I have a Linux server (Ubuntu 8.10) and a Macbook (10.5.7). The Linux server has some Samba shares which I mount on the Macbook.
They are set to mount on boot using the "Open Applications at Startup" option in OS X.
I either use the Macbook connected to my wired network or my wireless network and frequently switch between (depending on which room I am in). I just shut the lid to let it sleep when I am moving it around the house.
I normally leave the Macbook to sleep overnight and tend not to shut it down that often (unless I have to as described below).
My problem if that after a day or two of using it as described the samba shares are viewable but show no files. What I mean is that I double click the share on my desktop and it opens but it's empty - no files are shown.
If I try to unmount the share nothing happens, the shared drive icon just stays on my desktop. If I try to umount using Terminal the command just hangs indefinitely.
At this point the only fix I know of is to reboot - however, this never works. I choose "Shut down" and confirm then after a long wait I get an error about some program (a random one from the ones I am running) being unable to shut down. Using "Force Quit" on that command achieves nothing.
The only solution then is to hold the power button down until it shuts down.
This used to happen rarely but seems to be happening more and more frequently lately.
Has anyone else experienced similar problems? I've had my Macbook for about two years and I wonder if it just needs a re-install or something. I used to run Windows and found it benefited from a re-install periodically, will my Macbook benefit from the same thing? Or does it sound more like a hardware problem?
Thanks in advance for any help.