I can't search!
 

Hi, everyone.

I've been having the most bizarre problem for the past six months or so. Whenever I try to perform a search, everything in the search window dissapears (including the info headers at the top, such as the #, Name, etc.) and I'm left with an indented blank space, showing the backround for the skin. Absolutely nothing there. I can still see the Downloads in Progress window, but it does me no good.

Like I said, I've had this problem over the course of about six months through many, many versions. Updating has never helped, although I've tried it many times, and am currently running the beta. It was a problem even when I was still using Mac OS X 10.2, but it made no difference when I ran it in Panther. I consistently have an established connection, with excellent quality. I'm using the latest version of Java. I've tried searching in all the different fields, and changing the skin, both to no avail. I've even gone so far as to completely remove any traces of the program from my computer and then completely reinstall it; nothing.

What gives?

Beta's are "tryout" versions that are intended to help pinpoint any bugs and stuff and make the overall look and feel of the application better in order for the next "normal" version. Dld and istall them only if you intend to help with program developement and stuff.
I would suggest to completely erase again all traces of the program (you can back-up the Incompletes folder if you want) and do another clean install (of the basic version not the beta).

Uhh...well, thanks for your advice, but like I said above, I've already done that. Twice, in fact. I only installed the beta last night as a last ditch effort; this has been a problem for many, many months.

I presume you have more than just the min amount of RAM on your computer!? It may/not be a ram issue.

If you don't have many things to back-up I would suggest to take the time and format the HD and reinstall OSX. If you just updated to Panther without formatting it then maybe it might have kept the previous preferences and stuff along with whatever causes the problem for LW...

Hehe, yeah, that seems to solve everything. Maybe I'll do it when I get a chance. Wiping the drive and reformatting would be hard, though; I've got a lot of stuff on here, it'd take me quite a while to back it all up. Still, I've been meaning to do it anyway, so I guess I should just go ahead next time the opportunity arises.

I'm also interested as to how it could be a RAM issue, though. I've got an extra 128, but it's far from enough, although it seems very odd that it would be the culprit. Is there a technical issue that I'm not aware of, or were you just speculating (which, by the way, I still really appreciate)?

I was speculating. Going back to pre-OSX, behaviours like that would suggest there's not enough ram allocated to the app (or compatibility issues - possibility of clashing with another file.) It could be a technical issue. Have you tried running all the mac & 3rd party utilities you have to completely check out your system? (Recomended are Norton Utilities & DiskWarrior & perhaps TechTool Pro. Don't forget the mac utilities.) It's been an issue for some time, have any other apps had any form of even small, almost forgetable problems?

quote: Wiping the drive and reformatting would be hard, though; I've got a lot of stuff on here, it'd take me quite a while to back it all up.


Vive les DVD-burners!!!

quote: Wiping the drive and reformatting would be hard, though; I've got a lot of stuff on here, it'd take me quite a while to back it all up.

Yes DVD burners (particularly RW) are great. Just as cost effective is an external HDD, which will probably be faster still. (I say that b/c I've been considering getting one myself. The HDD quickly fills up when you have lots of raw video (over 200 MB/min for standard video or over 1 GB for HD.) DVD disks seems to pile up & up for me.) It depends which one will suit you best. DVD burners obviously give you other options such as to play movies.

DVDs are less exposed to, say, data corruption. If a virus manages to infect your Mac and gets to the external HD then you're pretty much hosed.
However, it can get annoying to constantly look for a DVD and pop-it in your Mac whenever you want to look at something, as opposed to simply going to the directory it is stored and double-clicking it.
When I went to buy my DVD burner, I was still torn between the two, but a small talk with a store assistant and it was clear to me that I would buy the burner. (I haven't regreted it).
Maybe in the future I might also get a HDD but what has the priority right now is RAM. That damn RAM...:p