trying to unarchive a .hqx file

Download works, file opens with Archive Utility, so it's definitely something which has changed on your Mac. Not sure what yet, put I still have that last update as prime suspect (I'm on 10.6.4).

Not sure it'll be what you want when you get it open, though;

You can turn off the automatic update feature in System Preferences > Software Update > Scheduled Check tab

Just remove the tick from the bottom item "Download updates automatically"

I prefer to check for updates in my own time, so have the feature turned off completely.

When you do the re-installation, ensure you're disconnected from the internet until you can set this preference.

When you're ready to have a go, by all means come back to us (or directly to me if you wish).

Not that drastic yet; the 10.6.8 update seems to have caused a variety of random problems, so it may be worth downloading the combo update direct from the Support Downloads site and re-running that to begin with.

coxwalls wrote:

If I did a complete re-install of the system, would it not immediately update itself to the dreaded 10.6.8?

No, it stays on the 10.6.x you install, until you update, then yes it can go right to 10.6.8

You can overwrite 10.6.8 with 10.6.x using the installer disks.

Backup your user folders to a exernal drive and disconnect.

Hold c while booting off the 10.6 installer disk and second screen in simply reinstall OS X 10.6.x

What it does is overwrites the 10.6.8 with 10.6.x (and bundled programs) fixing your problem.

Your files are not touched and neither are most of your third party programs unless they have some "hooks" into OS X someplace. So they need to be reinstalled. These programs require a update to work with 10.6.8 applied first whenever that arrives. Before applying 10.6.8.

Once you do that then use the Combo Update here

http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1399

10.6.8+ updates Safari to the safer version with sandboxing and 58 bug fixes, it's highly advised.

If you want to do a complete rebuild of 10.6, I can paste instructions to do that if you need it.

If your overwhelmed by geekspeak, you can always have someone you know locally help you too.

Can certainly do that, my email will be available on my profile for the next hour.

Rolling back to 10.6.4 is possible, but it's a lot of hassle.

One thing you can try is to zap the PRAM;

Resetting PRAM and NVRAM

1. Shut down the computer.
2. Locate the following keys on the keyboard: Command, Option, P, and R. You will need to hold these keys down simultaneously in step 4.
3. Turn on the computer.
4. Press and hold the Command-Option-P-R keys. You must press this key combination before the gray screen appears.
5. Hold the keys down until the computer restarts and you hear the startup sound for the second time.
6. Release the keys.

Your computer's PRAM and the NVRAM are reset to the default values. The clock settings may be reset to a default date on some models.

You'll probably need to reset a lot of preferences after that. I Haven't suggested it previously because I don't really see why it would make any difference, but it's easy to do so might as well try.

It may be a permission problem, or it may simply be that BOMArchiveHelper can't open it.

Right click on the file and select 'get info'. Check the permissions at the bottom of the window. If you don't have read and write priveleges you can attempt to change them so that you have. Click the lock and authenticate with your password (you'll need to be logged in as administrator for this).

If your short name is in the list, alter it to read & write in the pop-up box. If you're not listed, click the + sign at the bottom and add your short name at the prompt, with read & write priveleges.

If the system simply can't open it, download Stuffit Expander (free); that will open most forms of archive.

OK. Next (and I probably should have suggested this one earlier) -

Create a new admin account, log into it and see if the problem persists (you may need to download again to get the permissions right for the new account).

This will tell us whether the problem is isolated to one account or if it's system wide.

System Preferences > Accounts. click the lock and authenticate to make changes.

Click the plus sign at the bottom and fill in the form; name the the new account 'test' or whatever, ensure it's set to Administrator from the drop-down box.

If there's no change you can just delete the new account by logging back into your own account, highlight the test a'c and click the minus sign.

Right. I think I need to some more research on this, so if anyone else has ideas in the meantime, feel free to butt in.

What you could do is post the link to the download and I can try it here to be sure the file's not at fault.

BTW, I'm not quite sure what the time difference is, but it's 18:10 over here, which means I won't be on the computer again until later this evening and may not have time to do much before tomorrow.

Almost there 🙂

The solution is to open the .mpkg with Disk Utility and create an uncompressed read/write .dmg.

Mount the dmg and run the .mpkg and all should be fine.

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/2628710?answerId=12493127022#12493127022&messageID=12493127#12493127?messa geID=12493127

Hope thay works for him.

Still doesn't answer the question of why neither Archive Utility nor Stuffit will open it in 10.6.8, when both of them do so perfectly fine in10.6.4. (I just tried the installer and it works fine).

noondaywitch wrote:

Hope thay works for him.

Still doesn't answer the question of why neither Archive Utility nor Stuffit will open it in 10.6.8, when both of them do so perfectly fine in10.6.4. (I just tried the installer and it works fine).

Sorry didn't see that. 😟