This time, I have 2 more things crashing. I was using safari 2.0.4 with 3 tabs open, and all of a sudden it crashed. I then attempt to reopen it, and it crashes again at the apple start page. Again, and again this happens. So, I figure I would use firefox 2.0.0.3 until it fixes it's self. Upon launching to the home page (google firefox start page), it crashes. Once again, a vicious cycle. Luckily, I have 2 (really 3) more browsers. I launch iCab 3.03 (OS X native version), and it works flawlessly. So do IE 5.2 (OS X), and iCab 3.03 (OS 9 version). Currently, I am posting from iCab, which you would think might not be so bad, but that sad face is staring me in the face on every page (except iCab's own pages, of course).
This is really wierd as I rebooted, used onyx to repair permissions, as well as delete the internet casche.
could it be possible my history is causing this? If so, where is it located?
at a very last resort, I will delete com.apple.safari.plist, as my safari is highly customized, and everything is where I like it.
Deleting bookmarks is no issue, as I have them exported in 3 locations.
fresh out of ideas here...
-digital 
Sometimes in that situation I replace just the program in the Applications folder with an identical program from an identical OS on another volume/Mac. Solves the problem sometimes. I've done that with Photoshop a couple of times when it would crash while it was opening. That's one of the good reasons to make a clone copy of your harddrive occasionally, or to have your wife's Mac in the next room setup with an identical system and assortment of apps. Strange that it's happening with both Safari and Firefox, though. What could be the connection there?
I'd start with deleting preferences files (~/Library/Preferences) (back them up if you want before deleting -- I know what you mean about not wanting to undo the work it took to get it as you like it... but I think that's the most likely cause), repairing permissions, and then reinstalling, at least Firefox. For Safari, if you've got the DivX QuickTime plugin, get rid of it, and a safe bet would be to remove all Safari plugins, then reinstall them back one by one, testing crashiness after each install.
I deleted the prefrences, but then guess what? my hard drive died!! I guess it was just OS X's way of telling me it was on it's way out. I have since replaced the 40gb in the pismo with the stock 6gb, which will hurt with both OS X and OS 9, but it's only temporary.
-digital
single-user boot
fsck -fy /
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then try booting from the install CD and running disk utility, repairDisk, verifyDisk
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and even if it doesn't recover, and you're given up on the data... you can try repartitioning, reformating, and you may save the drive (just as likely as not)
I could not even get it to show up in single user mode even when I booted off the OS X CD. I tried the OS 9 CD, did not show up there.
what it was doing was making a tick tick tick tick noise, and then I get a blinking ?.
oh well, I have all the data backed up, and it's a hitachi, one of the worst HD brands you can buy, next to toshiba. But hey, it was a free hard drive I got from a friend.
Oh well, i'll get a seagate. Those seem to hold up in the long run (except the defective one in my mother's toshiba laptop.)
-digital
I'm hoping MaxTek will update us on what happened with his malfunctioning Hitachi:
http://www.applefritter.com/node/20984
My 12" pb 40GB Toshiba died a couple years ago about a month after its warranty. But when I first got the pb, the drive clicked a lot (more like "scrape scrape scrape" in an uneven way). I called AppleCare, they had me run a single-user fsck, which took like 3 days to finish, but eventually, I was able to use the drive. So, yes, subsequently it died, I pulled it and replaced it with a 100GB Seagate, and I've only invested in the 5 year warrantied Seagates since.
Recently, started experimenting with Ubuntu, so I have this A22m ThinkPad... but, for whatever misguided reason, I wanted to keep my 20GB tp XP install intact. I pulled the drive, and put the Toshiba in (after sitting for a couple years on the floor, in a box, in a drawer... it sorta moved around over time) not knowing what to expect. After partitioning, formatting, I was able to use the drive to install Ubuntu.
Works like a beauty now. Of course, I lost every bit of data that was once on it (40gigs of my life... and right before finals... ouch), but it seems to be chugging along just fine without that scrapeing noise and its intermittant drive clicking. I guess its been running for over a month now... as you can see, I have a lot of data on it, and I haven't noticed any corruption.
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Edit---
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Epilogue:
Well... perhaps I spoke too soon! I'm not sure it was the drive, or ubuntu, but I've lost the root partition. Squeezed another month out of it... and enjoyed it. But in the end... because I want a Solaris machine, with an Oracle install, I better stop futzing with... and find something to do with this POS Toshiba. So... as always, with using a resurrected drive, YMMV
I solve this crashings troubles with more control over auto-upgrades. I also do downgrades eather when is necessary. What is not allways necessary is to get the very latest version of browsers and it's plug-ins - that allways let de system become unstable. My Safari is 1.3.2, my quicktime is 6.5.x, etc. If you are note sure if a newer version will work 100% , better keep the way back on hand!
I managed to get the 40gb recognised by plugging it into my B&W. First, I dropped it a few times, then plugged it in, and intead of a ticking, I got the noise of power up.
I was then able to format and mount it in OS X. it seemt o be making some loud access clicking noises. Although it formatted OK, when i went to verify it, I got a failure. Here are the contents of the log file:
[code]
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May 17 19:56:37: Disk Utility started.
Preparing to erase : “Macintosh HD
see that I edited my post?... I've been running fsck again on that drive I thought I resurrected, for almost 2 days now... finding bad blocks and an occasional I/O error... I still have that new seagate comming, but I did have some data on the Toshiba from the most recent install... I don't think its critical, but I forget what I left there, so I'd like to see before just tossing the drive.
Anyway, use it if it works, but don't trust it... I'd say just keep an OS on it, but no data, if that's possible... i.e. use it to run some extra computer to process data (for ripping or downloading, web proxy or something) but keep the actual data on a mount somwhere else.
At least its educational... to know what its like when a drive is failing.
thanks, I will try running fsck repeatedly.
I run a highly custom OS X version, so that is what conserns me in losing it, is having to set it up again. The data is mirrored on my 120gb HD on my B&W. I have been thinking of getting a backup drive.
-digital
Just throw it out. Seriously. It *will* screw up and trash whatever you put on it sooner then later.
I guess if your time is utterly useless and your data equally so have at it, otherwise go shopping.
--Peace
Now that the new system is up... I've been just trying to get stuff off the old drive. The data isn't important, but I'm curious to see how much of it I can cp off. The POS Toshiba works for a while, then I lose the mount, and each time I'm able to copy some stuff (I'm using the OWC usb bridge). So... I thought I saw someone here say something about freezing the drive. I thought it completely foolish... but since I just don't care I wanted to see what, if anything, it would do. I'm not sure what its doing... but I've frozen the drive twice now, for about an hour the first time, then for about 10 minutes (wrapped in antistatic plastic, and also regular plastic wrap (Glad name brand, if that matters). Each time the mount has remained stable for much longer than before freezing. Is it the heat? I don't know... this is just ridiculous. But I'm sold on the idea. Next time I have a drive that's on the way out, once it no longer mounts or stays mounted... I'm freezing it.
right, I trashed it. I'll live with my 6gb in my pismo for a bit.
-digital
I have the same problem with Firefox and Safari crashing... I've been using Opera and I haven't had many problems with it.
I have had safari and firefox crash, with tabs usualy open, but sometimes not. it is usualy with pages like http://www.tvguide.com/listings/default.aspx
or
youtube.com
or
collegehumor.com
all these pages seem to have video players on them, and it happens usualy after the applications have been sitting with one of those pages open for more then 10 minutes.
I would also like to add, this happens only on my macbook, it does not happen on my g4 cube.
The Hitachi mentioned in the above thread is still dead. I have it on my desk and from time to time I try it...still clicks.
From all the extensive tests and apps run on the drive and research I am confident in saying if you hear a click, click or tick, tock, it is a mechanical failure. Consider yourself verrrrrrrrrrry lucky if you can get your info from the drive.
Remember I tried everything I found on the internet from apps to freezing to dropping to smacking it. Nothing will fix a mechanical error unless you open it up and replace parts and I don't think any normal person has a "clean room" to do this.
{By the way I even replaced the circuit board from an exact model drive and it didn't help a thing}
After reading your op, I was going to post up, but then I read further. I had problems with firefox crashing and sometimes safari on my albook. After about 2 weeks the drive completely died (angry cat noises and everything). I think firefox is a good sign of a dieing HD as it tends to use alot of VM and accesses the drive a decent amount.