System Preferences Sporadically and Unilaterally Change

I find that my system preferences sometimes change unilaterally.
I have seen isolated posts on the discussion boards about specific preference settings being lost, but I think there is a general problem somewhere. Perhaps with corrupted preference files?
1) Most commonly, I find icons missing from the menu bar (usually bluetooth status, clock, or the flag that represents keyboard input menu, but sometimes my airport status icon disappears too). It is not that they all disappear all the time -- normally I will be working just fine and a few days later will notice that something is missing. I open system preferences, change the preference back to what I want, and all is fine for a while (maybe a couple of days, maybe 2 weeks). With the bluetooth status icon, in particular, I usually find that the preference is correctly set in System Preferences>Bluetooth; which means I have to uncheck it, click OK, then go back into System Preferences>Bluetooth and recheck it and click OK before it reappears in my menu bar. This has been a problem since 10.4.1.
2) I also have been noticing, lately, that my PowerBook does not always "remember" Wi-Fi networks to which I have previously (and quite recently) connected. For example, it does not remember my hidden home network, and it has on recent occasions "forgotten" the hidden network in my office. I can always easily rejoin the networks by entering the network name and network password, but Airport used to remember even hidden networks and would log on to them automatically as long as I had correctly logged in in the past. Accordingly, I suspect this is some sort of system preference or keychain problem. I think it pre-dates my recent upgrade to 10.4.4, but I am not 100% sure. It is a bit frustrating, though, because now that Tiger stores wi-fi network passwords in the System keychain -- which apparently has a different password from the normal administrator password, and which password is so secret that even I am not allowed to have it -- I have no way to go into the keychain to view passwords that I have forgotten (unfortunately, forgetting passwords is an increasingly frequent occurrence as passwords grow more complex and more numerous and as I advance in age).
Any ideas would be welcome.
DXB Law

Problem disappeared with an OS upgrade.

Similar Messages

HT5953 How can I speed up the "start speaking" feature in iBooks? (System Preferences Dictation and speech does not do anything to the speech speed.) The rate is a bit to slow.

How can I speed up the "start speaking" feature in iBooks? (System Preferences Dictation and speech does not do anything to the speech speed.) The rate is a bit to slow.

Hi, I had the same problem you described, and I noticed that there are two ways of activating text to speech on iBook for Mac, with different speed results (at least on my MacBook Pro Retina display)
On your iBook you can select the text and and then click on > More> Start speaking, and you will get a certain speed, which tends to be too slow.
But you will get the speed you had selected with "Go to System Preferences>Dictation and Speech>Text to speech. In there is a slider to adjust the speaking rate." if you use the TOP MENU (next to the black apple) under Edit>Speech>Start Speaking. I also learned that under System Preferences>Dictation and Speech>Text to speech, there is an option for a shortcut which is very helpful. And you can change Key. Hope this was helpful.

When I go to system preferences expose and spaces is not there for me as an option. What can I do to restore it?

I have tried to fix permissions and restart and that did not help it show back up and I have also deleted the system preferences cache and still nothing. What can I do?

I also miss the grid layout of spaces. In fact, I'm considering downgrading back to Snow Leopard just to get it back. I used to use command+arrow keys to move around in my grid of spaces. I used to use a hot corner to initiate spaces, then another hot corner to initiate expose while "zoomed out" in spaces. I used to be able to click any window of any app in any space and move it to any other space. I used to be able to move an entire space to another location.
Now I've upgraded to Lion and I cannot do any of that. Serious downgrade, serious loss of efficiency. I've taken the time to learn how Lion handles all this. I've taken the time to change options to try to make MC more efficient. Simply put, it's a downgrade that breaks something great from Snow Leopard.
For example: Initiate Mission Control while on desktop 1 and I see a window on desktop 2 that I want on desktop 3. In order to move that, I have to first switch to desktop 2, initiate MC, then move the app. Not to mention, if that window were under another window, I'd not be able to see it at all!
For example: In SL, to go from space 1 to 9 on a 3x3 layout, I could use command+right, down, down, right. On Lion, I have to use comand+right, right, right, right, right, right, right, right. seriously? Sure, I could use command+9 (if that's even where Lion decided it wanted to keep the app!), but I prefer the efficiency of using 1 hand to do the keyboard shortcut.
Tell Apple you want the option of having spaces in a grid again. Who knows, maybe if enough of us do, they'll bring it back: http://www.apple.com/feedback/macosx.html
Message was edited for grammar by: pistolpete_sf

System Preferences Toolbar and Toolbar Button have disappeared

My Systems Preferences toolbar disappeared, and so did the small button in the upper right that toggled the toolbar off and on. Any ideas on how to fix this without reinstalling OS X?
I do not know when the toolbar disappeared (I don't change preferences often), and I do not know if any specific actions or software installations/upgrades caused the problem.

iTBotB,
Welcome to Apple Discussions.
Quit System Preferences (if it's running) and trash the following file: Macintosh HD/Users/username/Library/Caches/com.apple.preferencepanes.cache
Then launch System Preferences again and check for functionality.
There is no toolbar button on the System Preferences window. My toolbar only has the following selections: ←/→, "Show All," and a "Search" field.
;~)

Hi I do not want iTunes to open up automatically when I turn on my macbook pro. I tried going to System Preferences Users and Groups Login Items and then I took iTunes off the list but it still opens up automatically when I turn on my laptop.

Hi I do not want iTunes to open up automatically when I turn on my macbook pro. I tried going to System Preferences>Users and Groups>Login Items and then I took iTunes off the list but it still opens up automatically when I turn on my laptop. What should I do?

Hi r,
Make sure you close iTunes before shutdown. And you're quite welcome.

I am trying to stop programs from opening automatically when I turn my computer on. I tried system preferences users and groups login items...then I deleted them from the list but it did nothing.

I am trying to stop programs from opening automatically when I turn my computer on. I tried system preferences>users and groups>login items...then I deleted them itunes and emial from the list but it did nothing. They continue to open up every time I turn on my Macbook Pro.

Hi r,
It sounds like you're running Lion?
Have you tried running Verify and/or Repair Disk?
Have you tried running Repair Permissions?
Do you have at least 15% free space available on your HD?

Unable to open System Preferences - Keyboard and Mouse

Hi, My MacBook Pro don't open System Preferences -> Keyboard and Mouse Panel.
I tested reinstall the system, it's working, but after update to 10.5.2 the problem returned.
The following messages are displayed on the console when i click on "Keyboard and Mouse" icon.
/Applications/System\ Preferences.app/Contents/MacOS/System\ Preferences
2008-02-21 14:11:38.442 System Preferences[272:10b] * -[NSCFArray objectAtIndex:]: index (2147483647( or possibly larger)) beyond bounds (3)
---

I'm having basically the same problem, though with a different console message:
5/2/08 15.04.49 System Preferences[55360] * -[NSURL initFileURLWithPath:]: nil string parameter
Anyone else see this?

My system preferences have suddenly disappeared! I have the language and text icon but that is the only icon that is displayed! where have my system preferences gone and how do i get them back??

I went to my system preferences today and they are all gone except for my language and text icon! I have the language and text icon but that is the only icon that is displayed! where have my system preferences gone and how do i get them back??

Double click on the picture of the HD on your desktop, then look at the bottom of the window that opens.
First check the S.M.A.R.T. status on your HD: Applications > Utilities > Disk Utility > in the panel at left, select the first item in the list/your HD mechanism > look atthe bottom of the main window next to S.M.A.R.T. status and see if it says “Verified” or something more ominous like “Failing.”
If S.M.A.R.T.status is "Verified," run Repair Disk: Boot from install disc (insert disc > restart > immediately hold down c key and keep holding it until you see “Preparing Installation”) > at first screen select the language and click Continue > click on the Utilities Menu in the menu bar > open Disk Utility > select your HD in the panel on the left side > click Repair Disk at bottom of main window. Run this at least twice, and keep running it until it says “appears ok” twice in a row. If that doesn’t happen, you may need a stronger utility such as DiskWarrior or if the directory is damaged beyond repair, you may need to reinstall the OS, or you may have a damaged HD (repair utilities can only repair the directory structure, not the HD itself). When this is finished, quit Disk Utility, quit the installer, and restart. Once booted normally, go to Applications > Utilities > Disk Utility and run Repair Permissions.

System preferences slideshow and iPhoto

The system preferences screensaver and desktop keep recycling the same 20 photos out of my foler, I have over 2,500 photos in the folder and they keep using the same 15-20 photos. What's going on?
This is a g5 10.4.8 and a g4 (version ?)
Thanks

Try deleting the screensaver slideshow preference file that is in your User/Library/Preferences/ByHost folder. It will be named something like this: com.apple.screensaver.slideshow.0016cb3791b6.plist. Then reset the slideshow and see if you can expand the number of slides.
Do you Twango?

HT204347 I CAN'T KEEP MY MACBOOK PRO FROM SHOWING APPLEMAIL WHEN I START UP. I HAVE GONE TO SYSTEM PREFERENCES, USERS AND GROUPS, AND THERE ARE NO LOGIN ITEMS LISTED. WHAT DO I DO?ERENCESS,

I cannot keep my computer from showing applemail mailboxes when I start up. When I go to system preferences, users and groups, login items nothing is listed. If I try listing mail and then restarting and deleting it, that does not work. What to do next?

System Preference > General
At the bottom of the section "Number of recent items"
uncheck the box next to "Restore windows when quitting and re-opening apps".
Best.

I have a desktop OS X 10.9.5. I once was able to make an album in iPhoto my screensaver, now I cannot. When I go to System Preferences Screensaver and attempt to choose photos my IPhotos do not come up as they once did. mjcjane

I have a desktop OS X 10.9.5. I once was able to make an album in iPhoto my screensaver, now I cannot. When I go to System Preferences >Screensaver and attempt to choose photos my IPhotos do not come up as they once did.
mjcjane

Are you getting the Source dropdown?

I am getting no sound from my headphones. I've tried several headphones, did the whole system preference thing, and tried the option command reboot. Whats next?

I am getting no sound from my headphones. I've tried several headphones, did the whole system preference thing, and tried the option command reboot. Whats next?

I have tried all the above and nothing seems to work. Any other suggestions?

HT1338 i cant open System Preferences.app and App Store,what should i do?

i cant open System Preferences.app and App Store,what should i do?

Step one is to boot into safe mode and see if the problem persists.

System Preferences pane and ipfw rules conflict

If i configure ipfw rules using this script (launced with sudo):
#!/bin/bash
ipfw add pipe 1 ip from any to any out
ipfw pipe 1 config bw 200Kbit/s queue 50KBytes
ipfw add pipe 2 ip from any to any in
ipfw pipe 2 config bw 2Mbit/s queue 50KBytes
or using WaterRoof (http://www.hanynet.com/waterroof/).
When I try to access the Firewall configuration page of the System Preferences pane an alert window notice me that there is another software firewall already running and that I should disable it to be able to access rules configurations from the System Preferences pane.
Is it gone crazy? What should I do to have access to firewall configuration from the System Preference pane and contemporary have access to commandline advanced rules, avoiding them to conflict?

The "solved" post in this thread addresses how to regain control, albeit not while simultaneously allowing control from a command line ipfw or the WaterRoof GUI front-end.
The first "helpful" post in that same thread talked about how if Sys Prefs Sharing saw an altered ipfw list, then Sharing assumed other firewall software was running, so you got the "other firewall" splash screen, or something like that.
It appears that they don't like to coexist, and there's probably nothing that you can do about it.

System Preferences menu have not change with the update

I just updated from 10.6.6 to 10.8.4 tonight and the first thing I noticed is the reversed scrolling (which is a horrid idea in my opinion for a laptop). I went to youtube and watched several videos showing me how to to my system preferences -> Track Pad -> Scrolling and Zooming tab -> Unselect natural Scrolling.
However, when I go to my system preferences -> Track Pad I only have one tab and it is the exact same as my 10.6.6 system preference menu and not the new one that everyone shows on the youtube videos.
How can I fix my system preferences to be updated and how can I go back to normal scrolling? Old habits are hard to die after 5-6 years on my laptop doing it the normal way...

Nevermind. I found a check box that is labeled "When using gestures to scroll or navigate, move content in the direction of finger movement." The box was found above the tracking speed and double click speed.
I am still curious on why I do not have the three tab options that everyone has.

System Preferences Sporadically and Unilaterally Change

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for