osx programs wont open, just bounce in dock

[crashtestracing]

When I try to open most of the programs that came with the computer they bounce in the doc for a few seconds but never open. In the case of some programs like itunes it will basicaly lock up the computer until you finally can get to the force quit.

This affects most stock mac programs like,
itunes
iphoto
garage band
iDVD
imovie
ect..

but not
ical
dashboard
safari
ect...


any ideas what the heck is going on... ?

 

[mcruzader]

If I were you I would download Onyx and run a couple of maintenance and utilities scripts.

 

[Gray-Wolf]

You can also open apps/utilities/Disk utility/high light your hard drive, then click on Repair permissions.

 

[Amdahl]

A corrupted installation can also cause behavior like this. In that case, you are looking at a re-install of the OS with Archive & Install. Run Disk Utility and Repair Disk in the installer first to make sure there aren't any problems there. If you find problems in there, you might consider re-formating the drive entirely once you can figure out how to get a backup made.

 

[crashtestracing]

I should have been more specific in my first post.

I have run disc utility and onyx and I ran Disk Warrior about a week ago...

none found any problems...
Now I am pretty new to macs but I am not new to computers.
I have half a dozen pcs (some scattered in pieces) and if this was a problem with windows i would know where to look...

 

[Gray-Wolf]

Pull the program icon off the dock, and then replace it with a fresh copy from the app folder. Sometimes, with updates or other changes, the programs won't launch right from the dock.

 

[latlatcheiw]

i have a similar thing happening to me, however i had just taken my mac to a genius bar, and they re-installed my mac OS for me, now some programs just bounce once and dont open...

dont know what to do...

 

[Gray-Wolf]

See my post above. Pull the old icons off the dock, Poof, then open your app folder and pull them onto the dock. You have to reset the link as it were. A reinstall, changes things.