FCP hangs on start-up

[Dingos8mybaby]

I just recently started having this problem where FCP takes anywhere from 2-5mins to load (new project, fairly empty project - doesn't matter). I get the splash screen and then when the windows pop up it's like it gets stuck and gives me the wheel of death (spinning beach-ball). After that, it's like it arbitrarily chooses whether or not to run smoothly, with seemingly random actions causing it to hang. If i wait long enough, it usually becomes responsive again. It's really frustrating, especially since I have been using Premiere CS5 a lot lately, that when I finally needed to go back to FCP... this happens. I know I could stick with Premiere, but I have a lot of older FCP projects and I'd still like the option of using it when I want/need it, but not like this. BTW, this is the first time I booted FCP in about 2 months.

I've spent the last couple days trying to fix this - I already trashed prefs, deleted caches, moved cache folders, set/reset paths, verified and repaired permissions, and am still having the problem. I don't have that many plug-ins, so I don't think that's it. I've exhausted my available options (namely: Google), and I don't know what else to do. What really is a kick in the pants is that my AppleCare ended this past Valentine's Day... so I'd have to pay for the tech support now. That will be my last resort if the extensive brain-trust that is DVXUser can't help me figure it out. One thing I would really not want to have to do is re-install FCS and set up quick clusters again...ugh...

Some details:

I recently organized and cleaned up my data. I was mindful of where I put things and what I deleted. But I totally could've messed something up unintentionally. Also, around the time I stated using Premiere, I started using Time Machine, so there might be some way that could help (even though I've changed a lot of things since my last BU...)

I recently upgraded my GPU. Could this be the problem?

I had to install some trial sw last week (C4D, Maya). Are these known to cause any compatibility issues at all?

I should also mention that all of the other titles in the suite (Color, DVDSP, etc) seem to be working fine.

Any help is much, much appreciated. This isn't my sole livelihood, so we can spend some time trying to figure this out.

Here are the specs:

FCP 6.0.6
Mac Pro 3,1 (Early 2008)
Octo @ 2.8GHz
10GB RAM
ATI HD5770 1GB
500GB x 4 internal HDDs
BM Intensity Pro out to HDTV
Sonnet E4P eSATA ---> 4TB RAID0
Generic 2TB HDD for Time Machine

 

[mmka1985]

It is possible that your framework may have corrupted Final Cut Pro. There have been reports that recent updates from 10.6 to 10.6.5 or 10.6.6 have caused certain Pro Apps to act weird and hang up. If you have time machine and you backed up files before you updated your OS X you can go back to that original framework.

 

[David Saraceno]

I would suggest cloning your boot drive, and doing a clean install of OS and apps with updates.

Then copying the data back, not the apps.

 

[draven4]

You have too many variables that can cause the problem. If you did one change it'd be easier to trouble shoot.

Few things
1) time machine with Final Cut could cause a problem
2) turn off spotlight for your media hard drives. This actually can cause a hang, but not on startup
3) Can you open a new empty project easily as opposed to a fuller one? If so the project might be the problem
4) could it be possible your hard drive is dying? Could be a possibility when you access that portion of the drive it hangs. Just throwing it out there.
5) did you add any new plugins recently?

After reReading your post I would guess timemachine. I would shut it off and restart. Try using your comp again and see if that solves it.

 

[Dingos8mybaby]

It is possible that your framework may have corrupted Final Cut Pro. There have been reports that recent updates from 10.6 to 10.6.5 or 10.6.6 have caused certain Pro Apps to act weird and hang up. If you have time machine and you backed up files before you updated your OS X you can go back to that original framework.

Apparently, this has been an issue for others as well. You can read up on it here:
http://www.lafcpug.org/phorum/read.php?1,261655,261969

I rolled back my ProKit.Framework from 6.0.2 to 5.1 and that didnt seem to do anything but make the problem worse - now it hangs indefinitely on start-up (or at least for longer than my patience lasts).

I would suggest cloning your boot drive, and doing a clean install of OS and apps with updates.

Then copying the data back, not the apps.

Yeah, this looks like what will end up having to be done. I'm still in the middle of another project, so once that's done... let the fun times begin! :badputer: I just hope it does the trick.

You have too many variables that can cause the problem. If you did one change it'd be easier to trouble shoot.

Few things
1) time machine with Final Cut could cause a problem
2) turn off spotlight for your media hard drives. This actually can cause a hang, but not on startup
3) Can you open a new empty project easily as opposed to a fuller one? If so the project might be the problem
4) could it be possible your hard drive is dying? Could be a possibility when you access that portion of the drive it hangs. Just throwing it out there.
5) did you add any new plugins recently?

After reReading your post I would guess timemachine. I would shut it off and restart. Try using your comp again and see if that solves it.

1. Any evidence of this on other machines?
2. Why would it only affect FCP and not any other apps?
3. Nope. New/Empty/Existing/Big/Short projects -- doesn't matter, still hangs.
4. It's possible, but I haven't seen/heard any of the physical signs.
5. No new plugins. Just those demos.

Thanks for help guys. Guess I'll have to take David's advice, when I have the time, and/or hope Apple comes out with a fix for this soon (...yeah right).

 

[draven4]

1. Any evidence of this on other machines?
2. Why would it only affect FCP and not any other apps?
3. Nope. New/Empty/Existing/Big/Short projects -- doesn't matter, still hangs.
4. It's possible, but I haven't seen/heard any of the physical signs.
5. No new plugins. Just those demos.

Thanks for help guys. Guess I'll have to take David's advice, when I have the time, and/or hope Apple comes out with a fix for this soon (...yeah right).

1. not that I am aware of but read below #2
2. It affect FCP because every time a new file is created Spotlight indexes for you so when you search it will pop up quickly. So every render and new file and vault save it will do this. I assume time machine works in a similar fashion and can cause problems. There is no reason why anyone with a serious edit bay should be running Time Machine in the background. A pro post house will not do this at all.
3. Then the project is not the problem
4. You won't see physical signs of a drive dying. Rarely do you actually. The only way you know is when you copy or access a file over a bad drive sector does the drive give problems. So for example if a file FCP uses is on the sector it can cause problems. But I don't think it is related to what you are describing. You would get an error not a hang up.
5. I would ditch the demo's for sure. Get rid of any plug ins that aren't solid. Even a demo could cause a problem. Don't pile up junk in your system.

All in all I don't think anything I mentioned based on your questions is the problem except maybe Time Machine. But even that I'm not sure that is the problem.

I would at this point do a reinstall. Maybe even a clean out reinstall of the system if a reinstall of FCP doesn't help.

If you do a re Install make sure you test a bare bones FCP minus plug ins and updates just to see if it works. Then install everything after that if normal. I would reinstall all your other programs last after FCP. That way you can eliminate the other programs from the equation and if suddenly you have the problem say after you've installed maya again then you'll know something is up.