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Finder shows strange letter and number strings, programs "quit unexpectedly"

A couple of things have been happening. My finder, on right click, shows strange strings of letters and numbers in place of the words that used to be there. For instance, "Open in" now says "N152." (see link: http://www.insanelymac.com/forum/lofiversion/index.php/t85009.html)


Also, some programs are saying they "quit unexpectedly" when I try to launch them. Excel and My profile reminder for my eye1display2 are the two I have seen do this so far.


Do you have any ideas about what happened and how to fix it?


I have a Macbook Pro, Mac OS X 10.6.8.


Thank you so much!

Kristen

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.6.8)

Posted on Sep 27, 2011 10:05 PM

Reply
185 replies

Oct 4, 2011 3:44 PM in response to sig

Thanks, sig. I will see if I can find the disc and figure out how to do that.


So strange my link goes nowhere. It does for me. This is what the other person wrote about their experience:


"has anyone ever seen a problem where right clicking on anything hangs the finder?

sometimes after about a minute or so menu pops up, but all text looks like N151 N152 N48 N169.3.1 and so on?


Emptying Trash is also pretty painful and does not do anything, beside popping up an error message, which i can't read,

because it is also N169.19 N1 ...


I have no idea what to do. Been using Macs for years, so and i am very familiar with the OS. I have tried emptying all caches,

fixing premissions, manually checked every font possible to make sure they are ok, ran OnyX and so on.... I am at loss.


Has anyone seen anything like this before ?"


Thank you so much!

Oct 4, 2011 5:22 PM in response to Linc Davis

Thanks, Linc. I tried rebooting in safe bode and rebooting as usual, as you suggested, and it didn't work.


My brother suggested holding down command, option, p and r (don't remember what that techniqe is called,) and I let it go through that rebooting cycle thing like 20 times, and still no change.


My brother thinks I might need to reinstall the operating system. Do you think I should?

Oct 4, 2011 6:50 PM in response to noellle

Someone else reported the same problem recently:


finder corrupt? - Strange characters in...: Apple Support Communities


I tried everything I could think of, but I struck out.


You can try the suggestions in that thread, but I'm not going to hold out hope that they'll work. If all else fails, there's the standard AppleCare solution to any problem: back up (at least twice), erase, reinstall, restore only documents (not preferences), run Software Update.


Reinstalling in place (without erasing) won't affect your files unless something goes wrong, but you must back up all data first.

Oct 4, 2011 9:16 PM in response to Linc Davis

Thanks, Linc. THe update combo did nothing.


It's interesting that someone else had the same problem. Since all of the detailed suggestions (way over my head) didn't work, I'm thinking I won't try them. I might end up doing the standard Apple Care solution you mentioned.


I am thinking of making a Genius Bar appointment, just in case.


One more thing I just remembered about my programs that are quitting unexpectedly: Yesterday, Word, which has been actiing just fine, also jointed the "quit unexpectedly" group. But here's the strange thing: It happened when I tried to see if I could read an excel file in Word, since Excel had been quitting on me.


I don't know why, but the file I treid to open had the .rtf extension listed after the filename in the finder, though I created adn have been working on it in Excel. Under "Kind" in the Finder, it is listed as "Microsoft Excel Workbook." I deleted the ".rtf," which of course did nothing. I'm not sure it it was there before I tried opening it in Word and have no idea how long .rtf has been there at the end of the filename. I have no idea if this is related or not, but it seemed worth mentioning.


Any thoughts?


Thank you so much for your help!!!

Oct 4, 2011 11:33 PM in response to Linc Davis

Okay, I think I found what you are talking about. First, let me update you: My computer is going slower and slower. Safari keeps freezing. I have had to restart my mac a number of times. Once, I couldn't even get the "Force Quit Applications" window to open up, so I even just hit the power button!


That said, although I don't understand the User Diagnostic reports, there are 15 from today that start with the "filename" "Safari Webpage Preview Fetcher." Before those today, there are several that start with "LaunchCFMApp." I will copy the text of both for you, in case that is what you need.


First: The Safari most recent one:

Process: Safari Webpage Preview Fetcher [195]

Path: /Applications/Safari.app/Contents/Safari Webpage Preview Fetcher

Identifier: Safari Webpage Preview Fetcher

Version: ??? (???)

Code Type: X86-64 (Native)

Parent Process: ??? [1]



Date/Time: 2011-10-04 23:12:05.519 -0700

OS Version: Mac OS X 10.6.8 (10K549)

Report Version: 6



Exception Type: EXC_BAD_ACCESS (SIGSEGV)

Exception Codes: KERN_INVALID_ADDRESS at 0x00000001007ffff9

Crashed Thread: 1



Thread 0: Dispatch queue: com.apple.main-thread

0 libSystem.B.dylib 0x00007fff8770ca6a __semwait_signal + 10

1 libSystem.B.dylib 0x00007fff87733896 pthread_join + 844

2 Preferences.dylib 0x0000000100012528 dylibmain + 28079

3 Preferences.dylib 0x000000010000dfde dylibmain + 10341

4 libSystem.B.dylib 0x00007fff876e4374 __cxa_finalize + 203

5 libSystem.B.dylib 0x00007fff876e428c exit + 18

6 Safari Webpage Preview Fetcher 0x0000000100000d77 0x100000000 + 3447



Thread 1 Crashed:

0 libSystem.B.dylib 0x00007fffffe0095d __memcpy + 445

1 libstdc++.6.dylib 0x00007fff86057609 std::string::append(std::string const&) + 113

2 Preferences.dylib 0x000000010000c23a dylibmain + 2753

3 Preferences.dylib 0x000000010000c619 dylibmain + 3744

4 Preferences.dylib 0x00000001000124ba dylibmain + 27969

5 libSystem.B.dylib 0x00007fff8770afd6 _pthread_start + 331

6 libSystem.B.dylib 0x00007fff8770ae89 thread_start + 13



Thread 2: Dispatch queue: com.apple.libdispatch-manager

0 libSystem.B.dylib 0x00007fff876eac0a kevent + 10

1 libSystem.B.dylib 0x00007fff876ecadd _dispatch_mgr_invoke + 154

2 libSystem.B.dylib 0x00007fff876ec7b4 _dispatch_queue_invoke + 185

3 libSystem.B.dylib 0x00007fff876ec2de _dispatch_worker_thread2 + 252

4 libSystem.B.dylib 0x00007fff876ebc08 _pthread_wqthread + 353

5 libSystem.B.dylib 0x00007fff876ebaa5 start_wqthread + 13



Thread 1 crashed with X86 Thread State (64-bit):

rax: 0x00000000018eea00 rbx: 0x0000000500000185 rcx: 0x00000000005eeb00 rdx: 0x0000000000000001

rdi: 0x0000000101b00020 rsi: 0x0000000100211529 rbp: 0x000000010042fc80 rsp: 0x000000010042fc80

r8: 0x0000000100168200 r9: 0x0000000000000000 r10: 0x0000000000001002 r11: 0x0000000101b0001f

r12: 0x000000010042fe50 r13: 0x000000050000018c r14: 0x0000000100025c18 r15: 0x0000000100025be0

rip: 0x00007fffffe0095d rfl: 0x0000000000010206 cr2: 0x00000001007ffff9



Binary Images:

0x100000000 - 0x100000ff7 +Safari Webpage Preview Fetcher ??? (???) <A4F725F3-DB38-F303-BC53-5C7C04A8B01C> /Applications/Safari.app/Contents/Safari Webpage Preview Fetcher

0x100004000 - 0x100024fef +Preferences.dylib ??? (???) <A8E67E3B-6F13-A9E3-6542-8738B6CEC034> /Users/kristen/Library/Preferences/Preferences.dylib

0x100029000 - 0x10010ffe7 libcrypto.0.9.7.dylib 0.9.7 (compatibility 0.9.7) <2D39CB30-54D9-B03E-5FCF-E53122F87484> /usr/lib/libcrypto.0.9.7.dylib

0x7fff5fc00000 - 0x7fff5fc3be0f dyld 132.1 (???) <29DECB19-0193-2575-D838-CF743F0400B2> /usr/lib/dyld

0x7fff80003000 - 0x7fff8004dff7 com.apple.Metadata 10.6.3 (507.15) <2EF19055-D7AE-4D77-E589-7B71B0BC1E59> /System/Library/Frameworks/CoreServices.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/Metadat a.framework/Versions/A/Metadata

0x7fff80355000 - 0x7fff8035bff7 com.apple.DiskArbitration 2.3 (2.3) <857F6E43-1EF4-7D53-351B-10DE0A8F992A> /System/Library/Frameworks/DiskArbitration.framework/Versions/A/DiskArbitration

0x7fff808ed000 - 0x7fff80a64fe7 com.apple.CoreFoundation 6.6.5 (550.43) <31A1C118-AD96-0A11-8BDF-BD55B9940EDC> /System/Library/Frameworks/CoreFoundation.framework/Versions/A/CoreFoundation

0x7fff81d18000 - 0x7fff8204cfef com.apple.CoreServices.CarbonCore 861.39 (861.39) <1386A24D-DD15-5903-057E-4A224FAF580B> /System/Library/Frameworks/CoreServices.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/CarbonC ore.framework/Versions/A/CarbonCore

0x7fff82067000 - 0x7fff82225fff libicucore.A.dylib 40.0.0 (compatibility 1.0.0) <4274FC73-A257-3A56-4293-5968F3428854> /usr/lib/libicucore.A.dylib

0x7fff82238000 - 0x7fff82249ff7 libz.1.dylib 1.2.3 (compatibility 1.0.0) <97019C74-161A-3488-41EC-A6CA8738418C> /usr/lib/libz.1.dylib

0x7fff82c6a000 - 0x7fff82d81fef libxml2.2.dylib 10.3.0 (compatibility 10.0.0) <1B27AFDD-DF87-2009-170E-C129E1572E8B> /usr/lib/libxml2.2.dylib

0x7fff84272000 - 0x7fff842b3fff com.apple.SystemConfiguration 1.10.8 (1.10.2) <78D48D27-A9C4-62CA-2803-D0BBED82855A> /System/Library/Frameworks/SystemConfiguration.framework/Versions/A/SystemConfi guration

0x7fff842b4000 - 0x7fff842b8ff7 libmathCommon.A.dylib 315.0.0 (compatibility 1.0.0) <95718673-FEEE-B6ED-B127-BCDBDB60D4E5> /usr/lib/system/libmathCommon.A.dylib

0x7fff84d3b000 - 0x7fff84d66ff7 libxslt.1.dylib 3.24.0 (compatibility 3.0.0) <8AB4CA9E-435A-33DA-7041-904BA7FA11D5> /usr/lib/libxslt.1.dylib

0x7fff85679000 - 0x7fff85688fff com.apple.NetFS 3.2.2 (3.2.2) <7CCBD70E-BF31-A7A7-DB98-230687773145> /System/Library/Frameworks/NetFS.framework/Versions/A/NetFS

0x7fff85882000 - 0x7fff8593ffff com.apple.CoreServices.OSServices 359.2 (359.2) <BBB8888E-18DE-5D09-3C3A-F4C029EC7886> /System/Library/Frameworks/CoreServices.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/OSServi ces.framework/Versions/A/OSServices

0x7fff85994000 - 0x7fff859a2ff7 libkxld.dylib ??? (???) <8145A534-95CC-9F3C-B78B-AC9898F38C6F> /usr/lib/system/libkxld.dylib

0x7fff85a42000 - 0x7fff85a8efff libauto.dylib ??? (???) <F7221B46-DC4F-3153-CE61-7F52C8C293CF> /usr/lib/libauto.dylib

0x7fff86026000 - 0x7fff860a3fef libstdc++.6.dylib 7.9.0 (compatibility 7.0.0) <35ECA411-2C08-FD7D-11B1-1B7A04921A5C> /usr/lib/libstdc++.6.dylib

0x7fff86deb000 - 0x7fff86e26fff com.apple.AE 496.5 (496.5) <208DF391-4DE6-81ED-C697-14A2930D1BC6> /System/Library/Frameworks/CoreServices.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/AE.fram ework/Versions/A/AE

0x7fff86e5b000 - 0x7fff86ebbfe7 com.apple.framework.IOKit 2.0 (???) <4F071EF0-8260-01E9-C641-830E582FA416> /System/Library/Frameworks/IOKit.framework/Versions/A/IOKit

0x7fff86ebc000 - 0x7fff86ed2fef libbsm.0.dylib ??? (???) <83676D2E-23CD-45CD-BE5C-35FCFFBBBDBB> /usr/lib/libbsm.0.dylib

0x7fff86ed9000 - 0x7fff86ed9ff7 com.apple.CoreServices 44 (44) <DC7400FB-851E-7B8A-5BF6-6F50094302FB> /System/Library/Frameworks/CoreServices.framework/Versions/A/CoreServices

0x7fff87319000 - 0x7fff873edfe7 com.apple.CFNetwork 454.12.4 (454.12.4) <C83E2BA1-1818-B3E8-5334-860AD21D1C80> /System/Library/Frameworks/CoreServices.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/CFNetwo rk.framework/Versions/A/CFNetwork

0x7fff876d1000 - 0x7fff87892fef libSystem.B.dylib 125.2.11 (compatibility 1.0.0) <9AB4F1D1-89DC-0E8A-DC8E-A4FE4D69DB69> /usr/lib/libSystem.B.dylib

0x7fff87953000 - 0x7fff87bdcff7 com.apple.security 6.1.2 (55002) <4419AFFC-DAE7-873E-6A7D-5C9A5A4497A6> /System/Library/Frameworks/Security.framework/Versions/A/Security

0x7fff87c1b000 - 0x7fff87cd1ff7 libobjc.A.dylib 227.0.0 (compatibility 1.0.0) <03140531-3B2D-1EBA-DA7F-E12CC8F63969> /usr/lib/libobjc.A.dylib

0x7fff88e36000 - 0x7fff88eeffff libsqlite3.dylib 9.6.0 (compatibility 9.0.0) <2C5ED312-E646-9ADE-73A9-6199A2A43150> /usr/lib/libsqlite3.dylib

0x7fff89444000 - 0x7fff8946cfff com.apple.DictionaryServices 1.1.2 (1.1.2) <E9269069-93FA-2B71-F9BA-FDDD23C4A65E> /System/Library/Frameworks/CoreServices.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/Diction aryServices.framework/Versions/A/DictionaryServices

0x7fff8981d000 - 0x7fff898adfff com.apple.SearchKit 1.3.0 (1.3.0) <3403E658-A54E-A79A-12EB-E090E8743984> /System/Library/Frameworks/CoreServices.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/SearchK it.framework/Versions/A/SearchKit

0x7fff898ae000 - 0x7fff8994efff com.apple.LaunchServices 362.3 (362.3) <B90B7C31-FEF8-3C26-BFB3-D8A48BD2C0DA> /System/Library/Frameworks/CoreServices.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/LaunchS ervices.framework/Versions/A/LaunchServices

0x7fffffe00000 - 0x7fffffe01fff libSystem.B.dylib ??? (???) <9AB4F1D1-89DC-0E8A-DC8E-A4FE4D69DB69> /usr/lib/libSystem.B.dylib




Next, the other most recent one:

Process: LaunchCFMApp [144]

Path: /Applications/Eye-One Match 3/Eye-One Match/Contents/MacOS/ProfileReminder

Identifier: LaunchCFMApp

Version: ??? (???)

Code Type: PPC (Translated)

Parent Process: launchd [117]



Date/Time: 2011-10-04 23:18:00.831 -0700

OS Version: Mac OS X 10.6.8 (10K549)

Report Version: 6



Exception Type: EXC_CRASH (SIGTRAP)

Exception Codes: 0x0000000000000000, 0x0000000000000000

Crashed Thread: 0 Dispatch queue: com.apple.main-thread



Thread 0 Crashed: Dispatch queue: com.apple.main-thread

0 libSystem.B.dylib 0x80239236 __pthread_kill + 10

1 libSystem.B.dylib 0x80238ad7 pthread_kill + 95

2 LaunchCFMApp 0xb80bfb30 0xb8000000 + 785200

3 LaunchCFMApp 0xb80c0037 0xb8000000 + 786487

4 LaunchCFMApp 0xb80dd8e8 0xb8000000 + 907496

5 LaunchCFMApp 0xb8145397 spin_lock_wrapper + 1791

6 LaunchCFMApp 0xb801ceb7 0xb8000000 + 118455



Thread 1:

0 libSystem.B.dylib 0x80142afa mach_msg_trap + 10

1 libSystem.B.dylib 0x80143267 mach_msg + 68

2 LaunchCFMApp 0xb819440f CallPPCFunctionAtAddressInt + 206231

3 libSystem.B.dylib 0x80170259 _pthread_start + 345

4 libSystem.B.dylib 0x801700de thread_start + 34



Thread 0 crashed with X86 Thread State (32-bit):

eax: 0x00000000 ebx: 0x802fc540 ecx: 0xb7fff9ac edx: 0x80239236

edi: 0xb8211640 esi: 0x00000005 ebp: 0xb7fff9d8 esp: 0xb7fff9ac

ss: 0x0000001f efl: 0x00000286 eip: 0x80239236 cs: 0x00000007

ds: 0x0000001f es: 0x0000001f fs: 0x00000000 gs: 0x00000037

cr2: 0x8023922c



Binary Images:

0x80000000 - 0x8005dff7 com.apple.framework.IOKit 2.0 (???) <3DABAB9C-4949-F441-B077-0498F8E47A35> /System/Library/Frameworks/IOKit.framework/Versions/A/IOKit

0x8007d000 - 0x800e7fe7 libstdc++.6.dylib 7.9.0 (compatibility 7.0.0) <411D87F4-B7E1-44EB-F201-F8B4F9227213> /usr/lib/libstdc++.6.dylib

0x80142000 - 0x802e9ff7 libSystem.B.dylib 125.2.11 (compatibility 1.0.0) <2DCD13E3-1BD1-6F25-119A-3863A3848B90> /usr/lib/libSystem.B.dylib

0x8036b000 - 0x804e6fe7 com.apple.CoreFoundation 6.6.5 (550.43) <10B8470A-88B7-FC74-1C2F-E5CBD966C051> /System/Library/Frameworks/CoreFoundation.framework/Versions/A/CoreFoundation

0x805de000 - 0x805ecfe7 libz.1.dylib 1.2.3 (compatibility 1.0.0) <33C1B260-ED05-945D-FC33-EF56EC791E2E> /usr/lib/libz.1.dylib

0x805f1000 - 0x805fdff7 libkxld.dylib ??? (???) <9A441C48-2D18-E716-5F38-CBEAE6A0BB3E> /usr/lib/system/libkxld.dylib

0x80601000 - 0x80647ff7 libauto.dylib ??? (???) <29422A70-87CF-10E2-CE59-FEE1234CFAAE> /usr/lib/libauto.dylib

0x80654000 - 0x807d6fe7 libicucore.A.dylib 40.0.0 (compatibility 1.0.0) <D5980817-6D19-9636-51C3-E82BAE26776B> /usr/lib/libicucore.A.dylib

0x80838000 - 0x808e5fe7 libobjc.A.dylib 227.0.0 (compatibility 1.0.0) <9F8413A6-736D-37D9-8EB3-7986D4699957> /usr/lib/libobjc.A.dylib

0x808f9000 - 0x808fcfe7 libmathCommon.A.dylib 315.0.0 (compatibility 1.0.0) <1622A54F-1A98-2CBE-B6A4-2122981A500E> /usr/lib/system/libmathCommon.A.dylib

0x8fe00000 - 0x8fe4163b dyld 132.1 (???) <4CDE4F04-0DD6-224E-ACE5-3C06E169A801> /usr/lib/dyld

0xb8000000 - 0xb81defff LaunchCFMApp ??? (???) <F24FBFDD-E694-6F38-BFFB-293613CEF2DE> /System/Library/Frameworks/Carbon.framework/Versions/A/Support/LaunchCFMApp

0xffff0000 - 0xffff1fff libSystem.B.dylib ??? (???) <2DCD13E3-1BD1-6F25-119A-3863A3848B90> /usr/lib/libSystem.B.dylib



Translated Code Information:

objc[144]: garbage collection is ON

NO CRASH REPORT





Is that what you needed? Sorry, I just don't understand it all.


Thanks again!

Oct 5, 2011 12:19 AM in response to noellle

This is all Chinese for me. I am only wondering what is doing a dynamic library in the Preference folder:


/Users/kristen/Library/Preferences/Preferences.dylib


And the LaunchCFMApp is related to the Carbon environment, if I remember well. CFM stands for Code Fragment Manager and is starting Windows and Company in a Carbon environment. I am wondering if there are also troubles because of 64 bit against 32 bis programs.


I think the best is a complete reinstall. Don't forget the backup and don't use the migration assistant to reimport your documents and probably these problems too.



marek

Oct 5, 2011 6:17 AM in response to noellle

Regrettably, you installed the "Flashback" trojan.


Download the ClamXav anti-malware application and run it. It should find the trojan and remove it. If not, you'll need to remove at least the following files from your home folder, then log out and log back in:


  1. .MacOSX/environment.plist
  2. Library/LaunchAgents/com.apple.SystemUI.plist
  3. Library/Preferences/perflib
  4. Library/Preferences/Preferences.dylib
  5. Library/Logs/swlog

That list is based on a version of the trojan that I examined about a week ago. It may have changed since then, but you probably installed it around that time, because afterwards the built-in malware protection was updated to detect it. It's also possible that you have a brand-new version that isn't yet recognized.


This is the most dangerous Mac malware yet discovered, because it has the potential to send data back to the attacker. According to what I've read, it isn't yet functional, but you'd still be well advised to change all sensitive passwords stored on your computer, especially banking passwords. Check all your financial accounts for unauthorized transactions. If you find any, close the accounts immediately.


More importantly even than that, you need to raise your level of security awareness drastically. You downloaded a trojan purporting to be a Flash installer, but you didn't get it from Adobe. That should never have happened, and wouldn't have happened if you had realized the danger. Don't just blithely trust any website you encounter on the Internet, any more than you would trust a stranger you met in the street. Before running any installer, think several times about where it came from. Do you know the source? Is the source trustworthy? In the case of corporate-branded software such as Flash, the only trustworthy source is the corporate website, here adobe.com. No intermediary is acceptable. Learn from this experience, or you're going to repeat it, and the consequences could be very serious.

Oct 5, 2011 8:09 AM in response to Linc Davis

OH MY GOSH! My Dad told me there were no Mac viruses. Boy am I going to have a word with him! Thank you so much, Linc.


I do remember two things from about a week or so ago: I downloaded The Unarchiver or some kind of program to unstuff .rar files, and I downloaded some photoshop brushes.


Also, when I launched Firefox (I think maybe a month ago???,) It told me my Flash player was out of date. I downloaded it from the link (which looked legit) but didn't go through any steps to install it cause I was busy and wasn't sure how. I have been getting popups telling me to install Flash or something, which I kept ignoring, as far as I remember, until last night when I had my dad's voice telling me not to be silly cause there are no Mac viruses!!!


I hope what I did last night didn't make things worse and wonder if this is the only problem I have. I will do what you say and follow up.


Thank you!!!


Oh and I have two external drives for files and an external drive for backing up via Crash Plan. Is that going to make things worse???

Finder shows strange letter and number strings, programs "quit unexpectedly"

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