Disk Utility no longer working correctly

I did a search and couldn't find a similar problem, so here goes.
I'm running OS 10.4.11 on a G4 PPC Dual 1.25 GHz.
I've done the regular updates the last several weeks:
QuickTime-7.5.5
iTunes- 8.0
Xserve RAID Driver Update- 1.0
Java for Mac OS X 10.4, Release 7- 1.0
Digital Camera Raw Compatibility Update- 2.2
Security Update 2008-006 (PowerPC)- 1.0
Security Update 2008-007 (PowerPC)- 1.0
Migration and DVD/CD Sharing Update- 1.1
iTunes- 8.0.1
iPhoto Update- 7.1.5
Digital Camera Raw Compatibility Update- 2.3
Safari- 3.2
iLife Support- 8.3.1
iTunes- 8.0.2
Safari- 3.2.1
Since the updating of the above, when launching Disk Utility, I get the spinning beachball as it tries to find my hard drives. It spins and spins and spins, but my drives don't show up.
Sometimes logging out and back in and then restarting will make DU work ok, but that can't be normal. It should work on each launch.
Is anyone having similar problems? Anyone know what the cause and solution may be?
Thanks in advance for any help, and Happy Thanksgiving!

Hi,
Could be many things, we should start with this...
"Try Disk Utility
1. Insert the Mac OS X Install disc that came with your computer, then restart the computer while holding the C key.
2. When your computer finishes starting up from the disc, choose Disk Utility from the Installer menu. (In Mac OS X 10.4 or later, you must select your language first.)
Important: Do not click Continue in the first screen of the Installer. If you do, you must restart from the disc again 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.
6. Click Repair. Disk Utility checks and repairs the disk."
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106214
Then Safe Boot , (holding Shift key down at bootup), run Disk Utility in Applications>Utilities, then highlight your drive, click on Repair Permissions, reboot when it finishes.
The usual reason why updates fail or mess things up, or things don't load/run, is if Permissions are not fixed before & after every update, with a reboot... you may get a partial update when the installer finds it doesn't have Permissions to change one obscure little part of the OS, leaving you with a mix of OS versions.
Some people get away without Repairing Permissions for years, some for only days.
If Permissions are wrong before applying an update, you could get mixed OS versions, if Directory is the slightest messed up, who knows!
If many Permission are repaired, or any Directory errors are found, you may need to re-apply some the latest/biggest updates again, or even do an A&I if you have enough free disk space.
The combo update for PowerPC-based Macs...
http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/macosx10411comboupdateppc.html
The combo update for Intel-based Macs...
http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/macosx10411comboupdateintel.html
Repair Permissions before & after re-install, then reboot again each time.
If all the above do not resolve the problem, then it's time for an Archive & Install, which gives you a new OS, but can preserve all your files, pics, music, settings, etc., as long as you have plenty of free disk space...
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=107120
Or, Might give a try with Applejack...
http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/19596
After installing, reboot holding down CMD+s, (+s), then when the DOS like prompt shows, type in...
applejack AUTO
Then let it do all 5 of it's things.
At least it'll eliminate some questions if it doesn't fix it.
The 5 things it does are...
Correct any Disk problems.
Repair Permissions.
Clear out Cache Files.
Repair/check several plist files.
Dump the VM files for a fresh start.

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