Desktop pic wont change, refuse to reinstall oSX.

For two weeks now I cannot change my desktop picutre. I have spent ages looking through other people having the same difficulties with no luck from any suggestions. I have tried
verifying disk permissions
repairing disk permissions - both of these always find and seem to repair a lot of issues, bar some that 'wont be repaired'
I have tried copying a picture to my desktop and ctrl-clicking it and setting it as the background pic from there
I have tried deleting the /users/blah blah blah.plist file (which i cannot do because it doesnt exist on my laptop' I cannot even find the library folder in my home folder - maybe part of the problem.
I also tried to achieve the same thing with terminal - it just says it cannot be found.
Changing the desktop picture is a basic function and I refuse to go through the boring old faithful process of backing everything up and reinstalling os - there is too much work to do re-installing apps and convincing MS office that i should get another attempt at using my 3-tries only password to reinstall word and excel. Not to mention reconfiguring Pro Tools.
Does anyone actually have a simple answer to this seemingly simple problem? Or is it just an indicator that there is a more serious issue? I have been surfing the web and writing invoices, how has this caused me to somehow need a system restore?
P.S I cannot get another genius bar appointment - I do not have the time.
L.Dudley

no solutions here.....

Similar Messages

Flash Player refuse to reinstall (OSX)

Hello!
This concerns OSX 10.6.4 and Flash Player installation problems.
I had some trouble with Safari 5 after installation and I tried many things including removing Flash Player (which turned out not to be the cause of the problem) using the Adobe uninstaller.
BUT
When I try to reinstall Flash Player, the installer get stuck at 95% forever. The installer seems to be waiting for something and isn't stuck according to Finder, but I still need to force quit the installer. When I try the installer again it reports "problems with installation" immediately, but after a restart I can run the installer again (which again gets stuck at 95%).
I cant see that the installer installs anything (plugins) and using the de-installer again makes no difference to the outcome. No firewall or anything blocks if the installer would require internet access. I've re-downloaded the installer from Adobe website several times.
Any suggestions much appreciated!

Hi, did you follow the instructions I posted to this thread? If so, then perhaps an anti-virus/firewall is causing the hang.
I would download the Uninstaller to your Desktop. Now I'm not sure if you can download the Installer and SAVE it to your Desktop or not, but if you can, I would. Then close all browsers and Run the Uninstaller, Reboot, followed by the Installer and Reboot.
eidnolb

Desktop pic (Wallpaper) Change pic every 5 secs but the odd transition?

Hi, my first post
I have two macs both running 10.3.9. A G4 and G5.
I am using customised wallpaper showing 2x jpegs that change every 5 seconds. looks fab on one machine (the G5) as the transition is graduated into white and back up again, but the other machine (the G4) using the same OS does NOT graduated. It just abruptly switches back and forth with no subtle gradation.
Any ideas?
Thanks

Graduating the transition is a function of Quartz Extreme, and requires that the computer supports it.
(18372)

Personal pic in ebuddy wont change stuck there ......

hello ,
i have a problem with my nokia N86 and e buddy!!!
well i installed ebuddy 1.5 and started using it happily ..untill i decided to put my picture there as a test ..to see if it works.. . it worked and i saw the pic and my contacts saw it too ( ..now i want to change it ..i dont want it there any more ..it wont change..even when i change it to another one and then closed the application and then opened it again ..there s my pic still there as if i didnt do any changes.
i deleted the pic from the phone ..where did it come from then ?? im going crazy .
i even tried uninstalling ebuddy and then installing it again ...but the problem s not solved
i tried using a dfferent version of e buddy (1.1) and stll ...the picture s there .
IAM GOING CRAZY ABOUT THIS>>>>PLZ HELP ME OUT
THIS IS REALLY A PERSONAL ISSUE TO ME
is there anywhere in memory i should check ..i checked everything and the picture s deleted ...then why does it keep showing in my e buddy
i want this pic to be deleted and never see it ever again
plz plz plz ...anykind of help will be appreciated
thank u all in advane

no solutions here.....

There are two iMacs connected through same router in my house but one refuses to login to facebook and other logged in sites. local techies are bemused, I have just reinstalled OSX and still have the problem. Login page recycles and no errors reported.

There are two iMacs connected through same router in my house but one refuses to login to facebook and other logged in sites. Local techies are bemused, I have just reinstalled OSX and still have the problem. Login page recycles, I get no further and no errors reported. Safari, Opera and Firefox. Deleted cookies and chain but still no action.

If you have not already done so, read the router's user manual troubleshooting section and/or contact its customer service department/forums.
If still having problems, post back w/details of all you have tried to resolve the problems along w/the troubleshooting solutions that the "local techies" had you try.

How to reinstall OSX on a computer that wont even boot up?

Hey everyone
I have about a year old MBP that has suddenly stopped working. Whenever I try to boot up I get the white Apple screen with an endless spinning icon. It looks like its booting up fine, but it never leaves this screen. If I try to hold C with the install disc in, or hold T to enter firewire mode, the spinning just continues.
I gather that I need to reinstall OSX, but is there anyway to do that when I cant even boot up to choose a startup disk? I have a Powerbook (from which I'm posting on) if that helps at all.
Thanks

Try a PRAM reset. Hold down Command-Option-P-R when booting until the tone has sounded thrice.

My 2009 MacBook Pro keeps restarting even after I wiped the hard drive and reinstalled OSX.

About a month ago, my laptop started to randomly turn off: I would be using either Chrome, Photoshop (the free CS2 version available from Adobe's website) or Powerpoint, and the screen would go blank. I would then have to hold the power button for a while until the little light at the front of the computer would flicker and it would restart. I brought it to the Mac Store where they tested it and said it looked fine. They suggested I erase my hard drive and reinstall OSX as a precaution.
Fast forward a month, I have been very busy with work and hadn't been able to fix this problem. It wasn't that bad, only once every couple of days, sometimes more, sometimes less, I could work despite this problem.
Then, I installed OSX Mavericks. The installation started in the morning, but, like an idiot, I paused it to go to work. Later on, I completed the installation, it looked fine, but then all day long my laptop would suddenly restart and go to a grey screen that said in multiple languages "Your laptop restarted because of a problem, press any button to continue the restart." A computer technician friend of mine checked it out and said it was probably due to the badly installed OSX and suggested that I erase my hard drive and reinstall OSX.
I backed up all my files, erased the hard drive and reinstalled OSX. Everything looked fine.
Then it happened again.
Any ideas of why this is happening?

Please read this whole message before doing anything.
This procedure is a diagnostic test. It’s unlikely to solve your problem. Don’t be disappointed when you find that nothing has changed after you complete it.
The purpose of the test is to determine whether the problem is caused by third-party software that loads automatically at startup or login, by a peripheral device, by a font conflict, or by corruption of the file system or of certain system caches.
Disconnect all wired peripherals except those needed for the test, and remove all aftermarket expansion cards, if applicable. Start up in safe mode and log in to the account with the problem. You must hold down the shift key twice: once when you turn on the computer, and again when you log in.
Note: If FileVault is enabled, or if a firmware password is set, or if the startup volume is a Fusion Drive or a software RAID, you can’t do this. Ask for further instructions.
Safe mode is much slower to start up and run than normal, with limited graphics performance, and some things won’t work at all, including sound output and Wi-Fi on certain models. The next normal startup may also be somewhat slow.
The login screen appears even if you usually login automatically. You must know your login password in order to log in. If you’ve forgotten the password, you will need to reset it before you begin.
Test while in safe mode. Same problem?
After testing, restart as usual (not in safe mode) and verify that you still have the problem. Post the results of the test.

Cannot log into any GUI modes and need to reinstall OSX

Hi all,
I've been having issues with my iMac 27" i7 desktop which I purchased back in 2011 with OSX Lion.
I recently updated to OSX Mavericks and have some issues which I am trying to resolve.
I have been working through troubleshooting with the Apple Support team as it is still covered by the extended warranty that I purchased with the system. Unfortunately it appears that we have come to the end of their technical support capabilities and I have no resolution.   Here is a quick breakdown of the situation:
While doing some gaming in a Bootcamp copy of Windows 7 the computer froze and displayed a green screen with vertical lines and was unresponsive.
Rebooted the machine into OSX Mavericks (upgraded about a month ago from Lion) and after the Apple symbol and loading wheel, when the machine went to display my desktop it froze with a completely white screen.
Tried to reboot back into Windows 7 and when it went to display the desktop it went to a grey screen with vertical lines.
Called the Apple Support line who advised me how to log into Safe Mode.   This worked ok and then I rebooted into OSX properly and my desktop displayed albeit running very slow.
Backed up my data and then while doing some web browsing the computer locked up and went to a blank screen.
Called the Apple Support line who took me into Recovery Mode and got me to Verify the Disk and Verify Disk Permissions. Also advised me to run Apple Hardware Test.
Ran Apple Hardware Test and it said that there are "no problems"
Booted back into OSX which worked ok but still very slow.
During a data transfer the computer locked up with a black screen and the rainbow spinning wheel and was unresponsive.
After a few attempts I was able to log back in and complete my backup of crucial files.
Yesterday I went to boot the computer and it again gets to point after the Apple symbol and loading wheel where it would display my desktop and goes to blank screen. Apple Support advised that the next step for testing purposes is to format the HDD and reinstall OSX.
No matter whether I am trying to boot into OSX, Safe Mode, Recovery Partition or Internet Recovery (I have tried all numerous times) whenever it gets to a point where the GUI would be displayed the machine locks up and I get a blank white screen. I logged into Single-User Mode and ran a file system check which came up ok and I have run AHT again which came up ok as well, however considering that it doesn't matter where I boot to the same error occurs I believe that the issue is probably hardware related rather than software. I have also followed the instructions to clear the PVRAM
I have booted to OSX using Verbose mode and noticed that there are a number of SMC errors and other messages indicating that there may be some software issues, so I am trying to troubleshoot those before I take the machine to the Authorised Apple Repair Centre
I have created an OSX Mavericks Boot USB but that comes up with a white screen as well if I boot to it.
I'm not sure if it will help, but I can select my recovery partition (OSX Base System) during boot and load into single user mode there.   I'm curious whether (and how) to run diskutils from there to verify disk and permissions for my primary partition (lets call it "Lion"). Then erase the disk and reinstall OSX from my boot USB.

You have to start the miniSAP instance before you can log in to it.
On your desk top there should be an icon 'start SAP WA1' start that, and leave the DOS window running until you are finished.
If you get messages in the DOS window saying processes died check that MS loopback is running.
MattG.

Macbook Pro shuts down constantly, and rarely starts. Should I reinstall OSX?

Hi there,
I have a early 2011 Macbook Pro 17" with OSX Lion 10.7.5 and a bootcamp partition running Windows 7.
About three months ago some coffee was spilled on the keyboard, and afterwards was having some issues where it would shut down randomly. After a visit to my university's computer repair center, who told me there was a problem with the power button, and a visit to the local MacStore, who told me that the internals needed to be replaced for a whopping 1,300 dollars. I let the comupter sit for some time while I tried to figure out what to do. A few weeks ago I opened the machine up and cleaned areas where I could see coffee residue with 95% isopropyl alcohol. After letting dry for the evening, I started the computer up and it worked just fine for about two weeks.
Suddenly, when using the Windows operating system, it began shutting down when going to sleep. Following some advice on this site, I switched over to the Mac operating system and installed updates. On restart after the updates, the computer did not actually restart, and since, has started up to the grey screen with apple logo, makes a 'clink' sound and then shuts off. Rarely it actually starts to the desktop, and then 'clinks', goes black, and shuts off. When safe booting, and using the disk utility, it does the same thing. I have reset the SMC and the RAM.
When I am able to succesfully load the disk utility, it shuts down shortly after I begin the repair disk. I have tried this through the original install disk, and get the same results.
I haven't tried reinstalling, or erasing the hard drive and reinstalling OSX. I am worried about trying this as it seems like I might really screw stuff up if it shuts down in the middle of the reinstall or erasing. Am I correct about this?
Some posts here suggest that I need a firmware update of some sorts, but I do not see how I could do this if I cannot get the machine to start normall. Other solutions that might apply to this problem that I have found also strangely require the computer to actually be on and running.
Although I am willing to accept it, I have a hard time believing this is a hardware issue (e.g. logic board) related to the spill because of how long it ran without any problems.
I have been unable to get any sort of error report as well because of the shut down problem.
If anyone could help with my quesiton about reinstalling, and perhaps offer any other advice that doesn't involve me taking it to a MacStore I would greatly appreciate it. Its finals week and I could really use my laptop. It is a real pain being tied to a desktop.
Battery is fully charged, and does indeed charge.

Update on this: somehow the disk repair utility went through and I did a repair disk. There were no problems found. Computer worked fine for an hour, and then started asking me if I really wanted to shut down, which I did not. After doing this three times it made the characteristic 'clink', and shut off as described in my previous post.
Message was edited by: Njal1066

How do I connect to my external hard drive after reinstalling OSX?

I just reinstalled OSX 10.5, then upgraded to 10.5.8 on my Powerbook. Both my external hard drive and iDisk are locked, and won't let me open them. I went to information for each disk, authenticated, but it won't let me change permissions for either disk. Help!
- ®aymond

Tom,
Thank you for your advice. I did that for the external hard drive, but it still won't let me open the drive. I'm stuck because my iTunes and iPhoto libraries as well as Time Machine all are on the external. It also won't let me open my iDisk.
Tks!
®aymond

Help/Question with Reinstall OSX 10.2.1 on iBook G4

First off...I just want to say that if someone can take the time to assist me I would appreciate it more than you know! Now...on to my issue:
History:
I have a iBook G4 running, I think on either 10.3 or 10.4 (I can't tell you now because it won't start up). I have the discs for 10.2.1 that came with the computer. I purchased my iBook from a roommate of mine a few years back and before selling it to me he loading 10.3 or 10.4, and I don't have those discs.
I was having an issue at start up...It would load to the point where I could see the picture I had on my desktop, and the dock would come up. Then it would stop and none of the icons on my desktop would show and neither would the menu bar at the top of the screen. When I clicked on an application in the dock, it would not load...the computer was trying (you could hear it) but it never would load it.
So, I did some online searching (using my wife's MacBook...yes, I wish we had two) and used the disk utility to verify my disc. It said the "keys were out of order". So, I clicked repair, and it said that it repaired "Book B" (at least I think that's what it said).
So, I restarted my computer, and now it comes to the gray screen with the clear spinning thing as though it is about to load. It sits there a while, and then just shuts off. So, I tried to reset the PRAM and that didn't do anything either.
Problem I now have:
I am now to the point that I am thinking I need to reinstall OSX...as said, I have the 10.2.1 discs that came with it upon purchase, but I know my roommate upgraded me to a newer version. I have lots of documents on here that I don't want to lose (and programs I don't have the discs for) and I plan to choose the "Archive and Install" and "Preserve User and Network Settings" Options.
Questions:
Is this what I should do?
and if so...
Will installing an older version than what I currently have any negative impact on the install or in me keeping my current documents and programs?

DiskWarrior is the only application that "can" fix this problem, but there is no 100% guarantee. You need to get the DW CD & boot from the CD to fix the problem.
Look at these links about DW.
http://supportdb.alsoft.com:591/FMPro?-db=alsoftsupport&-lay=main&-max=15&-forma t=AlsoftSupport-qa.html&-script=counter&-token=182&-Skip=101&-find
http://www.jimarnold.org/blog/2008/10/keys-out-of-order-on-macbook-diskwarrior-t o-the-rescue/
I assume you don't have a backup of your hard drive, or you could just erase the hard drive & copy the backup files to it. Your next investment should be to buy & use an external hard drive for backup. You can get one for about the price + of DW.
 Cheers, Tom

Desktop pics

I'm having trouble finding and changing desktop pics or wallpaper. The classic 9 seemed so much simpler. I can't delete photos that pop up in desktop folder or create different folders for pics. Help!

What are you trying to do?
If you want to edit the supplied Desktop images, they are in
/Library/Desktop Pictures
If you want to use your own folder of images, select ChooseFolder in the Desktop SystemPreferences pane.

MAJOR HD PROBLEMS..disc cant be deactivated, trying to reformat and reinstall osx

As the title mentions, I cant seem to partition my HD in order to properly reformat and then reinstall osx..
I basically want a fresh new factory macbook with the original lion osx (dec 2011 macbook)..
Reasons why its not working out:
Macbook when turned on goes automatically in the options menu with reinstall os, DU, seek help online and set back a time machine backup (dont have)..
Already erased my hitachi 500 gb HD and the Macintosh HD partition a couple of times (on fastest way setting, and once in the 3 times overwrite setting which took 4 hours, not tried the safest 7 times overwrite way..)
Did a control disk with DU sometimes its fine and sometimes an error pops up saying it cant be fixed.
After trying to reinstall an os mavericks in this case, after 4 hours or 3andahalf it restarts itself in the same options menu (DU, reinstall, seek online help, time machine)..
Partitioning again wont work because the disk cant be deactivated. .
What to do guys? ?

In order to repartition the drive, you can't be using it as any kind of boot drive. That includes Recovery Mode since that is a hidden partition on the drive. So the OS won't let you remove the drive its currently started up to out from under yourself.
Restart in Internet Recovery Mode by holding down Command+Option+R so the Mac is running from the firmware. You'll get what looks like the same work screen as the regular Recovery Mode, but you'll be able to repartition and completely wipe the drive. Then install OS X. The version of OS X the Mac shipped with will be installed.
Do not upgrade it to any version of OS X past that, or the new owner will not be able to reinstall any upgrade since it would require your App Store ID and password to do so.
Already erased my hitachi 500 gb HD and the Macintosh HD partition a couple of times (on fastest way setting, and once in the 3 times overwrite setting which took 4 hours, not tried the safest 7 times overwrite way..)
For future reference, unless you're trying to protect classified government documents, or other highly sensitive data, there's no reason to do any more than a one pass erase. It takes expensive, specialized hardware and software to have even a slight chance of recovering data that has been written over even just once. There's no software consumers can buy that will recover anything from such a drive.

Do I need to reinstall OSX?

I had been using iChat on a daily basis with no problems for the last year, then about a month ago, it refused to connect. The icon would bounce in the dock for a long time and the little spinning beachball icon would appear, and nothing would happen. Sometimes it'd just crash, but I'd usually have to force quit. I tried reinstalling it from the file in the library folder, but it kept giving me an error message as soon as it would get to the last part of the install. I suspect the only way to get it working again is to reinstall OSX, is this the case, or is there something else I could try? Any suggestions would be appreciated - I'm sick of the blah interface of AOL instant messenger!
Thanks.

First of all, you can't "reinstall it from the file in the library folder". If you're referring to the iChat.pkg in /Library/Receipts, that isn't going to help you.
I would suggest isolating the iChat.app launch/connect issue to your particular user account first by creating a test user in System Preferences > Accounts. Once you've created that, you can login and test. If it doesn't work there, that confirms you will likely need to reinstall iChat, which is incidentally only available by reinstall of OS X.

Help! 2008 MacBook (non-unibody) will boot to custom desktop pic but no menu or dock, just the picture.

I have a 2008 MacBook (non-unibody). It will boot to the custom desktop pic, but the Apple menu and dock are not available. I cannot boot into safe mode. I can boot from the OS DVD and run disk repair, but that has not helped the issue. Any advice?

I would love to see your real full (sans ser no) System Profile
You don't mention what you are using. If not the ATI 5770 or above, get one.
Replace the graphic card likely even as troubleshooting
reset SMC
Make a current clone or two
Boot off clone or setup a clean new emergency system for maintenance
Safe Boot
Recovery Mode
Start a new 2nd TimeMachine (I swap out and use one about once a month for insurance)
Never used it and not endoring spending or using but TechTool Pro 7 does more testing
The fewer background goodies the better but monitoring temps, fans, memory are useful.
Temperature Monitor, SmcFanControl 2.4+
I dont' think you need to be using ClamXav
A system performs better with less
New computer? maybe a new disk drive. Maybe more or swap out some or all FBDIMMs. Maybe just a clean system. Worse case, you updated from SL to Lion/ML and didn't do a clean break.
Early 2008 3,1 that you have have been more tempermental for a goodly number of users.
How To Create an OS X Lion Install disc
http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13727_7-20080989-263/how-to-create-an-os-x-lion-ins tallation-disc
http://www.coolestguyplanettech.com/how-to-make-a-bootable-osx-10-8-mountain-lio n-disc-or-drive-from-the-downloaded-mountain-lion-app/
ATI Radeon 5770
http://store.apple.com/us/product/MC742ZM/A
http://www.amazon.com/Apple-ATI-Radeon-5770-MC742ZM/dp/B003Z6QH6http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/726537-REG/Apple_MC742ZM_A_ATI_Radeon_HD_5 770.html

Desktop pic wont change, refuse to reinstall oSX.

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for