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TICKET ARCHIVE -> question mark over quicktime

robterri - Nov 4, 2007 - 12:38 am

I recently updated osx to latest version, and ever since I get a question mark superimposed over the quicktime "Q" on web pages, you tube, google video, ect. HELP !! I'm running quicktime version 7.2, and MAC osx version 10.4.10 ( latest update). I never had this problem before this latest software update. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

earthsaver - Nov 4, 2007 - 7:33 pm

The only reason I think one would ever get that ? is because either the QuickTime.plugin or QuickTime.webplugin is not active. Make sure both are in the HD/Library/Internet Plug-Ins/ folder. Possibly try reinstalling QuickTime by downloading from Apple. Alternatively, this may be a minor glitch that cropped up in the updating process. The simple fix is to download the 10.4.10 combo update and install it over top of what you have.

- Ben

robterri - Nov 5, 2007 - 11:20 pm

Dear Ben,
I apologize for my tardiness in replying to your advice, which by the way was perfect. I downloaded and installed quicktime 7.3 for tiger, and all seems well now. I can't thank you enough for the help, you guys are saints.

Robert

robterri - Nov 7, 2007 - 1:04 pm

OK, I reinstalled quicktime from apple website and the problem disappeared, but today ( 11/07/07) the problem reappears. Both Quicktime.plugin and Quicktime.webplugin are in the HD/Library/Internet Plug-Ins folder. again I am running Mac OSX 10.4.10, Quicktime 7.3, and Safari 3 beta on a power PC processor. I tried uninstalling Safari 3 and going back to the previous version, but that didn't help. I've also ran Disk utility and Disk Warrior with no improvement. Any other ideas?

cnorgangrad - Nov 7, 2007 - 1:19 pm

Hello!

The only thing I can think of is to make sure in your Safari preferences under Security, that Enable Plug-ins IS checked. If this is not checked, that is probably the problem. Also, is it all quicktime media, or just various ones? It could be a codec problem, but let's tackle the easy stuff first.

-Josh

earthsaver - Nov 7, 2007 - 1:19 pm

Wish I did.

ScottW - Nov 8, 2007 - 10:34 am

Have you tried running "Repair Disk Permissions" in Disk Utility to make sure everything is on the up-and-up permissions wise. Permissions can cause odd things to happen like this.

Scott

robterri - Nov 8, 2007 - 3:06 pm

OOOOOKKKK.... now I'm a little confused ( Normal state ). Today I went to mopar.com to look for a part for my truck, and got nothing but question marks superimposed over Quicktime "Q" logos, then I remembered I have not checked this site today for further advice. I followed the advice of Josh and Scott ( Enable plug-ins was checked, ran repair disk permissions for the umpteenth time in the last 3 days, and went back to mpar.com, and .....it NOW WORKS. could this be a permission that keeps getting messed up? and maybe this permission resets itself every 24 hours? I apologize folks, I used to use windows based pc's and was pretty good at fixing them, but made the jump to MAC because I got very tired of fixing them and have had ZERO problems with this MAC in the 2 years I've used it, hence my very little experience at figuring out problems regarding MAC OSX on my own. Any futher thoughts as to the cause of my odd problem will be greatly appreciated. Additionally I read some where that MACs can act funny anytime you get less than 20 gigs of hard drive space, is this true?

ScottW - Nov 8, 2007 - 9:01 pm

Robert,

Permissions can't just be "reset" or change on their own. Something has to change the permissions. Do you run any backup utilities over night? Do you run any applications that "clean" web history, caches or anything like that?

To start and figuring this out, I'd take a look at your logs and search through them and see if you can find any references to any of the files that permissions get "fixed" on when you run the repair utility that would/could be related to your browser, quicktime, plugins, etc.

What does it report as "repairing" when you do a permission repair?

Scott

robterri - Nov 10, 2007 - 12:19 am

Thank you Scott. I went back to the logs for disk utility and got the following report...**********
Nov 9 22:33:45: Disk Utility started.

Repairing permissions for “Macintosh HD”
Determining correct file permissions.

Permissions repair complete


The privileges have been verified or repaired on the selected volume

I then tried to Verify Disk and got the following message...
Error: The underlying task reported failure on exit


Disk Utility stopped verifying “Macintosh HD” because the following error was encountered:

The underlying task reported failure on exit
1 HFS volume checked
Volume needs repair

now, how exactly do you repair this volume, since the "repair disk" button does not highlight? ( I know, I know, please be patient with me)

Incidentally, the exact same problem was encountered again tonight, I repaired disk permissions, and the problem went away so it is definitely a disk permission.

Cheryl - Nov 11, 2007 - 7:04 am

Robert,

Disk Utility can not repair the hard drive when the hard drive is the start up volume.
Start up with the OS X CD (matching the version you are running) Insert the OS 10.4 installer CD restart the computer and immediately hold down the C key. You will see a different background on the screen when the CD is used to start up the computer.
Now select yor language.
Do not click on the installer screen. Instead go to the Installer menu (or Tools) 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. This is just to correct the permisssions on any thing that Repair Disk had to repair.

When that is done, quit Disk utility and restart the computer.

If Disk Utility says it can not repair the drive, you need Disk Warrior or TechTool Pro CD to start up the computer and repair the drive.

Let me know how you do.

Cheryl

robterri - Nov 13, 2007 - 11:34 pm

Dear Cheryl,
Let me first apologize for not answering promptly, as my job often times keeps me busy for days on end with little time for anything else. I did as you suggested and every thing seems to be fine now. This has been an invaluable lesson, and I thank each and every one for their guidance and their patience with me.

Cheryl - Nov 14, 2007 - 8:49 pm

Robert,

I know what it means to have a job that takes up most of your time since I am a teacher who constantly takes home papers to grade, etc.

I am glad everything is back to normal.

Cheryl