Multiple applications crashing

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Multiple applications crashing

I'm on a 2002 TiBook with OSX 4.11 and last Sunday my apps started crashing. I first noticed the screen saver wouldn't come up, then discovered I can't open iPhoto, iTunes, Palm and who knows what else. They open, very briefly, then crash. The report reads, "EXE BADINSTRUCTION," near the top afterward. I am unable to copy and paste the report here.

Immediately preceding these problems I installed the Mac update, "Migration and DVD/CD Sharing Update," (v.1.1.) I have already dragged it to the trash and emptied that.

The Tech does not know why this is occurring and before I pay him even more to doodle around, was hoping to get some suggestions here.

I have a version of Tiger on a disc, and have already tried to use that (opened it, pressed the Restart button as indicated.) No significant changes.

Can anyone help me?

Thank you,

Kris Keller

PowerBook G4 (Titanium), Mac OS X (10.4.11)

Posted on Nov 15, 2008 6:37 PM

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Answer 1

Nov 15, 2008 7:21 PM in response to bansheekk

Did you repair permissions before and after the install? You should also run Disk Utility's verify as instructed below.

[Resolve startup issues and perform disk maintenance with Disk Utility and fsck|http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106214]

[Using Disk Utility in Mac OS X 10.4.3 or later|http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=302672]

[Disk Utility's Repair Disk Permissions|http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=25751]

I copied this from BDaqua:

Try Disk Utility

1. Insert the Mac OS X Install disc that came with your computer, then restart the computer while holding the C key.
2. When your computer finishes starting up from the disc, choose Disk Utility from the Installer menu. (In Mac OS X 10.4 or later, you must select your language first.)
Important: Do not click Continue in the first screen of the Installer. If you do, you must restart from the disc again to access Disk Utility.
3. Click the First Aid tab.
4. Click the disclosure triangle to the left of the hard drive icon to display the names of your hard disk volumes and partitions.
5. Select your Mac OS X volume.
6. Click Repair. Disk Utility checks and repairs the disk."

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106214

Then Safe Boot, (holding Shift key down at bootup), run Disk Utility in Applications>Utilities, then highlight your drive, click on Repair Permissions, reboot when it completes.

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Answer 2

bansheekk Author

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Nov 15, 2008 7:43 PM in response to Limnos

Thanks. I believe I did run disc repair and verifier after but not before using the CD. I can redo this process. What is meant by, "select your Mac OSX volume?" Select the harddrive icon that comes up?

If I recall correctly, when I restarted with the OSX CD in the drive, a blinking file icon with a question mark appeared and I had to turn off the computer and turn it back on. It will restart, though, after just inserting the disc and pressing the Restart button that appears.

Thanks for any help,

Kris

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Answer 3

bansheekk Author

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Nov 15, 2008 8:26 PM in response to Limnos

Okay, so, here's what happened:

Ran verification and repair of permissions from HD before restart from OSX disc.

Inserted the disc, opened it, held the C key down, pressed the Restart button.

Computer started (blackened, chimes) then the blinking question mark/apple face icons came up, alternating, on a folder icon. For a while...so I released the C key. Desktop came up.

After restart, there was no Installer menu from which to choose a First Aid tab, or anything else.

I opened the disc and ran verification and repair (both of permissions) off that. In the hard drive and the disc, the Repair button (not Repair Permissions, but just Repair) is not available to use.

Still no progress...same issue of not being able to open several apps.

Other ideas?

Thank you!

Kris

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Answer 4

BDAqua

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Nov 15, 2008 9:37 PM in response to bansheekk

Try System Preferences>Startup Disk, select the CD/DVD Istall disk to boot from... restart, wait.

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Answer 5

bansheekk Author

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Nov 15, 2008 9:46 PM in response to BDAqua

Yes, I did press Restart from the disc I inserted.

Kris

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Answer 6

BDAqua

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Nov 15, 2008 10:18 PM in response to bansheekk

Is this the original Install Disk, or from another Mac?

What color is it, what does it say on it?

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Answer 7

bansheekk Author

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Nov 16, 2008 12:08 PM in response to BDAqua

The disc is a copy from a friend. On it, it reads: MAC OSX 10.4 UPGRADE DVD INCLUDES XCODE2. I have no idea what color the original disc is.

There is an installer report. I selected the error list only and here is the list, copied and pasted:
Nov 15 21:16:07 Ibook-Users-Computer : Error parsing distribution script: /Volumes/Mac OS X Upgrade DVD/Optional Installs.mpkg/Contents/OptionalInstalls.dist

Nov 15 21:16:07 Ibook-Users-Computer xmllint: -:1: parser error : Document is empty\n

Nov 15 21:16:07 Ibook-Users-Computer xmllint: \n

Nov 15 21:16:07 Ibook-Users-Computer xmllint: ^\n

Nov 15 21:16:07 Ibook-Users-Computer xmllint: -:1: parser error : Start tag expected, '<' not found\n

Nov 15 21:16:07 Ibook-Users-Computer xmllint: \n

Nov 15 21:16:07 Ibook-Users-Computer xmllint: ^\n

Nov 15 21:16:07 Ibook-Users-Computer : Invalid Distribution File/Package

Thank you for your help!

Kris

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Answer 8

BDAqua

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Nov 16, 2008 1:11 PM in response to bansheekk

Kris,

That disk won't help... as well as not being Legal actually... Tiger 10.4 Upgrade Disks require that Panther 10.3 is installed on the Mac first, then, many of them are Machine specific.

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Answer 9

bansheekk Author

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Nov 16, 2008 1:51 PM in response to BDAqua

I purchased the computer second hand and it did not come with original install discs. It was loaded with Panther 10.3 when I purchased it, and I upgraded to 10.4.11 with the aforementioned disc. Why won't it work to reload 10.4.11 now? Is there anything else I can do? As I mentioned, this issue started when I received and installed a regular Mac update.

If discs are machine-specific, then how can techs use the same one on all machines?

I make $9.58 and hour, and am trying to avoid a major expense. Already I owe the tech $45 (at $90/hour.)

Thank you,

Kris

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Answer 10

BDAqua

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Nov 16, 2008 3:07 PM in response to bansheekk

Kris, I wasn't making a judgement call, just trying to let you know how it works.

Why won't it work to reload 10.4.11 now?

It looks to see if 10.3.x is installed.

Is there anything else I can do?

Not a lot without a full Install Disk, sorry... but we can try if you'd like.

If discs are machine-specific, then how can techs use the same one on all machines?

Not all Install Disks are, the Black Retail Tiger install discs work on most G3, G4, or G5s. Intel Tiger Discs are all Gray & Machine Specific. The Retail Leopard Discs will work on most G4s, G5s, and InelMacs. There's probably something like 50-100 different Install Discs.

I make $9.58 and hour, and am trying to avoid a major expense. Already I owe the tech $45 (at $90/hour.)

Ouch, I can relate, I'm in Biz for myself and have been losing that much an hour so I can work 7 days a week... things have to come to a halt here for me soon, as I'm out of money to try to hang on until things improve. 😟

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Answer 11

bansheekk Author

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Nov 16, 2008 4:08 PM in response to BDAqua

Yes, I know; just elaborating on my situation.

So, you said, "we can try if you like." Try what? What else is there to try, please?

Thanks,

Kris

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Answer 12

BDAqua

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250,445 points

Nov 16, 2008 4:16 PM in response to bansheekk

Well, I hope it's not a Hardware problem, but which APPs are crashing, or which ones not?

What I'm thinking is to get Pacifist...

http://www.charlessoft.com/

then extract what you need from your Install Disk.

Perhaps the .pkgs will install anyway.

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Answer 13

bansheekk Author

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Nov 16, 2008 4:48 PM in response to BDAqua

I haven't tried to open all of my apps. So far, I notice the screen saver does not boot up, iPhoto, iTunes and Palm all crash. It looks like a bad request is sent, I think? See above...

Thank you,

Kris

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Answer 14

BDAqua

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Nov 16, 2008 6:34 PM in response to bansheekk

Well, try extracting the iTunes PKG with Pacifist from the CD you do have & installing it.

Oh wait, did we try reapplying the bigCombo Update yet?

The combo update for PowerPC-based Macs...
http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/macosx10411comboupdateppc.html

Repair Permissions before & after re-install, then reboot again each time.

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Answer 15

bansheekk Author

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Nov 21, 2008 8:19 PM in response to BDAqua

Installed big combo, to no avail...forgot to repair permissions first (though I had, already, multiple times.) Did repair permissions afterward, and rebooted: didn't make a difference. Still get EXC BADINSTRUCTION in error report.

Tomorrow I think I will try OSX 10.3 original install discs, which is what I was using before I did the v.4 upgrade.

Kris

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