Safari 4.1.3 suddenly crashes periodically

[Rhubarb]

My Safari (4.1.3) periodically crashes. I select the Report but its lengthy and I don't know what to look for.

Somewhere near the top it has EXC_BAD_ACCESS
KERN_PROTECTION_FAILURE
(0x0002) at 0x0000001

The crash generally happens when I have few instances of Safari running and I'm starting a new instance or just doing something in an already open instance. Not much to go on I know but I really have not found a consistent pattern for the failure.

I do a 'Reset' on a Safari restart and this buys me some time but not much before it happens again.

Any help on what to look for in the report or anyone who's had success with a similar issue would be appreciated.

 

[gsahli]

Never heard of that before. I'd start by doing routine troubleshooting steps -
1) Repair the hard drive using one of these three methods:
Resolve startup issues and perform disk maintenance with Disk Utility and fsck

2) find all Safari prefs in /Library/Preferences or your_username/Library/Preferences and drag them to the trash, then try Safari.

 

[Rhubarb]

Thank you. Your suggestions are new to me so it will take me a little time to figure out and pursue but at least I have somewhere to start. I had no idea of a direction before.

 

[Kaioshoryuken1]

The library is hidden, so if you can't find it, make sure Finder is open, and click Go at the top. Hold down the Alt/option key on your keyboard, and click Library when it appears. You must have the Alt/option key held down, because when you lift your finger off the button, the option will disappear.

 

[Rhubarb]

Thanks kaio..., I will pursue finding the hidden library but I'm concerned about trashing it. What is it about the Library that could be causing Safari to Crash?

 

[harryb2448]

Are you using Tiger OS X.4 to use Safari of that version?

If so may be better off to uninstall it and download a fresh version and see if that helps.


http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1069

 

[gsahli]

What is it about the Library that could be causing Safari to Crash?

It would not be "the Library," but the Safari preferences files within. This is a standard practice, to eliminate corrupt preference files as a possible cause. Safari prefs will be named something like com.apple.safari.xxx.plist.

 

[bare spot]

hope ya don't mind me asking this, having similar issues. did find com.apple.safari.xxx.plist. per above post, so would this be the file i would drag to the trash? i went through users library to find it. basically i just started having this issue of safari crash with pretty much only at certain site, i switch over to firefox now when i use that site but wanna try and get it to work with safari. first time ever had issues and software is up to date, using tiger, on g-4 thanks btw rhubarb, how did u make out, find a fix? coming close to using macs for 8-9 yrs, this is a first for me.

 

[gsahli]

did find com.apple.safari.xxx.plist. per above post, so would this be the file i would drag to the trash?

yes - exactly

 

[bare spot]

yes - exactly

got busy with some things and haven't had time to try this but thanks for now.