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Troubleshooting

CFM-68K Runtime Enabler 4.0: Crashes; OSL 1.2?

Regarding the newly released CFM-68K Runtime Enabler 4.0:

a. Freezes and crashes Larry Andrick writes that with the new Enabler installed, his Mac "freezes immediately after loading (or attempting to load) the CFM-68K extension. It does not appear to be a conflict per se, because this same thing happens even if I disable all other control panels and extensions."

Brian Holroyd confirms this same symptom: "I installed the new CFM-68K Runtime Enabler v. 4.0 and had repeated crashes during bootup just as the CFM-68K Runtime Enabler icon came onto the screen." Reverting to CFM-68K … Read more

Corrupt PC Setup Preferences and Unimplemented Trap error

Deleting PC Setup Preferences is know to fix avariety of ills. Here is the latest example, taken from the March 5 Info Alley:

"After installing Mac OS 7.6 and PC Compatibility 1.5 software, everything was working fine. However, after installing Open Transport PPP 1.0 and restarting my computer, I get this error message, "Sorry, a System Error Occurred. PC Setup, Unimplemented Trap." What is wrong?

During the installation process, the PC Setup preferences file was corrupted. To resolve this, you need to throw the PC Setup preferences file in the Trash, empty it, and … Read more

SAM March Definitions Update problem

Two readers (Pierre Talbot and Yvon Couture) have reported an identical problem with the March 97 Virus Definitions for SAM 4.x. Using SAM version 4.0.8 on a PCI-based Mac, SAM will not open. Instead, they get an error message that says: "The SAM Virus Definitions file is invalid." This did not happen with the February update. Interestingly, both readers are from Quebec - although I doubt that this is relevant to the problem (indeed, several U.S. readers have now confirmed this!; one reader found that reinstalling the SAM application and extension got things working). … Read more

MacAfee Virus Scan 2.0.9 update

When comparing anti-virus utilities, a critical feature frequently cited as missing from MacAfee's VirusScan is the ability to detect a virus in a StuffIt archive. This has been corrected with the new version 2.0.9 of VirusScan. However, one reader reported that, when they tried out this new feature with an archive known to be infected, VirusScan failed to detect the virus.

Roy W. Reter already reports a possible conflict with VirusScan: "It locks up Now Up To Date versions 3.6.2 and 3.6. The Now Up To Date splash screen comes up and where … Read more

Partial downloads: Fetch and NetFinder

A new version 3.0.2 of Fetch, a ftp browser utility, is now out. The main addition appears to be the ability to resume a partial download (such as one that was interrupted due to an unexpected disconnect from your ISP). However, check the Help file before trying this because there are numerous restrictions on when it will work.

An alternative to Fetch is a relatively new entry called NetFinder. Currently at version 1.0.1, it too supports the ability to resume a partial download - with even less restrictions that Fetch (for example, you can resume a … Read more

Alert!: The Chooser and error 1010 - and OT/PPP Strip

If you are using Mac OS 7.6, try to go to the Chooser. If you are unlucky, you may get an error message that says "Application unknown has quit unexpectedly, error 1010." It may happen immediately, or after you do something such as select the AppleTalk option. Four readers initially reported this (Guy Teague, Marc Beauchamp, Mike Berg and Jim). Others have since confirmed it.

Update: Most instances of this problem are due to the Control Strip module OT/PPP Strip. Disabling or removing the module should eliminate the problem. There is an OT/PPP Strip web page … Read more

News from Apple

Catching up on more news from and about the mothership:

Mac OS 8 lives! Copland may be dead but its other name - Mac OS 8 - has already been revived. An article in MacWEEK says that Apple plans to label this summer's Tempo release (aka Mac OS 7.7) as Mac OS 8.

Early versions of Tempo are already in the hands of developers and reports have been very positive. In particular, it looks like it will include all or almost all of the Finder interface enhancements that had been originally developed for Copland. For example, here is … Read more

Apple goes public with AppleVision 1710 extended warranty!

After being posted here weeks ago, and after Apple pressured me to remove the serial numbers from my web site, and after Henry Norr ran a column on this matter in MacWEEK, Apple has finally publicly announced its extended warranty policy for AppleVision monitors - including the infamous serial numbers. (Thanks, Henry Norr and Mark Hattam.)

Local News: New search engine!

I am pleased to announced that MacFixIt now has a new, completely redesigned and much improved search engine. The main advantages of the new engine are:

(1) It lets you search for a contiguous multiple word expression. Previously, if you searched for <system crash>, it would list every page that had the words <system> and <crash> somewhere on the page, even if they were paragraphs apart and unrelated. With the new search engine, if you do an AND search, it will only report back instances where the words <system crash> are actually … Read more