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TICKET ARCHIVE -> Mac Mini- Bouncing Dock Icons, O/s Locks Up

digonline - Sep 14, 2005 - 11:37 pm

Lifetime MSFT user, from DOS to XP. This is my first Mac, a Mini with OS X v10.4 and I've had it about a month. So far I'm not happy. My Mini has locked up 3 times today. I'll click on something in the dock and the icon just bounces up and down but the app doesn't launch. I can force quit and the icon stops bouncing. However, I can't get the app to start. Shortly after that the cursor turns to the spinning disc and then nothing responds. It just hangs. I shut down the Mac and then turn it back on. Shades of Win98. First, any idea why the icons bounce with no results? Second, thoughts on why the Mac hangs after that? Third, how can I unfreeze the computer when it's hanging like that, short of restarting it? Since I'm new to the Mac I'm not sure what t/s steps to try. Suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks. ~ Frustrated New Mac User.

LovesMacs - Sep 15, 2005 - 12:21 am

Hello David,

For starters, I'm sorry you're first experience with a Mac isn't exactly fireworks but perhaps I can help.

As for the Dock and icons just bouncing... this is what I want you to do.

Go to: MacintoshHD>Users>Library>Preferences
Now locate this file ---> com.apple.dock.plist
Drag that file to the Trash and then empty the Trash.
Sometimes on Macs the preference files can get corrupted.
See if that clears up the Dock problem. Hopefully, your
apps can launch now.

Now, next suggestion for your Mac freezing up.
In your MacintoshHD>Applications>Utilties folder you'll
find Disk Utility. This handy gadget can fix a myriad of problems. Double Click Disk Utility. When the window opens on the left side look for "Macintosh HD". It should be the second drive that is listed. Now select that. Now, look below where it says: Repair Permissions. Click there.
I myself run Disk Utility at least once a week depending on how much I use my Mac.

Next... go to: www.versiontracker.com/macosx When the site loads there's a Search box top left of the page. Type in: OnyX This is a wonderful little FREEware utility that can run all your cron tasks. (Empties log caches, internet caches, runs permissions... ) Running a utility like this on a Mac can keep it running very stable. Download OnyX (about 5 mins on a 56k modem) and install it. Run the Maintenance and Cleaning scripts immediately.

I understand your frustrations and I'm sorry this was your first foray into Mac world, but I assure you it will get better. And posting to this site was a smart move on your part because there are 100's of tech support people here with years and years of Mac experience. I have a laptop running Win XP, so I can see where you're coming from.
Also, at:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=153448
is tons of information for people coming from Windows.

If after my trying my suggestions you still have problems, please post back.

Congrats on the Mac Mini..... give it time :-)
Carolyn :-)

digonline - Sep 20, 2005 - 7:41 am

Carolyn,

Thank you very much for the prompt reply and the suggestions. Unfortunately they didn't work and the problem persists. I did a little more research on the subject and discovered it's an existing issue with Macs. I've found other postings describing the same problem, and a friend of mine who bought an eMac about the same time I got my Mini is having the exact same issue.

I must say I'm extremely disappointed. For years I've been hearing about the Mac's dependability and stability, and my first foray into the Apple World has been a disaster. I've found the o/s much less intuitive than XP, and even less reliable than Win 98.

It's really important for me to have a reliable computer so I had no choice but to unplug the Mini and start using my XP PC again. In the meantime I'm going to continue to pursue a fix for this annoying bug. One respondent suggested an affected user had a bad memory stick. Possible, but I'm still leaning towards a software issue. I've been using PCs since they came out and I've never had a bad RAM chip. At any rate, I've seen the problem reported on message boards and fixes suggested, but I haven't seen a respondent report that a suggested resolution has worked yet.

For the record, I'm running v 10.4.2. Perhaps if the issue becomes more widespread a fix will be found. I hope so, otherwise I've wasted $500.

Thanks,
David

LovesMacs - Sep 20, 2005 - 4:40 pm

HI David,

I just read your post and I am so sorry you're having this much trouble with a Mac Mini. Why your Mac is hanging so much... I wish I had a magic wand! It
sure shouldn't be doing this. David, if you've had your Mac Mini for less than a year, it's under warranty. I'd send it back where you purchased it and either ask for a new one or a refund. Considering you've are an experienced computer user, done your homework and tried support suggestions to no avail, I think
this is the course to take.

Have you tried by chance dragging the an icon from the Dock, let it go "poof", then launch the same application from the Applications folder, and see if that opens it without a glitch???

This from Apple:
iMac, eMac, Mac mini: Hold Power Button to Reset On some desktop models, the computer's power button replaces the power reset button and programmer's switch.

The following computers do not have a power reset button or a programmer's switch (NMI button, also known as a NMI or nonmaskable interrupt button). You use the power button for these functions.

* iMac (Flat Panel)
* iMac (17-inch Flat Panel)
* iMac (17-inch 1GHz)
* iMac (USB 2.0)
* eMac
* eMac (ATI Graphics)
* eMac (USB 2.0)
* Mac mini


Sleep
Press the power button for 1 second to put the computer to sleep. To wake the computer from sleep, press the power button for less than one second or press any key on the keyboard.

Shut down
To shut down the computer, select Shut Down from the Apple menu (or from the Special menu if you are using Mac OS 9). You will be prompted to save any unsaved documents.

If the computer is unresponsive, you can force the computer to shut down by pressing the power button and holding it for at least 5 seconds. Important: Information in any unsaved documents may be lost.

Firmware updates
From time to time, Apple has provided firmware updates to address certain issues that cannot be addressed in updates to software. On earlier computers, the programmer's switch was used to install a firmware update.

Follow these steps in the event that a firmware update is needed for these computers:

1. Shut down the computer.
2. Wait until the computer is shut down and the power light is off.
3. Press and hold the power button for several seconds.
4. The computer will signal that a firmware update is ready to be installed by making a steady tone and the power button light will quickly flash several times for several seconds.

FAQ from Apple for Mac Mini:
http://www.apple.com/support/macmini/service/faq/

David, don't despair, please. I've been using Macs since the Apple IIE, shades of 1984, up to a Powerbook now. I've had one PowerBook that had to go back to Apple, but they shipped me a new one in less than 24 hrs! So for over 20 years I've only had one that gave me problems.

Let me know what you decide to do, or if any of the suggestions above might have helped.

Carolyn :-) Thanks for using MacOSX Support!!