All the troubleshooting assistance found here has been re-written and updated
in my Macintosh Troubleshooting book: 'Fix a troubled Mac'
Available to purchase ($15), from the KAGI online store.
These Procedures are for any Macintosh that can boot into Mac OS 9.2.2 or earlier.
If you need Mac OS X bootable only Support, go here
Troubleshooting
an unstable Finder
Try these steps in this order first. If you solve a the problem,
there is likely no need to go to the next step.
- Move the System Folder > Preferences Folder to the desktop
If this resolves the problem, the likely Corrupt Preferences are as follows:
(Move the original Preferences folder back (delete new one first) and move the following to trash:
- System Prefs
- Finder Prefs
- MacOS Prefs
- Appleshare Prep
- If using Mac OS 9, go into System Folder > Servers Folder and delete the contents of it
Duplicate or corrupt server logins or missing servers cause lots of startup problems in Mac OS 9+
- Disable any AntiVirus Software, Norton's File Saver etc, Diskwarrior or TechTool Protection extensions
- Disable Extensis Menu Fonts, often called '~MenuFonts'
- Disable Font software like Extensis suitcase, or ~ATM or ~ATM (Adobe Type Manager deluxe)
(sometimes disable, restart, re-enable, solves any strange font behaviour when Finder loads)
- Hold down the Option Key if a the Finder hangs when opening a Window. This will reset any
corrupt Finder Window positions to a default setting. Sometimes this can occur when there are
too many items in a folder. I suppose i could mention rebuilding the desktop at this point.
- Turn OFF Virtual Memory (Would you believe Adobe Indesign prefers VM turned ON)
- Turn OFF Font Smoothing In the Appearance Control panel
- Turn OFF Apple Menu Items Submenus
- Update CarbonLib to the latest version (Software Update in Mac OS 9).
Sometimes downgrading solves problems.
- Turn OFF File Sharing (just to determine if that is the problem ;-)