10.5.2 fixed old problems, but caused many new ones!

Question

I had many of the problems reported using Leopard, including multiple daily OS crashes. After they released 10.5.2, I did an ERASE and INSTALL, reinstalled Leopard and performing all of the updates in a timely manner, repairing permissions after each update, etc. After re-installing all of my apps, including FCP Studio 2, I started to test everything. First thing I noticed was that upon opening iPhoto, iTunes, Final Cut Pro and Soundtrack Pro...there were no windows that opened! All of the apps opened, but displayed no windows that went along with the apps. I made sure that all of the windows were "active" in the menu bar, but none of them showed up on the screen. After a re-start, I got most of the apps windows to appear(iPhoto was still not working). Now keep in mind, I had never had anything like this happen in 10.5.1. I also began to notice a 1-pixel-thick horizontal line that appeared on the lower third of my screen, either just on the desktop picture, or sometimes just in the current open application window. Sometimes the line was a solid green, other times it was broken up and black. I also just experienced another "screen going black" OS crash...if that's what it was.
I have been using Apple's products back when I was mocked for buying anything Apple, and I have never had problems like this until they became "mainstream". It seems the more popular Apple becomes, the worse the quality of their products becomes. At least in their "computer" branded products. Anyone else experiencing this?

Answer 1

Sorry but I've not seen anything like this. I've upgraded my own personal entourage of computers to Leopard (we have 5 at home), at work (a lab of 25 plus at least 10 staff members), and helped or advised a slew of friends and customers.
Have I seen problems? Yes but all of them have been attributable to known factors and fixable. The default Upgrade mode turns out to be a big no no with Leopard. Running old utilities that require updates or upgrades are another. Marginal RAM reared its ugly head again, though not as badly has it has in the past. I recall one issue that I tracked down to a very full hard drive - I recommend leaving at least 10% or 10GB free which ever is bigger.
Your mention of the horizontal line could indicate a hardware problem. Running the hardware diagnostics disk would be a good idea. Unfortunately, the tool that Apple gives us is 100% reliable at indicating there is a problem but sometimes a problem does exist and the program fails to flag it. This is particularly true of RAM, so you should keep this in mind as you move forward.
If you pass the diagnostics test, I'd say (ugh) format and reinstall only OS X. Unplug everything but the mouse and keyboard and keep it that way until near the end of your rebuild process. Go online, configure your email, and see if things are okay. If so, while online check out the status of updates of all your software. Download as needed. Now slowly install new software and test the computer a bit before going on to the next. Slowly add peripherals and their drivers. WIth luck, all will go well this time. If not, by taking it slow and testing at each step, you should be able to isolate the offending culprit.