InspiredLife

Q: Preview.app crashes on startup. Anyway to reinstall/fix it?

For around 8 months now I've been unable to use Preview.app. This is on OS X 10.10.5.

 

When I open anything at all with Preview (could be a PDF or JPG, or whatever) it crashes immediately. When I try to open Preview directly (not opening something with it) it opens, but if I try to then File > Open anything with it, same thing happens. From time to time it will prompt me with:

 

The last time you opened Preview, it unexpectedly quit while reopening windows. Do you want to try to reopen its windows again?

If you choose not to reopen windows, you may have to open and position the windows yourself.

 

I tried some months ago to fix it, but didn't manage to. I don't recall what I attempted, and don't seem to be able to find the message I thought I posted about this back then. So I am having a fresh go at it.

 

Is it possible to repair or reinstall or reset Preview?

 

The log info it generated in Console upon testing it just now, are:

 

12/04/16 9:52:46.328 am Preview[81092]: An uncaught exception was raised

12/04/16 9:52:46.328 am Preview[81092]: *** -[__NSPlaceholderSet initWithObjects:count:]: attempt to insert nil object from objects[0]

12/04/16 9:52:46.329 am Preview[81092]: (

    0   CoreFoundation                      0x00007fff8e7f103c __exceptionPreprocess + 172

    1   libobjc.A.dylib                     0x00007fff8716476e objc_exception_throw + 43

    2   CoreFoundation                      0x00007fff8e6a6caf -[__NSPlaceholderSet initWithObjects:count:] + 399

    3   CoreFoundation                      0x00007fff8e7231ff +[NSSet setWithObject:] + 47

    4   AnnotationKit                       0x0000000106e788d7 -[AKAttributeController _updateStateOnSenderFromSelf:] + 503

    5   AnnotationKit                       0x0000000106e7793f -[AKAttributeController _updateStateOnSender:] + 135

    6   AnnotationKit                       0x0000000106e742c1 -[AKAttributeController validateAttributeSender:] + 176

    7   AnnotationKit                       0x0000000106e79095 -[AKActionController validateSender:] + 206

    8   AnnotationKit                       0x0000000106e38e47 -[AKTextAttributesViewController validateUserInterfaceItems] + 116

    9   AnnotationKit                       0x0000000106eb9af8 -[AKToolbarViewController_Mac revalidateItems] + 501

    10  AnnotationKit                       0x0000000106e76677 -[AKAttributeController _syncAttributesFromSelectedAnnotationsToUI] + 82

    11  AnnotationKit                       0x0000000106e74375 -[AKAttributeController setModelControllerToObserveForSelections:] + 143

    12  AnnotationKit                       0x0000000106e47408 -[AKController observeValueForKeyPath:ofObject:change:context:] + 887

    13  Foundation                          0x00007fff8aa581c3 NSKeyValueNotifyObserver + 382

    14  Foundation                          0x00007fff8aa64e38 NSKeyValueDidChange + 463

    15  Foundation                          0x00007fff8aa1da4d -[NSObject(NSKeyValueObserverNotification) didChangeValueForKey:] + 118

    16  Preview                             0x0000000106bc24ea Preview + 107754

    17  Preview                             0x0000000106bbc3d7 Preview + 82903

    18  Preview                             0x0000000106bb33f9 Preview + 46073

    19  AppKit                              0x00007fff8ca08857 -[NSWindowController _windowDidLoad] + 586

    20  AppKit                              0x00007fff8c9f0b83 -[NSWindowController window] + 110

    21  Preview                             0x0000000106bb1416 Preview + 37910

    22  AppKit                              0x00007fff8ca02bd2 -[NSWindowController showWindow:] + 36

    23  Preview                             0x0000000106bb289a Preview + 43162

    24  Foundation                          0x00007fff8aa45ef1 -[NSObject(NSThreadPerformAdditions) performSelector:onThread:withObject:waitUntilDone:modes:] + 954

    25  Foundation                          0x00007fff8aa45ab9 -[NSObject(NSThreadPerformAdditions) performSelectorOnMainThread:withObject:waitUntilDone:] + 131

    26  Preview                             0x0000000106bb27c3 Preview + 42947

    27  Preview                             0x0000000106bb15c0 Preview + 38336

    28  Preview                             0x0000000106ca607d Preview + 1040509

    29  libdispatch.dylib                   0x00007fff85129323 _dispatch_call_block_and_release + 12

    30  libdispatch.dylib                   0x00007fff85124c13 _dispatch_client_callout + 8

    31  libdispatch.dylib                   0x00007fff85130cbf _dispatch_main_queue_callback_4CF + 861

    32  CoreFoundation                      0x00007fff8e7443f9 __CFRUNLOOP_IS_SERVICING_THE_MAIN_DISPATCH_QUEUE__ + 9

    33  CoreFoundation                      0x00007fff8e6ff68f __CFRunLoopRun + 2159

    34  CoreFoundation                      0x00007fff8e6febd8 CFRunLoopRunSpecific + 296

    35  HIToolbox                           0x00007fff8344556f RunCurrentEventLoopInMode + 235

    36  HIToolbox                           0x00007fff834452ea ReceiveNextEventCommon + 431

    37  HIToolbox                           0x00007fff8344512b _BlockUntilNextEventMatchingListInModeWithFilter + 71

    38  AppKit                              0x00007fff8c8cd8ab _DPSNextEvent + 978

    39  AppKit                              0x00007fff8c8cce58 -[NSApplication nextEventMatchingMask:untilDate:inMode:dequeue:] + 346

    40  AppKit                              0x00007fff8c8c2af3 -[NSApplication run] + 594

    41  AppKit                              0x00007fff8c83f244 NSApplicationMain + 1832

    42  libdyld.dylib                       0x00007fff8f75d5c9 start + 1

    43  ???                                 0x0000000000000001 0x0 + 1

)

12/04/16 9:52:46.330 am Preview[81092]: *** Terminating app due to uncaught exception 'NSInvalidArgumentException', reason: '*** -[__NSPlaceholderSet initWithObjects:count:]: attempt to insert nil object from objects[0]'

*** First throw call stack:

(

    0   CoreFoundation                      0x00007fff8e7f103c __exceptionPreprocess + 172

    1   libobjc.A.dylib                     0x00007fff8716476e objc_exception_throw + 43

    2   CoreFoundation                      0x00007fff8e6a6caf -[__NSPlaceholderSet initWithObjects:count:] + 399

    3   CoreFoundation                      0x00007fff8e7231ff +[NSSet setWithObject:] + 47

    4   AnnotationKit                       0x0000000106e788d7 -[AKAttributeController _updateStateOnSenderFromSelf:] + 503

    5   AnnotationKit                       0x0000000106e7793f -[AKAttributeController _updateStateOnSender:] + 135

    6   AnnotationKit                       0x0000000106e742c1 -[AKAttributeController validateAttributeSender:] + 176

    7   AnnotationKit                       0x0000000106e79095 -[AKActionController validateSender:] + 206

    8   AnnotationKit                       0x0000000106e38e47 -[AKTextAttributesViewController validateUserInterfaceItems] + 116

    9   AnnotationKit                       0x0000000106eb9af8 -[AKToolbarViewController_Mac revalidateItems] + 501

    10  AnnotationKit                       0x0000000106e76677 -[AKAttributeController _syncAttributesFromSelectedAnnotationsToUI] + 82

    11  AnnotationKit                       0x0000000106e74375 -[AKAttributeController setModelControllerToObserveForSelections:] + 143

    12  AnnotationKit                       0x0000000106e47408 -[AKController observeValueForKeyPath:ofObject:change:context:] + 887

    13  Foundation                          0x00007fff8aa581c3 NSKeyValueNotifyObserver + 382

    14  Foundation                          0x00007fff8aa64e38 NSKeyValueDidChange + 463

    15  Foundation                          0x00007fff8aa1da4d -[NSObject(NSKeyValueObserverNotification) didChangeValueForKey:] + 118

    16  Preview                             0x0000000106bc24ea Preview + 107754

    17  Preview                             0x0000000106bbc3d7 Preview + 82903

    18  Preview                             0x0000000106bb33f9 Preview + 46073

    19  AppKit                              0x00007fff8ca08857 -[NSWindowController _windowDidLoad] + 586

    20  AppKit                              0x00007fff8c9f0b83 -[NSWindowController window] + 110

    21  Preview                             0x0000000106bb1416 Preview + 37910

    22  AppKit                              0x00007fff8ca02bd2 -[NSWindowController showWindow:] + 36

    23  Preview                             0x0000000106bb289a Preview + 43162

    24  Foundation                          0x00007fff8aa45ef1 -[NSObject(NSThreadPerformAdditions) performSelector:onThread:withObject:waitUntilDone:modes:] + 954

    25  Foundation                          0x00007fff8aa45ab9 -[NSObject(NSThreadPerformAdditions) performSelectorOnMainThread:withObject:waitUntilDone:] + 131

    26  Preview                             0x0000000106bb27c3 Preview + 42947

    27  Preview                             0x0000000106bb15c0 Preview + 38336

    28  Preview                             0x0000000106ca607d Preview + 1040509

    29  libdispatch.dylib                   0x00007fff85129323 _dispatch_call_block_and_release + 12

    30  libdispatch.dylib                   0x00007fff85124c13 _dispatch_client_callout + 8

    31  libdispatch.dylib                   0x00007fff85130cbf _dispatch_main_queue_callback_4CF + 861

    32  CoreFoundation                      0x00007fff8e7443f9 __CFRUNLOOP_IS_SERVICING_THE_MAIN_DISPATCH_QUEUE__ + 9

    33  CoreFoundation                      0x00007fff8e6ff68f __CFRunLoopRun + 2159

    34  CoreFoundation                      0x00007fff8e6febd8 CFRunLoopRunSpecific + 296

    35  HIToolbox                           0x00007fff8344556f RunCurrentEventLoopInMode + 235

    36  HIToolbox                           0x00007fff834452ea ReceiveNextEventCommon + 431

    37  HIToolbox                           0x00007fff8344512b _BlockUntilNextEventMatchingListInModeWithFilter + 71

    38  AppKit                              0x00007fff8c8cd8ab _DPSNextEvent + 978

    39  AppKit                              0x00007fff8c8cce58 -[NSApplication nextEventMatchingMask:untilDate:inMode:dequeue:] + 346

    40  AppKit                              0x00007fff8c8c2af3 -[NSApplication run] + 594

    41  AppKit                              0x00007fff8c83f244 NSApplicationMain + 1832

    42  libdyld.dylib                       0x00007fff8f75d5c9 start + 1

    43  ???                                 0x0000000000000001 0x0 + 1

)

12/04/16 9:52:49.189 am com.apple.xpc.launchd[1]: (com.apple.Preview.233764[81092]) Service exited due to signal: Abort trap: 6

12/04/16 9:52:49.582 am ReportCrash[82907]: Saved crash report for Preview[81092] version 8.0 (859.21) to /Users/jonathan/Library/Logs/DiagnosticReports/Preview_2016-04-12-095249_J-MBP. crash

 

 

 

Thank you,

 

Jonathan

Posted on Apr 11, 2016 2:57 PM

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Q: Preview.app crashes on startup. Anyway to reinstall/fix it?

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

  • by Pmintz25,Apple recommended

    Pmintz25 Pmintz25 Apr 11, 2016 2:56 PM in response to InspiredLife
    Level 4 (1,686 points)
    Apr 11, 2016 2:56 PM in response to InspiredLife

    Does this happen in another user?

    Create a new user and see if the issue persists to make sure it is not an issue with your user.

     

    Otherwise, to reinstall an app that comes with OSX, you must reinstall the OS completely.

     

    Restart the computer and immediately hold down Command-R, then reinstall Yosemite.

    How to reinstall OS X on your Mac - Apple Support

  • by Keith Barkley,

    Keith Barkley Keith Barkley Apr 11, 2016 8:02 PM in response to InspiredLife
    Level 5 (6,422 points)
    Apr 11, 2016 8:02 PM in response to InspiredLife

    You can try to delete the preferences file.

  • by Eric Root,Apple recommended

    Eric Root Eric Root Apr 12, 2016 9:56 AM in response to InspiredLife
    Level 9 (72,453 points)
    iTunes
    Apr 12, 2016 9:56 AM in response to InspiredLife

    Do a backup.

     

    Quit Preview.

     

    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. Remove the following. You may not find them all. Restart and test.

    Containers/com.apple.Preview

     

    Containers/com.apple.quicklook.ui.helper

     

    Preferences/com.apple.Preview.LSSharedFileList.plist

             

    Preferences/com.apple.Preview.SandboxedPersistentURLs.LSSharedFileList.plist

     

    Saved Application State/com.apple.Preview.savedState

     

    Credit Linc Davis  for this solution.

  • by InspiredLife,

    InspiredLife InspiredLife Apr 16, 2016 3:37 PM in response to Pmintz25
    Level 1 (24 points)
    Mac App Store
    Apr 16, 2016 3:37 PM in response to Pmintz25

    Hi Pmintz25

    No, when I open Preview in the Guest user account, it works fine.

    Although, as an aside (which I'll raise in another thread), I was surprised to discover that the Guest user account has full access to all files my main user's folder. That doesn't seem right to me. Anyway...

     

    Thanks.

  • by InspiredLife,

    InspiredLife InspiredLife Apr 16, 2016 5:16 PM in response to Eric Root
    Level 1 (24 points)
    Mac App Store
    Apr 16, 2016 5:16 PM in response to Eric Root

    Thanks Eric.

    I see those are the steps I tried to resolve this many months ago when I last had a go at it. In fact I am pretty sure it was Linc who assisted me at that time, although I have had trouble finding that post thread.

     

    So, I've tried this process again (deleting those files), and the issue persists.

     

    Anything else I can try, except doing a complete install?

  • by Eric Root,Helpful

    Eric Root Eric Root Aug 7, 2016 4:20 PM in response to InspiredLife
    Level 9 (72,453 points)
    iTunes
    Aug 7, 2016 4:20 PM in response to InspiredLife

    If the problem is still there, try booting into the Safe Mode using your normal account.  Disconnect all peripherals except those needed for the test. Shut down the computer and then power it back up after waiting 10 seconds. Immediately after hearing the startup chime, hold down the shift key and continue to hold it until the gray Apple icon and a progress bar appear. The boot up is significantly slower than normal. This will reset some caches, forces a directory check, and disables all startup and login items, among other things. When you reboot normally, the initial reboot may be slower than normal. If the system operates normally, there may be 3rd party applications which are causing a problem. Try deleting/disabling the third party applications after a restart by using the application un-installer. For each disable/delete, you will need to restart if you don't do them all at once.

     

    Safe Mode - About

     

    Safe Mode - Yosemite


    Try running this program and then copy and paste the output in a reply. The program was created by Etresoft, a frequent contributor.  Please use copy and paste as screen shots can be hard to read.
      

    Etrecheck – System Information

  • by InspiredLife,

    InspiredLife InspiredLife Aug 7, 2016 4:20 PM in response to Eric Root
    Level 1 (24 points)
    Mac App Store
    Aug 7, 2016 4:20 PM in response to Eric Root

    Just some (rather late) closure on this. I didn't manage to resolve this issue. It was only upgrading to El Capitan that eventually fixed it.

    I ran out of time to try resolving it, so I didn't apply your last suggestions Eric. Thanks for sharing them though.

  • by Eric Root,

    Eric Root Eric Root Aug 7, 2016 4:26 PM in response to InspiredLife
    Level 9 (72,453 points)
    iTunes
    Aug 7, 2016 4:26 PM in response to InspiredLife

    You are welcome.