Preview disables my 27" iMac w/transparent windows

Question

Preview disables my 27" iMac w/transparent windows

I am running macOS Sierra Version 10.12.6 on my later 2014 Retina 5K iMac. I have been using Preview to sort my photos since it introduction with no problems. Recently, however, it's been dialing my computer. Here is a typical operational sequence that triggers the problem:

Open folder that contains photo files
Select and open a dozen+ JPEG photo files in Preview
Select photo or photo to be deleted or moved from photo file window
Drag photo to another folder or trash
Photo thumbnail “stuck” on screen near destination folder or trash can, curser still moves but cannot highlight folders of files, HOWEVER, if I double click another photo,
Preview will display it even though file does not highlight in folder to indicate it was selected.
Can close photos and open new ones, but if a new folder is opened, it appears as a “transparent window” on the desktop. Transparent windows can be dragged around the desktop but never reveal their contents. Windows already opened can be closed but not reopened and no applications can be launched. Command-shift-4 appears can be used take a screenshot that doesn’t appear on desktop until computer is rebooted.

Computer must be rebooted to do anything.

Can anyone offer suggestions toward repairing this problem?

iMac, OS X Mavericks (10.9)

Posted on Dec 12, 2017 7:31 PM

Reply

Answer 1

raina_b22

Community Specialist

Dec 13, 2017 1:28 PM in response to J Evans Jennings

Hello J. Evans Jennings,

Thank you for using Apple Support Communities!

I understand from your post that you are getting clear windows when previewing photos. I recommend testing the issue while your Mac is in safe mode and/or in a new user account. The following articles have the steps you will need to test the issue in both safe mode and in a new user account:

Use safe mode to isolate issues with your Mac - Apple Support

How to test an issue in another user account on your Mac - Apple Support

Best Regards.

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Answer 2

Jan 2, 2018 2:13 PM in response to raina_b22

I tried starting up in safe mode and working on my photo files in Preview. While I was renaming files, the new file names would not "stick" anteverted to the original names. When I tried to correct a misspelling in a previously named file Preview would freeze and no actions could be done and eventually an error message would appear.After rebooting three times more, Preview would just quit and present the "report problem" screen appeared. Sometimes a partial portion of an image from another would appear on top of the image being previewed.I have checked for malware and Techtool Pro reports everything is working OK. But Preview is acting so badly, I can't get the slides pulled out that I want to use in a slide show. I have noticed that sometimes the thumbnails disappear just before Preview Quits. The Apple tech folks suggest that I upgrade my operating system but my personal experience working with Macs since the first 128K model lead me to believe I should not upgrade until all bug in the present disk load are worked out. Any more ideas?

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Answer 3

Jan 2, 2018 2:28 PM in response to J Evans Jennings

In Safe mode, sometimes Preview shows blank thumbnails and doesn't fit altogether but just leaves me with the spinning color wheel. The screen shot below illustrate this situation. The color wheel has been spinning tor 30 minutes and nothing can redone with Preview except force quit the application!!!

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