« previous next »
Pages: [1] 2   Go Down

Author Topic: Finder problem and applications quiting unexpectedly  (Read 3608 times)

Offline DennisR

  • Poster Child
  • *
  • Posts: 27
    • View Profile
Finder problem and applications quiting unexpectedly
« on: July 31, 2007, 08:05:57 AM »
I have an iMac 800 MHz G4 (waiting anxiously for a new model to be released) running OS 10.3.9 which has performed faultlessly until now. Clicking on an icon on the desktop causes all icons to disappear from the desktop for a couple seconds before they reappear. The clicked icon does not open. At the same time that this started happening, several applications such as  Word,  Entourage, iTunes, Quicktime, GraphicConverter, would open on request but then immediately quit. In the case of Entourage I am able to select an email but the application would quit as soon as I tried to scroll. Safari and Firefox are working as normal, as is Apple's Mail. I have tried repairing permissions, update prebinding, deleted Finder preferences, all to no avail. I have changed users and still have this problem. Has anyone had a similar experience?
Logged

Offline Jack W

  • TS Addict
  • *****
  • Posts: 2597
    • View Profile
Finder problem and applications quiting unexpectedly
« Reply #1 on: July 31, 2007, 08:24:14 AM »
Hi Dennis,

Do you have OnyX? I find this to be an excellent maintenance tool.

Here's the link to the OS X 10.3.9 version:

http://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/11582/onyx

It does many functions.

Try running the monthly, weekly and daily scripts.

-Jack
« Last Edit: July 31, 2007, 08:24:42 AM by Jack W »
Logged
Good to be Here.

My Macs: 2010 27" alum iMac 2.8GHz, Snow Leopard 10.6.8/Mavericks 10.9.5, 4GB SDRAM (Workhorse),
13” Late 2010 MacBook Pro 2.4GHz, 10.6.8, 2GB SDRAM,
(2) External HD - Firewire/USB Macally Enclosures  with 1TB Hitachi Drives,
Time Machine external drive - ditto above - 1/2 TimeMac

Offline Paddy

  • Administrator
  • TS Addict
  • *****
  • Posts: 13797
    • View Profile
    • https://www.paddyduncan.com
Finder problem and applications quiting unexpectedly
« Reply #2 on: July 31, 2007, 08:36:02 AM »
I've never had that particular problem Dennis, but there are lots of suggestions of things to try here:

http://www.thexlab.com/faqs/multipleappsquit.html

Info specific to Entourage:

http://www.entourage.mvps.org/troubleshoot...hes.html#crash6
Logged
"If computers get too powerful, we can organize them into committees. That'll do them in." ~Author unknown •iMac 5K, 27" 3.6Ghz i9 (2019) • 16" M1 MBP(2021) • 9.7" iPad Pro • iPhone 13

Offline Johanbgoot

  • Super Poster
  • ***
  • Posts: 338
    • View Profile
    • http://
Finder problem and applications quiting unexpectedly
« Reply #3 on: July 31, 2007, 11:48:00 AM »
Hi there,

I also have 10.3-9 and use Office.  I run Onyx  (1.5.3) every week (automation).  I also rebuild Entourage every week, Hold down the option key when you open Entourage and choose the option that suits you.  I use option 3 as I have no programs that it says I will have to reload. After it's rebuilt and I have closed it, I press command - F and look for "main identity" on my hard drive, I keep last week's and this week's rebuild and throw out any others.  Every 6-8 weeks I run Diskwarrior.  The OS has worked flawlessly, and I have no problems with my applications.  

Hope this helps.

Johan
Logged
Hmmmmm. I know you think you understand what you thought I said, but I'm not sure that what you heard is what I actually meant!

Offline Xairbusdriver

  • Administrator
  • TS Addict
  • *****
  • Posts: 26388
  • 27" iMac (mid-17), Big Sur, Mac mini, Catalina
    • View Profile
    • Mid-South Weather
Finder problem and applications quiting unexpectedly
« Reply #4 on: July 31, 2007, 03:06:54 PM »
Was there a Font validating app in Panther? It could be as simple as a corrupted System font ( Charcoal? )
Logged
THERE ARE TWO TYPES OF COUNTRIES
Those that use metric = #1 Measurement system
And the United States = The Banana system
CAUTION! Childhood vaccinations cause adults! :yes:

Offline krissel

  • Administrator
  • TS Addict
  • *****
  • Posts: 14735
    • View Profile
Finder problem and applications quiting unexpectedly
« Reply #5 on: August 01, 2007, 12:11:50 AM »
Sounds like the Finder is quitting and then restarting. Do you have Disk Warrior or TechTool Pro?
I'd run them if you have em. Could need a new directory. At the very least boot from your OS CD and run Disk Utility. Better if you have another bootable partition from which you can run DW, TTP or DU.

If you can't track down the problem you may need to do an Archive and Install of the OS.
« Last Edit: August 01, 2007, 12:12:25 AM by krissel »
Logged


A Techsurvivors founder

Offline DennisR

  • Poster Child
  • *
  • Posts: 27
    • View Profile
Finder problem and applications quiting unexpectedly
« Reply #6 on: August 01, 2007, 06:36:37 AM »
Thanks all for your input...

Jack W and Johanbgoot....
I have been using Yasu but OnyX does appear more versatile so thanks for the tip.
I have tried rebuilding the Entourage database but no luck there.

Paddy....
Thanks for the links, I'll work my way through the suggestions there.

Krissel....
No, I don't have the tools you mentioned but perhaps I should invest in one of them?
I've run Disk Utility.
Archive and install of the OS may well eventually be the way I'll have to go.

I'm hanging out for one of the new iMacs that are rumoured to be coming soon. I plan to reformat the drive on this iMac as soon as I have the new machine. Pity this computer couldn't have remained trouble free for just a little longer...   sad.gif
Logged

Offline csonni

  • Super Duper Poster
  • ****
  • Posts: 352
    • View Profile
    • http://
Finder problem and applications quiting unexpectedly
« Reply #7 on: August 01, 2007, 11:44:45 PM »
You could try checking out this post I started some time ago.

http://tinyurl.com/2hctbv
Logged

Offline Xairbusdriver

  • Administrator
  • TS Addict
  • *****
  • Posts: 26388
  • 27" iMac (mid-17), Big Sur, Mac mini, Catalina
    • View Profile
    • Mid-South Weather
Finder problem and applications quiting unexpectedly
« Reply #8 on: August 02, 2007, 12:21:09 PM »
Nice technique, csonni! clap.gif Even though it may not be directly applicable to this problem, you show a great example of logically looking at a problem and deciding on a method of attacking it! Great job! notworthy.gif
Logged
THERE ARE TWO TYPES OF COUNTRIES
Those that use metric = #1 Measurement system
And the United States = The Banana system
CAUTION! Childhood vaccinations cause adults! :yes:

Offline DennisR

  • Poster Child
  • *
  • Posts: 27
    • View Profile
Finder problem and applications quiting unexpectedly
« Reply #9 on: August 03, 2007, 08:15:48 AM »
csonni...

Thanks for the link. I tried the contextual menu angle but no luck. I'll have to employ some patience and go through a process of elimination as you did.

At the time this problem first developed, I had just purchased a 320Gb LaCie d2 Quad external drive, as my iMac drive was running short on space. Anyway, I decided to install a fresh copy of Panther on this new drive and have now got it all set up so that I have access to most stuff again, apart from a few things such as Address Book. I'll now get back to hopefully sorting out the original problem.

Thanks again everyone, for your input  thanx.gif

DennisR
Logged

Offline krissel

  • Administrator
  • TS Addict
  • *****
  • Posts: 14735
    • View Profile
Finder problem and applications quiting unexpectedly
« Reply #10 on: August 04, 2007, 02:04:43 AM »
Whoa, how short on space is your drive? If it is very tight that could account for some of the problems you are having.
OSX requires a lot of space for swap files (like a few GBs) and you could have overrun that amount.
« Last Edit: August 04, 2007, 02:11:27 AM by krissel »
Logged


A Techsurvivors founder

Offline DennisR

  • Poster Child
  • *
  • Posts: 27
    • View Profile
Finder problem and applications quiting unexpectedly
« Reply #11 on: August 05, 2007, 08:21:35 AM »
QUOTE(krissel @ Aug 4 2007, 07:04 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Whoa, how short on space is your drive? If it is very tight that could account for some of the problems you are having.
OSX requires a lot of space for swap files (like a few GBs) and you could have overrun that amount.


My 60GB drive is down to 6GB of free space.  Actually it had recently occurred to me that this may not be helping the situation.
Logged

Offline krissel

  • Administrator
  • TS Addict
  • *****
  • Posts: 14735
    • View Profile
Finder problem and applications quiting unexpectedly
« Reply #12 on: August 06, 2007, 12:02:03 AM »
Very possible since most likely that 6 GB is scattered all over the drive. You may not have a large enough single section for needed swap file space.

Did you partition the new drive? If so you could first eliminate as much 'garbage' as you can from the crowded drive then use SuperDuper or Carbon Copy Cloner to copy the remaining to a partition on the new drive (assuming the partition is at least 60 GB). Then clone it back. That will give you a defragmented drive and may allow you to use the main drive for a while longer.

Ultimately you should keep files on another drive and leave more space free on your boot drive.
« Last Edit: August 06, 2007, 12:07:47 AM by krissel »
Logged


A Techsurvivors founder

Offline DennisR

  • Poster Child
  • *
  • Posts: 27
    • View Profile
Finder problem and applications quiting unexpectedly
« Reply #13 on: August 07, 2007, 06:07:43 AM »
krissel...

Yes, I did partition the new drive into two parts. One part is 60 GB and has a fresh installation of Panther, the other part is where everything else is going (238 GB). The LaCie is now my boot drive. In a few hours from now, Steve will announce the release of my new iMac  toothgrin.gif  Soon after this purchase and when I have it set up, I'll reformat the drive on this iMac, reinstall Panther and it will become the family hack. As you suggested I'll reduce the load on the boot drive and install files on another 80 GB firewire drive that I have here. The LaCie will move to the new iMac.

Thanks again for your very helpful advice.

Dennis
Logged

Offline krissel

  • Administrator
  • TS Addict
  • *****
  • Posts: 14735
    • View Profile
Finder problem and applications quiting unexpectedly
« Reply #14 on: August 08, 2007, 12:47:27 AM »
You're very welcome. smile.gif

Congratulations on your pending purchase.  clap.gif

Be sure to let us know all about it.  yes.gif
Logged


A Techsurvivors founder
Pages: [1] 2   Go Up
« previous next »