An application I frequently run won’t start up.

First, think about what has changed since the last time you ran the application. Perhaps you installed a system update that “broke” the application. In that case, check the publisher’s website or www.download.com  for any updates to the application. Call or email the software publisher if you need serious help. Most of the time updates are free. Occasionally a publisher decides to charge for an update (usually called an “upgrade” at that point), and you may need to pay to get the application working again.

Perhaps you changed some fonts on your system. Certain applications for Mac OS X require specific fonts to be available, and they may behave strangely or refuse to start up—often without an error message—if the fonts aren’t available. Especially check that Helvetica and HelveticaNeue fonts are active. The application Font Book may help you determine which fonts you have in your system. It helpfully notes duplicate fonts with a bullet.

Select some or all of your fonts, and choose Validate Fonts from the File menu. You should consider removing any fonts with problems. (You can also choose Resolve Duplicates from the Edit menu to automatically disable any unnecessary duplicates.) If text displays strangely after you remove some fonts, restart your computer.

Finally, you may want to reinstall the application from your original discs, remembering to apply any updates to make it current.

Published March 24, 2009 12:00 PM
Last modified on November 30, 2010 2:39 PM