Ichat opens but no buddy list

Question

When I open my ichat application, ichat shows up in the menu bar with all of the options, but my buddy list no longer shows up. I'm guessing I'm also not signed on. Help!! It was working fine yesterday, so I don't know what changed.

Answer 1

Hey, thanks for replying.
I'm going to take this bit by bit.
-So iChat Launches and appears in the Menu bar.
-The Buddy List does not Appear.
-The Window menu in the Menu bar does not list the Screen name and a KeyStroke option.
Yes to all of these, this is exactly the case.
-Going to iChat menu and the Accounts option there does not show any Buddy List ?
-Not even Bonjour ?
Yes, there is no Buddy List, not even Bonjour.
-In that case is the iChat > Preferences > Accounts showing any Screen Names/Accounts set up ?
-(I see on second reading you say this option appears greyed out)
Indeed, preferences will not open. I even tried using the hot key :'(.
-Ok go to your Home Folder
-Open the Library/Prefernces
-Set the view option in the FINDER to Columns and then Use the Quick Look option on
- com.apple.ichat.plist
-Near the top does this show any Account Sort Order ?
-Does it list the correct number of Accounts ? (you will only see code for them not names)
Wow, handy feature. Yes, three lines after account sort order it has a chain of about 15 numbers, and then after that is a list of my available and away messages. There is only one chain - and that makes sense, I only have one account. Appearently I can set my available message under ichat > My Status, but I can't set it to an away message.
-Repeat the Quick Look on the com.apple.ichat.AIM.plist
-Does this show one account at least ?
Yes, it shows one account (or at least I assume so - it's another much longer chain of letters and numbers).
-Make sure you Own the files still be doing a Get Info on them (Apple Key and I together)
I'm afraid I don't catch your meaning here. I have one of those new keyboards and there's no apple key - but there is a command key which I assume is the same. Anywho, I did the command-i thing and I can't find a place where it says if I 'Own'. It does mention that I can read and write on both though.
-I would also check the Users Folder and check you have not had more Mac User Accounts added.
The things in my users folder is my Account and the shared folder.
-I would also check System Preferences > Accounts and make sure you are still an Admin account -and no-one has set Parental controls on your account.
I appear to still be admin and I don't see any parental controls.
Hope that helps. I feel like I've tried everything. I always seem to have bad luck with electronics . I'll keep trying to see what I can find out.
Thanks,
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