Finder crashes in column view (10.8.5)

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soenne Author

Level 1

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Finder crashes in column view (10.8.5)

I am using the column-view to browse my files.

Since tuesday the finder crashes the moment I try to copy files from here to there.

The finder crashes too, when scrolling through full files.

Crash: The spinning wheel appears and stays there until I press esc

You can keep on holding down the mouse-key and after a while (longer than 60sec) the file eventually will be copied.

The mystery is over when I use the line view.

Any suggestions ?

MacBook Pro, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.5)

Posted on Jan 30, 2014 11:54 PM

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Answer 1

Best reply

Eustace Mendis

Level 7

25,416 points

Jan 31, 2014 6:16 AM in response to soenne

Try trashing the finder.plist files.

(I guess you will have to do this in List view since column view is not working.)

Click on the desktop so Finder is active. Hold the Option key down and click Go in the menu bar. Select Library in the drop down.

In Library, select Preferences. In that folder there are files with names that begin with: com.apple.finder.plist

Trash them all and restart.

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Answer 2

soenne Author

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Feb 1, 2014 9:01 AM in response to Eustace Mendis

TX Eustace !

It took 2 or 3 tries to get the mentioned files deleted.

The problem seems to be solved the way you described.

Great ! 🙂

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Answer 3

Feb 1, 2014 9:06 AM in response to soenne

Good stuff! Thanks for posting back.

(Like you, I always use column view - losing that would make me very unhappy.)

Suggest you do a PRAM reset now everything is working as it should.

http://support.apple.com/kb/ph11243

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Answer 4

soenne Author

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Feb 1, 2014 9:19 AM in response to Eustace Mendis

Awesome ! I forgot this simple task - will be done right now 😊

TX again !

Working without column-view takes you back to OS 6,7... 😉

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Answer 5

soenne Author

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Feb 1, 2014 12:31 PM in response to soenne

Oh no !

It just took 1 hour to come back to the point I started 😟

I deleted the plist-files, resetted the computer via PRAM-reset 3 times and know the 'solved' problem became a new dimension.

What now ?

😢

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Answer 6

Feb 1, 2014 12:34 PM in response to soenne

That is not what should happen...

I cannot think of anything other than do the plist thing again.

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Answer 7

soenne Author

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Feb 1, 2014 12:36 PM in response to Eustace Mendis

I have no clue too.

3 updates have been installed the last days before this error occurred:

Camera RAW

iTunes

DxO 9

At the moment, DxO crashes temporarly

I will check and reinstall DxO

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Answer 8

Feb 1, 2014 12:58 PM in response to soenne

Do you have a full back up?

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Answer 9

soenne Author

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Feb 1, 2014 1:02 PM in response to Eustace Mendis

Yeah, I think so.

TimeMachine has alwys been running.

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Answer 10

Feb 1, 2014 1:07 PM in response to soenne

This is a long shot, but I would try Repair Disk.

http://www.apple.com/osx/recovery/

Boot and hold down command and R keys (two keys).

When the screen shown on the page comes up, select Disk Utility and continue.

Run DU, select the drive, First Aid and Repair Disk.

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Answer 11

soenne Author

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Feb 1, 2014 1:33 PM in response to Eustace Mendis

Thanks again, Eustace.

Since the issue came up I've been doing following:

Repair Disk

Repair Disk, started from an external disk

Disk Warrior - internal / external

ComboUpDate 10.8.5

Checked and cleaned for old files and apps

At least I ran Onyx

Everything with up-to-date software

After this I came here and I followed all your kind and sense-making advices

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Answer 12

Feb 1, 2014 1:41 PM in response to soenne

I am sure you are frustrated beyond words...

One more thing - it is a pain - is to reinstall the OS.

When you boot in Recovery, http://www.apple.com/osx/recovery/

one of the options is to reinstall the OS. Drastic, but you have tried everything else.

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Answer 13

soenne Author

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Feb 1, 2014 1:51 PM in response to Eustace Mendis

I have had the same thought earlier.

Repairing in cases like this is mostly waste of time.

Sometimes somebody knows THE trick or has had the same issue before.

TX again - I will report here as soon as a solution is found.

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Answer 14

soenne Author

Level 1

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Feb 8, 2014 2:15 AM in response to Eustace Mendis

What do you think about this idea:

The last camera RAW UpDate has been installed very shortly before the issues occured.

Possibly this causes the finder-crashes !?

My thought is, when you use column-view, the finder has to generate previews.

In list-view this isn't necessary.

Some time ago OS-X has had a similar fault..

Just an idea...

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Answer 15

Feb 8, 2014 5:14 AM in response to soenne

For what its worth, I always use column view, and I have installed the update you mention. I do not have, and never have had the problem you describe.

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