How do you know you have an Extensions conflict? These situations are a good sign that you may have an Extensions conflict: after installing a new piece of software your computer inexplicably locks up on startup the computer bombs when a particular application is launched the computer freezes when you select a certain menu command If you start up your computer with only the Mac OS system extensions enabled (eg. Mac OS 8.X All) and your issue does not occur, then you have an extension conflict. If your issue still happens with the set Mac OS X.X All set, you should perform a clean installation of your system software. Unfortunately, extensions conflicts are not usually easy to diagnose. Troubleshooting system extensions is a process of trial and error. This process requires that you restart the computer several times. The most important part of troubleshooting extension conflicts is to stay calm. Diagnosing Extensions Conflicts Apple has provided a handy tool, the Extensions Manager, to help you resolve Extensions conflicts. It is a Control Panel and can be accessed either through the Apple Menu or by going to the Control Panel folder in the System folder. You can also access Extensions Manager at system startup. Before the first system extension displays at system startup time, press the Space bar to open the Extensions Manager. The changes you make affect the comptuer on the current startup, so you do not have to restart it. Although the procedures for resolving Extension conflicts are conceptually the same for all Mac systems: Save the set of system extensions that has the issue. Choose Mac OS X.x All, or Mac OS X.x Base from the pop-up menu. Restart the computer. If the issue still persists, try disabling the extensions by restarting and pressing the Shift key during system startup time. If the issue disappears, then you need to perform a clean installation of the system software. Duplicate the locked set you chose from the pop-up menu. Name the duplicated set "Troubleshooting" or "Test." Determine which extensions from the set you saved in step 1 are not in the Troubleshooting set. Turn on three to five of those items from the Troubleshooting set. Restart the computer. Continue this process of turning on items and restarting the computer until the issue happens again. You can also turn on one Package at a time if you view items as packages. Once the issue happens again, you know that it was one of the last items you turned on that is causing the conflict. Turn off the last group one at a time until you determine which one it is. Once you have found the faulty extension, check for version incompatibilities with other extensions, or the Mac OS. If you have determined that they are compatible, then try deleting the extension and reinstalling it from the installation disks. Use a disk repair utility like Disk First Aid to check and repair the computer's disk drive. If you reinstall an application program, drag its preference file(s)from the Preference Folder to the Trash, and choose Empty Trash from the Special menu. If you are still having difficulties, contact the software vendor for further assistance. The details of using the Extensions Manager differ. The Extensions Manager control panel was first included in System 7.5. In Mac OS 7.6, the Extensions Manager control panel went through a major update. Therefore, we will outline the procedures for each System separately. Troubleshooting extension conflicts with System 8.5 and up Additional Tips: If your computer freezes, or you are experiencing problems starting up, you may desire to review the Getting out of freezes on Macintosh OS or the Resolving problems starting up Macintosh OS document. Note: Second Nature does not support third-party software, including, but not limited to, Macintosh OS. If none of the suggestions above work in your particular case, you should contact your Macintosh OS support team directly for further assistance. Second Nature is a proud supporter of nonprofit environmental organizations and has contributed more than $2.5 million dollars to help preserve the world's natural wonders and wildlife. CUSTOMER APPLAUSE: I'm pretty much home-bound and your screen savers bring places to me that I can't visit - which is a joy. BUT I buy them because it's a way I can travel *and* support environmental causes at the same time. And of course because of the high quality of your contributors' photographs. Thanks for the joy and thanks for supporting the earth. Ellie Moses, Knoxville, Tenn. All images copyright © by respective artists and photographers. All rights reserved. You may not upload this software or images to a web site or distribute it commercially or otherwise. It is illegal to use these images on your web site and/or to post on community web sites. Copyright © 1992 - 2007. Privacy Statement.