HELP: couple of strange system problems

[goodmanx]

i have a 2.4 ghz macbook running os 10.6.8. it has a couple of strange problems. i don't know whether any of this behavior is new as we got the machine with a broken screen and have always run tethered to an external monitor. we just got the screen fixed and are starting to use the laptop with its own os.

one is that neither firefox 5.0 nor will install. after i dragged the disk image into the app folder, deleted firefox 3.x (which also wouldn't open) and tried to launch. i get the following message, "Your Firefox profile cannot be loaded. It may be missing or inaccessible." i can't tell whether there is a profile in user/Library/Application Support//Firefox because the library folder tells me that i "don't have sufficient permission to see its contents" even though the folder setting is that all users have permission to read and write and i have custom access.


i also get a strange error in safari about "a keychain cannot be found to store 'safari.'" i than get an option to reset the defaults. i have no idea what this is about. i'd rather not reset the keychain other than as a last resort.

when i try to open ical i get a dialog box with the message "the file name is not valid"; i click "ok" and the app closes.

i'll appreciate any assistance.

[modelamac]

I believe you have a somewhat borked OS. Critical parts are not working properly or are not there.

I'd try some things in this order:

1. Safe boot, holding the Shift key immediately after hearing the startup sound. It will take a loooooong time to finish booting, but does a "Repair Disk" in the process. Safe boot disables a lot of things, including external hardware and 3rd party software. When you see the login screen, select "restart". Now test for your problems.

2. If that does not work, download and install the 10.6.8 Combo update, which will over-write any bad files with good ones in this areas that it uses.

http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1399

Now test again for your problems.

3. If that did not work, keep the Combo update in your downloads folder, and reinstall 10.6. Your data will be safe and available afterwards. Then use the Combo update to get current.

You should have eliminated the problems with this last effort.

Please report back with your results. Hope this helps.

[Chakravartin]

Get info on the ~/Library folder (the Library folder inside of your Home folder) and have a look at the Sharing & Permissions section of the Info window.

What user & group names are listed there and what privileges are noted for each one?