Finder Window "Inactive" when clicked on and vice versa

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Level 1

45 points

Finder Window "Inactive" when clicked on and vice versa

For some reason, windows I click on in the Finder will become inactive and won't become active unless I click off of them on the desktop. The behavior continues until I restart the finder. I was wondering if this was maybe an issue specific to Intel Macs since it's happening to me on my new Intel Mac mini.

I should also note that this behavior is completely random as far as I can tell. Usually just closing all the open windows and opening a new one will fix it, but it usually comes back shortly after. Restarting the Finder seems to be the best way to get rid of it.

Has anyone seen this and/or know a way to fix it?

Mac mini Core Duo 1.66 GHz, Mac OS X (10.4.6), 2 GB DDR2 SDRAM / 20 GB iPod 4G

Posted on Apr 19, 2006 12:42 PM

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Answer 1

Ferd II

Level 10

104,871 points

Apr 19, 2006 1:24 PM in response to lains_navi

lains_navi,

Find the com.apple.finder.plist file in your ~Library/Preferences Folder, drag it to the Desktop, and log out/in or restart and let us know what happens.

;~)

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Answer 2

lains_navi Author

Level 1

45 points

Apr 19, 2006 1:43 PM in response to Ferd II

thanks, i hope that works. since it's completely random, i probably won't know anytime soon if it worked or not.

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Answer 3

lains_navi Author

Level 1

45 points

Apr 21, 2006 6:52 AM in response to Ferd II

Nope, it didn't work. It just happened to me again -_-

I think it's just a glitch in the Finder. Most likely Intel specific. It doesn't seem to happen too often, fortunately.

Mac mini Core Duo 1.66 GHz Mac OS X (10.4.6) 2 GB DDR2 SDRAM / 20 GB iPod 4G

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Answer 4

Ferd II

Level 10

104,871 points

Apr 21, 2006 7:05 AM in response to lains_navi

lains_navi,

You may benefit from following the troubleshooting steps in Resolving Disk, Permission, and Cache Corruption, by Dr. Smoke.

;~)

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Answer 5

lains_navi Author

Level 1

45 points

Apr 21, 2006 9:27 AM in response to Ferd II

That didn't help, but now it seems to fix itself if you create a new window. All broken windows fix themselves when I create a new window now.

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Answer 6

Ferd II

Level 10

104,871 points

Apr 21, 2006 9:53 AM in response to lains_navi

lains_navi,

If you are interested, you could create a new account and test the window behavior in that "Test" account.

;~)

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Answer 7

lains_navi Author

Level 1

45 points

Apr 21, 2006 9:55 AM in response to Ferd II

Actually, I have a second account I use to play around with and play with various OS X features there instead of screwing up my own account and I have seen those issues there.

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Answer 8

Ferd II

Level 10

104,871 points

Apr 21, 2006 10:13 AM in response to lains_navi

lains_navi,

If this behavior started after the 10.4.6 Update, I would recommend that you download and reinstall the Mac OS X 10.4.6 for Intel.

;~)

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Answer 9

lains_navi Author

Level 1

45 points

Apr 21, 2006 2:59 PM in response to Ferd II

Actually that wouldn't work. I forgot to mention, but between the start of this thread and now, I've installed a new hard drive and have turned it into my new boot drive. I did a fresh install too.

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