Failed attempt to update to Safari 3.2.1, subsequent crash

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Level 1

4 points

Failed attempt to update to Safari 3.2.1, subsequent crash

Safari is not working at all for me. It was working fine before I attempted the newest update (3.2.1). Here's the sequence:

- I invoked Software Update, it found Safari 3.2.1 as an update. It found NO other updates.

- I clicked "Install 1 item"; it proceeded through the steps to 'installing Safari 3.2.1 Update'. Here, before it completed, it gave me an error: 'The update "Safari" can't be installed. Sorry, an unexpected error occurred. The Installer package has been moved to the Trash. To try again, open the package from the Finder.'

- I dragged the package from the Trash to the Desktop, ran it. I got to the "Install" step, pressed the "Install" button. It went through "Configuring Installation"; in the "Writing Files" section, past 50% or 60% completed somewhere, it said, "Please try installing again".

- I tried running Safari, it crashed. I tried to include the crash log in this post, but got a message from this site to the effect that my post was too long. I sent a Problem Report to Apple with my ID (VC Shealy) and the reference number in the notes field '987654321' at 4:32 pm CST.

- I read Klaus1's post about Adobe Flash Player, uninstalled version 9, installed version 10, repaired the permissions on my Macintosh HD, and tried to run Safari again. I also tried to reinstall Safari again but it did not succeed.

Safari crashes within 3 seconds after I try to start it.

Should I reinstall an earlier version of Safari, and if so, how?

Thanks,
Robin

iBook 1.42 GHz PowerPC G4, 512 MB, Mac OS X (10.4.11), Combo Drive only

Posted on Dec 12, 2008 2:36 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Klaus1

Level 9

52,805 points

Dec 12, 2008 3:15 PM in response to VC Shealy

Safari 3.1.2 for Tiger and Leopard is available for download here, rather than using Software Update:

http://www.apple.com/safari/download/

where you can also read all about it.

Make sure you download the correct version. There is one for Leopard and one for Tiger 10.4.11. You cannot use it for a Tiger version prior to 10.4.11, or a Leopard version prior to 10.5.5.

The download will include two installers: one for PPC Macs, and one marked 'Universal' which, confusingly, is only for Intel macs.

Make sure you install the correct version!

It is highly likely that some of your third party add-ons for Safari 3.0.4 will NOT yet work with Safari 3.1.2. You should check with the vendors of any add-ons you have if they have issued a revised version for Safari 3.1.2, or whether their current versions will work with Safari 3.1.2.

Input managers might be culpable. Check the following directories:
• /Library/Application Support/SIMBL/Plugins/
• Library/InputManagers
• ~/Library/InputManagers
and remove potentially problematic items to the Desktop.
Also, check the plug-ins directories:
• ~/Library/Internet Plug-Ins
• /Library/Internet Plug-Ins

for potentially incompatible items that could be causing various problems with Safari 3.1.2. Quit Safari and temporarily move them to the Desktop, then launch Safari and check for persistence of the problem. You can then move items back one by one (repeating the quit and relaunch process each time) to isolate the problematic plug-in.

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Answer 2

VC Shealy Author

Level 1

4 points

Dec 13, 2008 11:52 AM in response to Klaus1

In response: first, thanks for the detailed response.

I assume you mean Safari 3.2.1, not 3.1.2. I did attempt to download the correct version, for MacOS X Tiger 10.4.11. The download did not ask me which installer to use, so I assumed that the installer package can figure out that I have a PPC.

I need info on where to access my 3rd party addons so that I can remove them, to eliminate that possibility.

When you say "Input Managers", please explain what they are. Some of the directories you listed do not exist in my system. If I check the directories that exist, I don't know how to judge if an item is 'incompatible'. Is there a list somewhere of items incompatible with 3.2.1?

Even if I do that, I don't think the problem is at the Safari execution level, I think it's at the installation level. The package would not even install.

Thanks, Robin

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Answer 3

Mulder

Level 6

8,990 points

Dec 13, 2008 12:31 PM in response to VC Shealy

I'm sure Klaus1 meant Safari 3.2.1,since that is the current version.

If you have any third-party Input Managers, you would have one or both of these directories:

/Library/InputManagers
~/Library/InputManagers

If you don't have either of those, you have no Input Managers to worry about. Input Managers are programs that modify the behavior of applications during launch to give you extra features not built into the core application. There is no list of compatible/incompatible Input Managers.

If you think the problem is in the installer package itself, you should download Pacifist and use that to open the installer and force an install of Safari 3.2.1. Of course, you should Repair Permission both before and after you do that, and keep in mind that your mileage may vary.

Mulder

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Answer 4

VC Shealy Author

Level 1

4 points

Dec 13, 2008 1:30 PM in response to Mulder

Mulder and Klaus1: Thanks! I was successful in installing Safari 3.2.1. Here are the details. I did all of them at once so I can't be sure where the problem originated. There were no Input Managers on my system.

1. I had the VeoH player installed and plugged in. I removed the player completely from my system, including plugin files. To do this I downloaded the VeoH package ( see http://forums.veoh.com/forum/showthread.php?t=43 ), mounted it; the package contains an uninstall pgm, I ran it.

2. I transferred the following files to a folder on my Desktop:

In ~/Library/Preferences: com.apple.Safari.plist
~/Library/Safari: Entire Folder
~/Library/Cookies/Cookies.plist
~/Library/Caches/Metadata/Safari: Entire folder
~/Library/Caches/com.apple.Safari: Entire folder
~/Library/Caches/Safari: Entire folder

3. I did a permission repair.

4. I attempted the install. This time it installed successfully! Safari started up.

5. I replaced all of the files and folders in (2) above except ~/Library/Caches/Safari. (To retrieve my bookmarks, preferences and cookies). Safari still worked.

6. I did a permission repair again. No repairs were needed.

I suspect that the culprit is the 3rd party software of VeoH Player. I think what may have happened is that the install program gave up in the "Writing Files" stage because it may have found a directory inconsistency, and one of my steps above removed this. I previously had uninstalled Flashplayer 9 and installed Flashplayer 10, repairing permissions afterward.

Thanks again, Robin

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