[kat_xo]

Had my iBook for two days now and everything has been great - except for one thing.
Yesterday, when I was using Text Edit, and later on in the day, when I was using the DVD player, the applications suddenly shut down and I got an error message saying the application had "unexpectedly quit". What causes this, and what can I do to stop it happening?

Thanks.

[SupahCoolX]

This is just an application crashing. It's not an iBook-specific issue, it just happens occasionally with any application on any computer running any operating system (Windows, Mac OS X, etc). The good thing about OSX (as compared to other OS's) is that when one app crashes, the rest of your system is left safe an unaffected.

As for your specific issues: Open Software Update in System Preferences and make sure everything's up-to-date.
You may also want to open Disk Utility (in the Applications:Utilities folder) and Repair Permissions on your hard drive. This has proven to be an effective maintainence routine.
How much RAM do you have? Perhaps try running fewer apps at the same time or getting more RAM?
Can you repeat the problems by performing any specific actions?
If you're experiencing specific, repeated problems with certain apps, post detailed info in the Software forum here.

[finboy]

Are you in OS 9 or X (I didn't think X could have that happen)?

The best advice if you're in 9 is to rebuild your desktop. I know it's new, but that may fix it. Help Center will tell you which keys to hold down at boot to get the Mac to do that. I think they're option-apple, but I can't remember.

If you're in X, I can definitely recommend fixing permissions (in Disk Utility). That solved a lot of hinkiness on both of my machines.

[SupahCoolX]

Well, TextEdit is an OSX app, so I would assume he's using X.

[ClaraT]

Originally posted by finboy:
Are you in OS 9 or X (I didn't think X could have that happen)?

The best advice if you're in 9 is to rebuild your desktop. I know it's new, but that may fix it. Help Center will tell you which keys to hold down at boot to get the Mac to do that. I think they're option-apple, but I can't remember.

If you're in X, I can definitely recommend fixing permissions (in Disk Utility). That solved a lot of hinkiness on both of my machines.

When I open disk utility there are two drives. The one that is first with an image, at the top, says Fujitsu, etc. Then below that is another image that says Macintosh HD. Do you run Permissions on both of them?

Confused and nervous I'll break something.

thanks,

ClaraT

[SupahCoolX]

It doesn't really matter- it's the same drive. It only really becomes an issue if you use partitions (where you set up one hard drive to look/act like several different drives).
As a general rule of thumb, running Repair Permissions won't break anything (of course, there are certain circumstances, but only when things are seriously screwed up and it's not your fault).

[henrytaylor]

Yes, it can happen in OSX, I speak from experience. The advice about repair permissions is good advice. Might want to run crons also. I use both Terminal and MacJanitor for this. Good luck with the Mac, I love mine.

Henry