tried to open my safari a question mark appeared over it

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I am very new to using a forum, but am at a total loss with this...
I turned on my iMac nite before last and when I tried to open my safari a question mark appeared over it and wouldn't run. so I checked all the programs on the toolbar, and my iPhoto and word are doing the same.?!?
I know time machine will be the obvious answer, but being my first mac, I thought it backed it up automatically, like my old pc.
any suggestions please?? I had a ton of family treasures in those photos...

thank you!
 
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Sounds like the apps may have moved, since the icons in the doc can no longer link to the original application

Are all your applications still at Hard disk > Applications
 
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Did you happen to change the name of your "home" folder?
 

vansmith

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approbations
That might be the wrong word choice ;).

As louishen stated, when a question mark appears over a dock icon, the application has either moved from its original location or been deleted. Are these applications still present in /Applications? Can you open them from there? If so, simply replace the icons in the dock that are already there.
 
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thanks for the spell check :)
 
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wow. you guys are quick - Thank You!
I've checked in the HD applications, and sadly there is a vacant spot where iPhoto and safari were...
 
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If they are the only missing apps (I can only guess someone moved or deleted them) then....

Do a spotlight search to see if they have been moved, if you find them, place them back in the Applications folder

If they have been deleted you can put them back from your restore disks. A program like Pacifist will examine your install disks and allow you to copy over just the missing apps, rather than completely re-install Mac OS X

Download Pacifist for Mac - Install individual files from .pkg installers and more. MacUpdate Mac Compression Software Downloads
 
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I am so greatful for all you help!
no luck with the search, soI will certainly do the pacifist.
one last question though...
do I need to reinstall leopard to get safari back to the dock so I can download pacifist? I am currently using the Internet on my iPhone.
again, thank yous!
 

vansmith

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No. If you execute the following command at the terminal (/Applications/Utilities/Terminal.app), you can download Firefox (which you can remove later should you prefer Safari):
Code:
curl -O http://mirror2.mirrors.tds.net/pub/mozilla.org/firefox/releases/3.0.8/mac/en-US/Firefox%203.0.8.dmg
 
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unless I'm missing it (which there is a high possibility) I entered the above noted code, and a bunch of columns appear (%total, speed upload, time left...) then my computer's name, then nothing...
is this what's suposed to happen?
 
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I managed to get a bit more accomplished, but still no firefox... after inputting the code, a constant beeping and a ton of random letters and symbols appeared. at the end, 2c1; 2c1;2c1... followed by "-bash 2c1: command not found"

it seems like we're getting closer...any more assistance available or have I reached my help quota?
thank you!
 

dtravis7


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I just pasted the code Van posted into my terminal and Firefox downloaded into my user folder. Did you see the numbers changing in the columns?
Are you sure you got the who line of code?


Glad I tried it as my Firefox was one version behind! :D
 
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hmm...the iPod makes it terribly difficult to scroll sideways, but if the code ends with %203.0.8.dmg
then yes, I got the whole code.
as for columns, I see none...and no numbers changing.
 
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originally, when I saw the columns, it was before I had the entire code so wasn't entering it properly.
 

dtravis7


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I think what is going on is I copied and pasted the code into the terminal while you are looking at your iPod Touch and typing it in. I have a feeling you are getting some symbol wrong.
 

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BTW it's curl and not cur1. an L lower case and not a One.

also unix commands are case sensitive. I had to type it 3 times to get it to work as I made 3 mistakes.
 
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any other suggestions? obviously, pasting isn't an option.
I'm pretty sure I'm spelling the words correctly...the onjy symbols I'm seeing are .'s and /'s.
 
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I'm at a loss...
I just got my sister to read the code out to me while I type it and still the same response.
boo
 

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The command does work - I tried it when I suggested it and have tried it again. Check the attachment to see what the output should look like.
Picture 1.png
That picture shows that the download is 37% done, downloading at 681kb/s. Are you getting output similar to this?
 

dtravis7


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The command does work - I tried it when I suggested it and have tried it again. Check the attachment to see what the output should look like.
View attachment 10406
That picture shows that the download is 37% done, downloading at 681kb/s. Are you getting output similar to this?


There for sure is a mistake being made in the typing as it works here on 5 machines. How fast is your internet Van? Mine looks the same but you have a higher download speed! :D
 

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