Mac Help not working

Hello

What do you mean by "can't use" and "unusable?" Does that mean that they won't launch?

Dave
<Edited by Moderator>

Start with http://www.thexlab.com/faqs/helpviewer.html

Sounds like launchservices database needs rebuilt.

Create an applescript by copy and pasting the script below into your Script Editor. Then run the script.

set theCommand to (do shell script "locate lsregister")
set theArguments to " -kill -r -f -domain local -domain system -domain user"
set thePath to " /Applications" --edit this as needed
set theScript to theCommand & theArguments & thePath
do shell script theScript

Let me know if this works.
-Dave

That's a lot of mucking around, when this command (all one line) in the Terminal app does the job nicely:

*/System/Library/Frameworks/CoreServices.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/LaunchS ervices.framework/Versions/A/Support/lsregister -kill -r -domain local -domain system -domain user*

True enough. I just know that some people are intimdated by the Terminal ... that's why I suggested the applescript.

-Dave

Darn ... I thought for sure that would have solved the problem. The outcome would be that your apps would launch properly.

It seems like you may have some directory or permissions issues. Try repairing permissions with Disk Utility in Utilities>Disk Utility. Also, run the Verify Disk to see if the disk and directory have any errors. If they do, you will have to reboot from your original system disk and run Disk Utility from there to repair them.

-Dave

Did you restart? One should always do that after rebuilding the database.

Download and install the 10.5.6 COMBO update, repair permissions, and restart. If the problems remain, do an Archive & Install installation, saving user and network settings, as described in http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1545

Thanks for the feedback. Good computing.