Mac / Safari help please

Scaredy_Cat_3

Marty_J wrote: »

Are you saying that you can't even install it now?

Or does it just not run when it's installed?

No, I'm saying I've installed the new Safari 4 a number of times - and each time I get the same problematic screen (way too wide for my monitor and clearly not just a general display problem as firefox and everything else is the same as normal). I've downloaded this new version, then deleted it and made sure I'd deleted all the older versions, and downloaded Safari 4 again - and every time I get the same problem.

I think it's a problem with the software. I've been on the Apple discussion site and there are other people complaining of problems since this particular download (though not the same problem that I'm having). I rang Apple technical support who told me there isn't a problem with the software and it's just one of those things. They wanted me to pay to get them to fix it - I don't see why I should because THEY caused the problem. I didn't ask for the download, I only accepted it because I thought it was the right thing to do when they keep sending these alert things through.

Cloudane - I'm out of warranty now but even so I feel very strongly that I shouldn't have to fork out to fix something THEY caused.

isofa

Upload some screen shots so we can see what it's like...

And in the meantime, why not just forget Safari, and use Firefox, I never use Safari - Firefox is better and more secure, especially if you use the NoScript add-on.

Scaredy_Cat_3

isofa wrote: »

Upload some screen shots so we can see what it's like...

And in the meantime, why not just forget Safari, and use Firefox, I never use Safari - Firefox is better and more secure, especially if you use the NoScript add-on.

I don't know how to do a screenshot????

I do use firefox, too but there are some sites that are not compatible with firefox so I keep Safari for those sites.

I've downloaded Camino and Opera but I'm not sure if I like them - I'm having problems setting google as my homepage - I can't see the clickable button to Make Google My Homepage.

Also, I've just tried downloading Safari Version 3 using Marty's link from yesterday - it gives EXACTLY the same problem I was getting with version 4 so I don't know what's going on.

isofa

Scaredy_Cat wrote: »

I don't know how to do a screenshot????

I do use firefox, too but there are some sites that are not compatible with firefox so I keep Safari for those sites.

I've downloaded Camino and Opera but I'm not sure if I like them - I'm having problems setting google as my homepage - I can't see the clickable button to Make Google My Homepage.

Also, I've just tried downloading Safari Version 3 using Marty's link from yesterday - it gives EXACTLY the same problem I was getting with version 4 so I don't know what's going on.

You obviously have something odd going on in your system.

Verify and repair the disk permissions on your system using the disk tools or a 3rd party free utility such as Onyx (download the one for your version of OS X). Also run the housekeeping daily, weekly and monthly logs sections from Onyx too.

What sites do you find aren't compatible with Firefox? I personally use it every day of the week on Windows and Mac OS, and use it for everything... Safari I've found to be incompat with a few banking sites... and never use it.

Firefox - Tools > Options > main tab to set your homepage.

To take a Screenshot Command(apple key) + Shift + 3

Scaredy_Cat_3

There must be something else I need to do besides Command + shift + 3 because when I do this nothing happens.

You asked what sites have problems with firefox. Well, in fairness it's mostly the other way around, that they have problems with Safari and I've gradually moved just about everything to firefox, but there are one or two. For example, I do mystery shopping and am registered with a site called Gap Buster. I was using them on firefox until recently and then they changed their website, now it doesn't work properly in firefox, so I have to go into Safari in order to accept jobs on there.

Also there are times I find it helpful to have a separate browser open - for example on ebay I have different IDs for buying and selling and ebay gets confused if I try to switch between them, so I find it easier to only open one ID in firefox and only open the other in Safari.

I want to say thanks to everyone for your help. At this moment I'm going to have to take a break and get a cuppa. I've just spent over an hour on the phone to Apple support (who eventually agreed to help me even though I'm out of warranty). We went through all kinds of system things and re-started the computer loads of items, and downloaded Safari 4 again and again - no further forward. The bloke at Apple says it is a system wide problem with Safari on my computer. He said the only other option is to try a re-install (I think from the original disc) but I'd had enough and I think he had, too, so we've left it there.

Short term at least, I'm going to have to do without Safari but as I said I need a separate browser for some things. I've downloaded Opera and Camino and wonder if anyone can tell me what these are like? I'm having problems setting google as my homepage on these sites as the clickable button doesn't seem to be there anymore. Any ideas?

isofa

Scaredy_Cat wrote: »

There must be something else I need to do besides Command + shift + 3 because when I do this nothing happens.

It creates a graphic file of the screen shot on the desktop...

Scaredy_Cat wrote: »

You asked what sites have problems with firefox. Well, in fairness it's mostly the other way around, that they have problems with Safari and I've gradually moved just about everything to firefox, but there are one or two. For example, I do mystery shopping and am registered with a site called Gap Buster. I was using them on firefox until recently and then they changed their website, now it doesn't work properly in firefox, so I have to go into Safari in order to accept jobs on there.

It's very unusual that a site doesn't work in Firefox (other than technical MS login sites, I've yet to find one), are you using NoScript and have you allowed the correct parts of the page to function?

Scaredy_Cat wrote: »

Also there are times I find it helpful to have a separate browser open - for example on ebay I have different IDs for buying and selling and ebay gets confused if I try to switch between them, so I find it easier to only open one ID in firefox and only open the other in Safari.

I want to say thanks to everyone for your help. At this moment I'm going to have to take a break and get a cuppa. I've just spent over an hour on the phone to Apple support (who eventually agreed to help me even though I'm out of warranty). We went through all kinds of system things and re-started the computer loads of items, and downloaded Safari 4 again and again - no further forward. The bloke at Apple says it is a system wide problem with Safari on my computer. He said the only other option is to try a re-install (I think from the original disc) but I'd had enough and I think he had, too, so we've left it there.

Short term at least, I'm going to have to do without Safari but as I said I need a separate browser for some things. I've downloaded Opera and Camino and wonder if anyone can tell me what these are like? I'm having problems setting google as my homepage on these sites as the clickable button doesn't seem to be there anymore. Any ideas?

Did you try repairing permissions and running Onyx as per my last post?

Scaredy_Cat_3

No, I haven't tried repairing permissions as this sounds quite technical and I really haven't a clue what I'm doing and am scared of accidentally messing up something else that is actually working ok at the moment! Also, I thought (perhaps wrongly?) that the bloke in Apple tech support would have tried that if it was going to help - maybe he did and I didn't realise, we certainly went through verify disc and a few other things.

I don't know about noscript. Again, this is too technical for me. I think I'm a bit of a technophobe (in the literal sense of the word) as I actually do get quite panicky when some of these procedures are mentioned. I just feel completely out of my depth.

In any case, as I said the fact that I sometimes (rarely) have problems with firefox on some sites, is just a side issue. The main thing is that I want a separate browser to help me keep certain activities separate in my mind - it just works easier for me that way.

As for the command + shift + 3, well I've tried that a couple of times now and there is nothing new on my desktop, so I don't know what's happening.

almillar

Scaredy Cat - did you ever try Marty's solution in post #6? this may be the solution.
Another thing to try is to run Safari and press Command-M - does this make the window minimise? This will really help diagnose the problem...

isofa

Scaredy_Cat wrote: »

No, I haven't tried repairing permissions as this sounds quite technical and I really haven't a clue what I'm doing and am scared of accidentally messing up something else that is actually working ok at the moment! Also, I thought (perhaps wrongly?) that the bloke in Apple tech support would have tried that if it was going to help - maybe he did and I didn't realise, we certainly went through verify disc and a few other things.

As for the command + shift + 3, well I've tried that a couple of times now and there is nothing new on my desktop, so I don't know what's happening.

Permissions often get corrupt or problematic and can lead to all sorts of problems, it's basic troubleshooting. Apple provide tools to do this, but I've linked to better ones.

It will damage nothing, and just improve the stability.

If no clips are appearing on your desktop when you do a screen shot, there is something amiss with your system.

Scaredy_Cat_3

almillar wrote: »

Scaredy Cat - did you ever try Marty's solution in post #6? this may be the solution.
Another thing to try is to run Safari and press Command-M - does this make the window minimise? This will really help diagnose the problem...

Command + M does make the screen minimise and disappear into the right hand corner of the dock.

Yes, I tried that plist thing while on the phone to apple this morning - it didn't work.