[behnood]

The story before the problem:
I tried to defrag my MacBook (core2duo) with Techtool Pro and it failed, then MacBook didn't boot in normal or safe mode.
Disk utility reported error but refused to correct it, fsck -fy in single mode didn't help too and failed before finishing the repair process.
I used Disk Warrior 4.1 to repair the hard disk and it did the job pretty good and after repair MacBook could be boot again.
Now another problem happened and keeps occurring.

The problem:
After finally booting the MacBook I found that I can't use the system because there is no menu bar, dock appears and disappear in just second repeatedly and desktop icons too. (also I noticed that desktop background has been changed to OS X 10.5 default)

So I think that problem is finder crash (that cause also dock crash) that is happening in only 2 seconds again and again and makes the system unusable even for troubleshooting purposes.

What I did before this post (and problem exist yet!):
1- Safe boot
2- cmd+option+f+o to reset
3- cmd+option+p+r to pvram reset
4- running disk utility from leopard dvd and repaired permissions. (also it reports hdd is ok)
5- made another user and logged in to new user,
surprisingly the new user works just fine and without any problem. (cause I thought it should be a system wide issue)
6- deleted finder .plist
7- moved the .plist folder of old user (after I found that it wouldn't help it has been returned)
8- reinstalled the 10.5.2 combo update

these steps didn't solve the problem. and yet my old user keeps crashing on finder and the new one is works pretty good.

If there is any way to solve this problem (except OS reinstall or deleting the bad user and transfer to new one) please guide me.
the problem is I really don't want to deal with all the data transfer and customization process again! I have all my data in the old user and yes I can transfer all data and files from there but I will be happy if I can do anything else.

here is the log file I found for these crash:
(not in this regard, but amazingly I noticed that the crash log reports finder version 10.5.3!)

Process: Finder [395]
Path: /System/Library/CoreServices/Finder.app/Contents/MacOS/Finder
Identifier: com.apple.finder
Version: 10.5.3 (10.5.3)
Build Info: Finder_FE-6071400~5
Code Type: X86 (Native)
Parent Process: launchd [332]

Date/Time: 2008-03-13 22:34:20.253 +1000
OS Version: Mac OS X 10.5.2 (9C31)
Report Version: 6

Exception Type: EXC_BAD_ACCESS (SIGBUS)
Exception Codes: KERN_PROTECTION_FAILURE at 0x0000000000000000
Crashed Thread: 7

Thread 0:
0 libSystem.B.dylib 0x91937a2e semaphore_wait_signal_trap + 10
1 libSystem.B.dylib 0x9193f505 pthread_mutex_lock + 569
2 com.apple.CoreFoundation 0x91b77e53 CFPreferencesSynchronize + 35
3 com.apple.FileSync.framework 0x94f94eb1 SFIDiskMirrorCopyIDiskUsername + 247
4 com.apple.FileSync.framework 0x94f94d93 isAnyIDiskMirrorEnabled + 17
5 com.apple.FileSync.framework 0x94f95018 SFIDiskMirrorRegisterAvailabilityCallback + 147
6 com.apple.finder 0x0004f3bf 0x1000 + 320447
7 com.apple.finder 0x0004f2ac 0x1000 + 320172
8 com.apple.finder 0x0004f279 0x1000 + 320121
9 com.apple.finder 0x0004f106 0x1000 + 319750
10 com.apple.finder 0x0004ef1d 0x1000 + 319261
11 com.apple.finder 0x0004ec04 0x1000 + 318468
12 com.apple.finder 0x0004e904 0x1000 + 317700
13 com.apple.finder 0x0004e22b 0x1000 + 315947
14 com.apple.finder 0x0004ddaf 0x1000 + 314799
15 com.apple.finder 0x0004da0f 0x1000 + 313871
16 com.apple.finder 0x00028063 0x1000 + 159843
17 com.apple.finder 0x00023528 0x1000 + 140584
18 com.apple.finder 0x000f37d9 0x1000 + 993241
19 com.apple.finder 0x000094e6 0x1000 + 34022

Thread 1:
0 libSystem.B.dylib 0x919379e6 mach_msg_trap + 10
1 libSystem.B.dylib 0x9193f1dc mach_msg + 72
2 com.apple.CoreFoundation 0x91b0c0de CFRunLoopRunSpecific + 1806
3 com.apple.CoreFoundation 0x91b0cd74 CFRunLoopRun + 84
4 com.apple.DesktopServices 0x9452c46f TSystemNotificationTask::SystemNotificationTaskPro c(void*) + 123
5 ...ple.CoreServices.CarbonCore 0x95b1dbeb PrivateMPEntryPoint + 56
6 libSystem.B.dylib 0x91968c55 _pthread_start + 321
7 libSystem.B.dylib 0x91968b12 thread_start + 34

Thread 2:
0 libSystem.B.dylib 0x919379e6 mach_msg_trap + 10
1 libSystem.B.dylib 0x9193f1dc mach_msg + 72
2 com.apple.CoreFoundation 0x91b0c0de CFRunLoopRunSpecific + 1806
3 com.apple.CoreFoundation 0x91b0cd74 CFRunLoopRun + 84
4 com.apple.DesktopServices 0x9452c5e8 TFSEventsNotificationTask::FSEventsNotificationTas kProc(void*) + 216
5 ...ple.CoreServices.CarbonCore 0x95b1dbeb PrivateMPEntryPoint + 56
6 libSystem.B.dylib 0x91968c55 _pthread_start + 321
7 libSystem.B.dylib 0x91968b12 thread_start + 34

Thread 3:
0 ...ple.CoreServices.CarbonCore 0x95ad6d0e GetCatalogEntryTablePos(CatalogEntry const*) + 8
1 ...ple.CoreServices.CarbonCore 0x95ad7d03 CSStoreGetUnit + 43
2 com.apple.LaunchServices 0x96e80074 _LSContainerGet + 45
3 com.apple.LaunchServices 0x96e7f9d9 _LSBundleFindWithNode + 531
4 com.apple.LaunchServices 0x96e99109 _LSGetNodePkgInfo(LSContext*, FSNode*, LSBundleData const**, FSNodePkgInfo*) + 121
5 com.apple.LaunchServices 0x96e98fdc _LSTypeDataInitForNode(LSContext*, LSTypeData*, FSNode*, __CFString const*, unsigned long) + 418
6 com.apple.LaunchServices 0x96e98d4f _LSGetBindingForNode + 99
7 com.apple.LaunchServices 0x96e98540 _LSCopyBindingInfoForItemRefInfo + 930
8 com.apple.LaunchServices 0x96e8c690 ISBuildBaseImage(FSRef const*, HFSUniStr255 const*, unsigned long*, FSCatalogInfo*, CustomBadgeResource*, unsigned long, unsigned char*, OpaqueISImageRef**) + 1810
9 com.apple.LaunchServices 0x96e8bdd4 GetImageForFSItem + 776
10 com.apple.LaunchServices 0x96e8b8c2 GetIconRefFromFileInfo + 712
11 com.apple.DesktopServices 0x94540a41 LockGetIconRefFromFileInfo(FSRef const&, unsigned long, unsigned short const*, unsigned long, FSCatalogInfo const*, unsigned long, OpaqueIconRef**, short*) + 97
12 com.apple.DesktopServices 0x945405b0 THFSPlusRef::ReadIconRefForProxy(OpaqueIconRef*&am p;, bool) const + 272
13 com.apple.DesktopServices 0x94574006 TNode::CreateNewVirtualChildProxy(TNodePtr const&, unsigned long, TNodePtr&) + 200
14 com.apple.DesktopServices 0x9453878a TChildrenList::GetSFLList() const + 1142
15 com.apple.DesktopServices 0x945382c5 TNodeSyncTask::HandleInternalEventVirtualChildList Changed(TCountedPtr<TNodeEvent> const&, TNodePtr const&) + 41
16 com.apple.DesktopServices 0x94538194 TNodeSyncTask::HandleInternalEvent(TCountedPtr<TNo deEvent> const&) + 320
17 com.apple.DesktopServices 0x94537ac6 TNodeSyncTask::SyncTaskProc(void*) + 160
18 ...ple.CoreServices.CarbonCore 0x95b1dbeb PrivateMPEntryPoint + 56
19 libSystem.B.dylib 0x91968c55 _pthread_start + 321
20 libSystem.B.dylib 0x91968b12 thread_start + 34

Thread 4:
0 libSystem.B.dylib 0x91937a46 semaphore_timedwait_signal_trap + 10
1 libSystem.B.dylib 0x91969daf _pthread_cond_wait + 1244
2 libSystem.B.dylib 0x9196b633 pthread_cond_timedwait_relative_np + 47
3 ...ple.CoreServices.CarbonCore 0x95afe92a TSWaitOnConditionTimedRelative + 246
4 ...ple.CoreServices.CarbonCore 0x95b1f654 MPWaitOnQueue + 208
5 com.apple.DesktopServices 0x945399c4 TFolderSizeTask::FolderSizeTaskProc(void*) + 104
6 ...ple.CoreServices.CarbonCore 0x95b1dbeb PrivateMPEntryPoint + 56
7 libSystem.B.dylib 0x91968c55 _pthread_start + 321
8 libSystem.B.dylib 0x91968b12 thread_start + 34

Thread 5:
0 libSystem.B.dylib 0x919635ee stat$INODE64 + 10
1 com.apple.CoreFoundation 0x91b76904 -[CFXPreferencesPropertyListSource synchronize] + 36
2 com.apple.CoreFoundation 0x91b7366d -[CFXPreferencesPropertyListSource getValueForKey:] + 45
3 com.apple.CoreFoundation 0x91b77a3a CFPreferencesCopyValue + 154
4 ...ple.CoreServices.OSServices 0x9630ad95 booleanValueForPreferenceKey + 63
5 ...ple.CoreServices.OSServices 0x9630e220 StatusMonitor::loadNetworkBrowserPreferences() + 86
6 ...ple.CoreServices.OSServices 0x9628a7cf StatusMonitor::start() + 53
7 ...ple.CoreServices.OSServices 0x96289434 NetworkBrowser::openNode(__NWNode*, __CFString const*, unsigned long) + 170
8 ...ple.CoreServices.OSServices 0x96289376 _NWBrowserOpenNode + 58
9 com.apple.DesktopServices 0x9453fdc7 TNode::DoExternalRegistration(TCountedPtr<TNotifie r> const&) + 629
10 com.apple.DesktopServices 0x9453f9d1 TPropertyTask::HandleInternalRegisterForNotificati on(TCountedPtr<TNodeTask> const&, TNodePtr const&) + 131
11 com.apple.DesktopServices 0x9453f845 TPropertyTask::HandlePropertyRequest(TCountedPtr<T NodeTask> const&) + 729
12 com.apple.DesktopServices 0x9453f40f TPropertyTask::PropertyTaskProc(void*) + 177
13 ...ple.CoreServices.CarbonCore 0x95b1dbeb PrivateMPEntryPoint + 56
14 libSystem.B.dylib 0x91968c55 _pthread_start + 321
15 libSystem.B.dylib 0x91968b12 thread_start + 34

Thread 6:
0 libSystem.B.dylib 0x91937a46 semaphore_timedwait_signal_trap + 10
1 libSystem.B.dylib 0x91969daf _pthread_cond_wait + 1244
2 libSystem.B.dylib 0x9196b633 pthread_cond_timedwait_relative_np + 47
3 com.apple.QuickLookFramework 0x906ad9de _QLLockDatabaseWaitForUpdateToFinishIfPossible + 630
4 com.apple.QuickLookFramework 0x906add49 _QLGeneratorCopyGeneratorForContentType + 39
5 com.apple.QuickLookFramework 0x906a67bc QLThumbnailSupportsContentUTIAtSize + 138
6 com.apple.finder 0x00049355 0x1000 + 295765
7 com.apple.finder 0x00048ec3 0x1000 + 294595
8 com.apple.finder 0x00009d22 0x1000 + 36130
9 libSystem.B.dylib 0x91968c55 _pthread_start + 321
10 libSystem.B.dylib 0x91968b12 thread_start + 34

Thread 7 Crashed:
0 com.apple.CoreFoundation 0x91adf0bb CFDictionaryGetValue + 43
1 com.apple.QuickLookFramework 0x906ae055 _QLLoadPluginAtURL + 209
2 com.apple.QuickLookFramework 0x906ae993 _QLPlugInLoadThreadTask + 1239
3 libSystem.B.dylib 0x91968c55 _pthread_start + 321
4 libSystem.B.dylib 0x91968b12 thread_start + 34

Thread 7 crashed with X86 Thread State (32-bit):
eax: 0xa01c54ec ebx: 0x91adf09e ecx: 0xa01c51a0 edx: 0x00000010
edi: 0x0057a530 esi: 0x00000000 ebp: 0xb03b5e48 esp: 0xb03b5e30
ss: 0x0000001f efl: 0x00010283 eip: 0x91adf0bb cs: 0x00000017
ds: 0x0000001f es: 0x0000001f fs: 0x0000001f gs: 0x00000037
cr2: 0x00000000

[TETENAL]

I would just format the hard drive and restore from the backup you did before defragging.

[behnood]

Dear TETENAL
If I had a recent backup I would do that without any hesitate. So this isn't an option.
While it's not a system wide issue (cause the other users work fine) so there should be a solution for repairing the old user status.
Any way, thanks mate

[TETENAL]

You can do an archive & install, and the system (including Finder & Dock) will be reverted to pristine condition while keeping your user folder with all its data intact.

Sine defragging screwed up the system there is some chance it also messed with the user data, that's why I suggested restoring from the backup, just to be sure all data is fine. Most defraggers request that you do a full beckup before defragging.

[behnood]

Yes they do ask for full backup before defrag but as I did defragmentation too many times before (on PC I mean) and there was no need to backing up 50GB of data before this simple task , I just ignored the backup message and you are right that it was a big mistake to do this on a mac!
Archive and install is my 2nd last chance (the 1st one is clean install! if archive and install also fails) so I really appreciate if some one bring up another solution that makes installation unnecessary.
Actually in windows world you always have so many deleting , replacing , editing choices to repair faulty system before just trash it and installing a new one.
(I'm a Mac user for 1.5 year! so please forgive me about addressing windows too much)
thanks

[ibook_steve]

I guess the real thing to note is that there is very little reason ever to defrag a Mac. The OS handles this intelligently.

Steve

[Hal Itosis]

Which version of TechTool was this?
Were you booted from its CD, or the "E-drive" thingy, or a FireWire disk?

[behnood]

Hal Itosis: Techtool pro 4.6.1 from boot DVD
ibook_steve: You are absolutely right, so may be you can tell these guys at Techtool pro that when I want to defrag a mac os drive if I have to backup all 50GB data where is the usefulness of their program?! If I just make the backup and then format my hard drive, and restore my files the HDD will be contiguous and also free of allocation errors!
what is their software good for if it needs a full backup of everything?!

any way Techtool pro and what it did about mucking my HDD is past story.

the problem is still here and I wonder why when I can make any number of users that work perfect I can't just repair my old user by fixing something! in windows there were always a way before reinstalling OS.
thanks

[TETENAL]

This is not a Mac vs. Windows issue. You would have had to make a backup on Windows too since a defragger can hose the file system there as well. And there are no other ways to repair a in such a way damaged Windows system. I don't see how that would be technically possible.

[Hal Itosis]

Originally Posted by behnood 

the problem is still here and I wonder why when I can make any number of users that work perfect I can't just repair my old user by fixing something!

There is a file called com.apple.dock.iconcache which may be worth deleting.

It is located down in /private/var/folders somewhere, and can be found with Spotlight
if the (system files) (include) criteria are added. If the search manages to turn up more
than one hit, might need to look at ownership or date or size or something to know
which one is yours. Else open `getconf DARWIN_USER_CACHE_DIR` in Terminal should
open the right folder (for the current Terminal user) in Finder.

[JKT]

The thread that crashed in the log you posted was related to QuickLook - do you have any third party QuickLook plug-ins installed?

Edit: try holding down the shift key as you log into your user account. If that lets you get to the Finder, try temporarily moving QuickLook plug-ins from ~/Library/QuickLook to the desktop, logging out and back in (this time without the shift key) and see if that helps.