qmaster is not starting, Compressor cannot submit batch jobs

Question

qmaster is not starting, Compressor cannot submit batch jobs

Running Final Cut Studio on a new Mac Pro (replacing an earlier one with a hardware issue), and Compressor 2 is not able to initiate a file conversion, because qmaster is not started. Looking at the console log, qmaster is failing each time it attempts to start:

Process: qmasterd [77]
Path: /usr/sbin/qmasterd
Identifier: qmasterd
Version: ??? (???)
Code Type: X86 (Native)
Parent Process: qmasterd [76]

Date/Time: 2009-06-15 21:41:17.057 -0400
OS Version: Mac OS X 10.5.7 (9J61)
Report Version: 6

Exception Type: EXC_BREAKPOINT (SIGTRAP)
Exception Codes: 0x0000000000000002, 0x0000000000000000
Crashed Thread: 0

Using other threads I have found on the same problem, as well as material outside of the Apple forums, I have so far tried the following:

- Removed the Final Cut Suite and Qmaster (including the receipts and preferences) and reinstalled
- Performed all software updates until no more updates could be found
- Rebooted again, and cleared the bus parameters (y'know, where you hold down option-command-P-R until you get the second, louder chime)
- Repaired my disk permissions
- Trashed my preferences again
- Per the page written by "Richard BF" that has apparently helped many others with the same problem ( http://www.kashum.com/blog/1152611689), I changed the permissions on the executables to what he recommends (alas, they were already set to those), turned off my network, and changed my qmaster prefs to enable quick clustering and allowing Compressor to use the queue

Alas, none of these have worked. Tried contacting Apple support tonight, but I was on hold for so long that there eventually was only silence on the line. Tried to call again, but the service center was closed except for iPod support. Then my brain exploded.

Also posting in qmaster forum, so please don't shoot me if you have already seen this post there.

Mac Prod quad 2.6 GHz, Mac OS X (10.4.8), 2 Gb RAM, ATI Radeon 1900 X

Posted on Jun 15, 2009 7:02 PM

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Answer 1

Jun 16, 2009 6:53 PM in response to placelogohere

After a lot of work, and a small test to check the results, it appears my problem is solved (hopefully for good).

Per Apple support, I:

- Did a full erase and reinstall of the OS
- Immediately afterwards, applied all software updates
- Reinstalled FCP Suite
- Without starting any of the FCP apps (apparently, this is important), updated all components to most recent versions
- Rebooted

Upon reboot, went to System Preferences, went to the Qmaster screen, and I was am to mouse over the "start services" button with the option key, changing it to "reset services". Prior to this work, that mouse over was not working, much to my confusion regarding the numerous tutorials that show you how to do this.

Launched FCP, created a very small clip, exported the sequence to Compressor and submitted the job. Success!!!

I cannot say what worked for me will work for everybody; however, it is worth a try if you are at your wits' end. Lucky for me, this is a new Mac and so I did not have much to back up from it before the OS reinstall. But for those of you who end up doing this, and you have had your box for a substantial amount of time, I feel your pain.

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