QuickTime 6: DiskGuard conflict, other issues

Apple's recently released QuickTime 6, the latest version of its media player that now includes support for the MPEG-4 format, is drawing positive feedback from readers but also rendering some problems.

DiskGuard Conflict Frank Easterbrook notes a potential conflict between QuickTime 6 and the utility DiskGuard, manufactured by Intego Software.

"If the DiskGuard control panel is active at startup, then as soon as any QuickTime application (or plug-in) is activated and attempts to link to the QuickTime libraries (for example, launching QuickTime Player 6 or even the QuickTime updater) the Mac locks up. The mouse will not move, the clock stops, the freeze is total, and only a cold boot restores things."

Easterbrook says the problem occurs if DiskGuard is the only non-Apple software loaded at startup and even if the volume is not protected by DiskGuard.

Update: Intego Support sent us the following reply: "There's indeed a hard freeze when launching the new QuickTime 6 Player, along with DiskGuard 2.1 installed and loaded at startup. We're tracking the problem down with Apple and hopefully we will provide a fix soon. In the meantime, the only work-around is the following:

1. Activate the DiskGuard hard drive protection feature, and related options
   as needed.
2. Open the Extensions Manager and disable both the DiskGuard control panel
   and Subway extension.
3. Restart the computer.

This eliminates the freeze while maintaining the main protection features."

Registration workaround Bill Strohm offers a simple workaround for users having problems entering a registration key:

"If the Registration window in your QuickTime Settings Control Panel will not accept your new Pro key as copied from the online display, set the text cursor just to the left of the first digit of the key and press Delete. Apparently the web page has put a space in front, which will not be accepted."