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TICKET ARCHIVE -> All my browsers "quit unexpectedly"

maryeileen - Dec 5, 2005 - 3:54 pm

Hi, I have an older powerbook (400 MHz, G3) that is running OS X 10.2.8. I am having problems with Firefox, Internet Explorer, and Safari. At first I thought it was just a problem with Firefox and Safari quitting when i tried to access my Yahoo e-mail, because I have read online that these browsers and Yahoo have had problems.

So, then I started using Explorer again figuring that even though it wasn't as fast, at least it wouldn't keep crashing on me...but now even Explorer is quitting unexpectedly, and lately when the browsers have been quitting, I haven't even been using Yahoo.

I'm really at a loss, and recently started a job that requires me to use the internet often, so this problem is getting me really frustrated.

Also, I am having trouble when I go to save files in excel or word. I get an error message that says "disk full". In Disk Utility it tells me that I have 93 MB available. It seems like I should be able to save a few changes to an excel spreadsheet. I would like to create more space, maybe by deleting some files. Are there any ways that you could recommend of freeing up some disk space. I am a new mac user, so I was also wondering if there is anything comparable to "defragmenting" my hard drive.

I just need to browse the internet and save documents! Thanks so much for any help or suggestions you might have!

skapp - Dec 5, 2005 - 4:23 pm

Let's start by doing the following:

Boot from your OS X Installer. Be sure to use the installer for the version of OS X you have installed. After the installer loads select Disk Utility from the Installer menu (or Utilities menu if using Tiger.) After DU loads select your OS X volume from the list on the left, click on the First Aid tab, then click on the Repair Disk button. If DU reports any errors that have been fixed, then re-run Repair Disk until no errors are reported. If no errors are reported click on the Repair Permissions button. Wait until the operation completes, then quit DU and return to the installer. Now shutdown the computer for a couple of minutes and then restart normally.

If DU reports errors it cannot fix, then you will need Disk Warrior (3.0.3 for Tiger) and/or TechTool Pro (4.0.6 for Tiger) to repair the drive. If you don't have either of them or if neither of them can fix the drive, then you will need to reformat the drive and reinstall OS X.

Now, the following articles deal with the "unexpectedly quit" problem:

Originally contributed by MacJack:

1. Navigate to YourHome/Library/Fonts - drag this folder to the desktop.

*** •*Restart and test your applications.
*** • If they work start adding the fonts back few at a time.

(Likely suspects are TimesRO & Helvetica Fractions, also if you do not use Classic you can trash the classic fonts.)

2. Check Preferences Thoroughly:

*** • Go to Users/Your_Name/Library/Preferences and trash the files:

*** - com.apple.ATS.plist
*** - com.apple.BezelServices.plist

*** Restart. If this did not help, go to Users/Your_Name/Library and drag the folder
*** Preferences to the desktop. Restart and see if this solved the problem

*** • Navigate to YourHome/Library/Preferences drag this folder to the desktop.
*** • Restart and test your applications.
*** • If this works, save the old preferences folder somewhere else or on disk, name it
*** "old prefs."

** Note: A very important file is the "com.apple.Mail.plist" preference file located in the Preferences folder which contains all email account settings and general mail preferences (hold this one and replace if your problem is not with Mail).

You'll have to go through some of your System Preferences and apps to set the preferences back to how you like them. (Or if you have the time and inclination, "cherry pick" through until you find the problem one or two.)

3. Check Permissions Inside Home Folder

*** • Navigate to yourhome/library.
*** • Get Info (Command + i) on the "Applications Support" folder.
*** • Open the "Ownership & permissions" disclosure triangle.
*** • Make sure you are the owner, with "read and write" access.
****• Click on "apply to all"
*** • If this is correct, open the "Applications Support" folder and do the same procedure
*** (Command+I) for the folder names of the applications with which you are having trouble.

Note:

The reason to check this is because repairing permissions with Disk Utility doesn't touch permissions inside your home folder.

The following may also be helpful:

http://discussions.apple.com/thread....=607542#607542

maryeileen - Dec 6, 2005 - 4:39 pm

Thank you very much for your suggestions!

The computer is actually a hand-me-down, so I don't have the OS X Installer. I have gone into Disk Utility before, but Repair Disk does not show as an option. I have repaired the permissions, and have also done so "by hand" for the permissions located in my home folder, as advised in the article.

I found some suggestions that helped me at:

http://creativebits.org/2004/11/os-x...isk-space.html

I was able to free up about 640 MB by running Delocalizer, getting rid of any album graphics that were in my iTunes, deleting fonts that I didn't need, including the 'problem' ones listed in the article you included, and by deleting OS X temp files.

I was able to stay connected to the internet for a long time yesterday with no unexpected quitting, and I was able to save files, so I'm hoping that the problems are resolved.

I'm glad you mentioned Disk Warrior because I think I would like to run it anyway just to make sure the disk is okay.

Thanks so much for getting back to me so quickly!

skapp - Dec 6, 2005 - 5:42 pm

In order to repair the drive you must boot from the installer disk or another drive. You cannot repair a startup drive otherwise.