Novice IMac/ OS X Panther keeps stalling

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macgeoff

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Had my IMac running Panther for 4 months now; really great (apart from some early airport problems...) Been away for a couple of weeks, but hit a serious problem yesterday when I returned. (I have broadband & I regularly take all the software updates from Apple.)

Normally the Imac sleeps (but permanently connected to a broadband modem) and I wake it when I need to check mail etc). Woke it up yesterday clicked on Safari, it opened on the pre-set Apple/ Netscape homepage (yes I'm lazy). Followed a link to a Friends video clip and as it tried to launch Safari froze. Tried opening Mail, it froze. Tried to open Force Quit (option/ Apple/ Esc), nothing opened. Read help book, pressed and held off button for 6 seconds and restarted computer.

On restart I was offered some software updates (Security update, QuickT update, airport update; 5 updates in all). Decided I may as well take them (thought the security update might be relevant). Seemed to download all the up dates ok, but it hung when trying to run some part of the QT update. Waited and waited but in the end opened Force Quit, clicking on software update to stop it; wouldn't stop. Had to press off button again....

On restart I try mail, safari, address book, even Internet Explorer - all hang withour opening properly if at all. Decide to wait to see what it does; after while - minutes not hours - screen goes blank, but not asleep, sort of very dark but not quite off. Cannot wake it up or get a response to any input on mouse or key board. Press off button again. Go through whole rigmarole again. Give up, go to bed.

I'd really appreciate hearing if this is a common problem with an easy fix please! I'm new to Macs and this is scary.
Thanks in advance,
Geoff
 
Hey Geoff and welcome to the forum.
Let's see if we can fix your prob. My first request is that you add another user account to panther and log into that account. Test your system and see if things are the same way like in your current messed account.
 
Zammy-Sam said:
Hey Geoff and welcome to the forum.
Let's see if we can fix your prob. My first request is that you add another user account to panther and log into that account. Test your system and see if things are the same way like in your current messed account.
Click to expand...

Ok, tonight when I get home I'll have a look at my idiot's book and create a new account; cheers etc
 
Ok; went home at lunchtime and created a new account. can start up and run safari and the other progs ok now. what next??
 
OK. Now maybe this will help you. I'll list them in steps.

1. Open Applications->Utilities-Disk Utility. Then in the program highlight your startup drive and click Repair Permissions. Keep doing that until no problems have been found. This should be down after most every major software install (even from Apple). This will verify all OS X's Unix permissions (and Unix LOVES permissions). This also should be done around once every 2 weeks to be safe. It will save you future OS X headaches.

2. If this still does not work, then consider re-install the OS X Combined Update. Then run Software update. when everything is installed, open Disk Utility and Repair Permissions.

3. If that doesn't do it then consider getting a disk utility program like Alsoft's DiskWarrior. However please note, don't go near an old Mac Disk Utility from Norton (Symantec). It has been discontinued. Note: the user comments to the article don't stress enough how much their product hurts OS X. Just do a search of this board and you'll see that for yourself.


4. You should download some helper programs to keep OS X it shape. OS X is based on BSD and BSD is a form of Unix. Unix was designed to run 24 hours non-stop. Mac users try to save energy and the Unix cron jobs don't get to run at night. These automtic cron jobs manage the Unix logs and keep them from filling up. So maybe you should run MacJanitor(free). It will let you run those cron scripts at your leisure.

These are just a few programs to keep you OS X in shape. There are alternatives but IMHO these programs will help you out now AND in the future to stop future problems.
 
Satcomer, I would skip stepps 2-4. The easiest thing would be to move to the new account. Simply copy all your files in your home directory (beside the Library!!). Now, start copying few folders from the Library folder but keep the track. Don't copy all at once, since there is a faulty plist file in that folder. The folder where all plist-files are located is in Home/Library/Preferences. Do not copy this folder to your new account. Now check, does your system still run fine? Do you miss certain adjustments of some apps in your new account? Then tell us which and we'll tell you the plist-file of that app. Any questions?
 
Thanks Satcomer and Zammy-Sam; I'm up and running again! It did indeed seem to be the plist files. I think it was a problem with the QT plist file. Anyway all's very well now - could not have doen it without you guys, thanks! :D

Should I still be looking to regularly repair permissions and those cron jobs (Realistically My Mac is probably asleep 22 hours a day....)?
Cheers
Geoff
 
macgeoff said:
Thanks Satcomer and Zammy-Sam; I'm up and running again! It did indeed seem to be the plist files. I think it was a problem with the QT plist file. Anyway all's very well now - could not have doen it without you guys, thanks! :D

Should I still be looking to regularly repair permissions and those cron jobs (Realistically My Mac is probably asleep 22 hours a day....)?
Cheers
Geoff
Click to expand...

Nice to hear you found the problem. IMHO yes, you should run those cron jobs because they are designed to run in the early hours of the morning (when it's still dark out). That program I pointed out is just one of many. I'm just use to MacJanitor.

Plus, yes Repair permissions should become a habit. You have to think in the developers (of software) shoes. They all think their program is the best in world. So they sometimes will re-write your machines permissions because they think they know your system better than you. The repair permissions will look at Library->Packages file (which hold the base permissions) along with other factors and reset your permissions to the way they should be. Some users actually report a speed up when the they first time Repair Permissions.

Note: there is no guarantee Repair Permissions will speed up your system but they will keep all your system ducks in a row and that will help in stopping future OS X headaches.
 
Thanks for the advice Satcomer; I'll get and run MacJanitor regularly - and I repaired permissions for the first time and indeed, even after my resetting of the plist files, it did find a couple of files to repair!

Much obliged and bye bye :)
 
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