Apple Menu Problems

I was upgrading my families iMac G5 from Mac OS 10.3.9 to 10.4 and now nothing in the apple menu will launch (system preferences, software update, etc). I'm assuming that the apple menu is trying to launch the old 10.3 versions of those programs for some reason, or there is an old preference file somewhere. Could anyone tell me how to get the apple menu to work properly again?
Thank you.

Safe Boot from the HD, (holding Shift key down at bootup), run Disk Utility in Applications>Utilities, then highlight your drive, click on Repair Permissions, it will try to repair your Disk Directory while the spinning radian is happening, so let it go...

Similar Messages

System Pref. and Apple Menu Problems

I am having several problems. I can' open System Preference from the dock or HD folder. I can't open the Apple Menu. When I click on the Apple Icon, the desktop disappears for a few seconds and then reappears. I then can't drag any files or folders. Also, Appleworks quits as soon as I type a keystroke. I also can't enter a search or label file folders. This all began when I installed new HP printer software. I followed HP support instructions to uninstall the driver, trash the Printer Folder, trash com.apple.print files, repair disk verifications, disconnect the usb cable to the printer, and restart. Nothing helped and HP support now says its a system problem. I'm a new learner, not sure what to do and could use some help. Did I post in the right discussion area? Thanks!

Hi salem, if an "archive and install" didn't fix the problem it suggests that the problem MAY lie in the preference or library files in your own "home" user area.
(deleted - wouldn't work in this situation)
Head to your Home/Library/Preferences folder (NB - this is the Library folder inside your Home folder, not the one at the "root" level of the HD) and, for starters, drag to trash:
com.apple.finder.plist
com.apple.systempreferences.plist
any hp related prefs files that may be hiding here such as
hp inkjet utility prefs
hp inkjet toolbox prefs
hp printer selector prefs
RESTART and see if the problem disappears. If not we may have to find some more demons to exorcise!
Phone modems are a pain for those big downloads, eh! It is a good idea to actually save the package when you install them, just in case of situations like your present one. Software Update should have an option to allow you to do this (Panther and Tiger both do, I can't quite remember wrt Jag, though). Alternatively head to http://www.apple.com/support/downloads and download them directly from there.
Some Apple dealers will burn the relevant downloadable updates to a disc for you if you ask them nicely and pay them a small fee, thereby saving a lot of download time, too.
Cheers
Rod

I just upgraded to Lion and I have not been able to successfully complete a restart. I go to apple menu, restart. The computer powers down no problem and starts but it does not open the desk top. It remains a grey screen with the spinning icon. Any help?

I have just upgraded to Lion 10.8.2. I have not been able to complete a restart. I go to the apple menu, click on restart.The computer powers down and restarts but never opens the desk top. The screen remain grey and a graphic just spins. I have left this happen for as much as 15 minutes without it openning the desk top. When I power down the computer with the power button and start again with the power button. It starts no problem.

Hi Anythony ...
v10.8..2? Most reccent version of Lion is v10.7.4.
Use Lion Recovery to repair the startup disk if necessary, or reinstall the Mac OS X.

I have a Power MAC G5 dual 2ghz that has a peculiar problem. The monitor will not report until the machine is stopped and started 5 or 6 times. Once booted it will restart without problem if done so from the apple menu. Swapped out all hardware

My Power MAC G5 has a peculiar problem. The monitor fails to report until the machine is started and shut down 5 or 6 times. Once it has booted it can be restarted without incident from the Apple menu. I have swapped out all of the hardware. Monitor, Memmory,Video Card and reset the PRAM. After resetting the PRAM it booted on the first attempt and I thought it was solved. But the next day it was back to starting and stopping until the Monitor came on. Does anyone have a suggestion? Thanks

It could be a bad PRAM battery corrupting your PRAM. Typically when I have monitor issues on startup it is a bad PRAM battery.
Texas Mac Man's PRAM, battery, PMU tutorial - https://sites.google.com/site/macpram/mac-pram-nvram-cuda-pmu-battery-tutorial
Apple's PRAM reset directions - http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=2238
If you have a digital multimeter you can check the condition of your present battery. It should read at least 3.2V if it is the 3.6V half-AA battery type. A new battery provides 3.67 Volts DC. A bad battery provides under 3.2 Volts DC. Ideally this should be measured while the battery is under load; added recommendation from Hans777:
>I have recently found out that an exhausted battery will still indicate >3.6 V with a high internal resistance VM.
>
>Checking incircuit: powercord disconnected press PMU reset button for >about 5 sec before measuring.
>
>Checking outside: load the battery with a 1500 Ohm resistor when measuring.
Alternatively, test the battery while it is still in the computer.
If the battery is more than 5 years old, especially if you totally disconnect the computer from the power regularly, or have left it unplugged for several months at one time, it is likely the battery is dead.
Sometimes you have to do a more intensive reset of hardware management:
[Resetting Cuda/PMU on Power Mac G5, Power Mac G4, Power Macintosh G3|http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1939]
[How to reset the SMU on a Power Mac G5 (Late 2004) or Power Mac G5 (Late 2005)|http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1436]
[iMac G5: How to Reset the SMU|http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1767]

Apple Menu System Preferences no longer works

When I click on the System Preferenes item under the Apple Menu, nothing happens, but when I click on the System Preferences icon in the Dock, the System Preferences pane opens normally. How can I reactivate the System Preferences item in the Apple Menu?
PowerMac 1.25DP MDD Mac OS X (10.3.9)

George,
Thanks for asking that question.
I offered this solution based upon similar successful advice which was given to another poster who solved this problem:Long story short I ended up reinstalling Mac OS X using Archive and Install. When I first used the computer following reinstalling Mac OS X, I was able to access the System Preferences by selecting them under the Apple in the menu bar. However, I have now updated my software using Software Update, and now I can't access System Preferences when I click on them under the Apple in the menu. The computer just acts like I never selected System Preferences.
Where have System Preferences gone??? provides another example of Previous Systems folder interfering with System Preferences.
Applications don't work after reinstalling Mac OS X explains a different problem with a Previous Systems folder: Example 1: You downgrade by performing an Archive and Install installation, but do not update to a later version of Mac OS X. The Previous Systems folder contains later versions of applications that may contribute to this issue.If you have proper backups, I recommend trashing the Previous Systems folder as soon as you can determine that the new system is functioning properly. The Previous Systems folders will either take up too much space or contribute to unexplained system problems.
;~)

Mac OS X 10.5: Can't Access Apple Menu or Dock

While I composing a message in Mail last night, I started having problems with data input. The cursor would would freeze or disappear from the window. I was unable to use the mouse to position the cursor in the window.
I attempted to click on the Apple menu to invoke "Force quit..." and discovered that I couldn't access anything in the menu bar nor would the Dock open when I moved the cursor to the left side of the screen.
I could use Ctrl-arrow to move between "Spaces". If I had an open application in a "Space", I could enter data but not access anything in the Apple menu bar. Command-Q would terminate each application.
I was able to send the message that I was composing using the Shift-Command-D sequence. I then exited from Mail using the Command-Q key sequence.
At this point the system was dead other than to use Ctrl-arrow to move between spaces. I had to hold the power button to restart the system.
Any thoughts on what the problem might be? How do I report this to Apple software support?

While I composing a message in Mail last night, I started having problems with data input. The cursor would would freeze or disappear from the window. I was unable to use the mouse to position the cursor in the window.
I attempted to click on the Apple menu to invoke "Force quit..." and discovered that I couldn't access anything in the menu bar nor would the Dock open when I moved the cursor to the left side of the screen.
I could use Ctrl-arrow to move between "Spaces". If I had an open application in a "Space", I could enter data but not access anything in the Apple menu bar. Command-Q would terminate each application.
I was able to send the message that I was composing using the Shift-Command-D sequence. I then exited from Mail using the Command-Q key sequence.
At this point the system was dead other than to use Ctrl-arrow to move between spaces. I had to hold the power button to restart the system.
Any thoughts on what the problem might be? How do I report this to Apple software support?

System Preferences won't launch from Apple menu in Mac OS X 10.5.8

Hello there,
I recently upgraded to 10.6 and then went back to 10.5.5 in a few hours.
When doing so, I chose to save a folder called "Previous System", as the Installer gave me this option.
I've upgraded to 10.5.8 via Software Update, after prior 10.5.5 installation through the DVD.
At some point, I tried to launch the System Preferences through Apple menu and got the familiar message: "The application quit unexpectedly, etc.". Since then it's a recurrent problem. It's been 3 days.
However, it does open from the dock icon.
I still have the "Previous System" folder on my disk. I've moved a few things from it to my Library (i.e. some minor applications like Skype, some Desktop items like documents and folders, some photos, music, etc.). I've pretty much started from scratch with everything else - Finder preferences, Wacom tablet driver, etc.
Any clues? I've seen someone had the same problem with a downgrade from 10.5.8 to 10.4, but it's still a mystery as well.
Thanks in advance!
--

iyacyas wrote:
Try repairing permissions from Disk utilities...
Hey iyacyas, thanks for suggesting the disk permissions repair. I tried this, but it didn't work out.
I'm far from understanding any of this, but I tried to figure somethings out from the Report the crash sends to Apple and I noticed that it's trying to launch the "System Preferences" from the folder "Previous Systems"… gee!
Here it goes, in their own words:
Path: /Previous Systems.localized/2010-01-17_1147/Applications/SystemPreferences.app/Contents/M acOS/System Preferences
Anyone has any ideas how could I fix this? I mean, "tell" the Apple Menu to search for the System Preferences inside my ACTUAL Applications folder?
Thanks!
--

Displaying iTunes radio information in Apple Menu Bar

I know that you can get software and plug-ins which show song information etc in the Apple Menu Bar so you don't have to keep switching back to iTunes to see what is being played - but can this be done for radio broadcast information? The software I've seen - Barquee, Quick Tunes, My Tunes etc - only appears to work for stuff being played on CD or from your iTunes Library? I want to be able to see the song title and artist information that appears in the iTunes menu bar. Is a problem caused by scrolling information?
Any suggestions gratefully received so I can listen to Aural Moon without having to constantly switch between applications!

Streams do not always contain the appropriate tag information for display by these utilities, so it may be out of your control to display.
I use "youcontrol" from You Software. Its "ticker" display works well, but I can't test with Aural Moon to see if it works with their stream.

Wrong Language under Apple Menu

After a crash, the system came up in a very odd state. All entries under the "Apple" menu are in a non-English language. I went over the preferences->international and unchecked everything but English, no dice. If something other than English is checked, it shows up under the Apple menu. If only English is checked the Apple menu is in a language I don't recognize (probably Norwegian or Danish, from the letters). In the Finder the "Window" menu is likewise remapped to another language, along with the Apple menu, but none of the other menus.
To be crystal clear, I've already gone to the international preferences and selected "English" and unchecked everything except English, and logged in and out, and I'm still getting something that isn't English under the Apple menu, and the "Window" menu when in Finder.
The "Om denne Mac" menu item under Apple brings up the usual About this Mac window, in English.
Any thoughts on what to look for or fix?

Hi
If you are familiar with the interface and as long as its not a language that uses Kanji characters, you should be able to create another Admin Account. Log out and log in with that. Does the problem go away? If it does follow this procedure:
Log back in to the primary account and navigate to Users/Home/Library. Move the Preferences folder (not copy) to the Desktop. Restart your mac and hold down the shift key. This will take some time so be patient. Eventually you should see the log in Window with 'Safe Boot' or 'Safe Mode' listed in Red. Log in. Empty the Trash. Select the Utilities folder from the Go Menu. Launch Disk Utility and repair privileges and permissions as well as verifying the disk. If it all checks out OK restart the Mac. On successful log in navigate to the removed Preferences folder on your desktop. Find the com.apple.dock.plist file. Select it and copy it using Command+C. Now navigate to /Users/Home/Library. In there you should see the newly created Preferences folder, open it and paste using Command+V. You'll be prompted to overwrite an newer existing com.apple.dock.plist. Say yes to this. Restart the mac. On successful login you should see the dock return to its previous state. If you use Apple Mail, again open the moved Preferences folder on your Desktop. Find the com.apple.mail.plist. Select it and copy it using Command+V. Navigate to the newly created Preferences folder in /Users/Home/Libary. Open the folder, paste using Command+V. Now when you launch Apple Mail all your accounts settings will be re-instated. You may be prompted for the mail account password. Have that handy just in case.
If none of this alleviates the problem for for an archive and install and preserve Network Users and Settings. You will have to use the installer disk to do this.
Tony

Safari Locks Up - Locks Up Access To Apple Menu

I'm having a recurring problem with Safari on two iMacs on an AirPort Extreme network. I have an iMac 1.8ghz G5 running OSX 10.4.2 with iMB RAM and running Safari 2.0.1. All patches are up to date. I also have an iMac 1ghz G4 with the same software levels. The problem happens on both computers, though more frequently on the G5.
Basically, what happens is during a Safari session, the browser will freeze. I can close the window but not quit Safari, but have no access to any other programs, and can't stop Safari using force quit from the Apple menu, as I can't access it.
This problem first started about 3-4 days ago (no problems ever before that). The G5 started first, then the G4, and lock-ups happen 5-6 times a day now.
I had a chat session with an Apple tech support person 2 days ago. He told me to do the following:
- do a PRAM reset
- do an NVRAM reset
- delete the following files: com.apple.Safari.plist com.apple.Syndication.plist com.apple.SyndicationAgent.plist com.apple.quicktime.plugin.preferences.plist
- run repair disk and repair preferences
Did all that, and the problem is still happening.
One thing I have found: If I turn the Airport Extreme off (hard shut down or from the menu bar), killing the internet connection, Safari gives the "Can't find the internet" error page and wakes up out of its hibernation.
This problem is exasperating. Any help would be appreciated.

James,
I've had an identical experience with two different iBooks, also running the latest updates. I use a generic 802.11b WiFi router asa WAP, hooked up to a modem, but the same solution you mentioned applies. When the Safari lockup occurs If I restart the router everything responds and returns to normal. As I had discussed in a different post, I've found the problem seems to occur more often on java intensive web sites. For several days I could repeat the problem every time I tried the foxnews.com web site. I noticed it the night the Jet Blue aircraft had the damaged front gear, and it continued until yesterday. The past two days, just as strangely the site now works and video etc streams perfectly. I'm wondering if Safari has a problem dealing with a java script error or something similar on the offending web pages, causing it to get stuck in a loop. thats my current best theory anyway.
There are a number of identical complaints to yours on these and other forums, unfortunately I've yet to find anyone actually identify a positive solution.
Good luck

My apple menu has disappeared

This is incredibly frustrating.
I am absolutely not in full screen mode, my problem is not related to any applications, or Safari, or any of that nonsense. When I logged in to my account it seemed as if everything was zoomed in, my Macintosh HD icon on the desktop was halfway off the screen, I cannot see the bottom of my dock, my browser was enlarged not zoomed in, and my apple menu has completely disappeared. I would've talked to apple support directly, however I need a serial number and to access that I would need my apple menu. It's not exactly hindering my use but I am OCD and it's driving me completely bonkers.
Someone please rescue me,
-Agitated & Confused
p.s. i actually don't know which operating system I'm running under, i guessed.

Try zooming out using the keyboard commands:
http://alvinalexander.com/blog/post/mac-os-x/how-zoom-in-zoom-out-mac-osx-screen

System Prefs in Apple menu

Hi, Not a big problem but annoying non the less. When I click the system prefs in the apple menu nothing happens. If I open prefs from the application menu or dock it opens no problem. Everything else in the apple menu works fine.
I tried creating a new user account and the same happens. I did an install and archive and still the same.
Any suggestions?

Apple menu not working correctly...
Navigate to /Library/Preferences and delete...
/com.apple.loginwindow.plist
george

MacBook Wont sleep from Apple Menu?

Every time I try to sleep my computer from the apple menu it doesn't work it will just sit. I did an upgrade from Leopard not a clean install.

This is for a Mac that won't sleep.
Here is Apple's KB article HT1776 with their tips.
Mine follow;
USB devices and hubs often cause Macs to not sleep or wake quickly from sleep (notably HP printers and scanners, HP all in ones, and Cannon scanners). Disconnect all USB except for keyboard and mouse and try. If it sleeps, add one back at a time testing after each one to find the culprit.
If you've set your Mac to receive faxes, it may not be able to sleep. It might also have a damaged preferences file.
If you use your Mac for faxing, open System Preferences. click Print & Fax, click the Faxing tab, and uncheck the Receive Faxes On This Computer box.
If that doesn't work or you've never faxed on your Mac, go to Finder/Hard Drive /Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration and delete the com.apple.PowerManagement.plist and com..apple.AutoWake.plist files (if your Mac asks, type your admin. password).
If the latter file isn't present in the folder, go to user name(probably your name)/Library/Preferences, delete the com.apple.systemuiserver.plist file, and reboot your Mac.
USER TIPS……..
Check in System Preferences > Energy Saver is "Wake for network access" checked? If so, uncheck it.
One user reported, " I couldn't make my macbook pro to go to sleep because I had my wireless headphone receiver still plugged in. I unplugged it and then it went to sleep."
Also, if you have an External Western Digital (WD) hard drive and have installed
WDDMService and WDSmartWareD on your Mac, it may not sleep. Fix is to un-install those....you don't need them to use the drive.
"I have had this problem with my IMac G5. It is surprisingly irritating. LaCie's Silverkeeper backup software was the cause. By default it gave itself permission to wake up the computer to check if a backup was needed. Do you have this or a similar program installed which has scheduled activities including wake-up permissions as an option?"
One provided this link, xlr8yourmac.com, to a member, which addresses failure of deep sleep with some users that updated and added new FireWire and USB card.
Also, here is Apple KB article TA2469 about PCI cards and sleep.
After few days of messing around I found out that I had desktop background (wallpaper) set to change every 1 minute.
After unchecking "Change picture..." in system preferences (under Desktop/Screen saver), my powerbook went to sleep all by itself.
"I have a Canon printer(shared) and my imac would not sleep. I opened up printer/fax in system prefs and noticed it said the printer was in use when it was off. Opened up the printer queue and noticed about 7 pending documents. Deleted them all and now it sleeps.
Check the printer queue!"
One user has had success, after trying all these tips, using an App. called PleaseSleep. I've never used it though.
Good Luck!  DALE

Big Apple startup problem.

after i used an external monitor through the dvi connection, when i startup the computer the apple loading screen is stretched out and i don't know why nor how to get it back to normal. any suggestions. its not a real "problem" but its not normal and unnecessary. any suggestions?

Alternatively, go to the blue apple menu and click on System Preferences. Then click on "Displays". With the "Display" tab highlighted, on the right side you will see "detect displays". Click on that. If needed, then click on the proper resolution on the left side of the window.

Under APPLE MENU system preferences only opens sporadically, mostly not

Under APPLE MENU system preferences only opens sporadically, mostly not. I booted up with installation disk and ran a check but everything was alright. However, when I tried to click on items using the disk as a startup disk it frequently wouldn't function.

George,
Thanks for asking that question.
I offered this solution based upon similar successful advice which was given to another poster who solved this problem:Long story short I ended up reinstalling Mac OS X using Archive and Install. When I first used the computer following reinstalling Mac OS X, I was able to access the System Preferences by selecting them under the Apple in the menu bar. However, I have now updated my software using Software Update, and now I can't access System Preferences when I click on them under the Apple in the menu. The computer just acts like I never selected System Preferences.
Where have System Preferences gone??? provides another example of Previous Systems folder interfering with System Preferences.
Applications don't work after reinstalling Mac OS X explains a different problem with a Previous Systems folder: Example 1: You downgrade by performing an Archive and Install installation, but do not update to a later version of Mac OS X. The Previous Systems folder contains later versions of applications that may contribute to this issue.If you have proper backups, I recommend trashing the Previous Systems folder as soon as you can determine that the new system is functioning properly. The Previous Systems folders will either take up too much space or contribute to unexplained system problems.
;~)

Apple Menu Problems

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