All Browsers Crash Except Safari

Question

Level 1

0 points

All Browsers Crash Except Safari

Hello,

Anyone have problems running other web browsers other than Safari on the MacBook Pro? I can't get any of them to work without locking up.

Once a website is clicked, a partial AFP Connection Status dialog box appears that doesn't display the name of the server it's trying to connect to. The options at that point are to click cancel and force quit the browser or wait on the next dialog box to appear (and the next and the next) until finally a dialog box appears that says the server is not valid or cannot be found and at that point the browser loads and appears to work, until you try to visit another site. Then it all starts over again.

This is frustrating the heck out of me. I've tried every other browser available and they all do the same thing...except for Safari, which works fine.

I'm stumped and haven't found anything on the web about this issue.

One possible point is that I did migrate everything (except applications) from an Aluminum Powerbook. Don't know if the problem is due to the migration or not.

Also, this happens on my login and the root login.

Any help is appreciated.

MacBook Pro 2.0 Mac OS X (10.4.5) 2GB RAM, 7200 RPM/100GB HD

MacBook Pro 2.0 Mac OS X (10.4.5) 2GB RAM, 7200 RPM/100GB HD

Posted on Mar 14, 2006 10:21 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Bob Maher

Level 3

680 points

Mar 15, 2006 6:22 AM in response to AudioMac

Hi there!

I had a similar problem with Firefox when I migrated from my PB to the MBP. I simply upgraded to the latest (released, non beta) code. It was a PPC version, however, it corrected the problem.

Going to the mozilla site to download the lates rev of Firefox led me to something much better: Camino This browser is designed from the ground up only for Macs. It is Universal and is easily the fastest browser I've ever owned. I highly recommend it. I no longer use anyting but Camino.

HTH,

Bob

Reply

Answer 2

AudioMac Author

Level 1

0 points

Mar 15, 2006 9:28 AM in response to Bob Maher

Bob,

Thanks much for your comments and good idea.

Unfortunately I've already downloaded both the new version of Firefox and Camino 1.0. No dice, they still lock up.

Still looking for a solution...

Thanks!

MacBook Pro 2.0 Mac OS X (10.4.5) 2GB RAM, 7200 RPM/100GB HD

Reply

Answer 3

Bob Maher

Level 3

680 points

Mar 15, 2006 9:56 AM in response to AudioMac

You must have a conflict somewhere. Check your network settings, your security settings. Also, check to be sure you don't have any "remmnents" from previous versions floating around. You may have to do an un-install and then re-install to find and get rid of remmnets. Or use one of the apps that completely removes all parts to an application, no matter what folders they may be in.

Bob

Reply

Answer 4

Mar 28, 2006 11:06 AM in response to Bob Maher

Same problem here. Just migrated to a MacBook Pro. Now both Camino & Firefox have problem. I did a fresh install of each (did not migrate the apps), and still the problem occurs. I also tried deleting all related preference files (and application support files). Didnt' help.

Reply

Answer 5

AudioMac Author

Level 1

0 points

Mar 29, 2006 2:34 PM in response to Gerry Panganiban

Gerry,

My next step is an Archive and Install to see if that fixes the problem. I'll let you know how it goes.

Jay

Reply

Answer 6

Mar 29, 2006 2:53 PM in response to AudioMac

Jay,

I guess that might fix it, since this seems to have been caused by the Migration Assistant. Archive & Install should bring the OS back to a pristine state.

It's a bit of a shame. I loved how I was able to use the Migration Assistant and get back to fully functional working state within an hour of getting the machine. If I need to do an Archive and Install, I'll have to spend several hours moving stuff out of the archive.

Good luck to you and thanks,

--Gerry

Reply

Answer 7

Mar 31, 2006 9:37 AM in response to AudioMac

I'm using Firefox (via Rosetta) and a universal build of Deer Park (the Firefox 2.0 development tree) without incident - I suspect you'd also have good results with a non-Mozilla browser such as Opera.

Something's probably gone subtly wrong with your application settings or cache files - I'd recommend renaming the Mozilla/Firefox directories in Library, Library/Caches and Library/Application Support before launching one of the other browsers. We've seen things like this before on just about every platform, usually in response to something like an application or system crash which left files in an inconsistent state; they've improved handling over the years but it's still possible to have a corrupt file produce a crash or hang on startup.

MacBook Pro 2GHz Mac OS X (10.4.5)

Reply

Answer 8

Apr 2, 2006 4:13 PM in response to Chris Adams3

I tried deleting those file (completely -- trash, then empty trash) and still no luck. It seems a lot more subtle than an application configuration. Especially considering that the same exact problem happens on 2 different browsers.

I did google search for the "AFP Connection Status" (the title of the dialog box that hangs the apps), and it's seems to happen with other apps as well. People are reporting it happening with MS Office, Apple's Logic pro application, and even Appleworks. All of the posts are pretty old and none mention the MacBook Pro specifically.

One poster was able to fix his problem (with Logic) by running a utility called Cocktail that cleans up all the cache files in the entire system. That solution didn't work for me.

This is very frustrating. I'm a web developer and it's essential that I test my web pages on mozilla-based browsers. Switching to Opera or another browser isn't an acceptable solution for me.

Apple Support, please help!

Reply

Answer 9

Apr 4, 2006 7:30 PM in response to AudioMac

I think I've found the fix!!

I moved my internet plug-ins from:

/Library/Internet Plug-Ins
to
/Library/Internet Plug-Ins Backup

Then restarted the browsers. Problem goes away. Then I moved back the ones that come bundled with OS X:

iPhotoPhotocast.plugin
Java Applet Plugin Enabler
Java Applet.plugin
JavaPluginCocoa.bundle
QuickTime Plugin.plugin
QuickTime Plugin.webplugin

So far it seems to have worked. It's probably one of my remaining plug-ins that causes it. I have the following left in the back up folder:

DRM Plugin.bundle
Flash Player.plugin
flashplayer.xpt
NP-PPC-Dir-Shockwave
nsIQTScriptablePlugin.xpt
RealPlayer Plugin
RealPlayer Plugin.xpt
Windows Media Plugin

Later I re-installed the Flash and Windows Media plug-ins. Still no problems.

Reply

Answer 10

Apr 4, 2006 7:35 PM in response to AudioMac

I HIGHLY recommend the browser called Shiira. Google it. They recently updated it for universal binary, and it's based off of Safari. Also has tabbed browsing.

FireFox ***** *** on the MPB and takes half an hour to load. Shiira loads instantly just like Safari.

Reply