Check for stray startup/login items before system update installation (or after, if you have problems)

Before installing any significant system update (in addition to taking the time to read through our recommended update procedure), it would behoove you to take a look through the currently installed set of startup and login items. If there are any components that aren't currently in use or are of questionable stability, remove them prior to installation. Errant items in these locations can cause problems with startup or shutdown, particularly after new system software is introduced.

Take the case of MacFixIt reader Alex Taubman, who experienced the following after applying Apple's recently released AirPort Extreme 2007-004 update:

"After running the update via Software Update, the startup process would only get as far as the MacOS X screen with the progress bar in the middle. After waiting about 1 minute for the startup process to continue, I called Apple Support. After waiting 6 minutes to talk with a representative the progress bar was still full but appeared to be stuck.

"I described the issue to the Tech who advised my to power off my system and try again. I did and pretty much the same thing happened. I was able to get through the startup process completely but at a snails pace. Having a new 2.4GHz MacBook Pro w/4GB RAM, I was quite concerned. He walked me though the Login Items part of the Accounts System Preference panel. I found a Stuffit Magic Menu Application I wasn't using anymore, deleted it and restarted the system. Of course the issue was resolved."

To check if any login items are causing your startup/shutdown issues, go to the "Accounts" pane of System Preferences and click on the "Login Items" tab. Deselect any third-party items (and even Apple-originated items in some cases), restart, and check for persistence of the issue.

To check if any startup items are causing the issues, go to the /Library/StartupItems folder (that's the Library folder at the root level of your startup volume, not the user-level Library folder located at ~/Library) and, again, remove any third-party items, restart, and check for persistence of the issue.

Feedback? Late-breakers@macfixit.com.

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