Hi Guys and Gals,

Before I describe my problem, I think I'll tell you the whole scenario, so bear with me.

Two days ago, I had my internal hard-disk crap out on me (dead as dead can be). I took it to the local Apple repair shop, and had them put in a new one of the same specs as the old one.

Later that evening I installed OS X 10.4 from the original CD and applied the latest updates with the aid of the combo updaters, and used software update to get the other updates not included in the combo updates. I thought I was everything was dreamy afterwards, but now I have an interesting glitch/problem with Finder windows.

The problem occurs if I copy a file in a directory or even copy the whole directory, and then try to paste that file/directory in another location on the same hard-disk or even on another hard-disk, the Finder window disappears, finder relaunches and I can't paste anymore. Am I making sense here? Let me use an example, I was trying to copy the 10.4.7 combo updater from my internal hard-disk to my external one, I selected the updater file, used control+click+"copy command" from the menu, and then in my external disk I Control+Clicked+"Paste command) from the menu, finder then disappears for a sec and then pops back up, but the file is not pasted to the new location. Interestingly enough if I drag and drop the file, it works as it should.

The Command copy thing has really has never happened to me before, any suggestions/comments?

Thanks,

-Rayhan-

p.s. I am running a 12" PB 1.33 Ghz, with 768 MB of RAM, and a 60 GB hard-drive.

Hi MacV,

I know this will sound boring, yet I would - as first port of call - try Booting up off your Tiger Installation 1 Disc, and running Verify Disk Permission / Repair Disk Permisions - and Verify Disk / Repair Disk - and then once everything's nice and clean, restart and see if it happens again.

I mention using the Boot disc to do this, as it's always been wise to get one disk to examine another, rather than a disk to examine itself. Remember - it's had a brain and "memories" transplant.

Give it a whirl and post back if it came back normal or is still doing it.

cheers,

cw

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ClockWork @ Sep 23 2006, 12:26 AM) [snapback]217135[/snapback]</div>Hi ClockWork,

Thanks for the response and suggestion. I did as you said, booted off the CD and verified and repaired permissions twice, rebooted the computer. Tried the copy/paste thing again, but sadly it still doesn't work, it's still doing the same thing. Everything in 10.4.7 is running fine though. Weird!

ClockWork, or anyone else, do you have another suggestion? Should I just backup and reinstall OS X again? If I were to do an archive and install, would I have to reinstall all my apps again?

Okay - and what happens if you cut out the Apple + Click process to Copy / Paste, and instead, just select the item in one simple click, hit Apple + C - to Copy, and then hit Apple + P - to Paste?

In other words - use the "shorter" cut ?

cw

AddIt:

Before you post again, another possibility might be, if you move the entire Preferences folder out of:
Users / Library - and place it on your Desktop.

Restart your Powerbook. On restart, it will have generated a whole new Preferences folder in your Users / Library. Does the problem crop up again?

If not, it's most likely corrupted Preference(s) in the Preferences folder on your Desktop.

May also be worth trying to move the Preferences folder from your HD/Library folder, onto your Desktop into a separate folder, do a restart and try the same Copy / Paste routine.

Repost.

cheers,

cw

Greetings ClockWork,

Sorry to keep bugging you like this. I've had the following results from your suggestions:

1) Cmd+C and Cmd+V works flawlessly when copying pasting from the internal disk to the external and between directories in both disks.

2) I moved the Preferences directory from my Usr/Library directory to the Desktop then rebooted as suggested. The result was that using Ctrl+Click copy brings up the same problem i.e. Finder disappears and then pops up again but Ctrl+Click paste doesn't work. So we can discount my Usr Library Preferences being the culprit.

3) I tried your third suggestion, which was to move the system Library Preferences directory and place it on the Desktop, and then rebooted. Following the reboot, the result was that the Cmd C/P worked but not the Ctrl+Click Copy/Paste.

Hilarious, isn't it? So what do we do now? I guess I could live without using Ctrl+Click Copy/Paste and use Cmd+C/P. Got any other bright suggestions? Anyone else care to input?

Cheers,

-Rayhan-

P.S. Is it safe to delete the System Library Preferences directory I placed on the desktop in Option 3?

Control?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Currawong @ Sep 23 2006, 08:34 AM) [snapback]217157[/snapback]</div>You know... when one uses control + Click to bring up a Contextual Menu, from which one can run down to Copy / Paste - as well as Open, Open With, Get Info, Colour Label - etc - something that could also be assigned to a second Mouse button, yet shouldn't cause the Finder to Quit.

Rayhan - you can move the former Preferences folder back to Users / Library and HD / Library, as they are clearly not the culprits if it's still happening, and yeah - you can use + C / + V when copying files from one location to another, yet the failed use of opening a Contextual Menu exposes an inherant flaw...

As another quick test, go to System Preferences... - to Accounts - and create a quick secondary Account - no password - nothing special - and then log into the new Account and try opening a Contextual Menu in there.

Result same?

cheers

cw

AddIt: Are you using FruitMenu or APE, by any chance?

Actually - now that I think of it, can you bring up your control + Click Contextual Menu again, and type here - everything in its list?

Hi Clockwork

Ok, I have tried your suggestions. I get the following results:

1) new User account: Created that and used the Control+Click Contextual menu copying and pasting from my external to the new home directory. It worked with no hitches at all. Very strange.

2) No i am not using Fruit menu, but I do use ClearDock which uses APE. Could that be the problem?

3) The Ctrl_Click contextual menu when selecting an item/file brings up the following:
- Open, Open with, Print, Get Info, Move to Trash, Duplicate, Make Alias, Create archive of "paris-effiel-Dec2005.jpg", Copy "paris-effiel-Dec2005.jpg", Color Label, Graphic Converter, Toast It, Automator, Disbale Folder Actions, Configure Folder Actions.

I think, I should move my backup my Mail, phonebook, iCal Usr Library to my external hard-disk, then on my internal disk create a new administrator account and move my mail, phonebook, iCal Usr Library stuff there. The only problem is that all the application preferences that were on the previous account will have to be set again. *Sigh*

Thanks for all the help ClockWork. I really do appreciate it.

Cheers,

-Rayhan-

Might be a plan to delete all the com.apple.whatever preferences files in your ~/Library/Preferences folder (~ = user folder). Could be an issue with caches in your Library folder as well.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Currawong @ Sep 23 2006, 09:55 PM) [snapback]217391[/snapback]</div>Currawong,

I deleted all the .com.apple.*yacckitysmackityfiles* files from my ~/Library/Preferences directory, emptied the trash and rebooted. After the reboot, I tried the Ctrl+Click Conxtectual menu Copy/Paste thing from my External drive to my internal drive, and *YAY* it worked.

I am really happy! Yay! Words can't express my gratitude. *Hug* Thanks a million, mate. *me bows to the IT-God*

ClockWork,

Thanks for all your help and patience. I really do appreciate it. *hug*


Gaehl & Disko,

You Adelaide boys, where were you? <_< . As an ex-Adelaidian, you could have chimed in with some advice/ show of support. *disappointed* :P

Once again, thanks everyone.

Cheers,

-Rayhan-

Good going, you guys - worthwhile finding the mosquito in the wood pile. I'd started thinkin' it was a bad Contextual Menu Item in either /Library/Contextual Menu Items or in ~/Library/Contextual Menu Items

If it plays silly bastards like that again, might be worthwhile checking the reporter logs in the Console after the Finder relaunches, just to see if the Contextual Menu fouls up when trying to access a particular Application, which may be in conflict with another.

cheers Rayhan,

cw