Desktop background settings won't hold

I use a folder of pictures to rotate randomly as my desktop background image. Whenever I restart the computer, the background image defaults to the purple-ish Snow Leopard background -- the one that looks sort of like a purple sunrise. I then have to open the Desktop/Screensaver preference pane and re-designate the folder with the pics in it. After that, it works perfectly -- until I restart. Then I have to go through the same drill.
I tried deleting the User>Library>Preferences>desktop.plist file but that didn't help. Still the same problem.
Any idea? Thanks.

William Kruidenier wrote:
I use a folder of pictures to rotate randomly as my desktop background image. Whenever I restart the computer, the background image defaults to the purple-ish Snow Leopard background -- the one that looks sort of like a purple sunrise. I then have to open the Desktop/Screensaver preference pane and re-designate the folder with the pics in it. After that, it works perfectly -- until I restart. Then I have to go through the same drill.
I tried deleting the User>Library>Preferences>desktop.plist file but that didn't help. Still the same problem.
Any idea? Thanks.
User meaning Home ?
Try it again, repair permissions and restart your computer.

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Desktop background settings won't obey me

Hi everyone. This is probably just me being dumb and not noticing something basic, but I've looked at everything I can think of.
As a bit of background (heh) I just got this new Macbook and transferred everything over with Time Machine, from 10.5 on my eMac to 10.6 on the Macbook. That could maybe have something to do with it? I dunno.
I have my desktop pictures set to change every 15 minutes. I have the folder selected, which I've originally named Desktop pictures. There's a problem though. I've only just noticed it in the past couple of days, but it could have been (I've had the Macbook for a week or 2). I have it set to Center. I have triple-checked this, switched it off to another setting and then back, everything I can think of. Sys Prefs definitely has CENTER selected. However, when a pictures smaller than the screen resolution comes up... it tiles it. Actually, when I first noticed it wasn't doing what I wanted, it was stretching them/zooming in on them to fit the screen. Now it seems to be tiling them.
I am weirded out. Can anyone help me? I didn't change my settings after the move to the Macbook. The settings definitely have Center selected. Why is it stretching/tiling??

click on the house button in the sidebar of any finder window and go to Library->preferences. delete the file com.apple.desktop.plist and log out/in. your desktop background will be reset to the default. set it again as you like and see if the problem goes away.

Desktop background problem

Hi
I have chosen to use a particular photo folder to use as desktop background for my Imac. I have also checked the "change image" and "random" boxes, every 30 minutes. As long as I keep the Imac running, everything is fine but as soon as for some reason, I reboot the computer, I get the original photo that came with Snow Leopard and I have to change the settings all over again as it had not remembered the information.
I have tried a few times to delete the finder's plist fife, to no avail. Is there something else I may try to try and fix it once and for all ?
thanks

I just created a new admin account, applied the same desktop background settings as my regular account and then rebooted to the newly created account. I was surprised to find out that it's the exact same situation with the new account.

IMac very slow, no Dock, Desktop Background cycling every 1 to 5 sec

So i have always had the issue of the main display not coming back on from sleep.... I have given up on trying to fix it so i just deal with it. But i really needed my mac and so forced it to shut down because it seemed to be acting strange and i could not see the main screen just my external monitor.
Anyway when it restarted i now have a very slow machine.... creazy slow. Every click is a delay. My background which normally cycles through the standard images every 30 min does so every 1 to 5 seconds. And i have no Dock.
My machine is an intel iMac.. 27" late 2009, 8 gigs of ram 1 tera of HD. 60 gb free. 2.8 ghz i7
Oh and OS X 10.9.1 (13B42)
I have tried resetting pram and plists for the main things including the Dock. I repaired permissions and did a disk repair.
I am kind of stuck.
Does anyone have any ideas?
I tried changing the Dock settings but they dont make any difference. I also tried changing the desktop background settings and they dont do anything either and they do not save their settings when i reboot etc...
Thanks
Q

OK thanks it took a long time to do that,.. here are the results.
Hardware Information:
iMac (27-inch, Late 2009)
iMac - model: iMac11,1
1 2.8 GHz Intel Core i7 CPU: 4 cores
8 GB RAM
Video Information:
ATI Radeon HD 4850 - VRAM: 512 MB
Audio Plug-ins:
BluetoothAudioPlugIn: Version: 1.0 - SDK 10.9
AirPlay: Version: 1.9 - SDK 10.9
AppleAVBAudio: Version: 2.0.0 - SDK 10.9
iSightAudio: Version: 7.7.3 - SDK 10.9
System Software:
OS X 10.9.1 (13B42) - Uptime: 0 days 5:26:8
Disk Information:
ST31000528ASQ disk0 : (1 TB)
EFI (disk0s1) <not mounted>: 209.7 MB
Macintosh HD (disk0s2) /: 999.35 GB (56.84 GB free)
Recovery HD (disk0s3) <not mounted>: 650 MB
OPTIARC DVD RW AD-5680H
USB Information:
Apple Internal Memory Card Reader
Apple Inc. BRCM2046 Hub
Apple Inc. Bluetooth USB Host Controller
Logitech USB Receiver
Apple Inc. Built-in iSight
Apple Computer, Inc. IR Receiver
FireWire Information:
Thunderbolt Information:
Kernel Extensions:
jp.plentycom.driver.SteerMouse     (4.0.3f1)
com.parallels.virtualsound     (1.0 22731.929773)
com.bresink.driver.BRESINKx86Monitoring     (9.0)
Problem System Launch Daemons:
Problem System Launch Agents:
Launch Daemons:
[loaded] cn.com.zte.PPPMonitor.plist
[loaded] com.adobe.fpsaud.plist
[loaded] com.parallels.mobile.dispatcher.launchdaemon.plist
[loaded] com.parallels.mobile.kextloader.launchdaemon.plist
[loaded] org.macosforge.xquartz.privileged_startx.plist
Launch Agents:
[loaded] cn.com.zte.usbswapper.plist
[loaded] com.Nokia.NokiaInternetModem_AppStart.plist
[loaded] com.Nokia.NokiaInternetModem_icera-zerocd.plist
[loaded] com.parallels.mobile.prl_deskctl_agent.launchagent.plist
[loaded] org.macosforge.xquartz.startx.plist
User Launch Agents:
[failed] com.apple.CSConfigDotMacCert-[redacted]@me.com-SharedServices.Agent.plist
[loaded] com.divx.agent.postinstall.plist
[loaded] com.google.keystone.agent.plist
[loaded] com.parallels.mobile.startgui.launchagent.plist
User Login Items:
smcFanControl
iTunesHelper
Skype
Kelly C
EEventManager
SteerMouse Manager
Raid D1
TotalFinder
EEventManager
3rd Party Preference Panes:
DivX
Flash Player
Flip4Mac WMV
MacFUSE
Perian
SteerMouse
Internet Plug-ins::
Flip4Mac WMV Plugin: Version: 2.4.1.4
FlashPlayer-10.6: Version: 11.9.900.170 - SDK 10.6
Default Browser: Version: 537 - SDK 10.9
Flash Player: Version: 11.9.900.170 - SDK 10.6
OVSHelper: Version: 1.1
DivXBrowserPlugin: Version: 2.2
QuickTime Plugin: Version: 7.7.3
Google Earth Web Plug-in: Version: 6.0
Unity Web Player: Version: UnityPlayer version 3.5.6f4 - SDK 10.6
Silverlight: Version: 4.0.60831.0
iPhotoPhotocast: Version: 7.0 - SDK 10.8
Bad Fonts:
None
Old applications:
Audacity:     Version: 1.3.13.0 - SDK 10.4
/Applications/Audacity/Audacity.app
Basketmania:     Version: 2.0 - SDK 10.0
/Applications/Basketmania.app
Holes-and-Balls-Free:     Version: 1.1 - SDK 10.0
/Applications/Holes-and-Balls-Free.app
Keynote:     Version: 5.3 - SDK 10.5
/Applications/iWork '09/Keynote.app
Numbers:     Version: 2.3 - SDK 10.5
/Applications/iWork '09/Numbers.app
Pages:     Version: 4.3 - SDK 10.5
/Applications/iWork '09/Pages.app
PeeMonkeyPlantBloomFree:     Version: 1.1.0 - SDK 10.0
/Applications/PeeMonkeyPlantBloomFree.app
Unicorn Rainbow Munch:     Version: 23.5 - SDK 10.0
/Applications/Unicorn Rainbow Munch.app
Unity Bug Reporter:     Version: 3.5.6f4 - SDK 10.4
/Applications/Unity/Unity Bug Reporter.app
Time Machine:
Skip System Files: NO
Mobile backups: OFF
Auto backup: NO
Volumes being backed up:
Macintosh HD: Disk size: 930.71 GB Disk used: 877.77 GB
Destinations:
Mac Back 2TB [Local] (Last used)
Total size: 0 B
Total number of backups: (null)
Size of backup disk: Too small
Backup size 0 B < (Disk used 877.77 GB X 3)
Time Machine details may not be accurate.
All volumes being backed up may not be listed.
Top Processes by CPU:
46%     Dock
8%     prl_pm_service
4%     WindowServer
4%     Finder
1%     launchservicesd
Top Processes by Memory:
311 MB     Safari
180 MB     WindowServer
172 MB     com.apple.IconServicesAgent
123 MB     Skype
82 MB     Finder
Virtual Memory Statistics:
4.91 GB     Free RAM
1.69 GB     Active RAM
721 MB     Inactive RAM
706 MB     Wired RAM
670 MB     Page-ins
0 B     Page-outs

Mac Mini (10.5.8) won't stop cycling through "Nature" desktop backgrounds.

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I have the wierdest problem. Everytime I try to change my desktop background it goes back to an old one when I restart my computer. Has anyone had this happen to them? I have Lion version 10.7.3

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Selected Desktop Background Won't Save

I generally use my photos from an external drive as my desktop background. This was all working great until Lion. Now, everytime I restart the computer one of the apple backgrounds appears (the space one). I have deleted the plists and restarted, etc and nothing seems to work. What's going on. I'm running a 27" imac with intel processor (new last June).

That is a corrupt preference file.
Download the free TinkerTool to tun on Invisible Items, now look in your Users/Library/Preferences folder for a
com.apple.systempreferences.plist
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Desktop background won't stick

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Desktop Background won't stay!

When I create a desktop background from a photo in iPhoto, it doesn't remain as the background after I restart the computer (or shut down and boot up again)...the background goes back to the default galaxy shot. Anyone know why this is? Thank you for your help!

That is a corrupt preference file.
Download the free TinkerTool to tun on Invisible Items, now look in your Users/Library/Preferences folder for a
com.apple.systempreferences.plist
file and delete it, reboot the machine and reset your system preferences.
turn off invisible items in TinkerTool

Deleting files out of system preferences desktop background.

Does anyone know how to delete files out of system preferences>desktop & screen saver?
Some how when adding one photo to the file for the desktop background it took the entire photo file. So that instead of one photo for the file it has over 200 now. Read everything and tried everything. Still can't figure out how to delete that file from the list.
I know how to add photos or whatever to use as desktop background just no idea how to remove them from the list.
Any ideas?

Doug,
When you go to system preferences>desktop & screen savers>desktop. On the left is a window with the names of the images listed. Apple Images, Nature file, Plants file, Picture Folder, Choose Folder and so forth. The ones that come with Apple products. Not sure what all else is native to Apple.
Iv been using my own desktop background since the day I got the iBook. Normally I just get one photo or image and more it there to use. But, last week I did something different or wrong. Maybe holding a button to long, not sure. Instead of moving the one photo it moved the entire photo file. That file had over 200 (2,500x1,800 in size & over 550KB for each) and probably closer to 250 photos in it.
Way to many to be there. And I simply can't find a way to remove that file from the desktop list. I can high light it, but it doesn't delete with the delete button. I can high light it, but it doesn't change anything in system preferences banner to edit, view, etc....to remove it either. It won't click & drag to trash.
Being very careful because I don't want to delete the file and by error delete it totally off the computer. I could creat a new file with only 1 photo in it for use as the desktop background. Then try to choose that file. However, since the last big OS-X update it's been doing this. Everytime I choose a file or photo it's adding the entire file not just the 1 photo. And Iv managed to add 3 files so far to that list.
Any ideas? Thx, Mike

Some iphoto pictures not usable as desktop background

I want to set my desktop background as a slideshow of my favourite iPhoto'08 pictures. While experimenting, I've discovered that some of my iPhoto pictures don't seem to work as a desktop background.
Here's what I do (and note that I'm translating from a Swedish version of OSX here):
Right-click on the desktop, choose 'Change desktop background'. In the 'Desktop and Screensaver' dialog, Desktop tab, scroll down the left-hand side list of iPhoto albums (among other things), and select my favourite iPhoto album (Flagged). Wait for the previews to load. Select one of the pictures.
Now, what happens can be one of two things. Either I'll see a slightly bigger preview in the left upper corner of the dialog and I'll see the desktop background change to the picture in question. Or I'll only see the slightly bigger preview in the left upper corner, and the desktop background will turn a boring solid color.
Now, iPhoto itself has no problems with these pictures, and shows them properly. Also, if I use the little + below the left-hand side list to add a folder on the harddrive directly to the list, I can get the broken pictures to show up correctly, as long as I don't go through iPhoto.
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The pattern I've noticed is that iPhoto-modified pictures work fine, non-iPhoto-modified pictures don't seem to work. (That is, if right-clicking on a preview in iPhoto has the menu item 'Show original file' active, the picture will work, if the item is greyed out, the picture won't work.)
A relevant detail in this may be that I've set iPhoto to not copy imported pictures into the library.
Any hints, clues? Now what?

Welcome to the Apple Discussions.
I think this relates to using a Referenced Library:
iPhoto-modified pictures work fine, non-iPhoto-modified pictures don't seem to work.
In other words, iPhoto will share the files it controls (the modifieds are inside the Library Package) and not the ones that it wont.
Simple test: Create a Managed Library (Hold down the option (or alt) key key and launch iPhoto. From the resulting menu select 'Create Library', import a few pics and see if that works as expected.
Regards
TD

Desktop backgrounds all changed?

Hello internets! So my desktop backgrounds have all been downloaded with a resolution of 1600x1200, while my resolution in settings is 1280x800. And while this has never been a problem before, now all my backgrounds are zoomed in slightly and are cut off on the bottom. I don't have zoom on and the rest of desktop is the same....anyone know what to do?
Thanks!

Take these steps if the cursor changes from an arrow to a white "prohibited" symbol when you try to move an icon on the Desktop.
Sometimes the problem may be solved just by logging out or rebooting. Try that first, if you haven't already done it. Otherwise, continue.
Select the icon of your home folder (a house) in the sidebar of a Finder window and open it. The Desktop folder is one of the subfolders. Select it and open the Info window. In the General section of the window, the Kind will be either Folder or something else, such as Anything.
If the Kind is Folder, uncheck the box marked Locked. Close the Info window and test.
If the Kind is not Folder, make sure the Locked box is not checked and that you have Read & Write privileges in the Sharing & Permissions section. Then close the Info window and do as follows.
Back up all data.
Triple-click anywhere in the line below on this page to select it:
xattr -d com.apple.FinderInfo Desktop
Copy the selected text to the Clipboard by pressing the key combination command-C.
Launch the built-in Terminal application in any of the following ways:
☞ Enter the first few letters of its name into a Spotlight search. Select it in the results (it should be at the top.)
☞ In the Finder, select Go ▹ Utilities from the menu bar, or press the key combination shift-command-U. The application is in the folder that opens.
☞ Open LaunchPad. Click Utilities, then Terminal in the icon grid.
Paste into the Terminal window (command-V). You should get a new line ending in a dollar sign ($). Quit Terminal.
Relaunch the Finder.
If the problem is now resolved, and if you use iPhoto, continue.
Quit iPhoto if it's running. Launch it while holding down the option key. It will prompt you to select a library. Choose the one you want to use (not the Desktop folder.)

Color space setting won't hold

My display setting for the color space won’t hold. I’ll set sRGB (Control panel/Display/Change display settings/Advance settings/Monitor Color) close the dialogue and all is well for a nonspecific period of time. At some point the sRGB setting will deselect. I’ll reset it but the cycle goes on and on. Has anyone had this experience or know the whys and wherefores?
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Many Thanks,
Fred
Solved!
Go to Solution.

I had a similar problem with my T410, using Windows 7's Calibrate Display under Color Management in Control Panel and I found two critical issues with keeping color calibrations (profiles) active. The first involves setting Windows up to use the profile and the second involves preventing the graphic card's applications from resetting and loosing the color calibration.
First, in order to get Windows 7 to use your color profile, it must be associated with your display in Color Management under the Devices tab. Also, two check boxes must be checked; the first being Use my settings for this device on the Devices tab and the second is Use Windows display calibration on the Advanced tab. This second check box will remain grayed out until you click Change System Defaults and then clicking the Advanced tab.
It is my understanding that color profiles generated by display calibrators can be loaded and handled by Windows in lieu of the third-party loaders. The following link will shed more light on this use of Windows to load the profiles:
http://www.pusztaiphoto.com/articles/colormgmt/win7/default.aspx
Secondly, the graphics card's user interface modules seem to constantly re-set the video card thereby loosing the color calibrations. These may be disabled under the Startup tab in MSCONFIG. On my machine, I disabled three Intel® Common User Interface items: igfxtray.exe, hkcmd.exe and igfxpers.exe. The following links may shed some more light on this:
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/topic371918.html
http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-desktop/color-profile-switches-when-compu...
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Cannot change desktop background...

This is a problem that has been annoying me for about a month now... i set my desktop background as an iphoto image, and went to change it a few weeks later but it wouldn't let me! the small image of the desktop appears in system preferences, but the background will not change.
if anyone knows how to fix this, your help will be appreciated...

Confounding!
Log back into your problem account:
Here's the whole litany for thoroughly checking your home folder. It's not as daunting as it looks.
1. Navigate to ~(YourHome/Library/Fonts - drag this folder to the desktop.
• Restart and test your applications.
• If they work start adding the fonts back few at a time.
( Likely suspects are Times RO, Helvetica Fractions and Times Phonetic, also if you do not use Classic you can trash the classic fonts.) If not, put your Fonts folder back.
2. Check Preferences Thoroughly;
• Navigate to ~(YourHome/Library/Preferences drag this folder to the desktop.
• Restart and test your applications.
• If this works, save the old preferences folder somewhere else or on disk, name it "old prefs" .
** Note: A very important file is the "com.apple.Mail.plist" preference file located in the Preferences folder which contains all email account settings and general mail preferences (hold this one and replace if your problem is not with Mail).
You'll have to go through some of your System Preferences and apps to set the preferences back to how you like them. (Or if you have the time and inclination, "cherry pick" through until you find the problem one or two.)
3. Check Permissions Inside Home Folder
• Navigate to YourHome/Library.
• Get Info (Command - i) on folders for apps you are having problems with.
• Open the "Ownership & permissions" disclosure triangle.
• Make sure you are the owner, with "read and write" access.
• Click on "apply to all"
• If this is correct, open the "Applications Support" folder and do the same procedure (Command+I) for the folders with the names of the applications you are having trouble with.
(Note:The reason to check this is because repairing permissions with Disk Utility doesn't touch permissions inside your home folder.)
4. Navigate to YourHome/Library/Caches and drag this folder to the trash, then log out and back or restart. There is no need to replace this folder.
-mj

Desktop background settings won't hold

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