Troubleshooting Tools: Diablotin

Over the past several days we've covered some troubleshooting issues that require manipulation of various items within the /Library directory -- particularly a problem that prevented proper startup on systems with Security Update 2006-003 and various problematic components in the /Library/Startupitems folder.

In solving these issues, it has proven necessary to temporarily remove problematic items from this and other folders in the /Library directory then check for persistence of the issue. If the issue is gone, the item can be kept quarantined and out of the original directory. If the issue remains, other items must be taken out (sometimes one by one) until the culprit is located.

This process requires a lot of file shuffling, and can prove confusing as well as dangerous -- if, for instance, you misplace a StartupItem or other component that provides critical functionality.

Fortunately, there is a software solution dubbed Diablotin that aptly handles the Library folder, letting users turn on and off items that could be causing problems. This eliminates the hassle apparent with moving files in and out of the various pertinent folders in the /Library directory.

Diablotin installs a System Preference pane and can turn on and off items in the Internet Plug-Ins folder -- implicated recently in some QuickTime 7.1-related embedded media issues -- and the QuickTime codecs folder -- implicated recently in problems playing back certain content in the QuickTime folder. The full list of modifiable items is as follows:

• Contextual Menu Items
• Fonts
• Internet Plug-ins
• Menu Extras
• Preference Panes
• QuickTime
• Screen Savers
• Sounds
• StartupItems

The software also explains what items reside in each folder, a nice touch that should not be overlooked for new users.

Diablotin will also let you enable or disable items in the /System/Library folder. These items can also be culprits in various system issues, but modifying their status is a bit more risky as turning off the wrong component can result in a non-booting or otherwise non-functional system requiring manual reversion to a prior state.

Feedback? Late-breakers@macfixit.com.

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