Finder quits on wake from sleep

dotlyc wrote on :
I have an iBook on OS 9.2 that has been giving me problems with finder quits on wake from sleep. It doesn't happen all the time, but often enough to be annoying. I've done some research in google groups and tried most of the suggestions that were offered for similar problems there, but they haven't worked. My suspicion is that it has something to do with plugging and uplugging USB keyboard and mouse. I think this because most of the time, the iBook sits on my desktop and remains plugged into the keyboard and mouse. I never have finder quits waking from sleep in these circumstances. In the summer, I like to work on the back deck, so the iBook gets unplugged and transported almost daily. I like to use at least the mouse in these circumstances and have now started using a keyboard as well, so they get plugged in and out a lot. This is when the problem occurs, especially after the iBook has been asleep for quite awhile after being unplugged from the USB devices. I've tried replacing the Finder prefs and Energy Saver prefs. I've tried rebuilding the desktop. I turned off Appletalk and File Sharing. I tried different variations of when I unplug the USB devices (before putting the iBook to sleep, after putting it to sleep) etc. Nothing has made a difference. I read one article that suggested replacing the Finder entirely. It's been a long time since I did that, but if I recall, I can simply drag and drop a new Finder from the install disk to the System Folder, right? Any other suggestions on how to solve this aggravating problem would be most appreciated.
GrapeApe replied on :

unfortunately, the most common cure suggested for Finder quits on wake from sleep is...

Don't sleep.

But you don't seem to care TOO much about baggage, carrying an external mouse and keyboard along with you, so you can squint at the iBook screen in daylight. When are you toting the printer out there as well? What if you merely took an extention cord out to your deck? Then you wouldn't have to worry about battery life as much.

George replied on :

We have an iBook bought last summer that runs fine in OSX which is more stable in my opinion.

As far as replacing the finder in OS9, your approach will work ok as long as IT'S THE SAME VERSION!

You might consider doing a clean install and then dragging preferences selectively back from "Previous System Folder". It might be quicker than replacing every file piecemeal

Might be worth running Disk Warrior but doesn't sound like hard disk?

I know that other sleep apps/extensions can cause problems like yours. Make sure that Sleeper or other apps and extensions that can put a Mac to sleep are not running.

I haven't seen sleep problems when I plugged/unplugged USB devices so your problem is rather weird. Maybe you should get a good powered hub to power all your USB peripherals but again that may not be the problem?

dotlyc@redacted.invalid wrote:

I have an iBook on OS 9.2 that has been giving me problems with finder quits on wake from sleep. It doesn't happen all the time, but often enough to be annoying. I've done some research in google groups and tried most of the suggestions that were offered for similar problems there, but they haven't worked. My suspicion is that it has something to do with plugging and uplugging USB keyboard and mouse. I think this because most of the time, the iBook sits on my desktop and remains plugged into the keyboard and mouse. I never have finder quits waking from sleep in these circumstances. In the summer, I like to work on the back deck, so the iBook gets unplugged and transported almost daily. I like to use at least the mouse in these circumstances and have now started using a keyboard as well, so they get plugged in and out a lot. This is when the problem occurs, especially after the iBook has been asleep for quite awhile after being unplugged from the USB devices. I've tried replacing the Finder prefs and Energy Saver prefs. I've tried rebuilding the desktop. I turned off Appletalk and File Sharing. I tried different variations of when I unplug the USB devices (before putting the iBook to sleep, after putting it to sleep) etc. Nothing has made a difference. I read one article that suggested replacing the Finder entirely. It's been a long time since I did that, but if I recall, I can simply drag and drop a new Finder from the install disk to the System Folder, right? Any other suggestions on how to solve this aggravating problem would be most appreciated.

dotlyc replied on :

In article 3EFF3E08.1000405@redacted.invalid, George george5071@redacted.invalid wrote:

Might be worth running Disk Warrior but doesn't sound like hard disk?

I know that other sleep apps/extensions can cause problems like yours. Make sure that Sleeper or other apps and extensions that can put a Mac to sleep are not running. I haven't seen sleep problems when I plugged/unplugged USB devices so your problem is rather weird. Maybe you should get a good powered hub to power all your USB peripherals but again that may not be the problem?

The machine is configured the same way whether it sits on my desk or it sits on the table on the back deck. I have no problems waking from sleep when everything remains plugged in (including a hub with a bunch of other USB stuff attached.) So I don't think it's extensions, otherwise it would happen on the desktop too. It's only when I frequently unplug and re-plug the USB keyboard and mouse that this happens. And it doesn't happen all the time -- maybe every fourth or fifth time. I had this problem with a previous iBook too. It was an iBook 500; what I have now is the iBook 800. I get the feeling that USB is somewhat tempermental.