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DesignerTerp · Mar 10, 2003, 04:03 PM

Ok, I need your help! I am at my wit's end.
I installed Jaguar about 10 days ago on my G4/933mHz machine at work. Did the same on my iBook/500mHz at home. Things are dandy, run software update, upgrade to 10.2.4. Friday I am trying to access MS Word to create some files to upload for work. I CANNOT open Word and when I attempt to, it gives me an error sound and then won't let me access my hard drive AT ALL! Now it seems the problem has spread, and I cannot access my Utilities folder nor much of my hard drive without getting error noises (like the kind you get when you try to click on something when a dialog box is open). When this happens, it seems like a "shadow" of an open window appears on my desktop and none of the file menu's appear (just blank boxes), I also can't click on my desktop.
I've ran fsck and booted from the Jaguar CD and verified permissions and disk and all said the hard drive is fine.
Any ideas? Has this happened to anyone before?
Sorry for the long post--I'm new in the forum, so if I haven't included the necessary info, I apologize!!

G-mac · Mar 10, 2003, 04:23 PM

Hey there, welcome to the forum!

I've never experienced anything like this personally, but since I'm the first one here, I'll offer some suggestions:

Have you tried deleting and reinstalling Word? Perhaps just its preferences folder?

Any reason it could be a virus?

Was there any type of security or other conflicting software in operation that could have caused some problems during the Jaguar update?

Is this happening to both your PowerMac and iBook?

Any way you can clean install Jag? How was jag installed the first time you did so? (clean, update, custom, etc)

Hope this helps and good luck finding a solution!

CharlesS · Mar 10, 2003, 04:33 PM

DiskWarrior.

DesignerTerp · Mar 10, 2003, 04:44 PM

Originally posted by G-mac:
Hey there, welcome to the forum!

I've never experienced anything like this personally, but since I'm the first one here, I'll offer some suggestions:

Have you tried deleting and reinstalling Word? Perhaps just its preferences folder?

Any reason it could be a virus?

Was there any type of security or other conflicting software in operation that could have caused some problems during the Jaguar update?

Is this happening to both your PowerMac and iBook?

Any way you can clean install Jag? How was jag installed the first time you did so? (clean, update, custom, etc)

Hope this helps and good luck finding a solution!

Thanks!!

Haven't tried deleting Word + preferences yet; I think the CD is at home. I will try that tonight on my iBook. I don't think it's a virus--I can't click on Norton to run. No other software conflict when I upgraded to Jaguar. Yep, happening with both iBook and PowerMac!
When I first installed Jaguar, it was an upgrade CD.
Thanks for your help!! I am going to try running Norton Utilities tomorrow and see what it finds. Grrr..

kingskel · Mar 10, 2003, 08:49 PM

Hi:

Since it's happening on both your systems, it could be the cd. I also have an upgrade cd, and had some weird problems. I think it was due to some dirt/scratches on the cd. Having to install 10.1 and update to 10.2 with a variety of cds introduces more things that could go wrong. Just a guess, but take a look at your cds.

Hope this helps.

NeilCharter · Mar 10, 2003, 10:26 PM

Welcome!

Are you using the classic or OS X version of Word?

If you are using the Classic version something could be up with Classic itself. In the past this was a problem and was only solved by reinstalling OS 9 again. This isn't the end of the world since you don't have to wipe your current installation, just reboot using the OS 9 CD, reinstall and run the upgrades as required. Takes time that all.

Alternatively, if you are using the OS X version, then you may have to run the MS office service packs that apparently are supposed to help.

Another problem is the 10.2.4 upgrade - there have been many problems reported with this. I had a problem with one mac in that the Apple menu items no longer responded. But get this, by disconnecting the power cable from the iMac and starting the mac up again solved the problem!

You can reinstall 10.2.4 (use the combo version) by downloading the standalone installer from Apple.

As others have said, the problem may be with the Word software itself - reinstalling that and running the upgrades may help. You could also delete the office files in the library folder (..library/preferences/microsoft), but you will lose changed preferences.

Good luck

Neil

step · 10:31 AM

Originally posted by DesignerTerp:
Ok, I need your help!
Sorry for the long post--I'm new in the forum, so if I haven't included the necessary info, I apologize!!

Hi, first try creating a new admin user and see if the problems persist in that account too, that's always a good way of narrowing down the cause of problems.
sounds like a permissions problem rather than disk related if the finder 'beeps' instead of hangs with the beachball.
just a thought,have you been running as root at all ?
anyway, If you can boot from the install cd, use the check disk and fix permissions buttons in the disk utility ( choose "open disk utility" from the file menu instead of going ahead with the installation)

can you boot in os9? if so how do things look, finder work ok?

DesignerTerp · 12:30 PM

Originally posted by step:
Hi, first try creating a new admin user and see if the problems persist in that account too, that's always a good way of narrowing down the cause of problems.
sounds like a permissions problem rather than disk related if the finder 'beeps' instead of hangs with the beachball.
just a thought,have you been running as root at all ?
anyway, If you can boot from the install cd, use the check disk and fix permissions buttons in the disk utility ( choose "open disk utility" from the file menu instead of going ahead with the installation)

can you boot in os9? if so how do things look, finder work ok?

Hi!
I tried creating anothe user on my iBook at home and the problem followed me. I've also fixed the permissions from the boot cd on my G4 at work and run fsck on it. Still having problems

Funny you should ask about the Finder in 9--just recently (as in the past hour or so) the Finder kept unexpectedly quitting and Quark would just quit. (this is running as Classic) I rebuilt the desktop for 9, and so far it hasn't happened again.
How would I know if I am running as root? I *think* I am...

DesignerTerp · Mar 11, 2003, 12:29 PM

Originally posted by NeilCharter:
Welcome!

Are you using the classic or OS X version of Word?

OS X version--Office actually. Entourage works fine, no problems with it. I tried deleting all the preferences and reinstalling Office on my iBook, but the problem was still there.

I tried re-installing the 10.2.4 combo pack, this time from the Apple site--again no dice.

I think I am just going to try to reinstall Jaguar again this afternoon and see if that helps. I hope so!!

Thanks!!

G-mac · Mar 11, 2003, 01:32 PM

Good luck and keep us posted!

craigthomas · Mar 11, 2003, 01:46 PM

I recently had an issue with Word/PowerPoint and Excel that was font related. I couldn't open any of these office apps but could open Entourage. Someone on this Fourm, thank you, recommended that I check the fonts recently installed. I took out some the latest ones, and boom, no problems opening.

This may or may not be causing your problem, but give it a try anyway. BTW, as a fellow designer, I do not use Suitcase or any other font utility. But because I need to use classic for Quark, I keep all my added fonts in the "Fonts" folder in my OS 9 "System Folder". There are many places to put fonts, but this is the best if you use classic.

Also, I personally would stay away from Norton. Definately get a copy of DiskWorrior.

Best of luck.

GENERAL_SMILEY · Mar 11, 2003, 02:12 PM

backup your MS user folder, and reinstall office... oh and good luck

DesignerTerp · 07:36 AM

Originally posted by craigthomas:
I recently had an issue with Word/PowerPoint and Excel that was font related. I couldn't open any of these office apps but could open Entourage. Someone on this Fourm, thank you, recommended that I check the fonts recently installed. I took out some the latest ones, and boom, no problems opening.

This may or may not be causing your problem, but give it a try anyway. BTW, as a fellow designer, I do not use Suitcase or any other font utility. But because I need to use classic for Quark, I keep all my added fonts in the "Fonts" folder in my OS 9 "System Folder". There are many places to put fonts, but this is the best if you use classic.

Also, I personally would stay away from Norton. Definately get a copy of DiskWorrior.

Best of luck.

Yah, I don't use a font utility in X-still using ATM in Classic for Quark.
I deleted MS Office and all associated preferences on my iBook and things seem to be running smoothly. I have a feeling it is Office related. And the problem originally started when I tried to open Word.
I want to remove it from my G4 except I can't even SELECT the MS Office folder, nor can I access Utilities folder (the icon is missing).
I also found out that I bought an Upgrade CD rather than the full installation disk.
Aye. The whole thing gives me a headache!
Thanks everyone!!