Tried to fix my mac, think I made it worse :(

MissyC · #1 July 26th, 2004, 02:51 PM

I've recently posted that over the weekend I reformatted my mac, as it had been getting a little snarled up but nothing too bad. Since then it keeps randomly freezing, in programmes (so far opera, firefox, internet explorer and msn messenger). I haven't a clue what I've done. As far as I'm aware I've not coppied any old preferences over to it, I fixed my disk permissions (of which there were a fair few considering it had only been formatted a day before) Could this be a virus or something? I do have Norton on here, but perhaps it's not the most reliable copy. Please help I'm really stuck!

Zammy-Sam · #2 July 26th, 2004, 04:33 PM

It can't be a virus or you will be the first mac user that got one. One big NO-NO for Norton. Sell that box on ebay. But if you are more responsible just throw it away.

If something caused problems on macs, then it was some Norton package. Since you reinstalled very recently, why not erase the disc once more and make a full fresh panther install? Don't copy any of your files yet but test the freshly installed system. Maybe something is wrong with your panther dvd?!

MissyC · #3 July 26th, 2004, 04:47 PM

I'm still using 10.2 but when I originally got my mac I think I had to put it on then, so I should think my disc is ok. What would you recommend instead of Norton? I have Intego firewall and virus barrier, but it seems a bit naff as it doesn't seem to intercept enough.

I meant to add that on this reformat I didn't copy across any files, it still happened but it took longer to happen. Also the computer seems sooooo slow, as I'm typing this it's taking a little time to catch up with me. I don't know what on earth I did! Ah well reformat number 6.....

By the way wasn't there some kind of virus that effected mac graphics cards? I just ask because there's a patch of my screen that randomly goes blank at the moment...

**Cheryl** · #4 July 26th, 2004, 05:22 PM

Get Disk Warrior or Drive 10 for your OS X machine. Norton screws up OS X, and rather than correcting the problem they are no longer supporting utilities for Mac.

First, start up with the OS CD and at the install screen, go to the Installer menu and select Disk Utility. Have First Aid repair the disk.

When you formated did you go with HFS Extended? That is the one to format to.

The virus you are thinking about was a possible virus. Nothing came of it. It was, in my opinion, a hoax to buy the anti virus program from the company that claimed it identified the virus. Who would want to take the time to create a virus for 10% of the market? And if they did, we would yell loudly and get even with that guy (hehehe).

Did you machine come with Hardware Test CD? Run that and see if there is a major problem.

scruffy · #5 July 26th, 2004, 08:28 PM

Actually there's two known trojans for OS X out there - the one that got publicity, that you're probably thinking of is just a proof of concept trojan, that hides an executable inside a valid mp3 file, and runs it if it's double-clicked. All the program does is open a dialog box to point out that the program ran itself.

The other one is really malicious - it's an applescript that deletes the user's entire home directory. It's distributed as "MS Word 2004 OS X Web Installer" or something, apparently put out on kazaa or similar networks to fool the stupid. Someone on this forum even was silly enough to get bitten by it (I would point you to the thread, but I think it's been deleted. Apparently if the mods kick someone off here, they delete every thread they've ever started...)

That said, your problem sounds like it's not so much a trojan, more likely bad RAM or a bad hard drive.

Zammy-Sam · #6 July 27th, 2004, 03:43 AM

MissyC, how much ram do you have? Your system slowing down might be due to lack of memory.

**fryke** · #7 July 27th, 2004, 04:48 AM

First: Norton's AntiVirus is okay. It's SystemWorks and/or DiskDoctor that are bad. Also, you're talking about system freezes, not slow-downs. So it might not even be connected with software, but rather hardware. Have you tried taking out and putting back your RAM bricks? What kinda Mac do you have, how much RAM etc.?

MissyC · #8 July 27th, 2004, 05:08 AM

Right I have a G4 Dual 1.42 with 512mb ram running OSX10.2.8 usually, I have a 120GB hardrive which I usually partition into 2 fairly equally. What's really confusing me is that I didn't have these problems at all before I reformatted, which makes me think that it couldn't be the ram. I'll run the test software later on today when I'm back home, but I'm so frustrated. When I did the reformat each time I've just updated all the software in one big go (my OSX CD is 10.1 i think) could this have something to do with it as well?

Thank you for all your replies people, hopefully with all your suggestions one of them will work, and I won't have to raid my bank accouint and ring applecare!