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TICKET ARCHIVE -> Problems Downloading programs & software

Sprtn22 - Aug 9, 2006 - 1:39 pm

For the last two weeks, my computer system has been acting really weird. Programs are constantly shutting down on me without warning, which has happened before, but not nearly as frequently as it is now. Now, every time i open my applications folder to run a program it shuts down on me before i get a chance to open the program, and my spotlight feature is doing the same thing. I downloaded Mac Janitor 1.3 and i am running it on a regular basis and the problem is still occurring. I have also repaired disk permissions on my computer through the disk utility feature and that did not help either. Now when i try to download files, programs, or software, they never download completely and if they do, i cant open the installers to install the actual program. I have no idea what could be wrong with my computer, we lost power a couple weeks ago, but i have everything hooked up to a surge protector, so i don't think that could have affected my system. I am not sure how to reinstall, or "refresh" for lack of a better word, my system without losing all of the information (files, pictures, music) that i have stored on it. I am really frustrated because i am going back to college in a week and i need my system operating smoothly. The version of the installer that i have is 2.1.0 which was the last update that i have made which was last year. I would let you know when my last system update was, but my system preferences shuts down on me every time i try to open my software updates.

Cheryl - Aug 9, 2006 - 3:48 pm

Erin,

You have a serious problem, but I think we can correct this.

First get your OS X CD (Panther) (this is what is showing in your system profile you have entered on the site. If you are running Tiger (10.4) then use that CD).

Insert the CD, then restart the computer and immediately hold down the C key.

Your computer will start up with the Cd rather than the hard drive. When you get to the installer screen - DO NOT click on it. Instead go to the Installer Menu and select Disk Utility. (if you have Tiger - you must select your language, then go to the Utility Menu and select Disk Utility).

Now with Disk Utility open, click on the second icon in the side bar at the left, then click on the First Aid tab. Look at the bottom right of the screen. You will see Repair Drive. Click on that.

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.

Give your computer a test run and let me know how you do.

Cheryl

Sprtn22 - Aug 9, 2006 - 7:05 pm

I followed the directions you gave me, and when i clicked on repair drive, sure enough repairs started showing up, but even after the 5th time i clicked it, there were two problems that it would not fix. They read as follows...

Invalid leaf record accound
(it should be 4 instead of 37)

Repair attempted on 2 volumes
1 HFS volume repaired
1 volume could not be repaired

So i went ahead and ran repair permissions, and restarted my computer, and when i started using programs it seemed to work for a while, but programs started closing on me again. Should i go ahead and start backing up all of my files in case i have to restore my computer? I have an external 4 GB USB drive that i can start backing up all of my extras onto another computer until this gets taken care of. I just cant figure out why this started all of the sudden. I have not had any problems with this computer whatsoever and its getting really frustrating because i havent changed any of my settings, i dont believe i have deleted anything that is crucial to how the system runs, it êust doesnt make sense and i really hope we can figure something out.

Cheryl - Aug 10, 2006 - 1:58 am

Erin,

Yes, I highly recommend that you backup your documents and files. Also make sure you have backups of any installers of programs that you have downloaded.
You should also backup the Library folder that is in your Home folder. This holds your preferences for your programs which includes registration numbers for your paid sharewares, etc.

Invalid leaf record count means that the number of records found in the btree (a catalog for files) don't agree with the header field that says how many there should be. Most of the time it means that the header is bad which is BAD news.

I recommend you you get Disk Warrior.
http://www.alsoft.com/DiskWarrior/index.html

This will repair most if not all of the problems that Disk Utility can not.
Using the Disk Warrior CD, start up the computer (insert CD, restart computer and immediately hold down the C key).

When Disk Warrior starts up (it may be a bit slow in starting), Click on the Directory icon, then the hard drive you need to repair, then click on rebuild.

Once that is done, and you have allowed Disk Warrior to make the repairs and rebuild the directory, hold down the Option key. "Rebuild" will change to "Scavenge" which, as the name suggests, digs a bit deeper.
Run Scavenge and see what it comes up with and allow it to repair and rebuild.

Let me know how you do and if this corrects the problem.

Cheryl