps (Photoshop, Freehand, Vuescan) are unaffected.

Have tried repairing permissions (which I also did before and after my 10.3.4 update, as well as running DiskWarrior) with no improvement.

Figuring I should trash SOME prefs file (itunes.plist?) but don't want to trash any important info.

Suggestions on how to proceed?

- Bob
 
You definitely need to download iTunes 4.6. 4.5 has known bugs with the iPod (and who knows what else!) It only took apple about 4 weeks to update 4.5, so you know there were some SERIOUS issues with it. :)
 
Updated to iTunes 4.6 and I'm still getting freezes. They happened:

- when dragging the playback position slider at the top of the window
- after importing a cd (to mp 3 format)
- other miscellaneous times - usually when mousing around, switching tracks, etc.

The only odd factor might be my cd drive - it's a Pioneer DVR-107, on which I enable burning using PatchBurn (since the DVR-107 is not yet supported under OS X 10.3.4). But only iTunes freezes. Or sometimes the computer freezes under another app, but only when iTunes is playing/running in the background.

Bummer is, I did a lot of updates at once (10.3.4, iTunes, added the DVR-107 and started using PatchBurn), and at the same time, I started using the iTunes store. So a lot of new factors at once, making it tough to pinpoint the source.

What files might I try trashing -or any other fixes?

- Bob
 
don't trash the plist files. Just setup a new user-account on your mac and check your itunes on that new account. If things work fine, you will know it is somehow related to your plist files.
If that's the problem, I would rather move them out of your Preferences folder than trashing them
 
Finally got around to trying this (haven't been doing much in iTunes lately). Created a new account and the problem happens there as well. It seems most common when dragging the position slider in a song, or switching songs while one is playing.

It must be the Pioneer DVR-107 - that or the fact that I'm using PatchBurn to enable it for iTunes. I wonder when/if OSX will support this drive?

I will continue to treat iTunes as one of those 'touchy' apps that I don't use much - in my case, just to rip CDs for my iPod. Luckily I mostly only listen in the car.

Unless there's another suggestion?

- Bob
 
It's probably Patchburn. Do you use Toast? It'll read Pioneers just fine. Even if you don't, try disabling patchburn, repair permissions again and see if the problem is resolved.
 
The Pioneer DVR-107 is fully supported by Panther. I have a DVR-106 that is fully supported without a patch, and a buddy has a DVR-107 that is fully supported without a patch.

It's the DVR-108 that isn't natively supported at the moment.

http://eshop.macsales.com/Catalog_Item.cfm?ID=6869&Item=PIODVR107BK

That's a link to a vendor's 107 page, claiming it's compatible with 10.3.3 and up. I can confirm that.

Try removing the PatchBurn patch you applied and see if it works.
 
I disabled PatchBurn (well, removed its drivers) and ran for quite a while before getting another freeze. Maybe it's better - I hope so. It's not "all better", just - better.

Grr....

- Bob
 
Think I figured it out. I've got a MOTU PCI-324 digital audio card (driving a 2408) installed. The PCI-324 does not get along with Panther, according to numerous reports I've found online - my symptoms fit the description of the problem pretty well. My options are to upgrade the card to a PCI-424 or just buy a firewire audio interface. The latter seems the most practical solution - I'll just ebay the MOTU.
 
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