Possible corrupt extension problem? (G4 - OS 9.1)

Question

After a bad shutdown, (my fault) of my G4 everything still worked ok apart from one weird problem. Some of the programs I use (Quark for instance) don't 'remember' the previous file location. For instance, if I dig down some folders and pull up a file, and then immediately try to open up another file from the same location, the program defaults to the desktop, and I have to dig through the folders again. It's the same with 'Save As', it always defaults to one particular location, not the previously used one.
I've tried desktop rebuild, zapping the PRAM, Diskwarrior, (which found some errors it corrected, and I've used 'scavenge' mode), Norton Disk Doctor but still the problem pesists.
I tried deleting the System Preferences file, which actually worked, until I rebooted.
I've now tried re-installing 9.1 (but haven't yet tried a 'Clean Install').
I've just booted up with extensions off, and all programs work as they should, i.e. they remember the previous file location just used.
So, I'm thinking it might be a corrupted extension, but haven't a clue which one affects the file location issue above.
Can anyone point me in the right direction? Would this problem get solved by doing a 'clean install'? I've backed-up the existing system folder, however, I'm worried that if I do a clean install, I will have to copy back all my existing extensions & preference files, which will probably re-introduce the same problem.
Please could someone advise on the best way forward?
By the way, I've experienced this problem previously, and running Diskwarrior fixed it, but not this time. I ran Norton first, and have since found out that this can create further problems, and that I should have run Diskwarrior first.
Any help would be greatly appreciated, as this is getting to me.
Thanks
Paul

Answer 1

Hi, Paul -
Welcome to Apple's Discussions.
There is a setting in the General Controls control panel for that, in the section named Documents. The choice of "Last folder used in the application" should be selected to achieve what you want.
Sometimes a preference file gets damaged or corrupted, and the OS will behave erratically. The solution for that is to throw away the preference file and restart; a new one will be created with default settings. In this case, try throwing away the preference file named General Controls Prefs, empty the Trash, then restart. Once rebooted, open the General Controls control panel and reset that option.
If you can not make that setting in General Controls control panel -
Make sure the following are turned on in Extensions Manager: Multiple Users (Control Panels); Multi-User Startup (Extensions); Security Library (Extensions); Security Manager (Extensions). Note that Multiple Users can be turned off within the control panel, it just needs to be in the active set.
Add more memory to General Controls control panel (in spite of its designation, it's actually an application). Doubling the original amount is usually sufficient.
Article #TA21666 - Assigning More Memory to an Application