My FreeHand 11.0.2 was working fine under 10.5.4 (Intel MacBook), until I
installed a security update 2008-005 (at least I suspect that's the reason).
After that FreeHand jumps in the dock and nothing happens, a common problem
(sigh) the answer to which was a HotFix here http://www.adobe.com/go/tn_18933
I'm not sure how to use that hotfix, I've just double clicked it and it said
success, but FH still didn't work. Then I found out that a PPC process named
AuthenticationS(ervice) blocks 99% of my CPU while FH is trying to start. The
Console also had some lines about that. I killed the process in the Activity
Monitor (it asked for the admin pass) and then FH did start in the background.
I've tried that several times and had to start it that way.
Then I googled for macromedia authentication and found a lot of problems.
Anyway, I wanted to wipe out every instance of AuthenticationService from my
machine (the Macromedia problems should be solved by thrashing the Macrovision
folder, etc) and I did delete it from Library/App support, User Library/App
support, FH contents/Shared support etc... Then FH refused to start with a
warning that it's architecture isn't supported. Then I deleted FH and
reinstalled it (no boxes for serial number or anything came up), but this time
4-5 AuthenticationService processes were blocking 99% of my CPU and I
couldn't kill them, or when I did manage to kill one, another one popped in
immediately, and it only stopped when I quit FH app. HotFix doesn't help. I've
tried to reinstall it numerous times, delete it with AppZapper, only delete
certain AuthenticationService files, nothing helps... Please save my FreeHand,
I know there are alternatives like LineForm or Inkscape or Intaglio or
Illustrator or whatever but I want my FH back!

> Anyway, I wanted to wipe out every instance of AuthenticationService from my
> machine

Bad idea. Very bad. FreeHand MX 11.0.1 and 11.0.2 will not run without
AuthenticationService. AuthenticationService only runs during launch of a
Macromedia product and then it closes. It writes secret authentication code
to your hard drive which the Finder will not find.

I suggest you open the FHMX 11.0.2 installer and run Uninstall. Then move
and rename FH's Settings folder, which contains your preferences, graphic
hoses, etc.

Users/(Username)/Library/Application Support/ Macromedia/ FreeHand MX/ 11/
English/ Settings

Now reinstall FHMX 11.0.2.

If FH still wont launch, run the HotFix which should find the secret code
that AuthenticationService wrote to your hard drive.

We don't want to talk about wiping your hard drive and reinstalling all
applications and files, do we?

Judy Arndt

Thanks for your time Judy. Unfortunately it didn't. The strange thing is that I
don't have the Settings folder anymore, even after the reinstall. And even
after reinstalling, applying the fix (I'm still wondering if it's ok to just
start it no matter from where? I wish it gave me more feedback...) the
AuthenticationService doesn't start. FH bounces but that's it, it is also the
only PPC process, there used to be at least 2 (with the AuthenticationS and
sometimes mvnotification or something like that). I know that Authentication
should just start and close, but that was the problem, it didn't close and
blocked my CPU. After googling it I found out that there were some problems
caused by Macromedia's activation process, and the solution was to delete
stuff...

Do you have any other ideas? Wiping my HDD doesn't sound pleasant...

I assume your Mac has an active internet connection. It's my understanding
that on first launch, AuthenticationService contacts Adobe and 'registers'
your copy of FHMX to your machine.

Sorry, I can't be of more help. It may be that the new Mac security update
is blocking AuthenticationService. There is a known vulnerability in
AuthenticationService on Macs with more than one user account.

http://www.adobe.com/devnet/security...mpsb04-03.html

It would be good to hear from other users of FHMX under Mac OS 10.5.4 to
know if FH is working properly on their machines.

This may be a reach, but one more thing you might try is to delete (or move
and rename) your Macrovision preferences found in

[hard drive]/Library/Preferences.

Make sure you have your serial number on hand before you try this, because
you will probably be asked for it if FH launches.

Judy Arndt

No Judy, it didn't help... I've trashed the Macrovision folder before,
(SafeCast folder was empty btw), I'm the only user on my mac (does a guest
account count?), no active internet connection, no other app running, I don't
even get to the point where I'd need my serial number.

I could install FH MX 11.0 demo without any glitch, and it started just fine.
So it's definitely the activation, because 11.0.1 and 11.0.1 have that
AuthenticationService...

I suspect some files that are usually created with a clean install, are
missing. Is there a way to completely uninstall FH, as if it never has
been to my machine? Every single bit of plists and Library stuff and God knows
what else? FH is my bread and butter app, but so are Photoshop and InDesign,
and reinstalling them is something I'd really like to avoid (I mean if I
have to wipe my HDD).

adobebody wrote:

> no active internet connection,

This could be your problem. You need to be connected to the internet to
allow AuthenticationService to run. It may be hanging up looking for an
internet connection to confirm your previous FHMX activation on that
machine.

Connect to the internet, open a web page in a browser to make sure you're
connected. Then try again to launch FHMX.

Judy Arndt

I've just tried it again with an active vonnection just to be sure: no luck.
I find it very strange that a new install doesn't create the Settings folder
fo example... But that means that something is very deep inside my mac that's
telling FH it's been there before, how can get rid of it?

> Sorry, I can't be of more help. It may be that the new Mac security update
> is blocking AuthenticationService. There is a known vulnerability in
> AuthenticationService on Macs with more than one user account.

Oh for the love of...that is just the last straw. Adobe is such a crappy,
crappy software company.

-Darrel

Darrel, I can't see how Adobe's crappiness has anything to do with my problem. Do you know how I can completely delete FH to install it again?

Have you recently used Disk Utility to repair permissions? That might help.

FreeHand was designed to run under only one user account on one machine. Did
you at any time run or try to launch FH under a different user account? That
might be causing problems.

You may have already seen this technote, but reading it again might give you
some ideas to try.

"General Macintosh troubleshooting"
http://www.adobe.com/go/tn_3500

Darrel: The version of AuthenticationService that is included in FreeHand MX
was written when Mac OS was first released, and Macromedia had not yet been
bought by Adobe.

Judy Arndt