10.3.2: Most Apple applications will not launch

[lamoy]

I'm deeply frustrated over the following problem (TiBook 1GHz, 1GB ram, 7200rpm):

3 days ago, just out of the blue, none of the following applications would launch: Safari, Mail, iChat, AddressBook, iCal, Disk Utility, PrintCenter, Cocktail and possibly more. What happens is I got the beachball while the app icon keep bouncing and bouncing and bouncing...you get the idea. Then afteer some time, the icon is not boucing anymore, no triangle under it to indicate that the app is active. Still, if I use the application switcher (apple+tab), the app seem to be active (??).

However, Adobe and Microsoft applications (and I'm sure some others too) are behaving just nicely. What gives?

This is what I tried to remedy this very frustrating problem: DiskWarrior, TechTool Pro 4 (full test, including disksurface-scan), repairing permissions (via Terminal since neither Cocktail nor DiskUtility would launch) and deleting prefs. In addition, I tried to copy those apps from another 10.3.2 machine, but without sucess. Getting pissed now, I decided to reinstall OS X with the Archivce & Install option. No go! Then, I had no other option than copying my data and reformatting the drive and install everytnig. And ofcourse that did the trick. This was on monday, so I just got it done til the Keynote.



HOWEVER, today the excact same thing happened again! With this fresh system and all!!
What the heck is going on here? Any inputs highly appreciated...

[yellow]

What have you installed since your fresh install?
Definitely take a look at the logs [if you cannot open Console.app, use the Terminal] in (/var/log/system.log, and /Library/Logs/Console/yourusername/console.log).
You should also attempt to create a new user and see if this problem persists with that user. A good way to find if it's a system-wide problem or something localized you your user.
Try logging into your user holding down Shift, this should disable any haxies and login-app weirdness.

[hayne]

From your list of apps that don't work, it seems like perhaps it is the Cocoa apps that are failing for some reason. Does iTunes work? (it is Carbon, not Cocoa)
I don't have a solution to suggets but narrowing down the problem might lead somewhere.

[lamoy]

Quote: Originally posted by hayne From your list of apps that don't work, it seems like perhaps it is the Cocoa apps that are failing for some reason. Does iTunes work? (it is Carbon, not Cocoa) I don't have a solution to suggets but narrowing down the problem might lead somewhere.

Yepp, iTunes is OK. I have also been thinking along those lines.

[lamoy]

Quote: Originally posted by yellow What have you installed since your fresh install? Definitely take a look at the logs [if you cannot open Console.app, use the Terminal] in (/var/log/system.log, and /Library/Logs/Console/yourusername/console.log). You should also attempt to create a new user and see if this problem persists with that user. A good way to find if it's a system-wide problem or something localized you your user. Try logging into your user holding down Shift, this should disable any haxies and login-app weirdness.

Hmm.....
Last login: Thu Jan 8 18:10:09 on ttyp1
Welcome to Darwin!
Frodes-Computer:~ frode$ /var/log/system.log
-bash: /var/log/system.log: Permission denied
Frodes-Computer:~ frode$ /Library/Logs/Console/frode/console.log
-bash: /Library/Logs/Console/frode/console.log: Permission denied
Frodes-Computer:~ frode$

I did allready test with a test-user. No go. Anyways, tnx for helping.

[yellow]

Quote: Originally posted by lamoy Frodes-Computer:~ frode$ /var/log/system.log -bash: /var/log/system.log: Permission denied Frodes-Computer:~ frode$ /Library/Logs/Console/frode/console.log -bash: /Library/Logs/Console/frode/console.log: Permission denied Frodes-Computer:~ frode$

Err.. missing an important piece of syntax here. You need to use something to read the log! "More" is a nice simple text reader. Try this:

more /var/log/system.log
and
more /Library/Logs/Console/frode/console.log

[craigw]

You haven't been into Font Book and disabled any System fonts by mistake? You can do this by not being careful when resolving duplicates. This will sometimes cause certain apps to stop working.

Just a thought.

Craig

[lamoy]

Quote: Originally posted by craigw You haven't been into Font Book and disabled any System fonts by mistake? You can do this by not being careful when resolving duplicates. This will sometimes cause certain apps to stop working. Just a thought. Craig

And what a thought! I re-enabeled all fonts and restarted. Now I'm writing this reply in Safari. You made my weekend, Craig! I really should have thought of this myself, but you deserve a million tnx

But I must say that Apple really have some work to do with FontBook! Scary stuff...