Some programs won't launch from menu/desktop - XFCE

I've recently installed a few programs for my desktop - mainly Anki, and MDM login manager. They installed fine, and as most programs do - produced a menu app for it. But for some odd reason, no matter if I try to access it by the XFCE menu, or even creating a desktop icon for it; the program will not launch. Nothing happens. On the other hand, if I launch the program through the terminal I have no issues. It's more of an annoyance than it is a huge problem, but if anyone could help me fix this I'd really appreciate it.
As a side note, it's not an issue of logging out and back in as this has been an ongoing problem for about a week of logout's/reboot's/shutdown's, etc. I'm not sure what kind of information you would need to help diaognose this, so if I can provide anything else of use, please let me know.

For Anki - Both .desktop and terminal command is the same. When trying to launch it with run in terminal, it complains of an untrusted application launcher. I have the choice to launch anyways, or mark as executable. After marking it as executable, the terminal appears for a brief second, then disappears with nothing else.
MDM Launcher - The .desktop is different - pkexec /usr/bin/mdmsetup - where I just type mdmsetup in terminal. When clicking to run in terminal, a polkit authentication pops up in the terminal with sudo and asks for permission to run, and my password. After I type it in, it disappears and nothing launches. If I go into a terminal and choose the same as the the .desktop, the authentication pops up, I repeate the process but this time I get this error: "(mdmsetup:3766): Gtk-WARNING **: cannot open display:"

Similar Messages

Software Update + System Preferences won't launch from menu bar

For some reason, I cannot launch Software Update or System Preferences from the apple menu bar. This happened after I quit Parallels. I can open System Preferences from Applications. I tried launching Software Update from About this Mac, and that didn't work either. Is there something I can do in Terminal?
Thanks in advance,
Eric

Hi Eric, I doubt Terminal would be the way to go.
Have you done Disk Maintenance with Disk Utility lately?
Using Disk Utility in Mac OS X 10.4.3 or later to verify or repair disks...
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=302672
About Disk Utility's Repair Disk Permissions feature...
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=25751

Programs won't launch from Dock or Applications.

has anyone seen this problem; I click on a program in the dock and the black triangle appears showing it is to launch, but the black triangle flashes two or three tims and then disappears. the program never runs. i am having this problem on one of 9 G4 computers running 10.3.9. it only happens with Safari, Peak Express 4 and install files compressed with stuffit.

If you have updated the software then the original icon in the dock may not work.
Try this:
1. Click on the Macintosh HD
2. Click The Applications Button.
3. Find the application you wish to open
4. If the application icon bounces in a different place to normal then Ctrl click on that Icon and choose "keep in dock"
5. Drag the old icon of the dock on to the desktop, It will go up in a cloud of smoke.
HTH.
G3 Imac 400Mhz Mac OS X (10.2.x)

CC cloud desktop manager won't launch from win 8.1. It won't let me uninstall it either. Deadlock

I installed CC cloud desktop manager and it won't launch from win 8.1. It won't let me uninstall it either. I'm in a deadlock and can't get to my subscription. How do I remove it from my PC and re-install it ?

App doesn't open | Progress wheel spins continually
https://helpx.adobe.com/creative-cloud/kb/creative-cloud-app-doesnt-open.html

Applications won't launch from dock

I have recently had to re install tiger and was not able to use archive function so had to erase.
Most files etc were OK and was able to shift stuff around between the macs hard drive and an external storage device.
Lost of stuff got duplicated and I've been trying to sort out the mess!
I'm pretty well there now but have one last weird problem.
I can't launch the Word or Excell apps from the dock.
I've deleted and added them and also re installed the Office software but it still won't work.
I can open any of my Word or Excell files from the docs folder but the programme won't launch from the dock
Any ideas?

What happens if you go to office preferences (from your pulldown menu with Word or Excel open) >> general >> "show project gallery at startup" and deselect that item?
It's also possible that it could be a font that Office does not care for. Try dragging ~(yourhome)/library/fonts to the desktop and logging out and back in or restarting.
-mj
[email protected]

Safari 2.0.3 won't launch from Mail

Since the new security update yesterday for OS X4.5, my Safari browser 2.0.3 won't launch from the Mail e-mail program.
What do I do now? It was working perfectly before the update.
Kathy : (

I've had the same problem using numerous apps and on different Macs since updating to 10.4.5. Today, using the "check for updates" in Quicken 2006, something corrupted Safari completely and it won't launch at all - double click merely shows the icon in the Dock for a second before it quits. I did all the usual stuff: deleted the cache, cookies, etc. Finally trashed the app but now I can't figure out how to reinstall it alone...
G5 1.8x2, G4 450x2, PB 12-inch, iBook 300, iMac SE Mac OS X (10.4.5)

Programs won't launch & finder crashing after recent software updates

Finder and most programs won't launch after a software update. I was able to run Cocktail and repair permissions. I've restarted a few times, and ran disk utility from the start up disk to no avail.
Any suggestions?
thanks

http://www.thexlab.com/faqs/multipleappsquit.html

Programs won't launch since 10.4.10 upgrade

Anybody out there?
Since upgrading to 10.4.10, several programs won't launch. MS Word, Disk Utility, Adobe Acrobat, and others. Safari is just plain gone.
I'm no whiz, but I'm not a novice either. My intel-based iMac did not have any system disks when I got it from Apple (don't ask me why).
I would think I could just download a copy of Safari, but all I can find is upgrades and they won't install.
Q: How do I reinstall Safari? How do I get system disks?
Thanks,
Flounder

He's already indicated that he solved the problem the same way you did. For both posters, get a bootable, external HD, and make a bootable backup/clone before updating. That allows you to revert to the previous good state without having to reinstall everything. Then, peruse these
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106941
http://www.macmaps.com/upgradefaq.html
http://www.macmaps.com/backup.html
http://www.thexlab.com/faqs/installswupdates.html
http://www.thexlab.com/faqs/backuprecovery.html
and adopt the necessary habits to mitigate what happened to you.
For jjstruyf. Since you're new to Macs, peruse Switching from Windows to Mac OS X and Basic Tutorials on using a Mac.

I've had trouble with my Macbook since the first month I bought it. I've replaced the hard drive 3 to 4 times. Now some programs won't work or shut off by itself. Is it possible to ask for a complete exchange of products?

I've had trouble with my Macbook since the first month I bought it. I've replaced the hard drive 3 to 4 times. Now some programs won't work or shut off by itself. Is it possible to ask for a complete exchange of products?

This may help you: http://store.apple.com/us/help/returns_refund
It would appear that you can ask for an exchange but it doesn't specify any time frame... Hopefully someone more knowledgeable can add to this.
By the way, if you've replaced the drive so many times, perhaps there's something else going on elsewhere.

CC Illustrator files (v17.0.0) won't reopen from the desktop. How can this be fixed?

CC Illustrator files (v17.0.0) won't reopen from the desktop. How can this be fixed?
Hmmm, the problem appears to have disappeared once I deinstalled Dreamweaver CS6. Coincidence?
Also our IT department sent me this, but no need for it at the moment:
Deleting the preference folder (in osx it's in "user/library/Preferences/Adobe Illustrator 17 Settings").
Illustrator will then create new preferences.

''FredMcD [[#answer-709783|said]]''
<blockquote>
The programers know of this and are working on it.
</blockquote>

I recorded audio with Quicktime player and the sound files won't disappear from the desktop no matter how I try to put them in the trash...

I recorded audio with Quicktime player and the sound files won't disappear from the desktop no matter how I try to put them in the trash...tried xing out the red x, putting them in the trash...right clicking to make them disappear...nothing works...

Just got rid of them... I closed Quicktime and was asked to delete. So I deleted them. Problem solved.

System Preferences & Software Update won't launch from Apple Menu

I could really use some help with this, I've tried google searches etc and nothing has worked out.
I recently upgraded from 10.4.11 to 10.5.8 and then changed back to 10.4.11
When it was installed (from a Universal retail not the DVD that came with the mac) I copied all the folders from "Previous System" and replaced the newly made ones.
At some point I was using System Preferences when it vanished with the usual message "Closed unexpectedly, reopen, close etc". Since then neither System Preferences nor Software Update will launch from the apple menu. System Preferences will, however, open from the dock.
When they are clicked on the hard drive makes some noise and then stops and nothing appears.
Does anyone have any ideas? Thanks in advance.

Hi catloo, and a warm welcome to the forums!
This is the Tiger/10.4 forums & you might get a better answer on the 10.5 forums.
It's quite acceptable to start a new topic of your own, feel free to start a new topic to attract more helpers to your particular situation, here's a link if as is often the case, it's hard to find out where to do it...
http://discussions.apple.com/post!default.jspa?forumID=1221

Program won't launch on Mac for one user but will for another

We just installed a new program (that is Java based) that we are about to start using in our office. It is the WorkFlows client from SirsiDynix. It works fine on my MAC but 2 other users in our office have MACs and it won't launch. We have tried uninstalling and reinstalling with no luck. We created another user on one of the computers and installed the program and it launches fine. Both users are Administrators. We have uninstalled and reinstalled the program but still no luck. We have ran the Repair Permissions utility on the HD. Is there a tool or software that we can use to compare permissions or settings of the 2 users to find out why the program won't run under one of them?
We have Mac Mini OS X version 10.9.5
Thanks for any help you can give.
Marcia

Launch the Console application in any of the following ways:
☞ Enter the first few letters of its name into a Spotlight search. Select it in the results (it should be at the top.)
☞ In the Finder, select Go ▹ Utilities from the menu bar, or press the key combination shift-command-U. The application is in the folder that opens.
☞ Open LaunchPad. Click Utilities, then Console in the icon grid.
The title of the Console window should be All Messages. If it isn't, select
SYSTEM LOG QUERIES ▹ All Messages
from the log list on the left. If you don't see that list, select
View ▹ Show Log List
from the menu bar at the top of the screen. Click the Clear Display icon in the toolbar. Then take one of the actions that you're having trouble with. Select any messages that appear in the Console window. Copy them to the Clipboard by pressing the key combination command-C. Paste into a reply to this message by pressing command-V.
The log contains a vast amount of information, almost all of which is irrelevant to solving any particular problem. When posting a log extract, be selective. A few dozen lines are almost always more than enough.
Please don't indiscriminately dump thousands of lines from the log into this discussion.
Please don't post screenshots of log messages—post the text.
Some private information, such as your name, may appear in the log. Anonymize before posting.

Final Cut Server 1.5: G5 clients won't launch from icon

So I upgraded my client from FCServer 1.1.1 to 1.5. They have a mix of G5 and Mac Pro stations. The 4 Mac Pros are all working fine after some fiddling and Java cache deleting. The G5s, however, won't run the client launched from the saved icon.
Scenario:
Access the client download from (IP address)/finalcutserver in a web browser - this works.
The applet downloads and saves - this works.
SOMETIMES it asks where to save the app - sometimes works.
The client app runs, logs in, all working fine - great.
BUT...if you quit and try to relaunch from that icon, it doesn't work. Purged Java caches, emptied the cache in the client, etc. - nothing. Updated from 10.5.7 to 10.5.8, same problem.
The Intel boxes all work, none of the G5s do - seems entirely platform specific.
-mike

Heh... I solved this... in a manner of speaking. I really appreciate the input from Nicholas, Andy, RadUS, and everyone else, but nothing worked.
Weird. May be actually a Java problem, not a FCSvr problem, maybe something in the Java implementation of 10.5.7 and later. But who knows? No word on this from Apple. There's a surprise.
Here's the solution I ended up with. It's a cop-out I know, but it works!
My solution was to put the Final Cut Server.jnlp file on my desktop and just launch it from there. You can even make it look like the desktop app if you want. Here's how:
First you have to get the Final Cut Server.jnlp file on your desktop. It's not easy to find, because it's located in some weird temp directory somewhere buried in the recesses of the OS. If you don't know where it is, look through your browser's download history and find it. You can always redownload it by going to your server (yourserver.com/finalcutserver) and redownloading it. When you find it, move it to your desktop. Then do a Get Info on both the desktop app and jnlp file. Click on the icon for the app (the tray with the balls) and press Command C to copy the icon. Then click on the jnlp icon (the document with the cup of java) and press Command V to paste the FCSvr desktop app icon to the jnlp. Then check "hide extension" in the jnlp's get info window. Voila. You now have a "fake" desktop app. Yes, it's fake. Get over it! You won't be able to tell a difference. This is the only solution I came up with and I reinstalled Leopard twice.
Hope this helps others too!
Jason
Message was edited by: nylonoxygen77
Message was edited by: nylonoxygen77

Some apps won't launch

Mail, Safari, iTunes, iPhoto, and iWeb won't launch. (Maybe a few others, so far all are apple apps.) Before this happened I did the updates for iTunes and Safari that came out on 4/2/2010. I restarted and now they won't work. Any ideas? Please Help! Thanks.

Hi Harris, and a warm welcome to the forums!
"Try Disk Utility
1. Insert the Tiger 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. Select your Mac OS X volume.
5. 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.
(If perchance you cant Find your Install Disk, at least do the Safe Boot part above).
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 fails, then it appears to be time for a relatively painless Archive & Install, which gives you a new/old OS, but can preserve all your files, pics, music, settings, etc., as long as you have plenty of free disk space and no Disk corruption, and is relatively quick & painless...
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=107120
Just be sure to select Preserve Users & Settings.
I only use Software Update to see what is needed, then get them for real via...
http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/
That way I can wait a week or so, check the forums for potential problems, and get Permissions & such in order before installing.

Some programs won't launch from menu/desktop - XFCE

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for