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Eldberg · Feb 4, 2009, 11:09 AM

My Mac behaves strangely. Every 90 seconds, the icons on the desktop vanish briefly, all Finder windows are closed, and the machine returns me to Finder, from whatever other software I'm working in.
I have looked in Automator but there are no workflows active. No user-defined or pre-installed AppleScripts have been activated by me. I am using OSX 10.4.11.
The strange behaviour started after I updated QuickTime to version 7.6.
Any ideas?

Eldberg

Spheric Harlot · Feb 4, 2009, 11:34 AM

The Finder is crashing and re-launching.

Does this happen even after a reboot?

You're able to launch applications?

If something happened specifically during or after the install of QuickTime:
Do you have any video files sitting on the desktop or in one of the open windows? Do you have time to move them quickly into a folder before the Finder quits again?

If that helps - uninstall any and all weird third-party QuickTime video codecs and reinstall only the ones from perian.org and flip4mac.com

angelmb · Feb 4, 2009, 01:35 PM

Originally Posted by Spheric Harlot

Do you have any video files sitting on the desktop or in one of the open windows? Do you have time to move them quickly into a folder before the Finder quits again?

That behavior might include any other sort of file… as S.H. says, move it to another folder or to the Trash.

SEWC · Feb 4, 2009, 02:41 PM

Annoying, isn't it?

You probably have Stuffit installed.
Open System Prefs, under Other, click Stuffit AVR and turn it off. (Stuffit ArchiveViaRename Off is what you want)
I don't remember if you need to restart, but it doesn't hurt!

This happened to me when I did the QT update, and I found this answer in an Apple discussions board. Thank goodness it worked. About the most annoying thing ever.

Eldberg · Feb 4, 2009, 02:45 PM

Thanks for commenting on my problem.
Yes, it happens all the time, also after reboot.
I am able to launch applications and work normally, except for once every 90 seconds, when I get bounced back to Finder, and all Finder windows & menus close. Am not aware of any special codecs present on the computer, but then I don't really know where to look. Am not using QuickTime when this stuff happens. Have used Disc tool to check the harddisk, and Onyx to rebuild the launch service database. Have turned off VersionCue. This machine has almost no freeware/shareware programmes installed, and no such recently.

Perhaps I should try throwing out all QuickTime files?

Eldberg

JKT · Feb 4, 2009, 02:49 PM

See SEWC's spot - check your ~/Library/Contextual Menu Items folder and if you have anything in it related to Stuffit (or anything else, if you don't have Stuffit), move it out of the folder to e.g. the Desktop and reboot. If that solves the problem, then it was because of a conflict between a CMI and the Finder. This was a well known issue with Stuffit about a year or two ago.

SEWC · Feb 4, 2009, 03:03 PM

Everyone on the Apple boards said it was a conflict between QT and Stuffit, as the older Stuffit doesn't mesh well with the new QT. You shouldn't have to dump QT.
Just like JKT says...

Eldberg · Feb 4, 2009, 03:09 PM

Thanks ever so much, SEWC! You solved the problem. I simply did what you said and turned off the Stuffit AVR rename function, and the problem is gone! If you're ever in Sweden, I'll buy you a drink.

BTW I also searched the Apple support forums but did not find this info.

Eldberg

SEWC · Feb 4, 2009, 04:06 PM

I searched for "finder refresh" and found it somewhere! Hey, as long as you got it working.
Thanks for the drink offer, next time I'm in Sweden!
Now, if someone could help me get php to work in 10.5 I'd be thrilled. I'm about halfway there, but can't quite get it going. I was searching for "enable php" when I saw your post, and had to reply...

randomguy · Feb 4, 2009, 10:42 PM

Stuffit solution nailed it for me, too. My MIL's (mother-in-law) mac had same problem. Thx SEWC!