[phi]

Hi guys,

This is driving me crazy.

This problem developed several weeks ago. This problem would occur after several hours of using the computer, usually, when I wake up my MacBook Pro from its 'Sleep' mode.

I would be unable to drag anything. I could not drag tabs in Firefox, I could drag icons off and on to the Dock, I could not drag files and folders in Finder.

This problem occurs only after I use the Mac for a period of time. The only way I have found that solves this problem is to reboot.

However, I have used my MacBook Pro for quite a while. It was never like this. It could go on weeks without a single reboot or crash.

What has happened? I would much appreciate someone with an answer. I have googled and searched the ends of the forum without finding a conclusive answer. There are others who have encountered this problem but their threads went unanswered.

Thank you for taking the time to read my post.

[phi]

An additional note.

I am using a 2.16Ghz Core 2 Duo MacBook Pro with 2GB RAM running off the default Apple Hard Disk with all Software Updates installed. Running 10.4.10

To solve this problem, I have reformatted my Mac twice! The same problem has still come back.

I have tried disabling all of my running applications but it still does not fix the problem.

Programs usually running:
Firefox
Quicksilver
VirtueDesktops
Jumpcut
SynergyKM
TextExpander
NeoOffice
TimeOut
iGTD
Adobe CS3

[JKT]

When it happens, launch Console in the /Applications/Utilities folder and look at the console.log and system.log to see if there are any error messages (e.g. something has probably crashed silently in the background). You are also running a lot of software that is or uses a system hack. Quicksilver, Jumpcut, Synergy, Textpander, VirtueDesktops, CS3 (its Bridge menu icon). You say you have disabled it, but how? Most of these things load their hacks into the system at startup/login and just quitting them doesn't unload the hack. You need to disable them fully and reboot.
Of the list you have, my guess would be that it is either Quicksilver, Jumpcut or Textpander as they directly interact with the clipboard.

[Chuckit]

Since when is Quicksilver a system hack? It's a standalone application that as far as I know works mainly through Apple Events.

[phi]

Originally Posted by JKT 

When it happens, launch Console in the /Applications/Utilities folder and look at the console.log and system.log to see if there are any error messages (e.g. something has probably crashed silently in the background). You are also running a lot of software that is or uses a system hack. Quicksilver, Jumpcut, Synergy, Textpander, VirtueDesktops, CS3 (its Bridge menu icon). You say you have disabled it, but how? Most of these things load their hacks into the system at startup/login and just quitting them doesn't unload the hack. You need to disable them fully and reboot.
Of the list you have, my guess would be that it is either Quicksilver, Jumpcut or Textpander as they directly interact with the clipboard.

Thanks for the comprehensive advice. I will report back when this issue arises again.

You are quite correct. I merely "Quit" or "Force Quit" the Applications/Processes from "Activity Monitor". I should disable them and try rebooting.

However, the reason why I do not suspect Quicksilver, Jumpcut or Textpander is that I have been using them for more than half a year and they have never given me trouble. However, that is not to say, that they could have interfered with new software updates or by newer applications that were installed (i.e. Adobe CS3)

[phi]

The problem has yet to arise but I think I might have found the problem from the "Console" according to the helpful advice provided above.

This is the error message in the "console.log". I didn't find anything yet in the "system.log"

The error messages are as follow:
SystemFlippers: didn't consume all data for drag ID 128 (pBase = 0x10876f50, p = 0x10876f60, pEnd = 0x10876f80)
SystemFlippers: didn't consume all data for drag ID 128 (pBase = 0x10854950, p = 0x10854960, pEnd = 0x10854980)
SystemFlippers: didn't consume all data for drag ID 128 (pBase = 0x10854950, p = 0x10854960, pEnd = 0x10854980)
SystemFlippers: didn't consume all data for drag ID 128 (pBase = 0x10885070, p = 0x10885080, pEnd = 0x108850a0)
SystemFlippers: didn't consume all data for drag ID 128 (pBase = 0x10876fd0, p = 0x10876fe0, pEnd = 0x10877000)
SystemFlippers: didn't consume all data for drag ID 128 (pBase = 0x108fd980, p = 0x108fd990, pEnd = 0x108fd9b0)
SystemFlippers: didn't consume all data for drag ID 128 (pBase = 0x108cc5c0, p = 0x108cc5d0, pEnd = 0x108cc5f0)
SystemFlippers: didn't consume all data for drag ID 128 (pBase = 0x108cc640, p = 0x108cc650, pEnd = 0x108cc670)
SystemFlippers: didn't consume all data for drag ID 128 (pBase = 0x10a0e5f0, p = 0x10a0e600, pEnd = 0x10a0e620)
SystemFlippers: didn't consume all data for drag ID 128 (pBase = 0x108f6260, p = 0x108f6270, pEnd = 0x108f6290)
SystemFlippers: didn't consume all data for drag ID 128 (pBase = 0x10865180, p = 0x10865190, pEnd = 0x108651b0)
SystemFlippers: didn't consume all data for drag ID 128 (pBase = 0x10a29420, p = 0x10a29430, pEnd = 0x10a29450)
SystemFlippers: didn't consume all data for drag ID 128 (pBase = 0x1089aed0, p = 0x1089aee0, pEnd = 0x1089af00)
SystemFlippers: didn't consume all data for drag ID 128 (pBase = 0x108b3320, p = 0x108b3330, pEnd = 0x108b3350)
SystemFlippers: didn't consume all data for drag ID 128 (pBase = 0x108c0800, p = 0x108c0810, pEnd = 0x108c0830)
SystemFlippers: didn't consume all data for drag ID 128 (pBase = 0x108ddbc0, p = 0x108ddbd0, pEnd = 0x108ddbf0)
SystemFlippers: didn't consume all data for drag ID 128 (pBase = 0x10a7a460, p = 0x10a7a470, pEnd = 0x10a7a490)
SystemFlippers: didn't consume all data for drag ID 128 (pBase = 0x10a5e130, p = 0x10a5e140, pEnd = 0x10a5e160)
SystemFlippers: didn't consume all data for drag ID 128 (pBase = 0x10a50ef0, p = 0x10a50f00, pEnd = 0x10a50f20)
SystemFlippers: didn't consume all data for drag ID 128 (pBase = 0x10a58ac0, p = 0x10a58ad0, pEnd = 0x10a58af0)
SystemFlippers: didn't consume all data for drag ID 128 (pBase = 0x10a5e0b0, p = 0x10a5e0c0, pEnd = 0x10a5e0e0)
SystemFlippers: didn't consume all data for drag ID 128 (pBase = 0x10a5e0b0, p = 0x10a5e0c0, pEnd = 0x10a5e0e0)
SystemFlippers: didn't consume all data for drag ID 128 (pBase = 0x10a3c940, p = 0x10a3c950, pEnd = 0x10a3c970)
SystemFlippers: didn't consume all data for drag ID 128 (pBase = 0x10a73c40, p = 0x10a73c50, pEnd = 0x10a73c70)
SystemFlippers: didn't consume all data for drag ID 128 (pBase = 0x10a40ef0, p = 0x10a40f00, pEnd = 0x10a40f20)
SystemFlippers: didn't consume all data for drag ID 128 (pBase = 0x108aea30, p = 0x108aea40, pEnd = 0x108aea60)
SystemFlippers: didn't consume all data for drag ID 128 (pBase = 0x10a96f00, p = 0x10a96f10, pEnd = 0x10a96f30)
SystemFlippers: didn't consume all data for drag ID 128 (pBase = 0x10a96f00, p = 0x10a96f10, pEnd = 0x10a96f30)
SystemFlippers: didn't consume all data for drag ID 128 (pBase = 0x10ad8200, p = 0x10ad8210, pEnd = 0x10ad8230)
SystemFlippers: didn't consume all data for drag ID 128 (pBase = 0x10a96f00, p = 0x10a96f10, pEnd = 0x10a96f30)
SystemFlippers: didn't consume all data for drag ID 128 (pBase = 0x1087fbb0, p = 0x1087fbc0, pEnd = 0x1087fbe0)
SystemFlippers: didn't consume all data for drag ID 128 (pBase = 0x10a29420, p = 0x10a29430, pEnd = 0x10a29450)
SystemFlippers: didn't consume all data for drag ID 128 (pBase = 0x10adce10, p = 0x10adce20, pEnd = 0x10adce40)
SystemFlippers: didn't consume all data for drag ID 128 (pBase = 0x10ad8200, p = 0x10ad8210, pEnd = 0x10ad8230)
SystemFlippers: didn't consume all data for drag ID 128 (pBase = 0x10ad5680, p = 0x10ad5690, pEnd = 0x10ad56b0)
SystemFlippers: didn't consume all data for drag ID 128 (pBase = 0x10a6f640, p = 0x10a6f650, pEnd = 0x10a6f670)
SystemFlippers: didn't consume all data for drag ID 128 (pBase = 0x10a6f640, p = 0x10a6f650, pEnd = 0x10a6f670)
SystemFlippers: didn't consume all data for drag ID 128 (pBase = 0x10afdd00, p = 0x10afdd10, pEnd = 0x10afdd30)
SystemFlippers: didn't consume all data for drag ID 128 (pBase = 0x10ae83c0, p = 0x10ae83d0, pEnd = 0x10ae83f0)
SystemFlippers: didn't consume all data for drag ID 128 (pBase = 0x10865100, p = 0x10865110, pEnd = 0x10865130)
SystemFlippers: didn't consume all data for drag ID 128 (pBase = 0x10aee860, p = 0x10aee870, pEnd = 0x10aee890)
SystemFlippers: didn't consume all data for drag ID 128 (pBase = 0x10c06cc0, p = 0x10c06cd0, pEnd = 0x10c06cf0)
SystemFlippers: didn't consume all data for drag ID 128 (pBase = 0x10c02080, p = 0x10c02090, pEnd = 0x10c020b0)
SystemFlippers: didn't consume all data for drag ID 128 (pBase = 0x10c30620, p = 0x10c30630, pEnd = 0x10c30650)
SystemFlippers: didn't consume all data for drag ID 128 (pBase = 0x10c36f50, p = 0x10c36f60, pEnd = 0x10c36f80)
SystemFlippers: didn't consume all data for drag ID 128 (pBase = 0x10c4a470, p = 0x10c4a480, pEnd = 0x10c4a4a0)
SystemFlippers: didn't consume all data for drag ID 128 (pBase = 0x10c4a4f0, p = 0x10c4a500, pEnd = 0x10c4a520)
SystemFlippers: didn't consume all data for drag ID 128 (pBase = 0x10c55730, p = 0x10c55740, pEnd = 0x10c55760)
SystemFlippers: didn't consume all data for drag ID 128 (pBase = 0x10c59dc0, p = 0x10c59dd0, pEnd = 0x10c59df0)
SystemFlippers: didn't consume all data for drag ID 128 (pBase = 0x10c3f620, p = 0x10c3f630, pEnd = 0x10c3f650)
SystemFlippers: didn't consume all data for drag ID 128 (pBase = 0xcbd1230, p = 0xcbd1240, pEnd = 0xcbd1260)
SystemFlippers: didn't consume all data for drag ID 128 (pBase = 0x10c557b0, p = 0x10c557c0, pEnd = 0x10c557e0)
SystemFlippers: didn't consume all data for drag ID 128 (pBase = 0xcba8f30, p = 0xcba8f40, pEnd = 0xcba8f60)
SystemFlippers: didn't consume all data for drag ID 128 (pBase = 0xcbb6590, p = 0xcbb65a0, pEnd = 0xcbb65c0)
SystemFlippers: didn't consume all data for drag ID 128 (pBase = 0xcbab8d0, p = 0xcbab8e0, pEnd = 0xcbab900)
SystemFlippers: didn't consume all data for drag ID 128 (pBase = 0xcbb19d0, p = 0xcbb19e0, pEnd = 0xcbb1a00)
SystemFlippers: didn't consume all data for drag ID 128 (pBase = 0xcbb1a50, p = 0xcbb1a60, pEnd = 0xcbb1a80)
SystemFlippers: didn't consume all data for drag ID 128 (pBase = 0xcbb3080, p = 0xcbb3090, pEnd = 0xcbb30b0)
SystemFlippers: didn't consume all data for drag ID 128 (pBase = 0xcbb5250, p = 0xcbb5260, pEnd = 0xcbb5280)
SystemFlippers: didn't consume all data for drag ID 128 (pBase = 0xcbb8270, p = 0xcbb8280, pEnd = 0xcbb82a0)
SystemFlippers: didn't consume all data for drag ID 128 (pBase = 0xcbbb9e0, p = 0xcbbb9f0, pEnd = 0xcbbba10)
SystemFlippers: didn't consume all data for drag ID 128 (pBase = 0xcba26b0, p = 0xcba26c0, pEnd = 0xcba26e0)
SystemFlippers: didn't consume all data for drag ID 128 (pBase = 0xcb994c0, p = 0xcb994d0, pEnd = 0xcb994f0)
SystemFlippers: didn't consume all data for drag ID 128 (pBase = 0xcb1e310, p = 0xcb1e320, pEnd = 0xcb1e340)
SystemFlippers: didn't consume all data for drag ID 128 (pBase = 0xcb1f350, p = 0xcb1f360, pEnd = 0xcb1f380)
SystemFlippers: didn't consume all data for drag ID 128 (pBase = 0xcb1f670, p = 0xcb1f680, pEnd = 0xcb1f6a0)
SystemFlippers: didn't consume all data for drag ID 128 (pBase = 0xcb42d00, p = 0xcb42d10, pEnd = 0xcb42d30)
SystemFlippers: didn't consume all data for drag ID 128 (pBase = 0xcb38760, p = 0xcb38770, pEnd = 0xcb38790)
SystemFlippers: didn't consume all data for drag ID 128 (pBase = 0xcb633a0, p = 0xcb633b0, pEnd = 0xcb633d0)
SystemFlippers: didn't consume all data for drag ID 128 (pBase = 0xcb463b0, p = 0xcb463c0, pEnd = 0xcb463e0)
SystemFlippers: didn't consume all data for drag ID 128 (pBase = 0xcb5ab50, p = 0xcb5ab60, pEnd = 0xcb5ab80)
SystemFlippers: didn't consume all data for drag ID 128 (pBase = 0xcb658c0, p = 0xcb658d0, pEnd = 0xcb658f0)
SystemFlippers: didn't consume all data for drag ID 128 (pBase = 0xcb10d30, p = 0xcb10d40, pEnd = 0xcb10d60)
SystemFlippers: didn't consume all data for drag ID 128 (pBase = 0xcb13540, p = 0xcb13550, pEnd = 0xcb13570)
SystemFlippers: didn't consume all data for drag ID 128 (pBase = 0xcb0be70, p = 0xcb0be80, pEnd = 0xcb0bea0)
SystemFlippers: didn't consume all data for drag ID 128 (pBase = 0xcb0b790, p = 0xcb0b7a0, pEnd = 0xcb0b7c0)
SystemFlippers: didn't consume all data for drag ID 128 (pBase = 0x106ee330, p = 0x106ee340, pEnd = 0x106ee360)
SystemFlippers: didn't consume all data for drag ID 128 (pBase = 0x106e47b0, p = 0x106e47c0, pEnd = 0x106e47e0)
SystemFlippers: didn't consume all data for drag ID 128 (pBase = 0x106e0170, p = 0x106e0180, pEnd = 0x106e01a0)
SystemFlippers: didn't consume all data for drag ID 128 (pBase = 0x106d9d80, p = 0x106d9d90, pEnd = 0x106d9db0)
SystemFlippers: didn't consume all data for drag ID 128 (pBase = 0x106d9d80, p = 0x106d9d90, pEnd = 0x106d9db0)
SystemFlippers: didn't consume all data for drag ID 128 (pBase = 0x106ceee0, p = 0x106ceef0, pEnd = 0x106cef10)
SystemFlippers: didn't consume all data for drag ID 128 (pBase = 0x106cef60, p = 0x106cef70, pEnd = 0x106cef90)
SystemFlippers: didn't consume all data for drag ID 128 (pBase = 0x10c30620, p = 0x10c30630, pEnd = 0x10c30650)
SystemFlippers: didn't consume all data for drag ID 128 (pBase = 0x106cda70, p = 0x106cda80, pEnd = 0x106cdaa0)
SystemFlippers: didn't consume all data for drag ID 128 (pBase = 0x106ceee0, p = 0x106ceef0, pEnd = 0x106cef10)
SystemFlippers: didn't consume all data for drag ID 128 (pBase = 0x106cb920, p = 0x106cb930, pEnd = 0x106cb950)
SystemFlippers: didn't consume all data for drag ID 128 (pBase = 0x106c4570, p = 0x106c4580, pEnd = 0x106c45a0)
SystemFlippers: didn't consume all data for drag ID 128 (pBase = 0x106cdaf0, p = 0x106cdb00, pEnd = 0x106cdb20)
SystemFlippers: didn't consume all data for drag ID 128 (pBase = 0x1069b650, p = 0x1069b660, pEnd = 0x1069b680)
SystemFlippers: didn't consume all data for drag ID 128 (pBase = 0x106cef60, p = 0x106cef70, pEnd = 0x106cef90)
SystemFlippers: didn't consume all data for drag ID 128 (pBase = 0x106920c0, p = 0x106920d0, pEnd = 0x106920f0)
SystemFlippers: didn't consume all data for drag ID 128 (pBase = 0x1069cbc0, p = 0x1069cbd0, pEnd = 0x1069cbf0)
SystemFlippers: didn't consume all data for drag ID 128 (pBase = 0x1068dd50, p = 0x1068dd60, pEnd = 0x1068dd80)
SystemFlippers: didn't consume all data for drag ID 128 (pBase = 0x10689e20, p = 0x10689e30, pEnd = 0x10689e50)
SystemFlippers: didn't consume all data for drag ID 128 (pBase = 0x10686860, p = 0x10686870, pEnd = 0x10686890)
SystemFlippers: didn't consume all data for drag ID 128 (pBase = 0x106832e0, p = 0x106832f0, pEnd = 0x10683310)
SystemFlippers: didn't consume all data for drag ID 128 (pBase = 0x106867e0, p = 0x106867f0, pEnd = 0x10686810)
SystemFlippers: didn't consume all data for drag ID 128 (pBase = 0x1064a7e0, p = 0x1064a7f0, pEnd = 0x1064a810)
SystemFlippers: didn't consume all data for drag ID 128 (pBase = 0x10640c80, p = 0x10640c90, pEnd = 0x10640cb0)
SystemFlippers: didn't consume all data for drag ID 128 (pBase = 0x1063dbd0, p = 0x1063dbe0, pEnd = 0x1063dc00)

[phi]

To add to the above post, the error messages go on for very very long. The above is but a segment of its original length. In actual fact, the error message is the same "SystemFlippers: didn't consume all data for drag ID 128", it is just the numbers that follow behind are different.

[analogika]

From Googling "SystemFlippers", it appears to be a bug in the REALbasic programming environment causing a program to go crazy.

Question being which app.

[phi]

I thought that it meant that I had REALbasic installed which I don't.
But you have made me realize it could be simply a program that was coded with REALbasic that is causing the problem?

[JKT]

Originally Posted by Chuckit 

Since when is Quicksilver a system hack? It's a standalone application that as far as I know works mainly through Apple Events.

I stand corrected. My bad.

[JKT]

Originally Posted by phi 

I thought that it meant that I had REALbasic installed which I don't.
But you have made me realize it could be simply a program that was coded with REALbasic that is causing the problem?

Yes, but it isn't any of these ones, for sure:

Firefox
NeoOffice
Adobe CS3

I doubt it is iGTD or Textpander. I can't say for the others.

[Judge_Fire]

In the olden days, this behaviour was caused by a corrupt preference file, namely '~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.systemuiserver.plist'. If drag and drop works fine for another user on your machine, then you could try moving yours out from where it is and letting the system create a fresh one.

[CharlesS]

Are pbs and coreservicesd both running if you check Activity Monitor?

[Chuckit]

I know VirtueDesktops and Quicksilver are both Cocoa (Virtue is actually open source).

[CharlesS]

I don't understand what relevance that has to the problem at hand.

[phi]

Originally Posted by CharlesS 

Are pbs and coreservicesd both running if you check Activity Monitor?

Yes, I selected to view "All Processes" in "Activity Monitor". I see both those processes you mentioned running. Anything that I should take note of?

[phi]

Originally Posted by JKT 

Yes, but it isn't any of these ones, for sure:

Firefox
NeoOffice
Adobe CS3

I doubt it is iGTD or Textpander. I can't say for the others.

While I can't say for Adobe CS3 since I recently installed it, but I've been using the other applications for a long time and they have not given me trouble.

That is not to say that a newer updates to these applications could not be the problem.

[phi]

Originally Posted by CharlesS 

I don't understand what relevance that has to the problem at hand.

You mean the error messages posted above are not actually related to the problem on hand?

[phi]

Originally Posted by Judge_Fire 

In the olden days, this behaviour was caused by a corrupt preference file, namely '~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.systemuiserver.plist'. If drag and drop works fine for another user on your machine, then you could try moving yours out from where it is and letting the system create a fresh one.

I'll try that. Does it affect any settings/applications? Thanks.

[CharlesS]

Originally Posted by phi 

You mean the error messages posted above are not actually related to the problem on hand?

The quickest way to find out would be to log out, then log back in while holding down the Shift key to disable all login items. If the problem goes away, then it's being caused by one or more of the login items. If it doesn't, then it's not.

[phi]

Update:

I have disabled everything mentioned above except Quicksilver (because it is impossible to live without it and it is impossible that it is the cause since so many Mac users use Quicksilver)

The only other running application that I MUST have on is Firefox. (Which could not be the case too since almost half of Mac users use Firefox).

Any ideas? I suspect it could be one of the extensions in Firefox causing the problem, but is it possible that an extension in an application could affect the entire Mac OS?

[CharlesS]

This is just for the sake of testing. You don't have to use your computer this way from here on out. Just try it once to rule out the possibility of it being caused by third-party apps.

Log out, and log in with the Shift key down so everything is disabled, and see if the error still occurs.

[phi]

I have puzzling yet comforting news.

I think it can be safe to assume that the SystemFlippers message and the drag & drop errors arise from Firefox.

I had booted up all the other applications/3rd Party Preference Panels with Safari for the entire day without any problems.

I'm still quite shocked that Firefox is the cause though, as it is both an open-source project and thoroughly tested. However, a search at the Mozilla forums & Knowledge Base does not review this problem; only a slightly similar problem from Camino.

I will try to identify the offending extension.

Any idea how to "re-install" Firefox?

My idea would be to spotlight all "Firefox" entires, remove the files in "Application Support" & "Preferences" in the ~/Library.

Thanks everyone for the advice.

[analogika]

Are you certain you've got the latest version of Firefox installed?

[CharlesS]

If the problem is coming from Firefox, it's probably just an extension doing it and not Firefox itself. Go disable all your Firefox extensions and see if the problem goes away (you can re-add them later).