You can't open the application...it is not supported on this architecture

Question

Level 1

11 points

You can't open the application...it is not supported on this architecture

Returning Mac user here. I am trying to setup some shared games on my Mac mini, 1.25Ghz G4, 1Gb RAM machine and have run into something very puzzling. I am loading some free open-source games under my account and the applications will launch and open just fine. Well, when I attempt to launch that same game(s) under another account it gives me a "You can't open the application <application name> because it is not supported on this architecture". I initially setup this second user account as a a standard but during my troubleshooting steps I have allowed it full Admin rights with the same end result.

Some other things I've tried:
1. Get Info on the applciation(s) and granted everyone (and even the second user account) Read & Write permission.

I scoured Google and these forums and haven't been coming up with much of anything! Can anyone help?

Macbook Pro, Mac OS X (10.5.1), 2.4Ghz Intel Core 2 Dou, 2Gb RAM, 160Gb HD, 256Mb GeForce 8600M GT

Posted on Jan 6, 2008 6:55 AM

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Answer 1

QuickDraw

Level 3

704 points

Jan 6, 2008 7:13 AM in response to benducklow

I could be wrong, but it sounds like using the software under a shared concept is beyond the Software Architecture (the way it was designed). Unfortunately sometimes when you get open source code like that, you have to do a lot of fiddling with it yourself to get it to perform the way you want it to. Now if it's Shared Source rather than Open Source, then that is a horse of a different color (so to speak). 🙂

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Answer 2

benducklow Author

Level 1

11 points

Jan 6, 2008 9:11 AM in response to QuickDraw

I can see your point; but again whats puzzling is there is no install and the application resides in the main Application folder. Only one person accesses the application at once.

Any other suggestions would be extremely appreciated!

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Answer 3

Jan 6, 2008 9:23 AM in response to benducklow

Try creating a new test account, give it admin rights, but make no other changes to it. Log in to that account and see if it can run the game. This will eliminate the possiblity that there is something causing a problem within your second account. You might also uninstall one of the games, and reinstall from your new admin account and see if it, and the other accounts, can use that game.
Francine

Francine
Schwieder

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Answer 4

QuickDraw

Level 3

704 points

Jan 6, 2008 9:39 AM in response to benducklow

"there is no install and the application resides in the main Application folder."

Well, that knocks my theory out the window because the game would need some way to determine SHARING. 🙂 Francine has a good suggestion. I'm at a loss, unless the writer/composer of the software has purposely made it crippled or something (for whatever reason).

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Answer 5

benducklow Author

Level 1

11 points

Feb 12, 2008 6:40 PM in response to benducklow

Not having much time to troubleshoot, I ended up re-imaging the machine and installing the application using the profile that would be using the games; all is working well under that user but not others.

I seems to do with perhaps the plist file or something?? Maybe something where the preferences or something can only be tied to one user??

Regardless, I found a workaround for now. If anyone else know, I'd appreciate anything I can try!

Thanks!

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Answer 6

Feb 12, 2008 7:39 PM in response to benducklow

Just on an off hunch, are you trying to open the game simultaneously by two users? If yes, try quitting the app under user #1 before you switch to user #2

Past that, it's very possible that when it is installed, some data is being installed in the users folder who did the install, which, of course is not available to user #2.

If nothing else works, try logging into user #2 and re-install the game. That way, if stuff is indeed being installed in the home folder for it's use, it will be in user #2's home folder as well.

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