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gardenspirit

Q: My IMessage keeps crashing? How do I fix?

My IMessage keeps crashing? How do I fix?

MacBook (13-inch Late 2009), OS X Mavericks (10.9.2)

Posted on Mar 13, 2014 4:06 AM

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Q: My IMessage keeps crashing? How do I fix?

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  • by Eric Root,

    Eric Root Eric Root Mar 13, 2014 10:52 AM in response to gardenspirit
    Level 9 (69,991 points)
    iTunes
    Mar 13, 2014 10:52 AM in response to gardenspirit

    Go to Finder and select your user/home folder. With that Finder window as the front window, either select Finder/View/Show View options or go command - J.  When the View options opens, check ’Show Library Folder’. That should make your user library folder visible in your user/home folder.  Select Preferences. Move the com.apple.iChat.plist and the com.apple.iChat.StatusMessages.plist to your desktop.


    Open the application and test. If it works okay, delete the plist from the desktop.


    If the application is the same, return the .plist to where you got it from, overwriting the newer one.


    Thanks to leonie for some information contained in this.

     

    You might need to redo the View settings after an update.


  • by Ralph Johns (UK),

    Ralph Johns (UK) Ralph Johns (UK) Mar 13, 2014 2:37 PM in response to gardenspirit
    Level 9 (72,994 points)
    Applications
    Mar 13, 2014 2:37 PM in response to gardenspirit

    Hi,

     

    When is it crashing ?

    If at Launch check the the font Lucida Grande is active by looking in the Font Book.

     

    Messages also uses another Font called Helvetica  and if this is missing it will not launch at all.

    However this System Font is needed by so many things that you would have major issue all round.

     

     

    3Sigcopy2.png

    9:37 pm      Thursday; March 13, 2014

     

      iMac 2.5Ghz i5 2011 (Mavericks 10.9)
     G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
     MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
     Mac OS X (10.6.8),
     Couple of iPhones and an iPad
  • by Tushar Mall,

    Tushar Mall Tushar Mall Mar 24, 2014 12:58 AM in response to gardenspirit
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 24, 2014 12:58 AM in response to gardenspirit

    on MAC BOOK PRO mid 2010

    I have the same problem and i am getting the error pasted here under on the console. for me it started wen i tried to install AIRPARROT and it asked to restart after installing its driver. and the problem presists even after uninstalling all its components...... it has alot more than wat i past here do i need to paste total report ?

     

    Error Descp.

     

    Process:     Messages [955]
    Path:        /Applications/Messages.app/Contents/MacOS/Messages
    Identifier:  com.apple.iChat
    Version:     8.0 (4226)
    Build Info:  iChat-4226000000000000~3
    Code Type:   X86-64 (Native)

    Parent Process:  launchd [156]

    Responsible: Messages [955]
    User ID:     501

     

    Date/Time:   2014-03-24 13:24:26.910 +0530
    OS Version:  Mac OS X 10.9.2 (13C64)

    Report Version:  11

    Anonymous UUID:  3189E1D1-13E0-0132-25A6-A723DDE6D24D

     

    Sleep/Wake UUID: 6B35B689-5179-43F4-9EC6-182F56C425BA

     

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

     

    Exception Type:  EXC_BAD_INSTRUCTION (SIGILL)

    Exception Codes: 0x0000000000000001, 0x0000000000000000

     

    Application Specific Information:

    Sandbox creation failed: The operation couldn’t be completed. Input/output error

     

    Application Specific Signatures:

    The operation couldn?t be completed. Input/output error

  • by Ralph Johns (UK),

    Ralph Johns (UK) Ralph Johns (UK) Mar 24, 2014 2:24 PM in response to Tushar Mall
    Level 9 (72,994 points)
    Applications
    Mar 24, 2014 2:24 PM in response to Tushar Mall

    hi,

     

    My understanding is that AirParrot does not work in Mavericks and causes issues for Messages.

     

    Start with Uninstalling AirParrot

     

     

    3Sigcopy2.png

    9:24 pm      Monday; March 24, 2014

     

      iMac 2.5Ghz i5 2011 (Mavericks 10.9)
     G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
     MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
     Mac OS X (10.6.8),
     Couple of iPhones and an iPad
  • by Tushar Mall,

    Tushar Mall Tushar Mall Mar 24, 2014 10:38 PM in response to gardenspirit
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 24, 2014 10:38 PM in response to gardenspirit

    Tried it the 1st thing .... but i dont know if it returned all the changes done to the driver setup .... there were 2 versions i tried 1st was 1.5 and then there was 1.5.3 the 1st one wanted to install a driver and it request for a Re start ... and since then the messages is messed .... then i tried 1.5.3 it did not run at all so i uninstalled both ... as mention on their website ... 1.5 had a removal tool use that and 1.5.3 had to be simply deleted ... done both. the process ... but it did not correct the issue.

     

    THANX in advance ,,,

  • by Ralph Johns (UK),Solvedanswer

    Ralph Johns (UK) Ralph Johns (UK) Mar 25, 2014 1:23 PM in response to Tushar Mall
    Level 9 (72,994 points)
    Applications
    Mar 25, 2014 1:23 PM in response to Tushar Mall

    Hi,

     

    The error Log shows that it is an In/out error with sandboxing.

     

    Sandboxing is a way of separating out the various app so that if one Crashes it does not  effect other things.

     

    When an app starts up it tends to Read the .plists linked with it. In some cases it Writes to the .plist(s)

     

    Prior to Sandboxing iChat and Messages 7 in Mountain Lion would Read and Write to the .plists straight in ~/Library/Preferences

    The Sandboxing Writes to the .plists by using  the path ~/Library/Containers/com.apple.iChat/Data/Library/Preferences

    It then tends to find that the .plist here is an Alias pointing to the Originals.

     

    I would do the following.

    Open any Finder Window and then use the View Menu > Show Path Bar

    Now use the Go Menu whilst Holding down the ALT key and select the Library that appears (it is hidden and this is one access option)

    Now navigate to the Containers/com.apple.iChat/Data/Library/Preferences

    The window should now look a bit like this

    Screen Shot 2014-03-25 at 20.04.20.png

    Now Right click the Preferences folder far right and select the Get Info option.

    This will open the Info Panel.

    At the bottom is the Ownership and Permissions items

    Your Shortname (As under the Little House icon in Icon view in the Users folder) should appear with the word Me next to it.

    If you highlight this and then usee the Cogwheel type icon under the list you should find it says "Make yourshortname (Me) the Owner" but in greyed out Text as it should already be done.

    Screen Shot 2014-03-25 at 20.09.00.png

    As the pic shows you should also have Read and Write permissions to it.

     

    Repeat the process on all the folders until you have done the furthest left Library one (the ~/Library)

    Picture of Right Clicking that folder.

    Screen Shot 2014-03-25 at 20.11.05.png

     

    Basically we are checking that you Own and have Permissions to Write to the ~/Library and the other folders involved in the Sandboxing route to the .plists  (the phrase would be "containing folders" but as Containers is laso part of the route/path I had tried to avoid it).

     

    If there is a sort of note above the list saying you have Custom Access then something has been changed.

     

     

    3Sigcopy2.png

    8:23 pm      Tuesday; March 25, 2014

     

      iMac 2.5Ghz i5 2011 (Mavericks 10.9)
     G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
     MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
     Mac OS X (10.6.8),
     Couple of iPhones and an iPad
  • by Ralph Johns (UK),

    Ralph Johns (UK) Ralph Johns (UK) Mar 25, 2014 2:29 PM in response to Ralph Johns (UK)
    Level 9 (72,994 points)
    Applications
    Mar 25, 2014 2:29 PM in response to Ralph Johns (UK)

    4thanx.gif    for the    2correct.png   Points.

     

     

    3Sigcopy2.png

    9:29 pm      Tuesday; March 25, 2014

     

      iMac 2.5Ghz i5 2011 (Mavericks 10.9)
     G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
     MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
     Mac OS X (10.6.8),
     Couple of iPhones and an iPad
  • by Tushar Mall,

    Tushar Mall Tushar Mall Mar 25, 2014 10:34 PM in response to gardenspirit
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 25, 2014 10:34 PM in response to gardenspirit

    all seems to match with us but i dont see this preference folder in Library..... is there a way to reinstall ?? Messages ??... i see that all the other forlders have more folders under them but this some how does not ... how do i correct it ? i think re installing MESSAGES would help me out is there a way to reinstall Messages ??

  • by Tushar Mall,

    Tushar Mall Tushar Mall Mar 25, 2014 10:46 PM in response to gardenspirit
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 25, 2014 10:46 PM in response to gardenspirit

    Screen Shot 2014-03-26 at 11.14.16 am.png

     

    it can be seen that the arrow is down but the folder library has no contents.... can we do some thing about it ?

  • by Ralph Johns (UK),

    Ralph Johns (UK) Ralph Johns (UK) Mar 26, 2014 1:58 PM in response to Tushar Mall
    Level 9 (72,994 points)
    Applications
    Mar 26, 2014 1:58 PM in response to Tushar Mall

    Hi,

     

    My own Mac User account started on  another computer in OS 10.2 and has been updated adn Upgraded along the way before being Migrated to this computer from a Leopard (OS X 10.5.8) one.

     

    It was certainly running Lion when I did this and that has been Upgraded to Mountain Lion then Mavericks.

    This means there was some iChat and Messages "history" to the Mac User account.

     

    Having said that I have not seen a post that states that some of the info in the Container is missing.

    The Data folder says it has been updated (24th) but no other item inside seems to have a similar date.

    It appears that everything has the Creation Date when you Upgraded or first used Mavericks (12th November 2013)

     

    My first thought would be that you don't have Permissions to Write to some of these folders.

    It also seems the Library one you mention did not get the folders that should be inside there (that they were not created when you installed (or used the computer for the first time in) Mavericks).

     

    The only way to reinstall Messages is to do the recovery process that reinstalls the whole OS.

    However this does not touch the Users folder and the apps will try to Read the same info you have now.

     

    You did mark the Post I made with the process about checking the Ownership and Permission as the Correct Answer.

    I presumed you had found the folder that was not allowing you to Write to the .plists

    Are you saying now that you have not checked all the folders ?

    You should start with the deepest folder you can find - which is not that empty Library and then work towards the left until you get to the Containing Library. (The one "before", in the path, the Container folder).

     

     

     

     

    3Sigcopy2.png

    8:58 pm      Wednesday; March 26, 2014

     

      iMac 2.5Ghz i5 2011 (Mavericks 10.9)
     G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
     MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
     Mac OS X (10.6.8),
     Couple of iPhones and an iPad
  • by Tushar Mall,

    Tushar Mall Tushar Mall Mar 26, 2014 11:12 PM in response to gardenspirit
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 26, 2014 11:12 PM in response to gardenspirit

    i TRIED ALL folders and all was ok for "MESSAGES" till last SUNDAY wen i installed AIR PARROT 1.5 Driver that allows air mirror for apple tv and the funny point is ... if it was OK even after UP DATE that iwas after new YEAR not in NOV 2013 .... i am totally confused i am so sorry i am such a ameture and our timeings r like night and day as i am in india ... hope its not BUGGING ... wen i installed mervics it was working perfectly till last sunday ... wen i messed it up .... Screen Shot 2014-03-27 at 11.32.05 am.png

  • by Tushar Mall,

    Tushar Mall Tushar Mall Mar 26, 2014 11:22 PM in response to gardenspirit
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 26, 2014 11:22 PM in response to gardenspirit

    wat folder is this ??? do we have a option to go bac to this state ?? on this perticular date ??? Screen Shot 2014-03-27 at 11.48.04 am.png

  • by Ralph Johns (UK),

    Ralph Johns (UK) Ralph Johns (UK) Mar 27, 2014 1:08 PM in response to Tushar Mall
    Level 9 (72,994 points)
    Applications
    Mar 27, 2014 1:08 PM in response to Tushar Mall

    Hi,

     

    That particular folder is not actually going to help right now.

     

    What that does is hold the info about which windows were open when you either Quit the app or Shut down the computer.

     

    For instance you can have the iMessages account logged in which does not produce any windows for use.

    The Main Messages (Chats and Interface window) can be open.

    If you have AIM, Jabber or Yahoo accounts then can be displaying in one Buddy list or several depending on a setting in the General Section of the Preferences.

    You might have closed the app with the Preferences showing.

     

    If like me you have 10 different accounts including the Bonjour one but in addition to the iMessages  one and display the Buddy lists separately the desktop can appear quit full.

    Screen Shot 2014-03-27 at 20.07.05.png

    The Save State items are used to recreate this when the app is restarted.

     

    It does not revert back to when the app last worked properly if there is a new issue.

     

     

    3Sigcopy2.png

    8:08 pm      Thursday; March 27, 2014

     

      iMac 2.5Ghz i5 2011 (Mavericks 10.9)
     G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
     MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
     Mac OS X (10.6.8),
     Couple of iPhones and an iPad
  • by Ralph Johns (UK),

    Ralph Johns (UK) Ralph Johns (UK) Mar 27, 2014 1:14 PM in response to Tushar Mall
    Level 9 (72,994 points)
    Applications
    Mar 27, 2014 1:14 PM in response to Tushar Mall

    Hi,

     

    If the dates are "wrong" and are not when you set things up we have to consider if:-

    1) the Date and Time are correct in the System Preference > Date and Time  (Including Time Zone)

    and

    2) If the Computer is holding on to the date and time properly.

    Older computer used to have a little "PRAM" battery to keep this memory alive.

    if the Battery died then the memory cannot be maintained and the setting it holds are lost and Date and time is one of these.

     

    Later computer reply on the fact the Automatic feature/Time Server item has been enabled to keep the system correct as it is turned On.

    Screen Shot 2014-03-27 at 20.13.29.png

    If this is not set your computer may not be showing the "right" date and time.

     

     

    3Sigcopy2.png

    8:14 pm      Thursday; March 27, 2014

     

      iMac 2.5Ghz i5 2011 (Mavericks 10.9)
     G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
     MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
     Mac OS X (10.6.8),
     Couple of iPhones and an iPad
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