Apps hang on quit

Question

Here's the deal:
A couple days ago, around the time of the Adium 0.89.1 release and the Mac OS X 10.4.6 release, some apps, specifically Adium, Safari, iCal, and Mail will sometimes hang when I try to quit. Any open windows will close, but the app won't shut down until I Force Quit. It doesn't happen all the time, but I've noticed the longer I've had the app open, the more often it hangs on a quit. Everything is still usable, but I'd like to prevent this from happening.
To solve, I've tried repairing permissions from the install DVD, resetting PRAM (I realize this really shouldn't work anyways), using MacJanitor to clean out caches, restarting in Safe Boot, and restarting without any peripherals, but all to no avail. I've also reinstalled Adium 0.89.1, because I thought it might have something to do with the update, as now whenever I open it, I get a "this message should only appear once" message. I've also refrained from updating to 10.4.6, fearing it might make it worse.
Any suggestions?
14 iBook G4, 1(.07)GHz   Mac OS X (10.4.5)   iSight, 40 GB ext HD, 128 MB flash drive/ mouse combo

Answer 1

That's good news that it's limited to your user!
Log back into your normal user account:
Here's the whole litany for thoroughly checking your home folder.(in your case try #4 and #2 first)
1. Navigate to ~(yourhome/library/fonts - drag this folder to the desktop.
• Restart and test your applications.
• If they work start adding the fonts back few at a time.
( Likely suspects are Times RO & Helvetica Fractions, also if you do not use Classic you can trash the classic fonts.)
2. Check Preferences Thoroughly;
• Navigate to ~(yourhome/library/preferences drag this folder to the desktop.
• Restart and test your applications.
• If this works, save the old preferences folder somewhere else or on disk, name it "old prefs" .
** Note: A very important file is the "com.apple.Mail.plist" preference file located in the Preferences folder which contains all email account settings and general mail preferences (hold this one and replace if your problem is not with Mail).
You'll have to go through some of your System Preferences and apps to set the preferences back to how you like them. (Or if you have the time and inclination, "cherry pick" through until you find the problem one or two.)
3. Check Permissions Inside Home Folder
• Navigate to yourhome/library.
• Get Info (Command - i) on folders for apps you are having problems with.
• Open the "Ownership & permissions" disclosure triangle.
• Make sure you are the owner, with "read and write" access.
• Click on "apply to all"
• If this is correct, open the "Applications Support" folder and do the same procedure (Command+I) for the folders with the names of the applications you are having trouble with.
Note:
The reason to check this is because repairing permissions with Disk Utility doesn't touch permissions inside your home folder.
4. Navigate to yourhome/library/caches and drag this folder to the trash, then log out and back or restart. There is no need to replace this folder.
-mj
[email protected]