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TICKET ARCHIVE -> Osx 10.3.7 Safari Install Problem!

Mai - Sep 21, 2005 - 10:21 am

Lately my Apple is getting kind of slow. Last week my Safari would not start up. And other programs got the same problem. When I tried to Update Safari or MacOs, the installers would not even work... I don't have much experience with macOs, please can someone help?

Grz.
Marion

tfindlay - Sep 23, 2005 - 8:04 pm

It sounds like it could be a memory related problem. Try to make sure you quit programs when you aren't using them. Just closing the window may not quit the program so you should use the Quit item under the program's menu to quit programs.

The other thing you might check is that your hard drive is not getting too full. When you open any folder window it will tell you how much hard drive space is available at the very bottom of the window. As a rule of thumb, try to keep at least 10% of your hard drive's total capacity free.

Mai - Sep 26, 2005 - 6:56 am

I own a Mac G4 with a harddrive of 20GB. I've still got 10GB left free. So that wouldn't be any problem. It's internal memory is two times 512MB, one 128MB and one 64MB.

It's also when I just started and only want to open Safari,that it does not work. Now I have deleated the whole program from my computer. And I went to the Apple site to get a new Safari. But the 1.2 version I downloaded will nog get installed. It just freezes. And that is nog the only problem. Other program installers quit on me too.
And then, iChat quit on me too.

So is this a memory problem or something else???
I don't know anymore ...

tfindlay - Sep 26, 2005 - 10:24 am

With the amount of hard drive space you have free and the installed RAM I don't think it's a memory problem.

I think your best bet is to reinstall OS X. Use your system installer CD(s) and just do a normal install. This will not affect the rest of the contents of your computer.

Mai - Sep 26, 2005 - 10:36 am

I have never done this before with macOs X, so please can you tell me witch steps to follow, so not all my preferences and work will be lost. I am using this computer for my work, you know ...

tfindlay - Sep 26, 2005 - 10:53 am

To reinstall OS X:
1. insert your system install CD (if there is more than one put in disc 1).
2. double click the install icon
3. the Install Mac OS X dialog appears - click Restart
4. you will be asked to enter your password
5. wait while OS X and the installer load from the CD
6. in the Select Language window select you primary language
7. click continue

The installer will do the rest.

Only OS X and the Apple applications are involved. None of your data should be affected. However, it's always wise to back up your important data before doing any system installation.

Mai - Sep 26, 2005 - 11:17 am

From the point you say the installer will do the rest, that is the information I want to hear ...
The information you gave me is all over internet, but that you will know. What scares me is what will the installer do ...

If you will tell me these steps, I am very greatfull!!

tfindlay - Sep 26, 2005 - 11:29 am

The installer will remove the present installation of OS X and replace it with a fresh copy. In the process it will present you with some information and some dialogs but will always explain what is going on. As the installation proceeds it tells you what it is doing and often shows you its progress.

Just read the onscreen prompts and you'll be fine. It's really very easy.

Mai - Sep 27, 2005 - 8:23 am

Thank you for your help.

Installation completed. Safari again on system. And still the programs delivered with MacOs X don't work.
iChat, iCal, iMovie, etc. al freeze when starting up. (Adobe and Microsoft Office and Macromedia still work.)

Does this mean a total new installation of my Apple?
Or is there any workaround? The cause may lie in the prefereces of my computer ...

tfindlay - Sep 28, 2005 - 10:38 am

I'm not sure what might be going on the your "iApps". It would be worth a try trashing one the preference files to see if it fixes the problem. iMovie is probably the best canditate to try since your preference settings shouldn't be too critical. The pref file is called "com.apple.iMovie.plist" or com.apple.iMovie3.plist" and it will be in your Preferences folder within your user Library folder. Move this file to your trash and empty the trash. Then try running iMovie.

If this doesn't solve the problem let me know and I will but this topic back in the pool for other techs to look at.

Mai - Sep 30, 2005 - 4:04 am

Thank you very much, but that is not neccesary. A college of mine had no running projects so we decided to re-install the mac instead. It works fine now. The only problem is that we don't get to the bottom of the problem. I'm sorry about that. But we needed the computer to work in a hurry. Before a new project started.
I want to thank you for your help. I will print this discussion, so that I can refere back to this with the next computer crash.

Have a nice day!

Greetings,
Marion