Crashes & corrupted imports in Aperture; reinstall?

Question

Level 1

20 points

Crashes & corrupted imports in Aperture; reinstall?

I have a MacBook Pro that had Aperture preinstalled when I bought it 2 years ago. I recently upgraded to Lion 10.7.5 and Aperture version 3.4.1 after having multiple crashes, but the crashes continued to happen. They happened usually (but not always) when I was using the loupe to inspect images for focus quality. I have repaired the library (after each crash) and also rebuilt the library. I was advised by a tech at the local Apple Store to create a brand new library with all new images and work with it for a while. If it did not crash, that might suggest my old library (or files within the library) was damaged or corrupted in some way. So I created a new library with 4 new projects. Aperture has not yet crashed, but now I am seeing lots of errors on imports from my SD cards. Some files cannot be imported and are put directly into Aperture trash. Others are marked with a badge that indicates the "referenced" originals are missing, but I don't use referenced files, only managed ones. The badges seem to be appearing on different photos each time I launch Aperture. So now I am thinking I should reinstall the software -- but since it came preinstalled, I don't have a CD or App Store purchase. How do I reinstall it?

Posted on Oct 23, 2012 12:21 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Tony Gay

Level 4

1,638 points

Oct 23, 2012 11:58 PM in response to Sue C

Have you tried deleting the preferences file?

This page details how to do it.

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3805

let us know how you go.

Tony

Reply

Answer 2

Sue C Author

Level 1

20 points

Oct 24, 2012 7:11 AM in response to Tony Gay

Thanks, Tony. I have not tried deleting the preferences file. After I posted my query, I spoke with Apple Support. The crashes were kernel panics, and the Apple tech told me that this type of crash is typically hard drive related or operating system related, not software related. He advised me to run Disk Utility to check the hard drive. I did that, and it did not turn up any errors or problems. He also suggested that I move my Aperture library (libraries) onto an external hard drive and work with them for a while to see if any further problems arise. So that's what I'm doing now. I haven't spent enough time doing this to know if it's made a difference -- frankly, I'm nervous about importing any more images from my camera into Aperture! But I am wondering if I need to reinstall the operating system next.

Reply

Answer 3

Tony Gay

Level 4

1,638 points

Oct 24, 2012 8:18 PM in response to Sue C

Disk Utilities is a great place to go, I would also delete the application preference though, this will not hurt in any way and given that this is happening when you are using Aperture and not other applications(?) to me it sounds more application related.

Definately do this prior to re-installing the OS.

Tony

Reply

Answer 4

Sue C Author

Level 1

20 points

Oct 25, 2012 7:25 AM in response to Tony Gay

I deleted the preference file. Thanks for your suggestion. Yes, the kernel panics have only happened when I'm in Aperture, but could that be because it's using a lot of memory and disk space compared to other applications? I typically only use a handful of applications -- Safari, Mail, OpenOffice, and occasionally Preview and Calendar, plus Aperture. I wonder if the panics might also happen if I spent a lot of time in iMovie or iTunes or iPhoto?

If the problem is Aperture-based, how would I reinstall it, without a disc or App Store purchase?

Reply

Answer 5

Oct 25, 2012 7:41 AM in response to Sue C

What OS was on the system when you first bought it? If it was Lion then you should be able to go to the App Store and associate this system and your Apple ID and have access to any of the SW that came installed on the machine.

Second when you have these crashes does the whole system stop working necessitating a reboot of the machine or is it only Aperture that stops working but everything else is OK? If it is the former then yes this is a kernel crash but if it i the later then the tech misspoke and this is an Aperture crash.

The import problems you are now having, are they happening with the new library you made or with you original library?

I would suggest you create a new user on your system, log in as that user and run Aperture on a new library. Try all the functions you are having problems with currently and see what happens. This will help us determine if the problem is with something in your environment or something that is system wide.

regards

Reply

Answer 6

Sue C Author

Level 1

20 points

Oct 25, 2012 7:53 AM in response to Frank Caggiano

The MacBook Pro had Snow Leopard when I bought it. When I sign in to the App Store with my Apple ID, it does not show any software under Purchases. It seems like there must be a way to reinstall the software, since I did purchase it initially.

The crashes are system wide, but they have only occurred when I'm working in Aperture. A "shade" comes down over my screen instructing me to force shutdown and then restart. The error reports have the word "panic" in them. When I restart, Aperture prompts me to repair the library.

The import problems are with the new library I created a few days ago. I haven't gone back to working with the old library at all. What is the effect of creating a new user on the system?

Reply

Answer 7

Oct 25, 2012 8:09 AM in response to Sue C

If it had SL installed when you bought it its a bit more complicated then. Are you sure you did not get a DVD of Aperture? You should have. Did you at least get a serial number for the application? If you have a serial number you can download the application and use your serial number to unlock it. If you did not get either of those you will have to contact Apple to try and get the application.

What you describe is a kernel panic. Very rare for a single application to cause this. Did the crashes only start happening since you installed Lion? If so did they start right away or after some time?

Creating a new user as I wrote will possibly indicate where the problem lies. If the new user account runs OK then the problem is in something in your current user environment and would lead us in one direction. If the problem continues to occur with the new user then it would lead us in another direction. Again this is just a troubleshooting step I'm not suggesting you permanently run as the new user.

Looking back at your first post I see you've had the machine in to an Apple Store already. The best thing for you right now might be to continue working with them. I'd also bring up the fact that Aperture came installed on your system when you bought it and you didn't receive a DVD or serial number (assuming those are both true) and that you were entitled to them and you want them for backup purposes.

good luck

regards

Reply

Answer 8

léonie

Level 10

194,767 points

Oct 25, 2012 8:30 AM in response to Sue C

Aperture has not yet crashed, but now I am seeing lots of errors on imports from my SD cards.

Sue, to exclude that the problem come from your cards, cardreader, or camera, I'd suggest you perform the checks that Frank Caggiano recommended also with images that you have checked in other applications, and that you know are o.k. Have you a folder with Desktop pictures, or other images that could be used for a test library?

Reply

Answer 9

Sue C Author

Level 1

20 points

Oct 25, 2012 9:27 AM in response to léonie

I could borrow a batch of photos from my husband's MacBook -- they have not been touched by my camera, my SD cards, or my copy of Aperture. So...if I understand you and Frank correctly, you're suggesting creating a new user and new library with some test images, and use this test library on Aperture to see whether a kernel panic occurs?

Reply

Answer 10

Sue C Author

Level 1

20 points

Oct 25, 2012 9:31 AM in response to Frank Caggiano

Frank,

The kernel panics did not start right away after installing Lion. I think I first installed Lion about 6 months ago, and the first panic I remember was probably in September. After a few more panics, I updated Lion to 10.7.5 (and updated Aperture to 3.4.1), but had a few more panics after that.

Reply

Answer 11

Oct 25, 2012 10:24 AM in response to Sue C

Well as I wrote above as you have had Apple Support inc=volved in this it is probabply best to continue with them. At least you should push to get the DVD and or Serial number for Aperture. Whithout at least a valid serial number you're in trouble,

In addition I've laid out a number of steps you could follow. If you try any of those post back the results and we'll see if there is anything else we can do here.

regards

Reply

Answer 12

Sue C Author

Level 1

20 points

Oct 25, 2012 10:28 AM in response to Frank Caggiano

Thank you for your advice! I'll post back after trying your suggestions.

Reply

Answer 13

léonie

Level 10

194,767 points

Oct 25, 2012 10:49 AM in response to Sue C

So...if I understand you and Frank correctly, you're suggesting creating a new user and new library with some test images, and use this test library on Aperture to see whether a kernel panic occurs?

Yes, the steps Frank recommended will help to narrow down the problem. Kernel panics are rare, but hard to track down. They may be caused by incompatible software, mostly caused by installing third-party software kernel extensions (do you have any "helper" apps installed, non Apple software or plug-ins?), hardware trouble (defective RAM, disks, or graphic cards), incompatible firmware, or occasionally buggy software.

Reply

Answer 14

Sue C Author

Level 1

20 points

Oct 25, 2012 11:53 AM in response to léonie

I do use Flickr Export, a third party plug-in. Purchased and started using it in April 2012 because I did not like the two-way Flickr uploader and interface built into Aperture -- it spent hours syncing back and forth between Flickr and my library. I use Flickr Export about once a month, and had not used it in about 3 months when I had my first kernel panic. But if you think it might be causing the issue, maybe I should remove it. The only other non-Apple software I can think of are OpenOffice, Olympus Digital Camera Updater, and H&R Block tax programs.

Reply

Answer 15

Sue C Author

Level 1

20 points

Dec 5, 2012 4:00 PM in response to Sue C

UPDATE on my kernel panic crashes: I did a complete reinstall of the operating system and Aperture about 2 weeks ago, with Time Machine back-up for data and images. Everything is working fine so far -- no crashes or corrupted images.

Reply