Safari can't find server problems

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Safari can't find server problems

I have several macs on a local network and on one, I am randomly getting an error 2 or 3 times a day were Safari cannot find server and will not load page. Firefox and mail also do not work. Apple, Google, Yahoo etc. also do not load. I have reset the AEBS, as well as had many, many discussions with senior Apple techs and have even done an erase and install of OS 10.5. The computer is a G5 isight imac running 10.5.8, under a managed user account. The only parental control turned on is "user cannot modify dock" Safari is set to unlimited access. I use a managed account at work so my staff cannot Admin computer, and "accidentally" trash it. When the error occurs Network preferences say that I am connected to the internet. I even have added open DNS locations to the AEBS. Interestingly, another mac(20" white intel imac) on the same network can access the same site when I get an error on the G5 and is running the identical OS, with the identical managed user settings.

If I log out and log back in it "resets" the connection and all works well. The computers are all connected via ethernet.

Message was edited by: Karl Stoler

G5, Mac OS X (10.5.8)

Posted on Sep 27, 2009 11:13 AM

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Answer 1

Sep 27, 2009 12:39 PM in response to Karl Stoler

Greetings,

Which version of Safari are you using, since you didn't put that in your profile? There has to be a difference between the other Mac you mentioned and yours that would explain your problems and their lack of problems.

If you can, create a new User account and test Safari there on those same sites to see if the problem occurrs. If it does, it's a systemwide issue; otherwise it's limited to something in your regular user account.

Also check these folders for any plugins or Input Managers: /Library/Application Support/SIMBL/Plugins, /Library/InputManagers, and Home/Library/InputManagers. If you don't have any of those folders, then you have none of those items; otherwise, list what's in each of those folders.

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Answer 2

Karl Stoler Author

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Sep 27, 2009 1:48 PM in response to Golden Shoes

the computer is at my office, I think Safari 4.02 or .03. The issue occurred again after I did a clean erase and install than ran software update to bring up to 10.5.8, and recreated a new "Office" managed account. So I don't think a new user account will help. When ever I log out and log back in seems to fix issue. The 2 machines have identical settings and versions of the software.

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Answer 3

Sep 27, 2009 3:13 PM in response to Karl Stoler

So I don't think a new user account will help.

We don't know that, and creating a new User account for testing will indicate whether or not it's a systemwide problem, which is the first step to solving the problem.

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Answer 4

Sep 27, 2009 6:32 PM in response to Karl Stoler

HI Karl,

Try Safari Maintenance

Check your Macs for sufficient disk space.

Right or control click the MacintoshHD icon. Click Get Info. In the Get Info window you will see Capacity and Available. Make sure you always have a minimum of 10% to 15% free disk space at all times.

And try Mac OS X maintenance. Mac OS X: How to force background maintenance tasks (logs and temporary items)

Carolyn 🙂

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Answer 5

Karl Stoler Author

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Sep 28, 2009 10:11 AM in response to Carolyn Samit

only using about 30 gig, the HD is 160 gig. RAm is 1.5 gig and checks OK on system profile.
I can try maintenance.

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Answer 6

Karl Stoler Author

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Oct 1, 2009 5:15 AM in response to Karl Stoler

Interestingly, a google search shows that many people have had similar problems with parental controls turned on. I switch the account to a standard non admin account and shut parental controls off. Yesterday I did not get any "can't find server" freezes. I will try a few hours today reverting back to them on, vs off. I would like them on so tat user cannot modify dock, since it is at work and we keep an office program on all day, I would not want that icon to accidentally disappear.

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Answer 7

Oct 1, 2009 7:38 AM in response to Karl Stoler

If you want to keep the Dock from being modified, you don't need Parental Controls at all; a simple Terminal command will do it.

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Answer 8

Karl Stoler Author

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Oct 1, 2009 11:59 AM in response to Golden Shoes

that sounds good, what would that be, and would it work only for the managed account or for all acounts?

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Answer 9

Oct 1, 2009 12:17 PM in response to Karl Stoler

The command works only the account you're in at the time you invoke it. Open Terminal and copy/paste this command:

defaults write com.apple.dock contents-immutable -bool true

then press Enter or Return and quit Terminal. If you want to reverse this in the future, repeat the command and substitute "false" for true.

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