Hi, automedia,
yes, deleting preferences is the first thing everybody should try if QuarkXPress has start up issues.
As Hans had written that he already tried this and as QuarkXPress creates new preferences every time it starts up if it doesn't find any preferences, my assumption was that it is probably wrong permissions of the preferences folder.
Hans' issue seems to be something else; he is already in contact with Tech Support.
However, there is an urban myth that creating a preference folder inside the application folder solves all issues. Therefore allow me to take this opportunity to hopefully clarify it:
Urban myth about preferences
QuarkXPress stores a lot of its setting in preferences. It first looks in its app folder whether there's a folder called Preferences with prefs. If there are, it takes these preferences. If not, QuarkXPress looks into the preferences folder inside the user folder of the OS whether there's a preferences folder. If yes, it takes these, if not it creates them there.
So when you create a preference folder in the app folder of QuarkXPress it basically has the same effect as deleting the preferences in the user folder, as QuarkXPress starts up, finds a Preferences folder which is empty and creates new prefs.
Therefore it looks as if creating a preferences folder in the app folder solves issues. And it does in this case, therefore the myth. Remember, this will work only the first time; the next time there's an issue with the prefs, you do need to delete the prefs (in the app folder).
So why two locations for preferences?
So many people ask us why does Quark not have the preferences folder in the app folder by default? Well, it is easy: Preferences should always be stored in the user folder as multiple users using the same machine else share preferences.
Example, if you have two users, who never log on at the same time, it at least will confuse (I create prefs, you log on after me and everything looks like I left it). Even worse, it could also cause issues (as all users need write permissions to a folder inside the Applications folder, if you don't have it, you can't start QuarkXPress).
And if two users log on at the same time, it is even the worst you can do to have preferences in the app folder: As the first user starting QuarkXPress locks the prefs, the second user cannot start QuarkXPress anymore.
Therefore preferably preferences are stored in the user folder unless you use the machine just by yourself with one user. Then it doesn't really matter. Also, a lot of people prefer the prefs in the app folder, as they feel it is faster to access.
So far makes sense?
There is one exception where you should have your preferences folder in the app folder, which is when you have several instances of the same version of QuarkXPress installed on the same machine. So not QuarkXPress 7 and 8 (different versions of QuarkXPress use different preference folder in the user folder), but e.g. two versions of QuarkXPress 8 with different sets of XTensions. Here leaving the preferences folder in the user folder would mean that both QuarkXPress 8 access the same prefs and you run into issues again.
The latter is also the reason why when running pre-releases you should create a preference folder inside the app folder (as you are getting an alpha and a beta and the prefs format might have changed).
Is still everything clear? ;-)
By the way, QuarkXPress 8 under Windows Vista DOES NOT support a folder inside the application folder anymore.
Bottom line:
Startup issues:
1. Deleting preferences is a good tip in case QuarkXPress doesn't start up. By default they are in /Users/<user name> /Library/Preferences/Quark/QuarkXPress <version number>/
2. Therefore having a backup of your preferences is a good idea.
3. If that doesn't help make sure you have read/write access to the preference folder, e.g. by looking at Info or Repairing Permissions.
Where should preferences be stored?
-> If you have several users using the same machine, they SHOULD be stored in the users folder (which is by default, nothing you need to do)
-> If you have several instances of the same version of QuarkXPress installed (so two v8, NOT v7 and v8), create a folder called Preferences in all folders where QuarkXPress resides. If you are the only user, fine, if there are more users, make sure they all have read/write access to that folder.
Thanks
Matthias