URGENT help please!! Finder freezing

[jsmythk]

Hi all,

I am new to Mac and have to say I am convinced its a great platform.

I bought a 2009 MacBook last year and have upgraded to latest Mountain Lion 10.8 etc But in the last couple of days Finder keeps freezing.

When I turn the computer on I get the spinning wheel for a couple of minutes and then I get the additional following issues:

- the icon tray across the bottom of the screen disappears and then reappears.
- the tool bar that is normally along the top of the screen disappears
- keyboard does not work,
- the computer slows down,
- finder cannot open and then I get a Problem Report for Finder
- if I click Launchpad, it opens very slowly and I get a flickering line the entire width of the screen going up the screen.

I can use the computer normally in Safe Boot Mode.

I have tried:

- deleting "com.apple.finder.plist"
- setting up another user account

neither of which work.

I am really stuck and would be most appreciative of some expert help so I can use the Mac!!

Thanks in advance

 

[Weaselboy]

The fact that you have no trouble in safe mode points to something you have starting at login causing an issue since safe mode bypasses those items.

Go to System Pref and in the Users & Groups pane select your username and look in login items. Remove half of the items at a time until you narrow it down.

Also, next time this happens try starting Activity Monitor and look for anything using unusually high CPU cycles.

 

[jsmythk]

Hi Weaselboy,

Wow - looks like you saved my bacon - thanks so much.

I did what you suggested. There were 2 things in the login items, dropbox and iTunes Help. iTunes Help had a yellow triangle next to it so I deleted both of them and the Mac runs perfectly again.

Much appreciated!