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Question Profile
| DATE | May 4, 2008 |
| TICKET | #337278 |
| STATUS | Closed |
| SUBJECT | Finder Not Running |
| CAT | Computers, Operating Systems, Applications or Connected Devices |
| TYPE | Operating System Features, Bugs and Problems |
| DESC | Apple |
| DESC | 10.3.X (Panther) |
| PLATFORM | Apple Macintosh (PowerPC G3,G4,G5) |
| MODEL | G4 |
| PROC | |
| RAM | |
| DRIVE | |
| NAME | Michelle |
| USERNAME | visionofangels |
| TECHNICAL | Little Experience |
| ISSUE | Totally Lost |
Question Details
TICKET ARCHIVE -> Finder Not Running
visionofangels - May 4, 2008 - 6:04 pm
Mac G4, OS X 10.3.9. My son (17) said he was downloading a lot of things at a time and "finder" shut off. I've tried starting in safe mode, in single user mode, and in the terminal. He may have been trying to update the software as well. In the terminal, I've typed sudo rm / Library/Application\ Support/Divxnetworks.prev to no avail. I've typed in /sbin/fsck -fy to no avail. I've tried "help" on the terminal and am trying to understand applespeak, also to no avail. We don't automatically log in, so I can't undo that, as was suggested on another help page. I have no idea what any of the codes I've typed in mean, or how to see what exactly is in my directory. I've just been following along with what others have said to do. If you have any ideas, I could really use some. I don't have the money to pay Best Buy to find the problem, and know the solution has to be right in front of me. I just can't figure it out! Using the software restore isn't really an option, since all my photos and movies will be lost. Help!
Cheryl - May 4, 2008 - 8:29 pm
Michelle,
Your son thought he was a computer wizard? Teenagers!
Try this:
Start up with the 10.3 Panther disk. Insert the disk, restart the computer and immediately hold down the C key.
When it starts up, select your language, then do not click on the install button. Instead go to the Installer menu and select Disk utility.
When that opens click on the second icon in the side bar at the left, then click on Repair Disk at the bottom right.
Watch the activity screen. If it does any repairs - you will need to click on the Repair Disk button a second time after the first pass is done. The object is to make sure it finds all the problems and repairs them. You may need to hit that button a third or fourth time to get no references to repairs made.
Now click on Repair Permissions.
When that is done, quit Disk utility and restart the computer.
You should be running smoothly. Keep me posted.
Cheryl
Your son thought he was a computer wizard? Teenagers!
Try this:
Start up with the 10.3 Panther disk. Insert the disk, restart the computer and immediately hold down the C key.
When it starts up, select your language, then do not click on the install button. Instead go to the Installer menu and select Disk utility.
When that opens click on the second icon in the side bar at the left, then click on Repair Disk at the bottom right.
Watch the activity screen. If it does any repairs - you will need to click on the Repair Disk button a second time after the first pass is done. The object is to make sure it finds all the problems and repairs them. You may need to hit that button a third or fourth time to get no references to repairs made.
Now click on Repair Permissions.
When that is done, quit Disk utility and restart the computer.
You should be running smoothly. Keep me posted.
Cheryl
visionofangels - May 5, 2008 - 4:53 pm
Dear Cheryl:
Thanks for taking the time to respond. It didn't work, though. No matter how many times I click on Repair Disk, it always references that a volume was repaired. When I click where directed, I have 2 drives: "55.9 GB Maxator 4D06083", and "Macintosh HD". I've performed the function for both more than 10 times each today and the screen is the same for each at the end: Mounting Disk (S, "Checking HFS Plus Volume.,"0)
Checking Extents Overflow file.
Checking Catalog file.
Checking multilinked files.
Checing catalog hierachy.
Checking volume bitmap.
Checking volume information.
The volume on Macintosh HD appears to be OK.
Repair attempted on 1 volume.
HFS volume repaired.
I do both disks each time. I've done the first disk 3 times then switched and done the second 3 times, go back and click Repair Disk Permissions for each. Shut down. When that didn't work, I did the same thing again but clicked Repair Disk Permissions before switching to the other disk. Then I did one, then the other, one, then the other (back and forth) and then do Repair Disk Permissions for the Maxator, switch and do the Macintosh HD, go back and do the Maxator, the the HD, etc., and still get the same message as above. A reference to a repaired file. When I did Repair Disk Permissions yesterday, it did reference for the first few times that a permission was incorrect and repaired it. Now, Repair Disk Permissions does what you said Repair Disk should be doing - ie. now showing no reference to repairs being made:
The box says : Repairing permissions for "Macintosh HD".
Determining the correct file permissions.
The privileges have been verified or repaired on the selected volume.
Do you have any other suggestions? My son said he could take the comp to school tomorrow and a teacher will help him put the drive on another mac, and I guess reload the OS, but I'm concerned he/they will mess up and still cause me to lose my things. (Obviously he doesn't care about my silly Imovies as much as I do!), so any advise you can give before then would be much appreciated.
Thanks.
Michelle
Thanks for taking the time to respond. It didn't work, though. No matter how many times I click on Repair Disk, it always references that a volume was repaired. When I click where directed, I have 2 drives: "55.9 GB Maxator 4D06083", and "Macintosh HD". I've performed the function for both more than 10 times each today and the screen is the same for each at the end: Mounting Disk (S, "Checking HFS Plus Volume.,"0)
Checking Extents Overflow file.
Checking Catalog file.
Checking multilinked files.
Checing catalog hierachy.
Checking volume bitmap.
Checking volume information.
The volume on Macintosh HD appears to be OK.
Repair attempted on 1 volume.
HFS volume repaired.
I do both disks each time. I've done the first disk 3 times then switched and done the second 3 times, go back and click Repair Disk Permissions for each. Shut down. When that didn't work, I did the same thing again but clicked Repair Disk Permissions before switching to the other disk. Then I did one, then the other, one, then the other (back and forth) and then do Repair Disk Permissions for the Maxator, switch and do the Macintosh HD, go back and do the Maxator, the the HD, etc., and still get the same message as above. A reference to a repaired file. When I did Repair Disk Permissions yesterday, it did reference for the first few times that a permission was incorrect and repaired it. Now, Repair Disk Permissions does what you said Repair Disk should be doing - ie. now showing no reference to repairs being made:
The box says : Repairing permissions for "Macintosh HD".
Determining the correct file permissions.
The privileges have been verified or repaired on the selected volume.
Do you have any other suggestions? My son said he could take the comp to school tomorrow and a teacher will help him put the drive on another mac, and I guess reload the OS, but I'm concerned he/they will mess up and still cause me to lose my things. (Obviously he doesn't care about my silly Imovies as much as I do!), so any advise you can give before then would be much appreciated.
Thanks.
Michelle
Cheryl - May 5, 2008 - 11:03 pm
Michelle,
Not knowing exactly what he did gives only one alternative left. You can reinstall just the OS and it will leave all your files - photo's and movies - alone.
Start up from your Mac OS X Install Disc 1 or Install DVD.
Select your language. The Welcome to the Mac OS X Installer window appears.
Click Continue. The Important Information window appears.
After reading or printing the information, click Continue. The Software License Agreement window appears.
After reading or printing the information, click Continue.
An agreement sheet appears. If you agree with the license agreement, click Agree. The Select a Destination window appears.
Click the volume that you wish to install to.
Click Options. The installation options sheet appears.
Select Archive and Install.
Select the volume which already has Mac OS X installed.
You should also select Preserve Users and Network Settings, to preserve network and Home directory settings.
Click OK.
Click Continue to begin the installation.
Once you have restarted, You need to use Software Update (in system preferences) to update the OS.
There may be a few programs that need to be reinstalled - like a scanner, anti virus program or Stuffit Expander. Everything else should be there untouched.
You will have a folder called previous system on your hard drive. You can safely trash it after you have checked your programs and see that they work properly.
Cheryl
Not knowing exactly what he did gives only one alternative left. You can reinstall just the OS and it will leave all your files - photo's and movies - alone.
Start up from your Mac OS X Install Disc 1 or Install DVD.
Select your language. The Welcome to the Mac OS X Installer window appears.
Click Continue. The Important Information window appears.
After reading or printing the information, click Continue. The Software License Agreement window appears.
After reading or printing the information, click Continue.
An agreement sheet appears. If you agree with the license agreement, click Agree. The Select a Destination window appears.
Click the volume that you wish to install to.
Click Options. The installation options sheet appears.
Select Archive and Install.
Select the volume which already has Mac OS X installed.
You should also select Preserve Users and Network Settings, to preserve network and Home directory settings.
Click OK.
Click Continue to begin the installation.
Once you have restarted, You need to use Software Update (in system preferences) to update the OS.
There may be a few programs that need to be reinstalled - like a scanner, anti virus program or Stuffit Expander. Everything else should be there untouched.
You will have a folder called previous system on your hard drive. You can safely trash it after you have checked your programs and see that they work properly.
Cheryl
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