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Question Profile
| DATE | Jan 15, 2007 |
| TICKET | #332886 |
| STATUS | Closed |
| SUBJECT | Question marks appear on dock icons |
| 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 | Power Mac G4 |
| PROC | 1.25 Ghz |
| RAM | 768 |
| DRIVE | 160Mg & 80 Mg |
| NAME | Chris |
| USERNAME | Basket |
| TECHNICAL | Lots of Experience |
| ISSUE | Stumped |
Question Details
TICKET ARCHIVE -> Question marks appear on dock icons
Basket - Jan 15, 2007 - 4:29 pm
What will cause icons in the dock to lose their ability to open the appropriate program even though the same program can be opened & used successfully by going to the application folder?
When this occurs, a question mark appears on the icon. The problem seems to affect only my 2 email programs (First Class & Thunderbird) & Microsoft Office components Word & Excel. I have a G4 with both OX 9 & OS 10.3.9 on it. It's a 1.25 Ghz processor with 768 Mg. of ram. There are 2 hard drives, one an 80G & one a 160 G. Neither is even half full. Occasionally programs will quit on this machine & "The application_____has unexpectedly quit..." message will be displayed. The technician who repaired it thought the original hard drive was faulty, so that's the reason for the additional, larger one. However, the problem persists, though not as frequently. There seems to be no pattern or cause-effect related to the occurrences. any thoughts?
When this occurs, a question mark appears on the icon. The problem seems to affect only my 2 email programs (First Class & Thunderbird) & Microsoft Office components Word & Excel. I have a G4 with both OX 9 & OS 10.3.9 on it. It's a 1.25 Ghz processor with 768 Mg. of ram. There are 2 hard drives, one an 80G & one a 160 G. Neither is even half full. Occasionally programs will quit on this machine & "The application_____has unexpectedly quit..." message will be displayed. The technician who repaired it thought the original hard drive was faulty, so that's the reason for the additional, larger one. However, the problem persists, though not as frequently. There seems to be no pattern or cause-effect related to the occurrences. any thoughts?
Cheryl - Jan 15, 2007 - 8:12 pm
Chris,
I am wondering why the tech did not just replace the faulty drive.
First, do you turn off your computer every night? If so, the scheduled jobs the OS does during the night does not get done. I suggest you download and startup Macaroni
http://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/9633
This program will do those jobs when you start up the computer. Those routine jobs keep your computer running smoothly.
Do you have a third party utility such as Disk Warrior or TechTool Pro? I suggest you use that CD to scan both drives and rebuild the directory files.
When the application quits suddenly, do you have other programs open as well, just not using it? Do you have Classic running with programs running in the background at that time?
When you open an applications from the Applications folder, does a new icon appear in the dock?
Cheryl
I am wondering why the tech did not just replace the faulty drive.
First, do you turn off your computer every night? If so, the scheduled jobs the OS does during the night does not get done. I suggest you download and startup Macaroni
http://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/9633
This program will do those jobs when you start up the computer. Those routine jobs keep your computer running smoothly.
Do you have a third party utility such as Disk Warrior or TechTool Pro? I suggest you use that CD to scan both drives and rebuild the directory files.
When the application quits suddenly, do you have other programs open as well, just not using it? Do you have Classic running with programs running in the background at that time?
When you open an applications from the Applications folder, does a new icon appear in the dock?
Cheryl
Basket - Jan 16, 2007 - 7:24 pm
Cheryl,
Thank you for your quick reply. The technician installed a new hard drive as the machine would accomodate 2 hard drives. I reinstalled all my software & data onto the new drive, & the old hard drive is there, but not used. In answer to your questions:
1. Yes, the machine is shut off when I'm not using it. I will download Macaroni as you suggested.
2. I do not have a third party utility such as Disk Warrior or TechTool Pro. However, whenever the problem occurs, I have run the Apple Hardware Test that is on the disks which came with the machine when it was new. Everything checks out just fine.
3. Applications have been known to quit when only one is being used as well as when others are open. If I need to use a program that runs only in Classic (I have one, a music writing program known as Mosaic for which there is no OSX upgrade), I close down OSX & restart in OS 9. In other words, I don't have Classic running in OSX with other programs running in the background.
4. When I open applications from the Application folder, a new icon does appear in the dock.
Thank you for your quick reply. The technician installed a new hard drive as the machine would accomodate 2 hard drives. I reinstalled all my software & data onto the new drive, & the old hard drive is there, but not used. In answer to your questions:
1. Yes, the machine is shut off when I'm not using it. I will download Macaroni as you suggested.
2. I do not have a third party utility such as Disk Warrior or TechTool Pro. However, whenever the problem occurs, I have run the Apple Hardware Test that is on the disks which came with the machine when it was new. Everything checks out just fine.
3. Applications have been known to quit when only one is being used as well as when others are open. If I need to use a program that runs only in Classic (I have one, a music writing program known as Mosaic for which there is no OSX upgrade), I close down OSX & restart in OS 9. In other words, I don't have Classic running in OSX with other programs running in the background.
4. When I open applications from the Application folder, a new icon does appear in the dock.
Cheryl - Jan 16, 2007 - 10:45 pm
Chris,
Apple Hardware Test just tests the hardware components on your computer to make sure everything is responding correctly. Disk Warrior or TechTool Pro checks the software side on the hard drive. These are a more powerful utilities than Apple's Disk Utility.
Try this and see if things improve.
Locate and insert the OS X CD (Panther 10.3).
Restart the computer and immediately hold down the C key.
After the computer starts up with the CD - do not click on the installer screen. 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.
Now, start up a program using the icon from the Applications menu - not the dock.
When the program opens, click and hold the mouse at the new icon that appears in the dock and select Keep in dock.
Now go to the old icon in the dock and drag it to the trash. You will see a poof - or what looks like a cloud of smoke. That is okay.
Now quit the program, then try starting it from the icon in the dock. It should now respond correctly.
Several programs have what is called a cache. These are files that are kept so that when you - for example - open an email or a web page, it loads faster because it has a copy of it. When that cache file gets large, the program has a hard time. It is a good idea to empty the cache periodically.
Just go to Home>Library>Cache.
You will find many folders.
Open the Safari folder and you will see several folders named with numbers. Just trash all those folders.
You can do the same with your email program and your Microsoft programs as well. This will help keep the programs running smoothly.
Let me know if this helps.
Cheryl
Apple Hardware Test just tests the hardware components on your computer to make sure everything is responding correctly. Disk Warrior or TechTool Pro checks the software side on the hard drive. These are a more powerful utilities than Apple's Disk Utility.
Try this and see if things improve.
Locate and insert the OS X CD (Panther 10.3).
Restart the computer and immediately hold down the C key.
After the computer starts up with the CD - do not click on the installer screen. 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.
Now, start up a program using the icon from the Applications menu - not the dock.
When the program opens, click and hold the mouse at the new icon that appears in the dock and select Keep in dock.
Now go to the old icon in the dock and drag it to the trash. You will see a poof - or what looks like a cloud of smoke. That is okay.
Now quit the program, then try starting it from the icon in the dock. It should now respond correctly.
Several programs have what is called a cache. These are files that are kept so that when you - for example - open an email or a web page, it loads faster because it has a copy of it. When that cache file gets large, the program has a hard time. It is a good idea to empty the cache periodically.
Just go to Home>Library>Cache.
You will find many folders.
Open the Safari folder and you will see several folders named with numbers. Just trash all those folders.
You can do the same with your email program and your Microsoft programs as well. This will help keep the programs running smoothly.
Let me know if this helps.
Cheryl
Basket - Jan 18, 2007 - 7:59 pm
Cheryl,
Once again, thank you for your response. I used the D isk Utility as you directed. It returned the following message after each pass. This was the case on each of the hard drives: "Repair attempted on 1 volume. HFA volume repaired."
When I tried to use Repair disk Permissions, the following sppeared: Disk utility has lost its connection with the dist Management Tool & cannot continue. Please quit & relaunch Disk Utility."
I replaced the dock icons as you suggested.
When I looked in the home>Library>Caches folder, I found the Safari folders named with numbers, but none for Microsoft Office or my email programs.
At this time, everything seems to be working appropriately, but the above findings, especially those having to do with the Disk Utility actions, have me puzzled & a little concerned. Any more thoughts?
Once again, thank you for your response. I used the D isk Utility as you directed. It returned the following message after each pass. This was the case on each of the hard drives: "Repair attempted on 1 volume. HFA volume repaired."
When I tried to use Repair disk Permissions, the following sppeared: Disk utility has lost its connection with the dist Management Tool & cannot continue. Please quit & relaunch Disk Utility."
I replaced the dock icons as you suggested.
When I looked in the home>Library>Caches folder, I found the Safari folders named with numbers, but none for Microsoft Office or my email programs.
At this time, everything seems to be working appropriately, but the above findings, especially those having to do with the Disk Utility actions, have me puzzled & a little concerned. Any more thoughts?
Cheryl - Jan 18, 2007 - 11:22 pm
Chris,
I am glad that we got the dock working properly. Your Disk Utility problem is a puzzle. Try this:
Go to Home>Library>Preferences
trash the com.apple.DiskUtility.plist file
Close the windows, empty the trash
Now go to Applications>Utilities and start up Disk Utility
Click on the second icon in the side bar at the left,
Click on Repair Permissions. Repair Disk will be grayed out so do not worry.
It should now do the job. Quit Disk Utility when you are done.
Let me know if you get any errors or messages. It could be a corrupt file on the CD.
Cheryl
I am glad that we got the dock working properly. Your Disk Utility problem is a puzzle. Try this:
Go to Home>Library>Preferences
trash the com.apple.DiskUtility.plist file
Close the windows, empty the trash
Now go to Applications>Utilities and start up Disk Utility
Click on the second icon in the side bar at the left,
Click on Repair Permissions. Repair Disk will be grayed out so do not worry.
It should now do the job. Quit Disk Utility when you are done.
Let me know if you get any errors or messages. It could be a corrupt file on the CD.
Cheryl
Basket - Jan 20, 2007 - 5:09 pm
Cheryl,
Again, thank you for your quick response. I ran the "repair disk permissions" as you directed on both hard drives. The messages that resulted were as follows:
Results of repairing disk permissions on Hard Drive #1:
Repairing permissions for “Primary HD”
Determining correct file permissions.
We are using special permissions for the file or directory ./Library/ColorSync/Profiles/Displays. New permissions are 16893
We are using special permissions for the file or directory ./Library/ColorSync/Profiles. New permissions are 16893
We are using special permissions for the file or directory ./System/Library/Filesystems/cd9660.fs/cd9660.util. New permissions are 33261
We are using a special uid for the file or directory ./private/var/at/jobs. New uid is 1
We are using a special uid for the file or directory ./private/var/at/spool. New uid is 1
The privileges have been verified or repaired on the selected volume
Results of repairing disk permissions on Hard drive #2:
Repairing permissions for “Macintosh HD”
Determining correct file permissions.
We are using special permissions for the file or directory ./Library/ColorSync/Profiles/Displays. New permissions are 16893
We are using special permissions for the file or directory ./Library/ColorSync/Profiles. New permissions are 16893
We are using special permissions for the file or directory ./System/Library/Filesystems/cd9660.fs/cd9660.util. New permissions are 33261
We are using a special uid for the file or directory ./private/var/at/jobs. New uid is 1
We are using a special uid for the file or directory ./private/var/at/spool. New uid is 1
The privileges have been verified or repaired on the selected volume
Permissions repair complete
Since the procedure functioned without hanging up as it did when I tried to use the CD, should I assume the CD contains a file corruption? If so, what should I do to procure a new CD?
Also, are these procedures you had me follow over the course of the past few days ones that should be performed on a regular basis to avoid problems?
Your help is much appreciated.
Chris
Again, thank you for your quick response. I ran the "repair disk permissions" as you directed on both hard drives. The messages that resulted were as follows:
Results of repairing disk permissions on Hard Drive #1:
Repairing permissions for “Primary HD”
Determining correct file permissions.
We are using special permissions for the file or directory ./Library/ColorSync/Profiles/Displays. New permissions are 16893
We are using special permissions for the file or directory ./Library/ColorSync/Profiles. New permissions are 16893
We are using special permissions for the file or directory ./System/Library/Filesystems/cd9660.fs/cd9660.util. New permissions are 33261
We are using a special uid for the file or directory ./private/var/at/jobs. New uid is 1
We are using a special uid for the file or directory ./private/var/at/spool. New uid is 1
The privileges have been verified or repaired on the selected volume
Results of repairing disk permissions on Hard drive #2:
Repairing permissions for “Macintosh HD”
Determining correct file permissions.
We are using special permissions for the file or directory ./Library/ColorSync/Profiles/Displays. New permissions are 16893
We are using special permissions for the file or directory ./Library/ColorSync/Profiles. New permissions are 16893
We are using special permissions for the file or directory ./System/Library/Filesystems/cd9660.fs/cd9660.util. New permissions are 33261
We are using a special uid for the file or directory ./private/var/at/jobs. New uid is 1
We are using a special uid for the file or directory ./private/var/at/spool. New uid is 1
The privileges have been verified or repaired on the selected volume
Permissions repair complete
Since the procedure functioned without hanging up as it did when I tried to use the CD, should I assume the CD contains a file corruption? If so, what should I do to procure a new CD?
Also, are these procedures you had me follow over the course of the past few days ones that should be performed on a regular basis to avoid problems?
Your help is much appreciated.
Chris
Cheryl - Jan 20, 2007 - 5:42 pm
Chris,
At this point I would not worry about replacing the CD. It is repairing the disk that needs to be done with the CD and as you did, the permissions repaired with the Disk Utility installed on the machine is the best. Those repairs are correct and normal, so do not worry about them.
Since you are now using Macaroni, you should notice a smoother run. Every time you install a program, you should run Disk Utility to Repair Permissions (the one installed). When you notice a slow down or strange problems, a restart usually clears things up. If not, I do recommend getting Disk Warrior or TechTool Pro for 10.3. Either one of those utilities repairs files and the directory which Disk Utility does not.
What I think has happened is that the icons in the dock just lost the connection to the real program. I am not sure why or how that happens, but you now have things working properly. It could have been the combination of what I had you do that corrected the issue. It just might not happen again.
Let me know if you have any further questions. Otherwise you (or I) can close this ticket.
Cheryl
At this point I would not worry about replacing the CD. It is repairing the disk that needs to be done with the CD and as you did, the permissions repaired with the Disk Utility installed on the machine is the best. Those repairs are correct and normal, so do not worry about them.
Since you are now using Macaroni, you should notice a smoother run. Every time you install a program, you should run Disk Utility to Repair Permissions (the one installed). When you notice a slow down or strange problems, a restart usually clears things up. If not, I do recommend getting Disk Warrior or TechTool Pro for 10.3. Either one of those utilities repairs files and the directory which Disk Utility does not.
What I think has happened is that the icons in the dock just lost the connection to the real program. I am not sure why or how that happens, but you now have things working properly. It could have been the combination of what I had you do that corrected the issue. It just might not happen again.
Let me know if you have any further questions. Otherwise you (or I) can close this ticket.
Cheryl
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