Launching Timbuktu Pro for Mac brings up an error message stating "The Timbuktu Extension failed to load."

Problem:

Attempting to launch Timbuktu Pro for Macintosh brings up an error message stating that the "The Timbuktu Extension failed to load".

Situation and Solutions:

There are eight common situations in which Timbuktu Pro displays the message "The Timbuktu Extension failed to load".

1. Make sure that you started your computer from a drive with the Timbuktu Extension in the Extensions folder in the System Folder and with the Netopia Preferences file in the Netopia folder of the Preferences folder of the System folder.
   
   
2. Make sure that you aren't trying to load multiple copies of the Timbuktu Extension. If you've upgraded from an older version of Timbuktu, the old Timbuktu Extension may have been renamed or relocated.
   
   
3. Make sure that you don't have mismatched versions of the extension and the application. For example, you might have the Timbuktu Pro 4.0 extension and the Timbuktu Pro 5.x application. If you've upgraded from an older version of Timbuktu, check the version numbers in the Timbuktu Pro Info window's Versions tab. If you have mismatched versions, follow the instructions in tech note number TPM_035 Clean Installation to do a clean installation of Timbuktu.
   
   
4. Make sure that you're running System 8.1 or later if you're installing Timbuktu Pro 5.x
   
   
5. Make sure that you didn't hold down the Shift-Option-Command, or the T key, while starting up. When pressed while your computer is starting up, these keys disable Timbuktu Pro. They are useful for troubleshooting purposes.
   
   
6. Make sure that you haven't run out of memory or hard drive space. For tips on freeing up more memory, check the information contained in the Timbuktu Pro Guide under the Help menu within Timbuktu Pro.
   
   
7. You may have an extension or control panel conflict. See technote, TPM_042 Extension Conflict Resolution, for information on how to determine if you have a conflict.
   
   
8. The Netopia Preferences file may be corrupted. Drag the Netopia Preferences file to the desktop and restart your Mac. The Netopia Preferences file is located in the System Folder/Preferences/Netopia folder. On restart, Timbuktu will build a new Netopia Preferences file. Launch Timbuktu Pro and note that you are presented with the license agreement, as if you had just installed Timbuktu. If the extension will now load properly, drag the Netopia Preferences file on the desktop to the trash and empty the trash. Once the Netopia Preferences file has been trashed, the Timbuktu settings, including user names and passwords, will need to be reset.

If the Timbuktu extension still will not load, you can drag the Netopia Preferences file from your desktop back to the System Folder/Preferences/Netopia folder. It will replace the copy of the Netopia Preferences that was just created. This prevents you from having to reset all your Netopia Preferences.

Note: Once the Timbuktu Pro Preferences file has been trashed, the Timbuktu settings, including user names and passwords, will need to be reset.