err -2804 & error -1 creating path

...hello...

my problem might have to do with issues concerning multiple
systems+copies of MaxMspJitter disturbing each other via
firewire....(?)..... anyway: some msp-patches wont work anymore,
because MaxMsp cannot find files anymore - and i cannot create search
paths anymore.... (for details see below)....

(A) when i open msp-patches (my own or from the msp-tutotials) i get:

error:can't fragload buffer~ (missing <>),err-2804

(B) when i try to create a search path in the preferences pane:

error:filepath:works/sounds/:error -1 creating path

thank you very much for any advice how to get this working again....

aw

...........details...........

i work with MaxMsp4.5.4+ jitter1.2.3
on a G4powerbook 1.5 Ghz, 1.25 GB Ram
with MAC OS X.3.9

a few days ago (1) i tried out new maxmspjitter on an external
harddrive with OS TIGER, and (2) i started cleaning up my old maxmsp
folder and 3rd-party-maxmp stuff..........ever since then my dear old
MaxMsp version on the powerbook started behaving strangely.... i cannot
work anymore.....

(1) it cannot find things (buffers, sound files) anymore
(2) i cannot change search paths anymore
(3) menu items disappear
(4) the computer starts doing weird things alltogether

......i re-named, re-installed, dis-connected hard drives, thought i
had found things back and re-paired my original version.... to NOW be
right back at where i was when all this troll-stuff started
happening.....

my original version of maxmspjitter cannot find files anymore and i
cannot change search paths.... (but at least the dialog box for the
preferences opens again and so does the dsp-dialog box - they wouldn't
open for the past 24 hours either)....

...again - thanx for your help or advice...