Failing to open Files and Documents
Hey all,
Some help needed. I'm stuck.
I have an M1 Mac laptop running Ventura.
I have range of strange issues as of late and can't get to the bottom of them. They are listed below in no particular order and are seemingly completely unlinked but have all started at the same time.
- For no apparent reason files downloaded from gmail won't open on my laptop. I am either told the file is corrupt or I don't have the permissions to access it (i'm signed into the the correct gmail account with the permissions to view the files). The type of error depends on if I am trying to use Excel, Adobe PDF or say VLC - as examples. VLC just says the programme has quit unexpectedly. Excel says I don't have permissions and Adobe say the files are corrupt.
- If I try to install any programmes (eg, Aspera Connect) the installer says it quits unexpectedly. I have tried this repeatedly and with different applications and nothing seems to run.
- I can't get certain files to open (eg. from Affinity designer). I open them as I would normally, the file downloads from I-cloud (where these particular files are stored) and then nothing happens. I've tried all sorts of ways to open them - directly at the file level, through the programme, or dragging the file into the programme. The same files open on an M1 I-pad without issue.
- A USB hub just stopped working. HDMI attached screens worked but the audio output would not be recognised as such - so the mini jack attached to the hub would not output sound to the connected device - in this case a mixer.
After some thought, I realised my upgrade to Sonoma may have caused these random problems occurring at once. I re-intalled Ventura and used time-machine to bring back the files. Alas, this has changed nothing.
The next thing I thought was that I had installed a VPN recently (Nord). I have removed this and seemingly I can now open files downloaded from gmail. But not I-cloud. And the Installer issues are still present.
Does anyone have any thoughts what all these random faults have started occurring? Is this pure coincidence or could there be something connecting them - it appears to be relating to files opening and running.
All programmes are running the latest versions although I am still running Ventura. I'm loathed to update until I can resolve these mysterious problems.
Any useful thoughts greatly appreciated.
MacBook Pro 14″, macOS 13.6
