Preview (Mac's Native App) Slow to Launch

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It takes the Mac app "Preview" 45 seconds to load after I click on an image. Once it's launched though, it performs normally. I suppose it's damaged, but I haven't been able to find a source from which to download a fresh copy. Advice?

My Preview app is v 5.5.1. It's running on a MacBook Pro with OS X 10.7.3.
 

Raz0rEdge

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Preview is bundled with OS X and as such isn't available as a separate download. Replacing it would require getting it back from the OS X installation media..

What kind of Mac do you have? Does Preview open files you had previously opened when you start?
 
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Thanks for your reply. My computer is a MacBook Pro with OS X 10.7.3.

"Preview" is my default app for viewing graphics files. Once it's been launched, it opens selected files promptly. But if Preview's not already active when I click on a graphics file, it takes 45 seconds to launch.

I'm supposing that Preview application's been corrupted, and that if I can install a fresh version, that will fix the problem. So I'd like to know how to find a replacement.

No install media came with my Mac. It was explained to me that the hard drive was partitioned, and system reinstall software was in the separate partition from which it could be accessed if a reinstall became necessary. But I don't know how to access this replacement system or in particular how to access its components, specifically "Preview".
 
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"Preview" slow to load

Thanks - good to know.

But is the only way to get a fresh version of Preview (assuming the current app's slow to load because it's corrupted), to reinstall the entire OS?

Maybe it'll help with the diagnosis if I confess to having done something really stupid.

When my NON-intel Power Book (OSX10.5) showed signs of being in its dying throes, I bought an Intel Macbook Pro (OSX10.7). I then just dragged the entire contents, not just the documents, but apps and OS - everything - onto the MacBook Pro. Duuuuhhh.

I've been advised that it's a miracle that the MacBook works at all after that mindless stunt, but it appears to have tolerated it pretty well; it seems now to be stable after several minor wrestling matches.

But the Preview app's slowness to load remains a PITA (though once launched it works normally). I can always make Photoshop my default images app, but I'd really like to get Preview right. Advice?
 

chscag

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But the Preview app's slowness to load remains a PITA (though once launched it works normally). I can always make Photoshop my default images app, but I'd really like to get Preview right. Advice?

Reinstall Lion from the Recovery Partition. Your apps and documents will not be affected, however, system files will be overwritten. Make a backup first with Time Machine just in case.

When you dragged and dropped from your old machine to the new one it may have overlaid some files with the older versions - such as Preview. Always use the migration assistant to move files from one Mac to the other. That's the safer way.
 
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Did as you suggested; much improved Preview performance. Thanks.

But got a scare. After I reinstalled the OS, the relaunch stalled with a gray screen and the gear rotating interminably. After a long while, I powered down, rebooted, got the gear again. After several more iterations of thi,s my desktop finally popped up, and all's been well since.
 

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