Activity Monitor not launching

[G99]

I don't know what has happened. I am running OS 10.4.5 on a 6 month old iMac G5. Activity Monitor won't launch any more! It appears on the dock for a split second, and disappears. Console says:
Activity Monitor[5858] The tool is not setuid root - please repair the privileges
So, I repair permissions, and the thing launches properly, but, next time I logged in, it won't launch again!
I even tried resetting the preferences in Activity Monitor!
Can someone please help?
Thanks in advance.

UPDATE: The activity monitor is in fact a copy of the original. The original launches properly, but the copy can not. I am pretty sure I have been able to launch the copy before. But, I'm not too sure about this. Is it impossible to launch a copy of Activity Monitor?
Thanks again

 

[Kingsly]

I have know idea, but I can guess that AM has to access some system level info in order to show you the... activity! Also, it has the power to quit system level apps and such, so it is probably a security feature (purposely or not) that only the original AM can do its dirty work. Thats why it need repaired permissions. I think. Don't quote me or anything.

 

[Benjamin]

well... the copy is being copied for the user and isn't set to be owned by the system. the original app has a different permissions then the copy. So like your error message says to do is to fix the permissions with disk utility's fix permissions function. I just don't see why you need a copy of activity monitor in the first place however.

 

[grapes911]

Why do you need a copy?

 

[frankblundt]

in Finder > Get Info on the original Activity Monitor and note down what the permissions are, then Get Info for the copy and change them to the same. I presume you've put the copy under your user folder somewhere, so that the permissions are being reset to your level on the copy, rather than system level access like the original. Setting them in Get Info may or may not lock them to the desired level. I'm not sure there's any way around this resetting process because the permissions are fundamental to the way X works.

Unless your account is locked down to the point that you aren't being allowed to use the Activity Monitor, I'm not sure why you need the copy either. If this is the case, then it would be easier to talk to the admin about altering your account limitations to allow you to use it.

 

[HughJ]

when you launch it, have a look in the dock for a gauge with blue bars in it, i thought mine was not launching until i happened to look there...for some reason it does not open in a windows anymore

 

[G99]

Thank you for your replies!
I have a copy, as I have an applications folder copy. I want this copy as I want to change the folder's icon to a tiger (I don't want to edit the original+I'm not administrator). I've repaired permissions, and it seems when I log out, I need to do it again, for it to launch properly. I've changed the preferences to the preferences of the original. Would it be easier to just make an alias?

 

[G99]

Found the solution:
I wrote a script application to open the original AM. Replaced copy of AM with the script.