deliquium

Q: Another case of finder crashing whilst trying to access Downloads folder

Have researched the Community and tried as many of the suggestions posted on this issue, without any progress thus far. Have run DU (both to Repair and for Permissions) from Recovery and no issues arise there apart from a whole slew of iTunes permissions being wrong every time it's checked.

 

Interestingly can only access Recovery by starting with the SHIFT key. If I use Command R it tries to go to Internet Recovery - which it fails as won't recognise my router wirelessly!

 

The problem = Clicking on any item in the Downloads folder causes a crash, as does clicking the folder icon in the dock.

 

Also, whole system running very slow after restarts (this was the case BEFORE the Downloads crash issue) Lots of rainbow wheel, also in Safe Boot, also using a different log in account

 

Unable to post ertecheck results as any downloads will crash the finder!

 

Mac Mini (October 2010), 2.66Ghz  Intel Core 2, 4GB 1067MHz DDR3, OSX 10.8.5

 

Any diagnostic advice would be most welcome. Thanks in advance

Mac mini, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.5)

Posted on Oct 29, 2014 1:34 AM

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Q: Another case of finder crashing whilst trying to access Downloads folder

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  • by Linc Davis,

    Linc Davis Linc Davis Oct 31, 2014 11:36 AM in response to deliquium
    Level 10 (208,022 points)
    Applications
    Oct 31, 2014 11:36 AM in response to deliquium

    There's an error in my earlier comment. The item you have to remove is this:

     

    ~/Library/ScriptingAdditions/FinderPopOsax.osax

  • by deliquium,

    deliquium deliquium Nov 1, 2014 8:56 AM in response to Linc Davis
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 1, 2014 8:56 AM in response to Linc Davis

    Hello Linc, in response to your earlier suggestions:

     

    A. Completed as directed

     

    B. I tried to remove "App Cleaner" by dragging to to the trash. Unfortunately it's still around according to Spotlight. Did a search as to how to uninstall it but have had no luck so far. According to the "Time Machine Editor" website, an uninstall is straightforward. Howver, I've left it there as "App Cleaner", whilst not in the Applications folder still seems to be on my machine. I moved on to the next step as you suggested they're probably not related to my problem.

     

    C. Don't really understand this section so went onto . .

     

    D. Step 1. Completed as directed. No change, so went to . .

     

    D. Step 2. Completed as directed. No change - well I say no change, actually somewhere along the line this morning everything is getting much slower and the spinning rainbow wheel is making more appearances.

     

    E. Launched Font Book and began Validating All Fonts. After about 15 minutes and the progress bar still in motion with 12 BAD fonts diagnosed, the screen went completely black with only a white mouse arrow visible, alternating with a spinning rainbow wheel. After a while of that, I powered down and restarted and run the Validating All Fonts again. After a a while and a brief all black screen, it seemed to have completed that task.

     

    I restarted in Safe Mode, performed a couple of tasks to confirm all was still not well - rainbow wheel appearing when attempting anything. Then restarted in normal mode. Before trying to Restore Standard Fonts - this brought up a warning box stipulating:

     

    "Please reinstall Mac OSX to recover standard fonts"

     

    "Some of the standard fonts were missing. Please reinstall Mac OSX to recover these fonts"

     

    F. I shall attend to if and when I can resolve these other issues.

     

    Kind regards and continued appreciation of your help and guidance, Paul

  • by Linc Davis,

    Linc Davis Linc Davis Nov 1, 2014 9:19 AM in response to deliquium
    Level 10 (208,022 points)
    Applications
    Nov 1, 2014 9:19 AM in response to deliquium
    I tried to remove "App Cleaner" by dragging to to the trash.

    As I wrote earlier, you generally can't remove system modifications that way, or by searching Spotlight, or in any other way except by following the developer's instructions or erasing the startup volume. I don't know how to uninstall "App Cleaner."

    "Please reinstall Mac OSX to recover standard fonts"

    Then that's what you need to do.

  • by deliquium,

    deliquium deliquium Nov 1, 2014 10:51 AM in response to Linc Davis
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 1, 2014 10:51 AM in response to Linc Davis

    Can you suggest any tutorials on reinstalling Mac OSX? And what that entails? I only have a recent Time Machine backup.

     

    Do you think this is just a font problem causing such problems? Do you think there is any way of diagnosing/confirming this as such?

     

    I have the original Snow Leopard discs. I paid and 'upgraded' to Mountain Lion - BUT that meant downloading that OS. I only have a max 1.5Mb download speed (very rural in the mountains of Wales) = NOT convenient at best + only a monthly 10Gb allowance

     

    If I have to reinstall the whole shebang - i'd like to revert to Snow Leopard as I have physical stuff.

     

    Any further suggestions before I go and tear my hair out would be most appreciated

     

    How would I reinstall Photoshop? That was purchased and downloaded in 2010 on a friends' fast internet connection?

     

    Thanks, Paul

  • by Linc Davis,

    Linc Davis Linc Davis Nov 1, 2014 11:04 AM in response to deliquium
    Level 10 (208,022 points)
    Applications
    Nov 1, 2014 11:04 AM in response to deliquium

    If you don't already have a current backup, back up all data, then reinstall the OS.* You don't need to erase the startup volume, and you won't need the backup unless something goes wrong. If the system was upgraded from an older version of OS X, you may need the Apple ID and password you used.

    If you use FileVault 2, then before running the Installer you must launch Disk Utility and select the icon of the FileVault startup volume ("Macintosh HD," unless you gave it a different name.) It will be nested below another icon with the same name. Click the Unlock button in the toolbar and enter your login password when prompted. Then quit Disk Utility to be returned to the main Recovery screen.

    There are ways to back up a computer that isn't fully functional. Ask if you need guidance.

    If you installed the Java runtime distributed by Apple and still need it, you'll have to reinstall it. The same goes for Xcode. All other data will be preserved.

    *The linked support article refers to OS X 10.10 ("Yosemite"), but the procedure is the same for OS X 10.7 ("Lion") and later.

  • by deliquium,

    deliquium deliquium Nov 2, 2014 9:45 AM in response to Linc Davis
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 2, 2014 9:45 AM in response to Linc Davis

    Progress report on this issue:

     

    Restarted with Command-alt to access Recovery (only way I can do this). Waited for 35 minutes or so until log in screen appeared. Chose to Reinstall Mac OSX.

     

    It doesn't recognise my wireless connection to my router so can't proceed. I have to find cable extensions and relocate the router and connect via Ethernet.

     

    After getting the reinstall underway I'm met with a 26 hour download time.

     

    I go out and ride my bike for several hours

     

    I now have 22 hours to go with not quite half way on the progress bar

     

    The joys of rural slow "narrow" (1.5Mbs tops) broadband and NOT having a physical disc like in Snow Leopard - grrrrrrrr

  • by deliquium,

    deliquium deliquium Nov 3, 2014 12:56 AM in response to deliquium
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 3, 2014 12:56 AM in response to deliquium

    Somewhere between 18 hours and 24 hours of the Reinstall process (whilst I was asleep) an error message came up

     

    "An error occurred whilst running the installation. Try running this application again"

     

    So it seems the only reasonable option is to erase the hard drive and reinstall Snow Leopard from the physical disc I have.

     

    Thanks Linc Davis for your patient advice and help in trying to diagnose this particular problem.

  • by Linc Davis,

    Linc Davis Linc Davis Nov 3, 2014 6:54 AM in response to deliquium
    Level 10 (208,022 points)
    Applications
    Nov 3, 2014 6:54 AM in response to deliquium

    If possible, set the system clock as instructed here. If you can only start up in Recovery mode, see below.

    Select Get Help Online. Safari will launch. While in Recovery, you'll have no access to your bookmarks, but you won't need them. Load this web page.

    Triple-click anywhere in the line below to select it:

    date 0801000014

    Copy the selected text to the Clipboard by pressing the key combination command-C.

    Quit Safari. You'll be returned to the OS X Utilities screen.

    Select

              Utilities Terminal

    from the menu bar. A Terminal window will open. Paste into the window by pressing the key combination command-V.

    Wait for a new line ending in a dollar sign ($) to appear below what you entered. If it doesn't appear, press return.

    Quit Terminal to return to the main screen. Try the installation again.

  • by deliquium,

    deliquium deliquium Nov 3, 2014 9:22 AM in response to Linc Davis
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 3, 2014 9:22 AM in response to Linc Davis

    Hi and thanks again Linc

     

    Please could you explain what your advice above is intending to achieve? Will this/should this reduce another installation time/prevent failure?

     

    So far I've paid £14 ($20) to purchase the upgrade from Snow Leopard to Mountain Lion + £5 because that download (unawares of the size) took me over my October 10Gb (plenty for my usual use) monthly allowance + another £5 as the failed 18 hour + reinstall will surely take me over this month's allowance. One wonders how much more money this problem requires?

     

    Even if I can sort out the font issue (it might not be the only cause of my current woes after all) and if I ever do encounter another problem, I can't reasonably or financially rely on an Internet Recovery reinstall option because the limitations I have with 'broadband' speed (1.5Mb MAX).

     

    The advantages of having a physical, bootable, repair, reinstall Snow Leopard disc seem much more convenient and pertinent.

     

    Kind regards, Paul

  • by deliquium,

    deliquium deliquium Nov 3, 2014 9:33 AM in response to deliquium
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 3, 2014 9:33 AM in response to deliquium

    Just to confirm - date and time are currently accurate and "Set date and time automatically" is checked in System Preferences

     

    Also, I am still able to start in 'normal' mode if I don't mind waiting 20 minutes or so - and then there's a lottery as to whether the rainbow wheel will stick after entering my password at log in. This time was successful.

  • by Linc Davis,

    Linc Davis Linc Davis Nov 3, 2014 10:38 AM in response to deliquium
    Level 10 (208,022 points)
    Applications
    Nov 3, 2014 10:38 AM in response to deliquium

    It may enable you complete the OS installation. If not, it won't change anything.

  • by deliquium,

    deliquium deliquium Nov 4, 2014 10:05 AM in response to Linc Davis
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 4, 2014 10:05 AM in response to Linc Davis

    For the reasons mentioned above I don't want to continue trying to solve problems with an OS that is only dependent on an internet connection.

     

    Is there a resource that could explain (walk through holding my hand kinda thing) how to erase Mountain Lion and reinstall Snow Leopard from the disc that came with the mac Mini when I bought it in 2010 - particularly how to retrieve all the 'stuff' I only have backed up in Time machine since installing Mountain Lion?

     

    Thinking about Mail and iCal/Calendar and how to get all that back into a new Snow Leopard system?

     

    Presumably I can just copy/transfer? my Home Folder from the TM stuff on the external hard drive backup? What else?

     

    Guess I have to reinstall Microsoft Office 2008 from the original disc I have?

     

    But I'm concerned about Photoshop CS5 which was bought in 2010 also - it was downloaded and I can't find any record of an activation code, nor an Adobe registration process. (my search talents are woefully lacking it should be admitted)

     

    More thanks in advance

  • by Linc Davis,

    Linc Davis Linc Davis Nov 4, 2014 11:05 AM in response to deliquium
    Level 10 (208,022 points)
    Applications
    Nov 4, 2014 11:05 AM in response to deliquium

    You can export your mailboxes and calendars (as ICS files) and then re-import them after downgrading. See the built-in help of the applications for details. To downgrade, boot from the installation disc, partition the internal drive with the default options, and then run the installer. That operation will remove all data from the drive, so you had better be sure of your backups.

     

    It makes no sense to do this unless you've decided (1) never to install another Apple update or upgrade, and (2) to switch to Windows or Linux when it's time to replace the computer, because present and future Macs won't be able to run Snow Leopard. Good luck.

  • by deliquium,

    deliquium deliquium Nov 7, 2014 12:55 AM in response to Linc Davis
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 7, 2014 12:55 AM in response to Linc Davis

    Have paid further sums on this Mountain Lion install and upgraded my broadband package to unlimited downloads.

     

    Restarted in Recovery and followed instructions above re the terminal command. This resulted in a crash, for which I was offered a report and saved.

     

    Restarted again in Recovery and went straight to Reinstall OSX. After a 9+ hour successful download the restart took 20 minutes and the original problem still exists. I checked the Font Book validations and all is now well there.

     

    Any further suggestions or diagnostic procedures would be most welcome

  • by deliquium,

    deliquium deliquium Nov 9, 2014 2:22 AM in response to Linc Davis
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 9, 2014 2:22 AM in response to Linc Davis

    Thanks Linc. I have heeded your advice and would like to continue with Mountain Lion if I can sort out the slow running/crawl, hanging, crashing and general malaise.

     

    What concerns me now is any large data movement, like backups to TM end up with a spinning rainbow wheel. So my last backup is 24th October.

     

    Should I consider an erase and reinstall?

     

    Thanks in advance

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