Mac Help CD probblem..

[Ray1]

Hi

My first post so how are you all... OK i trust.

Am new to macs i have a Mac mini version 10.4.2 only got it the other day...and have no idea what to do with my situation... My Mac Help is blank and does not work at all I have tried to reinstall from Mac OS X install disc one etc etc..but nothing happened so i down loaded Pacifist and behold there is a file missing on the CD..this one...com.apple.helpui.plist

1..Do i have to buy a new CD? I got the Mac off the Inter-net (from apple site) i live in the middle of no were in the Scottish mountains etc... so don`t ask me to go to the Mac shop as the nearest Mac shop is over 400 miles away lol and am disabled so i cannot walk blah blah!!!

2.. Can i download the file it some were if possible??

3..or just throw it thought the dam window lol

4 or is there a back door in to fixing this??

Thank you for your time, and remember am a thick Mac user first time

Seem like great machines if you ever get up and going that is lol

if i have done this post wrong am sorry am not use to Macs or computer talk really` buy hay we have to start some time.. `

Ray

 

[XNine]

Generally applications build the .plist file after they are opened for the first time. It is where the preferences are stored for the application. I'm not sure if it's the same if it has "ui" in the name (User Interface, the dock has this in one of it's ,plist's too).

If you have Pacifist, just drag the file that you need off the disc that you are seeing it on and to the folder it needs to go in.

Should fix her up. Also, have you REPAIRED PERMISSIONS yet?

If not, go to Applications>Utilities> and select DISK UTILITY. Repair the permissions and restart. That may fix it right there.

 

[Ray1]

....

hi mate

I know what you mean but always a but!!!! lol

thank you for the answer but thats the problem i have no file on the c.d. its missing??? so i cannot drag anything... if you read the post again... thats the question what do i do with out the file on the cd to drag?

Cheers

Ray

 

[rainman::|:|]

There's no reason your install CD would have help preferences. Help will create the pref files itself, once it can run successfully.

But it sounds like something is keeping it from running properly. Highly doubt this has anything to do with your install CD. First, try opening Disk Utility (in the Utilities folder, in Applications), select your hard drive, and click "repair disk permissions". Try help again and report back.

 

[Ray1]

Hi rainman::|:|

Thank you very much your a diemond mate its working like a dream again phew..

Back to learning about Mac thank you all...

Ray a happy chapie again

dam its gone as i was looking at another help lol ( safari) lol live and learn...

 

[Ray1]

Hi

my mistake its gone again all i get is this

Repairing permissions for “Macintosh HD”
Determining correct file permissions.
We are using special permissions for the file or directory ./Library/Widgets. New permissions are 16877
We are using special permissions for the file or directory ./usr/lib/php/build/acinclude.m4. New permissions are 33060

Permissions repair complete
The privileges have been verified or repaired on the selected volume


Any help???

Ray

 

[Ray1]

((((((0))))))

Hi

AAAAHHHH lol what a bug too have for a first time user the `GOD DAM HELP BUTTON` lol

Thats like taking your head off...

Still i live in hope and just use this site for now 4 help...

Ray

Ps am off to bed look later cheers for the help.... STAY

 

[XNine]

Have you restarted the machine since repairing permissions?

Also, try booting from the istall disc (hold down the C key on the keyboard after restarting the machine) and use the OS disc's Disk Utility to both repair the permissions and the disk. If not I can email you the file later.

 

[mad jew]

That permissions repair above is normal and correct. It's what I get each time I repair permissions too.

From Apple's Support page:

Quit Help Viewer if it is open.
Click the Finder icon in the Dock.
From the Go menu, choose Go to Folder.
Type: ~/Library/Caches/

Tip: "~" means your Home, which you can also get to by going to the Users folder and opening your home folder.

Click Go.
Look for the "com.apple.helpui" folder.
Rename that folder to something else, such as "old Help cache folder".
Open Help Viewer.

 

[Ray1]

.......

Hi

last check before bed

I did what it says on the tin as shown...

-----

Quit Help Viewer if it is open.

Click the Finder icon in the Dock.

From the Go menu, choose Go to Folder.

Type: ~/Library/Caches/

Tip: "~" means your Home, which you can also get to by going to the Users folder and opening your home folder.


Click Go.

Look for the "com.apple.helpui" folder.

Rename that folder to something else, such as "old Help cache folder".

Open Help Viewer.


-------


But when i press GO nothing happens it tells me.... /Library/Caches/ this folder cannot be found??

and thats it... i get a blip sound of no go for you my son...

again thank you for all the help so far... i will check back tomorrow i have had i hard day on paint and canvas see you all later night night... (__)o

Ray

 

[mad jew]

Weird. It should be creating this folder itself when you open Help up.

Nevertheless, two more very long shots:

Quit Help Viewer, if it's not already quit.
From the Finder's Go menu, choose Home.
Open the Library folder.
Open the Documentation folder.
Open the Help folder.
Double-click each Help book (one at a time) to open Help Viewer.
When you find one that makes Help Viewer quit unexpectedly, take it out of the folder. Put it in the Trash, for example.

Tip: If you don't see any Help books here, do this instead:

Quit Help Viewer, if it's not already quit.
From the Finder's Go menu, choose Computer.
Open your Mac OS X volume.
Open the Library folder.
Open the Documentation folder.
Open the Help folder.
Double-click each Help book (one at a time) to open Help Viewer.
When you find one that makes Help Viewer quit unexpectedly, take it out of the folder. Put it in the Trash, for example (you may be prompted for an administrator password).

Quit Help Viewer, if it's not already quit.
From the Finder's Go menu, choose Home.
Open the Library folder.
Open the Preferences folder.
Delete these files:
com.apple.help.plist
com.apple.helpui.plist
com.apple.helpviewer.plist

 

[Ray1]

.......

Hi

I have done this :

Tip: If you don't see any Help books here, do this instead:

Quit Help Viewer, if it's not already quit.
From the Finder's Go menu, choose Computer.
Open your Mac OS X volume.
Open the Library folder.
Open the Documentation folder.
Open the Help folder.
Double-click each Help book (one at a time) to open Help Viewer.
When you find one that makes Help Viewer quit unexpectedly, take it out of the folder. Put it in the Trash, for example (you may be prompted for an administrator password).

When i get to Open your Mac OS X volume i don`t seem too have a Volume??? so i cannot do as above?

Quit Help Viewer, if it's not already quit.
From the Finder's Go menu, choose Home.
Open the Library folder.
Open the Preferences folder.
Delete these files:
com.apple.help.plist
com.apple.helpui.plist
com.apple.helpviewer.plist

Then what do i do??

Once again thank you for your answers and we will get to the bottom of this yet lol

Ray

 

[mad jew]

When i get to Open your Mac OS X volume i don`t seem too have a Volume??? so i cannot do as above?

It should just be your hard drive.

 

[Ray1]

Hi Mate

yes i have HD inside that is...

Applications
Library
System
User Guide and info
users

So do i hit one of these?? sorry am a Mac thick`o with out me help button lol

Cheers

Ray

 

[Ray1]

.......

hi

I have looked at the preference folder and all i have is these two

com.apple.help.plist
com.apple.helpviewer.plist

The other one

com.apple.helpui.plist

is missing this same file is also missing in the install CD in the help folder? hope this information helps??

am away for a couple of hours shopping and pick up my Mac Magazine etc... See you later..thank you

Ray

 

[mad jew]

I have looked at the preference folder and all i have is these two

com.apple.help.plist
com.apple.helpviewer.plist

Delete those two files.

The other one

com.apple.helpui.plist

is missing this same file is also missing in the install CD in the help folder? hope this information helps??

I don't seem to have that file either and my Help is working fine so I don't think it matters. Just delete the two other preference files.

The PLIST files (or preferences) store user-specific information about the app they are attached to such as window size/layout etc. If they get corrupted, they can do strange things to their host apps. Deleting them is almost always safe (99%) and will result in the app in question simply creating a new PLIST file which should be exactly the same as the very original PLIST (the one you had when you first installed the app).

This is where OSX is great because in simplistic terms, the app is a set of static files (will not get modified) whilst the preference file is kept separately and can be modified. If something goes wrong, you just have to delete this preference file (strictly speaking, you just have to remove it from its folder) rather than completely reinstalling the app.



However, the PLIST deleting probably won't work in this case. You are much more likely to have luck with the first option. So, now that you know that the OSX volume is simply a convoluted way of saying your hard drive, navigate to the Library folder, Documentation, Help and check these individual Help books to see if one is corrupted. I'm not sure how to take it from there though.

 

[Ray1]

Hi jew

Airport help / works
applescript / does not work
Bluetooth help / works
Mac help / does not work
OSXHIGuidelines cannot be opened
Voiceover help / works
X422MFPHelp / works

so only
applescript
Mac help

That dont work

Hope this helps

Thank you

Am away for the shops i will check up later on this one... i will delet them when i get back ok mate Cheers

Ray

 

[mad jew]

Is this before or after you've deleted the preferences. If you haven't already, delete them and see if the results are the same.

Sorry if I'm not being very specific/helpful, but this is a strange problem.

 

[Nermal]

But when i press GO nothing happens it tells me.... /Library/Caches/ this folder cannot be found??

Are you typing the ~?

 

[Ray1]

.......

Hi

nermal how are you ok mate..

I did use the ~ sign but still no joy??

I have deleted them two files and restarted the Mac and still nothing???

i have been to other mac sites all over the world they are also having lots of problems with Mac Help?? seems to me Apple need to get there finger out and fix this problem not very good advertising is it for Mac first time users is it??? anyway rant over back on with the problem i have deleted the 2 files what now... if only i had my Mac help i would not need to do this lol

Thank you for your time...

Ray

just finished shopping and have Mac Magazine in hand lol

 

[Ray1]

.......

Hi

Sorry if I'm not being very specific/helpful, but this is a strange problem.

Your help has been great thank you...

Your telling me its strange mate lol i have put this on 6 mac sites with no joy as yet they most think am nuts or something lol i will keep bashing at it i went to the library to get mac osx books but no answers as yet... the rest of the mac is running like a dream... this is a bit like a far out adventure game find the glues etc..lol

have a good one all

Ray

 

[mad jew]

I wouldn't bother with books. The internet is probably your best bet because it's up-to-date. The books will most likely be about older versions of OSX.

Having said that, I haven't found anything on the 'net that helps yet.

 

[Ray1]

.......

Hi Jew

How are you today ok

Yea books are not the greatest for up to date but this one is a mac os x 10.4 besides its helping me to understand mac language a bit better also its great for laying in bed to read lol

I have put my problem on other mac sites/s see what happens in the next few days i will let you know i have looked around no luck yet, its no big deal really i can get my answers here on a search etc... its just fascinating now to find out what it may be... as i said the rest of the mac runs like silk... its probably something silly in the end mate lol

Thank you for asking

Ray

 

[mad jew]

Good stuff. Kudos for being conscientious.

I hope we eventually get to the bottom of it. It's a very weird problem. It'd be great and very helpful if you post the problem here if you find it elsewhere too.

Good luck with it.

 

[Nermal]

OK, another attempt at step-by-step help

1. Click the Finder icon in your Dock.
2. Double-click the Library icon.
3. Double-click the Caches icon.
4. Look for a folder named com.apple.helpui.
5. If the folder exists, drag it to the Trash.

Good luck!