Problems only on main user account, No problems on new test account.

Question

Hi,
I am not sure how to describe the problem I am having other than to say take a look at the pictures and video and see if you can help guess whats causing it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kN9FYRVgcv0
http://picasaweb.google.com/BenLeeke/BlankBoxes?authkey=Gv1sRgCJuU1pin1uKJjgE&fe at=directlink
I seem to have blank pop up boxes despite using the latest browsers and OS. I am running OS 10.6.2 on a macbook and have tried Firefox, Chrome and Safari.
This problem also occurs in Dreamweaver and File Maker. Although not all the time. The dreamweaver problem is very annoying. A pop up box for file management turns black, occupies most of the screen and cannot be closed. So a restart of DW is needed.
This problem does not occur when I switch users on the same mac. So it seems to be not browser related but related to my main user account. Strange.
I do not have this problem on any of my other macs so it's defiantly this particular macbook specific.
I also get blank drop downs in other programs although sometime it does work and if you click half way down a list it will choose an item but you have no idea what you are choosing.
Should I try and migrate to another user account? How would I do this?
Any ideas?
Thanks in advance

Answer 1

If the issue is limited to your user account try starting up Safe Mode (It will take more time to startup in Safe Mode because it runs a directory check.)
If your apps functions correctly that way, go to System Preferences >> Accounts >> Login Items, and remove them. Boot normally and test. If not go to ~(yourHome)/Library/Contextual Menu Items and move whatever is there to the desktop. Then do the same with /Library/Contextual Menu Items. Lastly, try moving ~(yourHome)/Library/Fonts to your desktop and restarting.
-mj
Log out/in or restart, if that sorts it start putting items back one at a time until you find the culprit.