>...do "extensions" get "corrupted" and need to be >replaced by a new copy after a period of time of heavy use? > >Do "plug-ins" get "corrupted" after months of use and need to be >replaced by new copies?
Quotation marks around a word usually mean that the word is used in an incorrect manner so I'll assume the above quote marks are in error and not address extensions that are not extensions, plug-ins that are not plug-ins, and corruption that is not corruption. A file will not become corrupt by use, other things being equal, anymore than water will become worn out just because it's used for millions of years. A file becomes corrupt when its structure or contents are altered in such a way that they do not present useful or useable data to the system or application or they present data which lead to destructive operations. The system or the application if bug free, will not alter the preference files or any other file in that manner. If all runs as designed, corruption of files will not happen; however, any file can become corrupt by a number of routes. (1) Hardware failure and power failure during the passing of data are two of the obvious. (2) Unclosed files are subject to all sorts of change. (3) Memory heap overflow into adjacent fields can alter crucial information and processes. (4) Requests for operations that are not interpreted correctly (common in browsers). Et cetera. Few programs are absolutely free of errors...bugs. Those can crash a program...cause operations to be performed that lead to system errors. On those occasions, strange or senseless data may be transferred into memory locations such that the information needed to keep things functioning grinds to a halt or "points" off into "uncharted territory". In the process, that incorrect information may have been written to the disk file setting up the condition you have encountered--a corrupt preference file or worse. Applications (with at least one exception, Strata Vision 3d 4.0, as note by Bill Judson) will generate a new preference file if one is not found where it is expected...usually in the system preference folder. The new preference file will be in a default state; meaning that it will not contain any of the optional user settings including passwords, names and serial numbers which were previously established. -- PCI-PowerMacs is sponsored by <http://lowendmac.com/> and... Small Dog Electronics http://www.smalldog.com | Refurbished Drives | -- Sonnet & PowerLogix Upgrades - start at $169 | & CDRWs on Sale! | Support Low End Mac <http://lowendmac.com/lists/support.html> PCI-PowerMacs list info: <http://lowendmac.com/lists/pci-powermacs.shtml> --> AOL users, remove "mailto:"; Send list messages to: <mailto:pci-powermacs@;mail.maclaunch.com> To unsubscribe, email: <mailto:pci-powermacs-off@;mail.maclaunch.com> For digest mode, email: <mailto:pci-powermacs-digest@;mail.maclaunch.com> Subscription questions: <mailto:listmom@;lowendmac.com> Archive:<http://www.mail-archive.com/pci-powermacs%40mail.maclaunch.com/> --------------------------------------------------------------- >The Think Different Store http://www.ThinkDifferentStore.com ---------------------------------------------------------------
