evil dock? I don't know.

Question

evil dock? I don't know.

Help, please! I'm a college student who relies on her mac... and mine's being funny. I wasn't sure where to post this, so I apologize if it doesn't fit here...

But here are the symptoms:

1) NONE of my Microsoft applications will even open! I've tried creating aliases, running them from my HDD, and going from the "Office Manager" thing. Nothing. I cannot open any of the programs. The dock feigns like something is going to pop up, and then nothing happens.

2) My Palm Pilot can no longer sync via Bluetooth. This is a major issue. I go to do the sync like I normally would, and nothing happens. I get an error message on my Palm, which I've had before, and usually when I try again it works. No such luck. Says it's in use by another device (which it's not). The HotSync Manager doesn't even appear in the dock...

3) My Mail "Reply All" and "Delete" images are missing from the little buttons in the main window... This is just a weird one. And when I go to reset the toolbar? Yeah, all those same images and more are missing...

Someone PLEASE help me. I don't know what's going on. I've tried restarting, leaving my computer off for an extended period, etc. To no avail. This is stressing me out. I've already backed everything up on my HDD because this is scaring me...

iBook G4, Mac OS X (10.4.6), iPod mini, Iomega 250G Palm T|X, JBL Creature speakers, Kodak Z730

Posted on Sep 11, 2006 5:57 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Dr. Smoke

Level 9

56,586 points

Sep 11, 2006 3:58 PM in response to sugarpacket13

Hi, sugarpacket13.

See my "Multiple applications quit unexpectedly or fail to launch" FAQ for advice on troubleshooting this issue.

Good luck!

😉 Dr. Smoke
Author: Troubleshooting Mac® OS X

---
Note: The information provided in the link(s) above is freely available. However, because I own The X Lab™, a commercial Web site to which some of these links point, the Apple Discussions Terms of Use require I include the following disclosure statement with this post:

I may receive some form of compensation, financial or otherwise, from my recommendation or link.

Reply

Answer 2

Sep 12, 2006 6:32 AM in response to Dr. Smoke

Dr. Smoke,

I went to the suggested site, printed instructions about "Restoring Disk, Permission, and Cache Corruption." I did the SMART diagnostic test. I ran the repair disk. I ran First Aid in the Disk Utility window.

It said "Volume bit map needs minor repair... checking volume information... repairing volume... looking for links to corrupt files in Damaged Files directory... rechecking volume.... ... Macintosh HD was repaired successfully. 1HFS volume repaired."

I also downloaded Tiger Cache Cleaner, ran a Deep Clean on Local, System, and All Users.

But still, I am having the same three problems. Is this my Mac, Microsoft applications, Palm, or all three?

😟

Reply

Answer 3

Dr. Smoke

Level 9

56,586 points

Sep 12, 2006 9:16 PM in response to sugarpacket13

Based on your report, the step you ran is just one of the many suggested troubleshooting steps cited in my "Multiple applications quit unexpectedly or fail to launch" FAQ. While that step found a minor problem and corrected it, far more could be amiss. Follow all the steps cited in my FAQ.

Good luck!

😉 Dr. Smoke
Author: Troubleshooting Mac® OS X

---
Note: The information provided in the link(s) above is freely available. However, because I own The X Lab™, a commercial Web site to which some of these links point, the Apple Discussions Terms of Use require I include the following disclosure statement with this post:

I may receive some form of compensation, financial or otherwise, from my recommendation or link.

Reply

Answer 4

Sep 15, 2006 6:57 PM in response to Dr. Smoke

I've done an Erase and Install of Tiger... Microsoft now works. (Amen.)

Mail's buttons are still MIA, mysteriously. Also, I cannot sync my Palm. I'm going to try reloading that CD, too. We'll see what happens.

It does seem, however, that Tiger was having the biggest problem. What it was, I don't know... But I know at least it's partially solved.

Thanks.

Reply

Answer 5

Sep 15, 2006 7:25 PM in response to sugarpacket13

3) My Mail "Reply All" and "Delete" images are
missing from the little buttons in the main window...
This is just a weird one. And when I go to reset the
toolbar? Yeah, all those same images and more are
missing...

You have tried the oval button at the top-right corner of the Mail window?
Have you tried "Customize Toolbar..." in the "View" men?

Reply

Answer 6

Sep 15, 2006 7:25 PM in response to Malcolm Rayfield

Thank you, Malcolm, but yes, I've tried to restore the whole "default" toolbar, and I'm aware of the pill-shaped button at the top.The little images are just... gone :-/

Reply