Mac OS X 10.4: Problems caused by QuickTime codecs

MacFixIt reader Miguel Muelle reports some fairly serious system issues caused by the presence of apparently incompatible QuickTime add-on codes:

Miguel writes:

"I did an 'Archive and Install' of Mac OS X 10.4 and all seemed well until I copied the Quicktime codecs that I use often, Avid and Blackmagic. After copying them into /Library/Quicktime I rebooted and then all hell broke loose with the finder. After that when the Finder comes up it keeps crashing repeatedly so that the result is a Finder that keeps appearing and disappearing, ad nauseam. On my Powerbook, I first did an Upgrade, which did not resolve it, and then just re-installed another 'Archive and Install' and that was fine.

"It didn't occur to me that the codecs (actually Quicktime Components) could be the cause until later on when, after creating a bootable backup of my G5 Dual 2.5. I installed Tiger in the same way. Again, all was well until I copied my QuickTime Components over and then the same on-and-off Finder happened. I went into Terminal, removed the Components and immediately the Finder settled down. All seems well now. I should try installing them one at a time until I get the problem back, but I may just wait until Avid and Blackmagic update their QuickTime Components."

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