Rod, I presume you're running Panther. So you don't need to run Disk Utility app from the Install CDs, it's easier (and better I guess) to do it directly from Applications/Utilities/Disk Utility. Have you installed something new in both machines!? I would start with the old PRAM reset and if it persists, try to create another user and see how does OS X behaves in a fresh user. http://www.macosxhints.com/ is a good source for troubleshooting. Good luck, LM >>> rod at eslickdesign.com - 2004/08/12 17:04 PM >>> I have recently begun having problems with OS X startup: User fonts/OS 9 fonts do not load/ Mail will not launch. Other apps (Illustrator, iTunes) still work. Repaired permissions using installation CD last week but problem has started again a couple of days later. Login out & back in sometimes fixes it, worst case a restart is required. Once logged out and the "Welcome to Darwin" login screen came up. This behavior is also on a G4 DP machine here at the office. Any guesses, or pointing me to a web site that may have a solution would be appreciated. I have looked at a couple of sites for a similar behavior problems but found nothing. TIA Rod