Apple (Finder) menu do not respond

Question

I make a search but could find anything related to this specific trouble.
It has happen already few time (3) after download or update a soft (QT) Apple/Finder Menu does not respond anymore to function SLEEP, RESTART and SHUT DOWN.
I have repair permission (no result), run ONYX 1.5.3 (no result), Disk Warrior 4.0 (no result), eDrive -TTP 4.1.2- (no result)...
The Mac (almost) never stop or put in sleep to let utilities like Onyx and TTP check/repair automatically on night.
Since I thought it should be a corrupted preference file, I moved on desktop com.apple.finder.plist, com.apple.systemuiserver.plist and restart.
The two first time I did that, Finder was working again normally. But this time not !
I also try disable Application Enhancer 2.0.2 for testing and also kill the finder from Activity Monitor (an advise), through away again com.apple.finder.plist and com.apple.systemuiserver.plist.
At restart, still no response at menu Sleep, start etc...
Any idea what could I try now to solve that ? It's so boring !

Answer 1

Hi cldjr!
Which of your Macs are you having a problem with? The iMac or the iBook?
What size is the Hard Drive, and how much space is available?
How much RAM is installed, and is it original or added?
By all means, run Repair Permissions, as Dimaxum suggested, which should be run from Disk Utility, located in the Utilities folder, while booted from the Startup Volume, not from the system disc. Instructions posted below.
In addition, if you are able to startup from the system disc, run Repair Disk. Instructions posted below.
If neither of those corrects the problem, reinstalling the 10.3.9 Combo Update, may correct the problem.
When completed, run Repair Permissions once again.
TO REPAIR PERMISSIONS ON THE STARTUP DISK
1.Open Disk Utility, located in Applications/Utilities, and select the startup disk in the left column.
2.Click First Aid.
3.Click Verify Disk Permissions to test permissions or Repair Disk Permissions to test and repair permissions. (I never "Verify". Just run "Repair".)
Rerun RP until the only messages reported, are listed here Spurious Permissions Errors Using: 10.3.x
When "Repair Permissions" is complete. Quit "Disk Utility".
THESE ARE THE STEPS FOR USING DISK UTILITY TO REPAIR YOUR HD
1.Insert the System Install disk, Mac OS X CD-ROM disk, or Restore DVD disk, then restart the computer while holding the C key. Use the System disk, of the OS, that is currently installed.
2.Once started up from CD or DVD, on the Menubar at the top of the screen, choose Disk Utility from the Installer contextual menu for Panther, or Utilities for Tiger.
Important: Do not click Continue in the first screen of the Installer. If you do, you must restart from disc to access Disk Utility.
3.Click the First Aid tab.
4.Click the disclosure triangle to the left of the hard drive icon to display the names of your hard disk volumes and partitions.
5.Select your Mac OS X volume, if necessary.
6.Click Repair. If DU reports errors it has fixed, re-run Repair Disk until no errors are reported.
7.Repeat steps 5 & 6, but select the Hard Drive this time. It's usually the first listed with the manufacturer's model number. Make note of the S.M.A.R.T. status.
8.When finished, select Quit Disk Utility from the Installer menu.
9.Select Quit Installer from the Installer menu.
10.In the resulting pop-up window, choose restart.
11.After the computer has restarted, you can eject the CD.
ali b