I Really Need Help Before My Mac Stops

[soul60s]

I seriously need help. I went to the macaddicts forum and no one would help me.

I am not a computer geek(wish I was). So what ever answers I get lets remember that there are those of us who are simple minded. LOL

I am running a powermac g4 with 1.25gb RAM, 120gb hard drive and dual 1gb processors. Everythign has been fine up until about 2 weeks ago. Now it seems to be getting worse.

It started with apps shutting down unexpectedly. Now it has progressed to the point that my mail will open but no window will open. Safari will not load. I can't use the help, calculator, calendar, or much else that came with the mac originally. Even my photoshop and illustrator have shut down on me.

I ran a virus check with virex 7.1 and it found and cleaned 8 possibly infected files. I ran cocktail to clean my computer (used the pilot on default). Right now the only way I can get on the net is with IE. That is how I can post this now but if that goes, I am in trouble.

Someone please help. I don't know how to fix this.

 

[iWonder]

umm.. im no expert.. but from gathering knowledge by sucking out other mac-forum members =o!! it sounds (i think) like a failing logic board?

 

[D3v1L80Y]

I ran a virus check with virex 7.1 and it found and cleaned 8 possibly infected files. I ran cocktail to clean my computer (used the pilot on default). Right now the only way I can get on the net is with IE. That is how I can post this now but if that goes, I am in trouble.

Someone please help. I don't know how to fix this.

There are no viruses that affect Macs, so the only thing Virex did, was do what any "anti-virus" app for Mac does, and that is find some culprits that may be some sort of Windows virus that you might pass to a Windows computer.

As far as you apps quitting unexpectedly, it was good to run Cocktail. However, you may want to try booting from your Restore/OS CD and then running a Disk Repair from the Disk Utility menu.
I would then boot back from the HD and run a Permissions repair from the Disk Uitlity instead of Cocktail.

Then, if you are still having problems with that many apps, you might want to back up what you can, and then do a reinstall of the OS.

 

[D3v1L80Y]

umm.. im no expert.. but from gathering knowledge by sucking out other mac-forum members =o!! it sounds (i think) like a failing logic board?

At this point, I would highly doubt it was a logic board issue yet. In my opinion, this is some sort of software issue more than likely.

 

[iWonder]

again.. im no expert.. *cry* you hate me

 

[soul60s]

"As far as you apps quitting unexpectedly, it was good to run Cocktail. However, you may want to try booting from your Restore/OS CD and then running a Disk Repair from the Disk Utility menu.
I would then boot back from the HD and run a Permissions repair from the Disk Uitlity instead of Cocktail."


Will running my restore/os disk erase any other files I have on here? Also, backing up is burning files to a cd or dvd? Or is there a special "backup" procedure?

 

[Aptmunich]

You can also just run disk permissions from 'applications>Utilities>Disk utility', but the first way might be better.

You could also consider doing an 'archive and install' of your system.

Just pop in your system disk, select that option and it will install a fresh system, but will keep your files, user accounts, settings etc.

The only thing is that you might just carry the problem over and it will take up some of your space.

 

[soul60s]

You can also just run disk permissions from 'applications>Utilities>Disk utility', but the first way might be better.

You could also consider doing an 'archive and install' of your system.

Just pop in your system disk, select that option and it will install a fresh system, but will keep your files, user accounts, settings etc.

The only thing is that you might just carry the problem over and it will take up some of your space.

I tried running disk utilities but it freezes up on me. I can't even do that.

 

[iWonder]

kick it?

 

[xthisisRomancex]

did u try running disk util. off the install disk ( insert the disk in the drive and boot holding C)

 

[soul60s]

did u try running disk util. off the install disk ( insert the disk in the drive and boot holding C)

which install disk would that be? there are 2

 

[soul60s]

I ran the terminal to help with permissions and this is what it said:
Started verify/repair permissions on disk disk0s10 main drive
Determining correct file permissions.
We are using special permissions for the file or directory ./Library/ColorSync/Profiles/Displays. New permissions are 16893
We are using special permissions for the file or directory ./Library/ColorSync/Profiles. New permissions are 16893
We are using special permissions for the file or directory ./System/Library/Filesystems/cd9660.fs/cd9660.util. New permissions are 33261
We are using a special uid for the file or directory ./private/var/at/jobs. New uid is 1
We are using a special uid for the file or directory ./private/var/at/spool. New uid is 1
The privileges have been verified or repaired on the selected volume
Verify/repair finished permissions on disk disk0s10 main drive

What does this mean?

I did the apple hardware test and it passed everything. Then what causes things like this to happen?

 

[soul60s]

You can also just run disk permissions from 'applications>Utilities>Disk utility', but the first way might be better.

You could also consider doing an 'archive and install' of your system.

Just pop in your system disk, select that option and it will install a fresh system, but will keep your files, user accounts, settings etc.

The only thing is that you might just carry the problem over and it will take up some of your space.

System disk? Is that the install disks (2 of them) or the restore software disks (4 of them)?