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General discussion

Finder and programs locking up

by patstew9 Feb 9, 2010 11:16PM PST

This just started a few days ago. Any program I use, Itunes, Iphoto or even trying to install something like turbo tax results in the program in question locking up and then the finder. If i force quit any of the programs it will try and come back up, but locks up and if i force quit the finder all my drives disappear and i have to hold down on the power button and shut down the computer. Any one have any idea what's causing this? Could it have been the last system update?

Discussion is locked

7 Posts
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That depends on what you think the last system update was,
by mrmacfixit Forum moderator Feb 9, 2010 11:48PM PST

10.3.9 or 10.4.11 or something else?

What have your tried so far?

Sounds like a corrupt system which could be cured with an Archive and Install of the OS.

P

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10.6
by patstew9 Feb 10, 2010 12:24AM PST

I'm running 10.6 and have done all the updates.
I got rid of mac tune up. Changed some dock settings, because I noticed that the dock magnifier would lock and the problem would start.
I want to say that maybe my hard drive needs to be de-fragmented, but disc utilities says its fine.

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MacTuneup
by mrmacfixit Forum moderator Feb 10, 2010 9:15AM PST

could have done something untoward to your system.

You may want to consider an Archive and Install to bring the System back up to par.

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Fixed
by patstew9 Feb 14, 2010 10:58PM PST

I made the system stop putting the hard drives to sleep (a suggestion that was sent to me on another forum). This helped some with the lock ups, but My external drives were acting funny. What seemed to do the trick was I unplugged the power cord from the back of the mac and gave it a minute. It's been fine ever since.

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Mac Tuneup
by rlharp Feb 19, 2010 1:30AM PST

Sorry, but can you tell me how to do an Archive and Install? I'm having the same problem with Safari. It freezes and won't come up.

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Archive and Install
by mrmacfixit Forum moderator Feb 19, 2010 2:23AM PST

Boot from the OS X installation DVD.
Puts a new copy of the System Folder onto your hard drive, renames the old one and moves your personal data into the new folder on completion.
Boot from the OS X installation disk.
Once the installation app starts to run, go past the first page and you will be told that you cannot install onto your HD unless you change your options.
From the options choices, choose Archive and Install (Preserve user settings) and continue from there.
Once the installation has finished, you will need to use Software Updater to bring your copy of OS X up to date.

Do NOT proceed with the installation unless you choose Archive and Install. ALL your data will be destroyed if you do not choose Archive and Install

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Possible Hardware
by Bassasasin Feb 8, 2011 12:08PM PST

There are other possibilities for other readers. Bad memory for one.
Especially since it seems to be randomly acting up.
Historically, I have encountered bad memory that randomly fails.
The memory fills up and eventually hits and errors and affects the program and the effect is a lock up.
It required a very long exercise of the memory to find, hours actually.

Just to mention from those checking this thread.

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