I can't figure this out. I installed the Vue update 5.09 last week. I 've had no problems since then. A couple of days ago I installed Mac OS 10.3.9 I have been using Vue for the last couple of days with no problems. Well after using Vue this morning It gave me a fatal error. So I didn't panic I just thought I'd restart and launch Vue again. Well after I restarted and launched Vue it gave me another fatal error. I then turned off my computer for a few minutes. Then I started it and launched Vue and it gave me another fatal error. It seems every time Vue opens it gives me a fatal error. I don't know if I should reinstal the whole thing or what. I f I do reinstall do I have to install the base Vue infinite then Build 5.09 or can I just install 5.09? Anyone else experience similar problems or have a suggestion?

You of course have to install the base version and then update it with an update you downloaded. What else is running in parallel to Vue? We had some similar problems here a while ago on OS 10.3.9. We started Infinite without ANY other program running in parallel and then tested it step by step until we found the pair that does not work together. You should do the same i think. BTW, since then - no more problems like that anymore.

Heres an idea you may have already thought of, have you scanned your hard drive for errors? IF there is an error on your HD in the sector(s) where Vue is installed you will have problems. I would scan and defrag your harddrive that Vue is installed on. It is a quick and effortless technique that just may work and solve your problem. G&C

I had such a problem with a previous version of Vue and OS 10.4. Up to kernel panic.
And, as says Wabe, had to reinstall and update Vue.
Also had to repair the Unix file authorizations via the disk utility program, after trashing Vue, before re-installing.
I don't know, if disk journalizing is "on" automatically, under 10.3 ? I think, journalizing helps.
I'm not sure, but I had the feeling, that the problem also had something to do with the system's date/time settings. After changing date (and back) in the systems prefs (and disabling the tutorial reminder at Vue startup), things definitely went ok - next morning.
Finally, I don't know, which one was the "real" reason... never seen that one again, since.

Well I reinstalled Vue Inf. and no problems yet. It also seems to be running a lot faster now, but I still feel there is a conflict somewhere. Wabe, you said: "What else is running in parallel to Vue? We had some similar problems here a while ago on OS 10.3.9. We started Infinite without ANY other program running in parallel and then tested it step by step until we found the pair that does not work together. You should do the same i think." How did you do this testing step by step?

How have we done the test? Simple. Just started the Mac the normal way. Then quitted all programs running on that machine by default (start-up programs). Things like QuickKeys, Suitcase, Outlook, RenderCow etc. Then started Infinie and it worked. AHA! Now we added the most needed program (in our case Suitcase) and started Infinite. Worked. AHA! Now we added the next program and tested again. Like this we found our problem child and simply avoid that when we have to run Infinite on this machine.

Wabe, Thanks for that. I wil try that. Now if only I could remember how to turn applications on and off.

On one hand, you got in the system preferences, in your account, the aliasses of applications which launch on startup.
Begin with those.

But not all auto-loaded applications are listed there.
A bunch of background applications may be installed by other softs like antivirusses, firewals, mailers and such : Applications which have to intercept things, while they are "not in front", not in the active frontmost window.

To see all which load at startup, click on the apple menu, top left, "about this Mac", and in the popup, click "more information". There you may see all startup applications, and all your "normal" applications, too. You'll be astonished, how many there are - can take a while, to collect the information on disk...
A good way to guide spring cleaning.

Also, you got the"activity monitor" program, in the applications / utilities folder, which can show you all programs which are loaded, or which really are running. And you can stop applications, there.
All - that means really all. Including the parts which make the system : kernel_task, WindowServer, loginwindow...
So if there you stop a running proces / program, be sure it's not a vital part of the system.
If there you see unintelligible charabiah applications running, first try to find out, which program it belongs to, and if it's unwanted, disable via that program.
"Killing" a process via the monitor, is not the proper way to to things.

But things like antivirus daemon is not always needed,
or, iCalAlarmSceduler only is there to remind you of alarms you set in iCal, not really needed to have the puter tick, but might perhaps cause Vue to hickup, if alarm pops up and drrings while rendering - I don't know.
Or some fuzzy automatic update routine desperately want link to the internet, even when not connected.
On an old Mac, never "clean installed", I even found orphan routines running : invisible parts of applications trashed long ago, like some Norton :-(
S'cuse me, if I'm too technical...

Thanks for the explanation. I will give it a go!

@LMcLean- just wondering is it still running ok for you ? Because yesterday I installed the side grade from 5d'esprit to 5.09Inf. and had a similar problem under Mac 10.4.5.... it opened the first time but after that Vue crashed with a fatal error each time I tried to open it again. So having already seen this thread I trashed that install,and fixed permissions, re-installed did permissions again and did a restart before opening Vue ... now it seems to run fine though I haven't had it open for any real lenght of time yet. I have only the minimum running at the same time anyway.