Applications suddenly quits - need an answer please

Question

Hello!
I don't know if I'm the good category for my question by, well, don't know what to do so if somene could help me.
Since about a week, different application suddenly quits when I try to do a task.
As an example, MSN Messenger, I can open it and log in, but if I try to speak with one of my contact, the application quit, with this report: EXC_EXCEPTION BREAKPOINT
Same thing with Acrobat reader, it open, but if I want to print the file, it quit..
Same thing with Safari, I can use it, but sometime it quit, like if I click on an image on a site like eBay to see the item...
Well if somebody have an answer for me, it would be appreciate.
Thank you!

Answer 1

Hi karine_l!
Exactly which model Mac G4 is it?
What is the Processor speed?
How much RAM is installed, and is it original or added?
What size is the Hard Drive, and how much space is available?
Exactly which version of Panther 10.3.x is installed?
What happened between the last time the Mac functioned successfully, and when it didn't?
Have you made any changes, like upgrading the system, updated or installed any applications or programs, etc?
Have you deleted, disabled, or added any Fonts?
Have there been any unusual occurences, like freezes, crashes, power outages, etc?
Have you run Repair Permissions?
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, authored by Michael Conniff.
Have you run Repair Disk?
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.
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.
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