Darrell R Coe

Q: Unable to highlight text or move windows

I have submitted this issue before and I received some very good isolation/resolution steps, but my problem still exists.  I am unable to highlight text to delete,  copy/paste.  I am also unable to enlarge or move windows on my desktop.

 

STEPS TAKEN 

1) Luanch Disk Utility

2) verify/Repair Hard Drive

3)Verify/Repair Permissions

4)**Safe Boot and was still unable to highlight or move windows

Install and Launch Applejack

5)  applejack auto restart that performed all applejack tasks, detect and repair issues found

6) **Safe Boot computer and still was unable to highlight or move windows

Launched Tech Tool Pro (detected no issues)

Unplug all peripherals (USB and Firewire)

7)Reboot computer.  Still unable to highlight or move/enlarge windows

 

CAN ANYONE HELP????

Posted on Apr 26, 2013 1:05 PM

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Q: Unable to highlight text or move windows

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  • by Darrell R Coe,

    Darrell R Coe Darrell R Coe May 3, 2013 7:39 PM in response to BDAqua
    Level 2 (160 points)
    iTunes
    May 3, 2013 7:39 PM in response to BDAqua

    I am writing this because you usually respond so quickly and I am thinking you did not receive my last correspondence.  I had to agree with your thought that my computer had a system problem based on your troubleshooting recommendations.  Your last recommendation was to perform archive and install procedure on my computer and that  was performed this morning.   After completion, I downloaded the combination OS X 104.11 update per the Software Update. But the problem, Unable to highlight text or move windows still exists.  Could the problem be in a Application that is not launched?  If you look at the correspondence I sent this morning (https://discussions.apple.com/message/21932914#21932914, it will show you the Applications loaded on my computer

  • by BDAqua,

    BDAqua BDAqua May 3, 2013 10:49 PM in response to Darrell R Coe
    Level 10 (123,618 points)
    May 3, 2013 10:49 PM in response to Darrell R Coe

    One way to test is to Safe Boot from the HD, (holding Shift key down at bootup), run Disk Utility in Applications>Utilities, then highlight your drive, click on Repair Permissions, Test for problem in Safe Mode...

     

    PS. Safe boot may stay on the gray radian for a long time, let it go, it's trying to repair the Hard Drive

     

    Reboot, test again.

     

    If it only does it in Regular Boot, then it could be some hardware problem like Video card, (Quartz is turned off in Safe Mode), or Airport, or some USB or Firewire device, or 3rd party add-on, Check System Preferences>Accounts (Users & Groups in later OSX versions)>Login Items window to see if it or something relevant is listed.

     

    Check the System Preferences>Other Row, for 3rd party Pref Panes.

     

    Also look in these if they exist, some are invisible...

     

    /private/var/run/StartupItems

     

    /Library/StartupItems

     

    /System/Library/StartupItems

     

    /System/Library/LaunchDaemons

     

    /Library/LaunchDaemons

  • by Darrell R Coe,

    Darrell R Coe Darrell R Coe May 4, 2013 4:06 PM in response to BDAqua
    Level 2 (160 points)
    iTunes
    May 4, 2013 4:06 PM in response to BDAqua

    Followed your instruction exactly as written: After Safe Boot; > Disk Utility/Repair Permissions; >test if Problem exist in Safe Mode>> Problems still exists.  Reboot and test again >  Problem still exists in Normal Mode.  All Peripheral  equipment, printer, external HD, and iSight has been disconnected.  Check Sys Prefs/Accounts >Only one Account (Me).  Check Sys/Prefsfor third partyPanes> No third Party Panes.  CHECK Files to see if they exist:

    FILE DOES NOT EXIST

    /Private/var/run/atartupiems

     

    FILES THAT DO EXIST

    /Library/sartupitems

    /Library/LaunchDaemons

    /System/Library/LaunchDaemons (has large number of .plist files after clicking LaunchDaemons)

    12 - com.apple.xxx.plist files

    bootps.plist

    file:///System/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.vix.cron.plist

    file:///System/Library/LaunchDaemons/comsat.plist

    file:///System/Library/LaunchDaemons/eppc.plist

    file:///System/Library/LaunchDaemons/exec.plist

    file:///System/Library/LaunchDaemons/finger.plist

    file:///System/Library/LaunchDaemons/ftp.plist

    file:///System/Library/LaunchDaemons/login.plist

    file:///System/Library/LaunchDaemons/nmbd.plist

    file:///System/Library/LaunchDaemons/ntalk.plist

    file:///System/Library/LaunchDaemons/org.isc.named.plist

    file:///System/Library/LaunchDaemons/org.postfix.master.plist

    file:///System/Library/LaunchDaemons/org.xinetd.xinetd.plist

    file:///System/Library/LaunchDaemons/printer.plist

    file:///System/Library/LaunchDaemons/shell.plist

    file:///System/Library/LaunchDaemons/smbd.plist

    file:///System/Library/LaunchDaemons/ssh.plist

    file:///System/Library/LaunchDaemons/swat.plist

    file:///System/Library/LaunchDaemons/telnet.plist

    file:///System/Library/LaunchDaemons/tftp.plist

     

     

    

    

  • by BDAqua,

    BDAqua BDAqua May 4, 2013 7:47 PM in response to Darrell R Coe
    Level 10 (123,618 points)
    May 4, 2013 7:47 PM in response to Darrell R Coe

    Mac OS X: Cannot print, use Classic, start file sharing, burn discs, or update software if /tmp missing...

     

    http://support.apple.com/kb/TA21161?viewlocale=en_US

  • by Darrell R Coe,

    Darrell R Coe Darrell R Coe May 4, 2013 10:12 PM in response to BDAqua
    Level 2 (160 points)
    iTunes
    May 4, 2013 10:12 PM in response to BDAqua

    I am not sure how this relates to the problem I am experiencing.  I really do not use the Classic Mode nor do I have OS 9 loaded on my system.  I had a LaCie CD burner but no longer use it and I have no trouble printing.  My only problem is, I am unable to highlight text for the purpose of copying, deleting and pasting text and I have several Applications,that when launched appears as half windows because they are not centered on the monitor and half of the window is either pushed off the right or left side of the monitor or the window is pushed all the way to the lower half of the monitor. I have performed three software updates, which were mainly OS X 10.4.11 related and Java updates.  After each update, I performed a Safe Boot, Repaired Permissions and retested to see if my poblem was resolved

  • by BDAqua,

    BDAqua BDAqua May 5, 2013 10:31 AM in response to Darrell R Coe
    Level 10 (123,618 points)
    May 5, 2013 10:31 AM in response to Darrell R Coe

    Well, that article doesn't mention it, but the /tmp folder is used for copy/paste also, is it there? Can you Print or Fileshare?

  • by Darrell R Coe,

    Darrell R Coe Darrell R Coe May 5, 2013 10:49 AM in response to BDAqua
    Level 2 (160 points)
    iTunes
    May 5, 2013 10:49 AM in response to BDAqua

    I have no problems prining and I did use Home Sharing in iTunes to share my iTunes Music with my Apple TV and on another Mac Computer.  I have since disabled Home Sharing as a method of trouble isolation for my problem.  Is this temp folder, bootps.plist mentioned above?

  • by BDAqua,

    BDAqua BDAqua May 5, 2013 12:51 PM in response to Darrell R Coe
    Level 10 (123,618 points)
    May 5, 2013 12:51 PM in response to Darrell R Coe

    I don't think the bootps.plist has anyything to do with this problem...

    <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>

    <!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">

    <plist version="1.0">

    <dict>

        <key>Disabled</key>

        <true/>

        <key>Label</key>

        <string>com.apple.bootpd</string>

        <key>ProgramArguments</key>

        <array>

            <string>/usr/libexec/bootpd</string>

        </array>

        <key>Sockets</key>

        <dict>

            <key>Listeners</key>

            <dict>

                <key>SockFamily</key>

                <string>IPv4</string>

                <key>SockServiceName</key>

                <string>bootps</string>

                <key>SockType</key>

                <string>dgram</string>

            </dict>

        </dict>

        <key>inetdCompatibility</key>

        <dict>

            <key>Wait</key>

            <true/>

        </dict>

    </dict>

    </plist>

    Do you have a Flash drive you can try copying a file to?

  • by Darrell R Coe,

    Darrell R Coe Darrell R Coe May 5, 2013 2:12 PM in response to BDAqua
    Level 2 (160 points)
    iTunes
    May 5, 2013 2:12 PM in response to BDAqua

    I am sure you  have provided me some very pertinent information, but I am not sure what to do with it.  I do have a Flash drive that I may copy a file to ( remember I am unable to highlight and copy anything).  I may need Cookbook instructions to execute your recommendation

  • by BDAqua,

    BDAqua BDAqua May 5, 2013 6:02 PM in response to Darrell R Coe
    Level 10 (123,618 points)
    May 5, 2013 6:02 PM in response to Darrell R Coe

    If once copied to the Flash Drive, can you then say highligt the name & copy it there?

  • by Darrell R Coe,

    Darrell R Coe Darrell R Coe May 5, 2013 8:07 PM in response to BDAqua
    Level 2 (160 points)
    iTunes
    May 5, 2013 8:07 PM in response to BDAqua

    I used my wife's iMac to copy  the above file starting with <xml...and highlighting to the last entry</plist>, performed a copy of the highlighted material and pasted the copied material to a doc  to a blank bbedit window named the doc "Untitled".

  • by BDAqua,

    BDAqua BDAqua May 5, 2013 9:03 PM in response to Darrell R Coe
    Level 10 (123,618 points)
    May 5, 2013 9:03 PM in response to Darrell R Coe

    OK, I'm not seeing sometheng here, sorry.. Wife's iMac??? is this the same machine having this problem?

  • by Darrell R Coe,

    Darrell R Coe Darrell R Coe May 5, 2013 10:15 PM in response to BDAqua
    Level 2 (160 points)
    iTunes
    May 5, 2013 10:15 PM in response to BDAqua

    No, it is not the same computer that is having the problem we are working on.  The computer that is having a problem is a G3 b/W PPC Desktop with an upgraded G4 Processor.  I inherited the iMac from cousin and I gave it to her because I was going to upgrade to a Mac Mini, but that decision fell through.  So, I still have my Old Faithful, which is showing wear but is a reliable computer that satisfies my needs.

  • by Darrell R Coe,

    Darrell R Coe Darrell R Coe May 6, 2013 2:49 AM in response to BDAqua
    Level 2 (160 points)
    iTunes
    May 6, 2013 2:49 AM in response to BDAqua

    You really must think I am stupid.  After writing down five lines of the program, I kept retreading some of your past correspondence and you kept saying "COPY" and the only thing that I could think of at that time was "I can't copy on my computer, that was one of my problems".  I was so concentrated, on how I was going to to get those lines of code to the flash drive, I forgot I could use my wife's computer to copy and paste the code to the flash drive.  Then you wrote "your wife's iMac? " and I still did not get it until 2:00 this morning.  Duh!! POST STROKE MOMENT.  I am so embarrassed  You must think , you are dealing with some Guy who isn't ALL THERE.  My Wife says that some times I get so concentrated on one task, that I don't think outside the Box.  I apologize. I am sorry, I have wasted a lot of your time.  You probably would have solved the problem a long time ago if it was not for my error.

     

    If you are still willing to work with me, I would be so grateful.  I can't promise, I won't go single minded, but I will promise that I will rethink before I say"I can't do something"

     

    Darrell

  • by BDAqua,Solvedanswer

    BDAqua BDAqua May 6, 2013 10:12 AM in response to Darrell R Coe
    Level 10 (123,618 points)
    May 6, 2013 10:12 AM in response to Darrell R Coe

    OK, no worry Darrell, I think it's as much my problem as yours, no... more my problem actually!

     

    My dad used to tell me to do something, I'd ask how to do it, then get hit upside the head & told "Don't ask stupid questions".

     

    Then I'd mess up doing it... & get hit upside the head again & told... "Why didn't you ask if you didn't know how... stupid kids, send a boy to do a man's job... grrrrr

     

    So, maybe you can post again with a bit clearer synopsis of what is going on, so we don't have to wade through & reread every post.

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