Q: Running iMovie HD 06 with El Capitan

Same problem exists with El Capitan, and same workaround works.

Opened iMovie HD 6 via Show Package Contents and Terminal and all seems to well. Imported a few clips and a few transitions and everything works.

As with iWeb, Media/Photos only works with iPhoto.

Pleasantly Surprised!!

Right click on iMovie 6 HD App/Show Package Contents/Contents/MacOS/iMovie HD

When you click on iMovie HD the Terminal opens. Without the Terminal open, iMovie does not run.

That's how I do it. Is there another way.

Also, I forgot that if you make an alias of the iMovie HD in the /MacOS folder, you can put the alias in the Finder and run iMovie from the Finder window.

I read that article a little while ago. I'm not launching the script unless someone in the forum, a lot smarter than me, say's it's okay to do so.

Currently I have the iMovie 6 HD alias in my Finder favorites and it opens pretty quickly. Only drawback is the Terminal window needing to open.

Do you think this script was the fix you read about when Yosemite came out.

Joe Gramm wrote:

 

I read that article a little while ago. I'm not launching the script unless someone in the forum, a lot smarter than me, say's it's okay to do so.

The script is indeed harmless.  It contains just two lines:

(sleep 3; osascript -e 'tell application "iMovie HD" to activate') &

/Applications/iMovie\ HD.app/Contents/MacOS/iMovie\ HD

The second line starts the iMovie HD application binary.  The first line waits 3 seconds in the background, then switches iMovie HD to the foreground; otherwise it would open behind any other running apps.  I presume the 3 seconds is there to make sure iMovie HD has fully launched.

So the script works, but I have figured out a way to modify/patch iMovie HD to run directly.  This may or may not be the same as the patch mentioned above, but it works for me.  The steps are:

1. Right-click iMovie HD and select Show Package Contents
2. Double-click the Contents folder
3. Right-click Info.plist, go to Open With, then Other...
4. Select TextEdit
5. Once the plist file is open in TextEdit, search for CFBundleVersion
6. You will see 2 lines (amongst a bunch of others):         

<key>CFBundleVersion</key>

<string>6.0.4</string>

7. Change 6.0.4 to any other (higher) number.  I changed it to 6.0.5 and it worked fine.  You might change it to something higher than that in case Apple decides to disallow other 6.x.x numbers in the future. 10 (the current iMovie major version number, no .x.x needed) also worked just fine.
8. Save the plist file in TextEdit

I hope this helps!

It's a pity that no one has the talent to re-write iMovie HD, keep the look and give it a new life. I'd pay £100 for the software and I'm sure that millions would also follow suit. I cannot get my head around the current iMovies no matter how hard I try and I've tried all of the alternatives. Not having HD is the only thing keeping me from upgrading past 10.8.5. myMovie HD

https://youtu.be/qYdRehy-6ck Thanks to Mike Heasley's instructions we make a ready-made info.plist file called 6.5.1 that does the job without the annoying terminal window. Runs great for us. Let me know what you think. https://youtu.be/qYdRehy-6ck

You shouldn't let iMovie HD 6 be the reason for you not to upgrade your OS. Simply put iMovie HD and OS X 10.8.5 on a separate partition on your hard drive or on a separate external hard drive. 

I know that you can have two separate partitions and that is what I've been doing for a long time. With this little ready made .plist file it works great now without the terminal popping up so now I don't have to switch from 10.8.5 to 10.10 any more.

I installed the new plist file and it does seem to work as shown in the link to the video. Haven't had a chance to test it completely, but so far I LIKE what I see.

So glad there are smart people hanging out on the boards!!