Applications not responding

[Thenme]

This is my first post here, but I searched though previous posts for similar issues.
I aplologize if I am describing a well documented issue.

I have a G4 PowerMac running OS 10.3.2 with LimeWire 3.6.14.

This is the second time I have had this problem, which was only solved the first time by taking my Mac back to factory settings and using DiskWarrior.

Basically, I have various 'applications not responding'.
However, they do respond and work perfectly when LimeWire is running... and only when LimeWire is running.

Applications affected include; 'Safari', 'TextEdit', 'Sherlock', 'AddressBook', 'Apple Help' and probably a lot more.

But more importantly I cannot access, (through my 'System Preferences') 'International', 'Security', 'Sharing', 'Accounts' (thus I can't create a new user account unless LimeWire is running).

I am also unable to Install any software, or download through 'Software Update'. I get 'application not responding' when using 'Disk Utility' and blank CD's are not recognized.

However, all of the above works perfectly when LimeWire is running, so I can olny assume that LimeWire is the application at fault.

I also know from the last time I experienced this problem, that through creating a new user account when LW is running, and then changing to the new account that my Mac works fine, regardless of LW.

Has anyone came accross this before, and if so, how can it be fixed?
Does the LimeWire 3.6.15 update solve this particular issue?

All help will be greatly appreciated.

[Morgwen]

Hmm... are you using a virus scanner? If not download one and scan your computer, I don´t think this is a Limewire bug it sounds more like a virus!

Morgwen

[Thenme]

Thanks Morgwen.

I posted my problem on the Apple Discussion Boards and through some advice I recieved there plus some things I had done before I have managed to solve the problem. Although I suspect it might come back.

Strangely enough, it seems to be caused by Font Book, specifically one of Font Book's preferences called '.com.apple.ATS.plist'. So I deleted this and restarted my Mac and all seems ok so far. I also deleted Lime Wire before I did that, which had no effect other than dramatically limiting what I could do with my Mac.

I still can't work out Lime Wire's part in my problem... why my Mac worked fine while it was running... and why it apparantly counter-acted whatever problem the Font Book preference seemed to be causing.

As much as my Mac's working fine just now, I am still not content with the fact that I have experienced this problem twice. So in the mean time I will be keeping Lime Wire off my Mac while I try to get to the source of the problem.

It all seems very strange to me.

However, I take what you suggest about Virus' very serious... as that was my initial suspicion and worry.

You suggested 'downloading' a virus scanner. Could you suggest one as I never realised you could download them freely.

[Morgwen]

Originally posted by Thenme
You suggested 'downloading' a virus scanner. Could you suggest one as I never realised you could download them freely.

For Linux and Windows they are free scanners. I am not sure if there are also any for Macs. Ask google:

www.google.com

Morgwen