Re: Problems again, sigh

[Peter Hinchliffe]

On 07/07/2012, at 1:05 PM, pat wrote:

> My Mac is sick again. Hope someone can help.
> 
> The patient: Mac Pro, 4 years old (the first 64 bit model), 3 hard  
> disks, 16 GB RAM, OS 10.6.8.
> 
> The symptoms: It was working OK last night when I closed it down.  
> This morning, when booted, the Finder repeatedly quits every few  
> seconds (very obvious because the screensaver keeps changing). Up in  
> the top left-hand corner some of the usual icons on the Finder menu  
> bar are semi-visible but non-functional. Otherwise, a blank screen.
> 
> What I have done so far:
> 1.  Rebuilt the directories with DiskWarrior. Problem not fixed.
> 
> 2. Ran TechTool Deluxe. No change.
> 
> 3. Put the Snow Leopard disk in and verified and repaired all 3  
> disks, repaired permissions. Disk Utility says all the disks appear  
> to be OK.  Problem still exists.
> 
> I can't think of anything else to do other than ask for advice.  Will  
> be most grateful.
> 

Please disregard my reply. I hadn't realised your query had already been 
answered. It showed up in a separate thread...  

Peter HinchliffeApwin Computer Services
FileMaker Pro Solutions Developer
Perth, Western Australia
Phone (618) 9332 6482Mob 0403 046 948

Mac because I prefer it -- Windows because I have to.

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Re: Problems again, sigh

[Peter Hinchliffe]

On 07/07/2012, at 1:05 PM, pat wrote:

> My Mac is sick again. Hope someone can help.
> 
> The patient: Mac Pro, 4 years old (the first 64 bit model), 3 hard  
> disks, 16 GB RAM, OS 10.6.8.
> 
> The symptoms: It was working OK last night when I closed it down.  
> This morning, when booted, the Finder repeatedly quits every few  
> seconds (very obvious because the screensaver keeps changing). Up in  
> the top left-hand corner some of the usual icons on the Finder menu  
> bar are semi-visible but non-functional. Otherwise, a blank screen.
> 
> What I have done so far:
> 1.  Rebuilt the directories with DiskWarrior. Problem not fixed.
> 
> 2. Ran TechTool Deluxe. No change.
> 
> 3. Put the Snow Leopard disk in and verified and repaired all 3  
> disks, repaired permissions. Disk Utility says all the disks appear  
> to be OK.  Problem still exists.
> 
> I can't think of anything else to do other than ask for advice.  Will  
> be most grateful.
> 
> Pat
> 
> 

There are two "standard" troubleshooting steps you haven't mentioned:

1. Create a new non-administrator "test" account and log into that (remembering 
to turn off automatic login if you have that turned on). See if the problem 
persists.

2. Boot into "Safe" mode by holding down the shift key during startup until the 
little circular progress icon disappears. Again, see if the problem persists.

If the problem disappears following wither of these steps, the issue has to do 
with something that's most likely restricted to your user account. If not, a 
full backup and re-install of your system is probably in order. The steps you 
have taken so far can only address problems with your hard drive (which you 
have now ruled out, so your time has not been wasted), not with software 
issues. 

Peter HinchliffeApwin Computer Services
FileMaker Pro Solutions Developer
Perth, Western Australia
Phone (618) 9332 6482Mob 0403 046 948

Mac because I prefer it -- Windows because I have to.

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Re: Problems again, sigh

[Ronda Brown]

Hi Pat,

I missed answering  this in query in your previous email.

> Now that Finder is back, I tried  
> the search again, and still no hits. It seems strange to me that  
> search is not able to find it.

Spotlight won't search system files unless you ask it to.

Start a Spotlight search in a Finder window. 
Right under the text edit box you should see a Save button and a +. 
Click on the + plus. 
On the other side of the window you'll see Search and below that you'll see 2 
pop up menus. 
The one should be labeled Kind. Click on it and select Other. 
You'll see a sheet pop out and a long list which is alphabetically sorted. 
Search for System Files and click on the checkmark to select it. 
This will add System Files to the menu.
 
Now any time you want to perform a search that includes a system file, start 
your search, click on the + and select System Files and then in the popup menu 
next to it select are included.

Cheers,
Ronni

On 07/07/2012, at 4:44 PM, pat wrote:

> Thanks, Ronni!  That did the trick.  I had done a search for the  
> plist when I was in Lion, but no entries were found. It didn't occur  
> to me that it was in my home folder. Now that Finder is back, I tried  
> the search again, and still no hits. It seems strange to me that  
> search is not able to find it.
> 
> Whew, BIG sign of relief.
> Thank you very much!
> Pat
> 
> 
> 
> On 07/07/2012, at 5:37 PM, Ronda Brown wrote:
> 
>> Hi Pat,
>> 
>> Not /Library...  but your Home/Library/Preferences - trash the  
>> com.apple.finder.plist file and restart your computer.
>> If that doesn't solve the Finder crashing
>> 
>> Have you tried starting up in Safe Mode?
>> 
>> To start up into Safe Mode (to "Safe Boot"), do this:
>> 
>> 1. Be sure the computer is shut down.
>> 
>> 2. Press the power button.
>> 
>> 3. Immediately after you hear the startup tone, press and hold the  
>> Shift key.
>> Tip: The Shift key should be held as soon as possible after the  
>> startup tone but not before.
>> 
>> 4. Release the Shift key when you see the gray Apple and progress  
>> indicator (looks like a spinning gear).
>> 
>> It takes much longer to startup in Safe Mode.
>> You will see "Safe Boot" on the login window, which appears even if  
>> you normally log in automatically.
>> If you startup in Safe Mode ok, and Finder does not quit, just  
>> restart the computer normally, without holding any keys during  
>> startup.
>> 
>> If you need to run Apple Hardware Test post back and I'll give you  
>> instructions how to.
>> 
>> Cheers,
>> Ronni
>> 
>> On 07/07/2012, at 3:13 PM, pat wrote:
>> 
 My Mac is sick again. Hope someone can help.
 
 The patient: Mac Pro, 4 years old (the first 64 bit model), 3 hard
 disks, 16 GB RAM, OS 10.6.8.
 
 The symptoms: It was working OK last night when I closed it down.
 This morning, when booted, the Finder repeatedly quits every few
 seconds (very obvious because the screensaver keeps changing). Up in
 the top left-hand corner some of the usual icons on the Finder menu
 bar are semi-visible but non-functional. Otherwise, a blank screen.
 
 What I have done so far:
 1.  Rebuilt the directories with DiskWarrior. Problem not fixed.
 
 2. Ran TechTool Deluxe. No change.
 
 3. Put the Snow Leopard disk in and verified and repaired all 3
 disks, repaired permissions. Disk Utility says all the disks appear
 to be OK.  Problem still exists.
>>> 
>>> I have tried a few more things to try to solve this problem.
>>> 
>>> Tried to use Apple Hardware test.  The instructions said to boot with
>>> the SL install disk while holding down the 'D' key, but nothing
>>> happened.
>>> 
>>> Searched on the internet on the words 'mac Finder crashing'. There
>>> were a few items on this topic, but none seemed to help me. One
>>> suggestion was to throw out the com.apple.Finder.plist, but there was
>>> no such item in the Library preference folder. A clue, perhaps?
>>> Another suggestion was that there might be a corrupted .DS_Store
>>> file, and to use Terminal to eliminate it, however, I don't know how
>>> to get Terminal going in these conditions.
>>> 
>>> I have Lion on one of the other disks, and that loaded (almost)
>>> properly.  'Almost' because the icon of the third disk didn't appear
>>> on the desktop. This third disk is purely storage for many files.
>>> Disk Utility and Disk Warrior both recognised the presence and good
>>> condition of this disk.
>>> 
>>> There are 2 other user accounts on this machine, one administrative
>>> and the other non-administrative. The non-administrative one loaded
>>> almost properly - again, that one icon was absent.
>>> The administrative account showed only a blue screen.
>>> 
>>> I'm guessing that it is a software problem, and I will most likely
>>> have to reinstall SL.
>>> I will be grateful for ideas and suggestions,
>>> 
>>> Pat

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Re: Problems again, sigh

[Ronda Brown]

You're welcome Pat.
Rest easy now :-)

Cheers,
Ronni

Sent from Ronni's iPad

On 07/07/2012, at 4:44 PM, pat  wrote:

> Thanks, Ronni!  That did the trick.  I had done a search for the  
> plist when I was in Lion, but no entries were found. It didn't occur  
> to me that it was in my home folder. Now that Finder is back, I tried  
> the search again, and still no hits. It seems strange to me that  
> search is not able to find it.
> 
> Whew, BIG sign of relief.
> Thank you very much!
> Pat
> 
> 
> 
> On 07/07/2012, at 5:37 PM, Ronda Brown wrote:
> 
>> Hi Pat,
>> 
>> Not /Library...  but your Home/Library/Preferences - trash the  
>> com.apple.finder.plist file and restart your computer.
>> If that doesn't solve the Finder crashing
>> 
>> Have you tried starting up in Safe Mode?
>> 
>> To start up into Safe Mode (to "Safe Boot"), do this:
>> 
>> 1. Be sure the computer is shut down.
>> 
>> 2. Press the power button.
>> 
>> 3. Immediately after you hear the startup tone, press and hold the  
>> Shift key.
>> Tip: The Shift key should be held as soon as possible after the  
>> startup tone but not before.
>> 
>> 4. Release the Shift key when you see the gray Apple and progress  
>> indicator (looks like a spinning gear).
>> 
>> It takes much longer to startup in Safe Mode.
>> You will see "Safe Boot" on the login window, which appears even if  
>> you normally log in automatically.
>> If you startup in Safe Mode ok, and Finder does not quit, just  
>> restart the computer normally, without holding any keys during  
>> startup.
>> 
>> If you need to run Apple Hardware Test post back and I'll give you  
>> instructions how to.
>> 
>> Cheers,
>> Ronni
>> 
>> On 07/07/2012, at 3:13 PM, pat wrote:
>> 
 My Mac is sick again. Hope someone can help.
 
 The patient: Mac Pro, 4 years old (the first 64 bit model), 3 hard
 disks, 16 GB RAM, OS 10.6.8.
 
 The symptoms: It was working OK last night when I closed it down.
 This morning, when booted, the Finder repeatedly quits every few
 seconds (very obvious because the screensaver keeps changing). Up in
 the top left-hand corner some of the usual icons on the Finder menu
 bar are semi-visible but non-functional. Otherwise, a blank screen.
 
 What I have done so far:
 1.  Rebuilt the directories with DiskWarrior. Problem not fixed.
 
 2. Ran TechTool Deluxe. No change.
 
 3. Put the Snow Leopard disk in and verified and repaired all 3
 disks, repaired permissions. Disk Utility says all the disks appear
 to be OK.  Problem still exists.
>>> 
>>> I have tried a few more things to try to solve this problem.
>>> 
>>> Tried to use Apple Hardware test.  The instructions said to boot with
>>> the SL install disk while holding down the 'D' key, but nothing
>>> happened.
>>> 
>>> Searched on the internet on the words 'mac Finder crashing'. There
>>> were a few items on this topic, but none seemed to help me. One
>>> suggestion was to throw out the com.apple.Finder.plist, but there was
>>> no such item in the Library preference folder. A clue, perhaps?
>>> Another suggestion was that there might be a corrupted .DS_Store
>>> file, and to use Terminal to eliminate it, however, I don't know how
>>> to get Terminal going in these conditions.
>>> 
>>> I have Lion on one of the other disks, and that loaded (almost)
>>> properly.  'Almost' because the icon of the third disk didn't appear
>>> on the desktop. This third disk is purely storage for many files.
>>> Disk Utility and Disk Warrior both recognised the presence and good
>>> condition of this disk.
>>> 
>>> There are 2 other user accounts on this machine, one administrative
>>> and the other non-administrative. The non-administrative one loaded
>>> almost properly - again, that one icon was absent.
>>> The administrative account showed only a blue screen.
>>> 
>>> I'm guessing that it is a software problem, and I will most likely
>>> have to reinstall SL.
>>> I will be grateful for ideas and suggestions,
>>> 
>>> Pat
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Re: Problems again, sigh

[pat]

Thanks, Ronni!  That did the trick.  I had done a search for the  
plist when I was in Lion, but no entries were found. It didn't occur  
to me that it was in my home folder. Now that Finder is back, I tried  
the search again, and still no hits. It seems strange to me that  
search is not able to find it.

Whew, BIG sign of relief.
Thank you very much!
Pat



On 07/07/2012, at 5:37 PM, Ronda Brown wrote:

> Hi Pat,
>
> Not /Library...  but your Home/Library/Preferences - trash the  
> com.apple.finder.plist file and restart your computer.
> If that doesn't solve the Finder crashing
>
> Have you tried starting up in Safe Mode?
>
> To start up into Safe Mode (to "Safe Boot"), do this:
>
> 1. Be sure the computer is shut down.
>
> 2. Press the power button.
>
> 3. Immediately after you hear the startup tone, press and hold the  
> Shift key.
> Tip: The Shift key should be held as soon as possible after the  
> startup tone but not before.
>
> 4. Release the Shift key when you see the gray Apple and progress  
> indicator (looks like a spinning gear).
>
> It takes much longer to startup in Safe Mode.
> You will see "Safe Boot" on the login window, which appears even if  
> you normally log in automatically.
> If you startup in Safe Mode ok, and Finder does not quit, just  
> restart the computer normally, without holding any keys during  
> startup.
>
> If you need to run Apple Hardware Test post back and I'll give you  
> instructions how to.
>
> Cheers,
> Ronni
>
> On 07/07/2012, at 3:13 PM, pat wrote:
>
>>> My Mac is sick again. Hope someone can help.
>>>
>>> The patient: Mac Pro, 4 years old (the first 64 bit model), 3 hard
>>> disks, 16 GB RAM, OS 10.6.8.
>>>
>>> The symptoms: It was working OK last night when I closed it down.
>>> This morning, when booted, the Finder repeatedly quits every few
>>> seconds (very obvious because the screensaver keeps changing). Up in
>>> the top left-hand corner some of the usual icons on the Finder menu
>>> bar are semi-visible but non-functional. Otherwise, a blank screen.
>>>
>>> What I have done so far:
>>> 1.  Rebuilt the directories with DiskWarrior. Problem not fixed.
>>>
>>> 2. Ran TechTool Deluxe. No change.
>>>
>>> 3. Put the Snow Leopard disk in and verified and repaired all 3
>>> disks, repaired permissions. Disk Utility says all the disks appear
>>> to be OK.  Problem still exists.
>>
>> I have tried a few more things to try to solve this problem.
>>
>> Tried to use Apple Hardware test.  The instructions said to boot with
>> the SL install disk while holding down the 'D' key, but nothing
>> happened.
>>
>> Searched on the internet on the words 'mac Finder crashing'. There
>> were a few items on this topic, but none seemed to help me. One
>> suggestion was to throw out the com.apple.Finder.plist, but there was
>> no such item in the Library preference folder. A clue, perhaps?
>> Another suggestion was that there might be a corrupted .DS_Store
>> file, and to use Terminal to eliminate it, however, I don't know how
>> to get Terminal going in these conditions.
>>
>> I have Lion on one of the other disks, and that loaded (almost)
>> properly.  'Almost' because the icon of the third disk didn't appear
>> on the desktop. This third disk is purely storage for many files.
>> Disk Utility and Disk Warrior both recognised the presence and good
>> condition of this disk.
>>
>> There are 2 other user accounts on this machine, one administrative
>> and the other non-administrative. The non-administrative one loaded
>> almost properly - again, that one icon was absent.
>> The administrative account showed only a blue screen.
>>
>> I'm guessing that it is a software problem, and I will most likely
>> have to reinstall SL.
>> I will be grateful for ideas and suggestions,
>>
>> Pat
>>
>>
>>
>>
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>
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Re: Problems again, sigh

[Ronda Brown]

Hi Pat,

Not /Library...  but your Home/Library/Preferences - trash the 
com.apple.finder.plist file and restart your computer.
If that doesn't solve the Finder crashing

Have you tried starting up in Safe Mode?

To start up into Safe Mode (to "Safe Boot"), do this:

1. Be sure the computer is shut down.

2. Press the power button.

3. Immediately after you hear the startup tone, press and hold the Shift key.
Tip: The Shift key should be held as soon as possible after the startup tone 
but not before.

4. Release the Shift key when you see the gray Apple and progress indicator 
(looks like a spinning gear).

It takes much longer to startup in Safe Mode.
You will see "Safe Boot" on the login window, which appears even if you 
normally log in automatically.
If you startup in Safe Mode ok, and Finder does not quit, just restart the 
computer normally, without holding any keys during startup.

If you need to run Apple Hardware Test post back and I'll give you instructions 
how to.

Cheers,
Ronni

On 07/07/2012, at 3:13 PM, pat wrote:

>> My Mac is sick again. Hope someone can help.
>> 
>> The patient: Mac Pro, 4 years old (the first 64 bit model), 3 hard
>> disks, 16 GB RAM, OS 10.6.8.
>> 
>> The symptoms: It was working OK last night when I closed it down.
>> This morning, when booted, the Finder repeatedly quits every few
>> seconds (very obvious because the screensaver keeps changing). Up in
>> the top left-hand corner some of the usual icons on the Finder menu
>> bar are semi-visible but non-functional. Otherwise, a blank screen.
>> 
>> What I have done so far:
>> 1.  Rebuilt the directories with DiskWarrior. Problem not fixed.
>> 
>> 2. Ran TechTool Deluxe. No change.
>> 
>> 3. Put the Snow Leopard disk in and verified and repaired all 3
>> disks, repaired permissions. Disk Utility says all the disks appear
>> to be OK.  Problem still exists.
> 
> I have tried a few more things to try to solve this problem.
> 
> Tried to use Apple Hardware test.  The instructions said to boot with  
> the SL install disk while holding down the 'D' key, but nothing  
> happened.
> 
> Searched on the internet on the words 'mac Finder crashing'. There  
> were a few items on this topic, but none seemed to help me. One  
> suggestion was to throw out the com.apple.Finder.plist, but there was  
> no such item in the Library preference folder. A clue, perhaps?  
> Another suggestion was that there might be a corrupted .DS_Store  
> file, and to use Terminal to eliminate it, however, I don't know how  
> to get Terminal going in these conditions.
> 
> I have Lion on one of the other disks, and that loaded (almost)  
> properly.  'Almost' because the icon of the third disk didn't appear  
> on the desktop. This third disk is purely storage for many files.  
> Disk Utility and Disk Warrior both recognised the presence and good  
> condition of this disk.
> 
> There are 2 other user accounts on this machine, one administrative  
> and the other non-administrative. The non-administrative one loaded  
> almost properly - again, that one icon was absent.
> The administrative account showed only a blue screen.
> 
> I'm guessing that it is a software problem, and I will most likely  
> have to reinstall SL.
> I will be grateful for ideas and suggestions,
> 
> Pat
> 
> 
> 
> 
> -- The WA Macintosh User Group Mailing List --
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> Guidelines - 
> Settings & Unsubscribe - 
> 

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