Network system preferences hangs

hi, when ever i want to change something in the system preferences area, such as adding a wireless network to my list. when i clcik apply, it just hangs, i get the lollypop, and i have to force quit it after a while. it always has been doing that for a while actually.
any ideas
Josh

Have you used Disk Utility to Repair Disk & Permissions yet?
Do you have any 3rd party Pref Panes?
Have you tried Safe booting by holding down the Shift key while booting?
Is your machine capable of running Applejack?
http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/19596
If so, D/L it, install it, reboot holdimg the CMD+s keys down, when the prompt comes up... type "applejack auto", without the quotes, let it do all 5 things.
We've got more once we get to this pont.

Similar Messages

Unable to open AirPort options sheet in Network System Preference

Hi there,
There are several posts (and a Radar bug number, 4273111) reporting a certain difficulty with systems that have been upgraded to Tiger. For some reason: When viewing the AirPort network interface in the Network system preference, certain installations do not allow one to open the "Options" sheet.
To reproduce:
1. Open System Preferences.
2. Click on the Network system preference.
3. Show -> AirPort.
4. Click the "Options" button.
Normally, this should open an options sheet. However, on three separate systems I've encountered that have been upgraded to 10.4.x from earlier versions of Mac OS X (Jaguar to Panther to Tiger), the sheet does not open at all. Console reports the following when the button is clicked:
2006-11-07 09:55:22.206 System Preferences[379] * Assertion failure in -[PreferencesApp _commonBeginModalSessionForWindow:relativeToWindow:modalDelegate:didEndSelector :contextInfo:], AppKit.subproj/NSApplication.m:3057
2006-11-07 09:55:22.229 System Preferences[379] Modal session requires modal window
I've tried replacing the following items (then repairing permissions after each attempt) with a known-good copy from another 10.4.x system (same OS version/build in each case—as of this post, tested through 10.4.8), without effect:
/Applications/System Preferences.app
/Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration/
/System/Library/PreferencePanes/Network.prefPane
/System/Library/Frameworks/Preferences.framework
I've seen references to a similar error in Safari that was able to be fixed with a reinstall of Safari—apparently, something corrupted in WebKit.framework. I'm presuming something similar would work here (and it's been reported that an Archive and Install will fix the problem, but that's certainly overkill to correct such an issue).
I've got clients that are not happy about this and the problem has apparently been documented for well over a year now. The following Discussions threads cover it as well:
"can't open airport options"
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=1125018
"Network system preferences stuck"
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=1123291
"Airport Preferred Networks"
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=722797
I'm happy to lend whatever troubleshooting assistance I can, so if anyone else out there can similarly recommend files I might try replacing that I've not already mentioned here, or any other information that could be helpful, I'd certainly appreciate it!
Thanks much,
MBJ
PowerBook G4 Mac OS X (10.4.8) 1.0 GHz, 1 GB RAM, AirPort

I'd also try trashing...
/Users/nnnn/Library/Preferences/com.apple.internetconnect.plist
/Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration/NetworkInterfaces.plist
/Library/Preferences/com.apple.sharing.firewall.plist

Unable to open Network System Preferences

When I want to open Network System Preferences I get the message "Your network settings have been changed by another application". When I click "OK" the message keeps reappearing. The only way out is a Force Quit of System Preferences. What does this message mean and what can be done about it?
Maybe it's worth mentioning that I had to reinstall Mac OS a few days ago due to a screwed up security update. Could it have something to do with that? Apart from this my iBook works fine and I have no networking problems.
Thanks for any helpful advice.
Paul

Hi John
That didn't work but thanks anyway.
In the meantime I found another topic under "Mac OS X Tiger" that I had overlooked before dealing with this problem. It obviously has to do with the latest security update.
Paul

HT1338 My system preference hang after i click desktop and screen saver app.

When ever i try to change my wall paper or click on my desktop and screen saver app the system preference hang..
Any one know how to fix that beside format the whole system?
Thanks in Adv.

Welcome to the Apple Support Communities
Try to delete the Desktop settings file. First, open Finder, select Go menu > Go to Folder, and type ~/Library/Preferences. Then, delete "com.apple.desktop.plist" and "com.apple.systempreferences.plist", and restart. Finally, you should be able to go to Desktop and Screen Saver on System Preferences

System Preferences Hanging

I upgraded my First Gen Macbook to Snow Leopard when it came out. Just recently however, I have started having a problem with system preferences. The first time I open system preferences, it hangs, stalls, and crashes. Once I force quit it, I can launch it normally. So recap:
Launch System Preferences: Hang, Force Quit
Re-Launch System Preferences: Open immediately
A minor annoyance but still an annoyance

You are not alone friend, I have a 1st gen Macbook Pro, fresh install of Snow Leopard, new user account, NO migration, all updated, and all voodoo done as well (repair permissions, chkdsk, blah blah blah). I have to launch System Preference, watch it hang, force quit, and relaunch successfully. Works that way EVERY time. If I wait too long, I can't open it. Now I open it and just leave it open all day. If I didn't change so many settings so often, I wouldn't care. This entire experience of upgrading to Snow Leopard has sucked. Shame on you Apple.

System Preferences hangs with Mountain Lion

Various parts of system preferences hang under Mountain Lion. Prior to upgrade there was no problem. Any ideas?

I am still having this problem as well. Multiple panes will fail to launch. A reinstallation of ML failed to fix this. I even did a fresh reinstall, manually copying over my Documents, Music, Pictures, and other essential files to a backup drive beforehand. Almost all System Preferences fail to launch. A list of those that fail:
Desktop & Screensaver
Security & Privacy
Notifications
iCloud
Mail, Contacts, & Calendars
Date & Time
Software Update (The only one that seems to extend beyond the preference pane. Software update will not launch, even though I know there are iPhoto and iTunes updates to be downlaoded.)
Dictation & Speech
Time Machine (I really, really, really, really, really want this one to work!)
Startup Disk
Third-party:
Glimmer Blocker (I have let the developer know. There is an update, it does not seem to be working at this time.)

System Preferences hangs at "Loading Print & Fax..."

Hi,
I tried to load a Canon printer driver for the ir1023. After the install it required a restart. The Mac Pro never fully turned off, so I was stuck having to do a manual shut down with the power button. I am sure this messed everything up.
When I logged back on System Preferences hangs at "Loading Print & Fax..." when I click the icon. So I deleted the printing preferences, from my preferences folder and still nothing.
I ran the canon installer and that ran successfully, but did not remedy the problem. No Mac programs will print, Photoshop will not launch and Text Edit won't quit.
I ran Disk permissions from the Leopard disk, still no improvement.
Any ideas on how to fix my printing woes without a reinstall?
And I was having some hardware issues with my Time Machine drive - so I had no backup to fall back on.
Thanks!

I would run the UFR2 driver installer again, but when it shows Easy Install at the Installation Type pane, change the menu to Uninstall. This should remove all the UFR2 files, most of which are copied to ./Library/Printers/Canon/UFR2.
With the Canon files removed, try to open the Print & Fax pane again. If it still fails to load, you could try opening the CUPS web page (http://127.0.0.1:631). From here you can select the printer list and job list and possibly remove any existing printers or jobs that are in the system. Ideally we would like to reset the printing system, but I don't think we can do this from the web page or from Terminal - we need the GUI of Print & Fax.
Will do some more reading and get back to you....
PaHu

Resizing Network System Preferences?

Is there any way to resize the Network System Preferences view. It feels rather cramped with all my interfaced being of the form 'Built-...hernet'.

Hi drmoque!
I'm not familiar with Tiger, so I can't really help you with the differences in Network Preferences, but they are probably changes made between Panther 10.3.x and Tiger 10.4.x.
You wrote "Lastly he says he has no option to upgrade to 10.4 when checks for software updates."
That I can shed some light on.
Mac OS X Versions 10.1, 10.2, 10.3, and 10.4, are complete system upgrades that must be purchased.
The point upgrades, such as 10.1.x to 10.1.5 (Final) 10.2.x to 10.2.8 (Final), 10.3.x to 10.3.9 (Final), and 10.4.x to 10.4.8 (Pending), can be downloaded for free.
Tiger is available for purchase at The Apple Store (US).
A Full Retail Version of the Tiger Install DVD, can be purchased rather inexpensively, at some online Apple retailers, Amazon, eBay, AppleRescue, etc.
Be sure not to purchase grey, upgrade or machine specific CDs or DVDs.
Jaguar and Panther are only on CDs, not DVDs.
Additional info in these links.
Using OS X Install CDs/DVDs On Multiple Macs
What's A Computer Specific Mac OS X Release
Software Update, Upgrade: What's The Difference?
Once Tiger 10.4.x is installed, you can use the PPC 10.4.8 Combo Update, to update to the most up-to-date version.
Tiger System Requirements
Mac Model Compatibility & Requirements For OS X
Additionally,
"Tiger ships on a DVD, but if your Mac doesn’t have a built-in DVD-ROM player, you’ll need CD media. When you buy Mac OS X Tiger, you qualify to purchase Tiger CDs for only $9.95."
Download The Order Form Here. Media Exchange Program
Shop Carefully, Examine All Documentation, And Good Luck!
ali b

Network System Preferences Problem (Recent)

If anyone has any idea of how to fix this problem I would be grateful.
When I choose Network in System Preferences, a small window pops up in front of the main window saying "Your network settings have been changed by another application." I click OK and the same window pops up, over and over. It is stuck in a loop; I can't get past it. The main window (Network System Preferences) behind the small window looks right, with the normal messages. The only way I can get out of the loop is to force System Preferences to quit. My network connection is working (so I can post this), but I can't get into Network System Preferences. So, I can't change any settings, or even see what they are.
I discovered this last night, when (apparently) something went bananas at my ISP and I lost the connection. The ISP was back on the air this morning, but this situation is unchanged. Previously I used Network System Preferences in setting up the connection (changing something after a previous ISP problem, over a year ago), as well as telling the system how long to keep the connection up before asking me if I want to remain online. I looked at System Preferences.app in the Applications folder, and no part of the package contents has changed in at least 1.5 years.
Possibly some data file has gotten corrupted, but this behavior is clearly a bug, I would say. I have a DSL connection with EarthLink (if it matters), and the connection seems to be working normally now.

Thanks for the suggestion. I found another approach (rather than trashing the files mentioned) by BDAqua) that seems to have worked. It is:
Go to System Preferences: Security. Check the box next to "Require password to unlock each secure system preference." Then lock Security.
I can now get to the Network panel without the annoying message loop, and so far I haven't seen any adverse effects. Does anybody know of a reason why this might cause a (new) problem?
Also, someone (it's hard to keep track of the various discussion forums) suggested that, after going to the Network panel once, it's OK to go back to Security and uncheck the box. Apparently the problem will have solved itself. Does anyone have any comments about this?

Network system preference

When I open the Network system preference panel, immediately a box opens up telling me that another application changed my settings. When i klick OK, the box always returns immediately. I'd like to know what application changed the settings and how to stop that box from coming up.
This is on my G4 iBook running the latest Tiger OS (10.4.11).
Thanks in advance for any help.
Hans

Yes, It most likely a recent Security update that did it.
Limnos' link should solve it for you.

Apple USB Modem not seen in Network System Preference

I am trying to set up my father's Mac Mini to send and receive faxes using the Apple USB Modem. The base problem I am having is that the Mini does not even show the device. It is not in the Network System Preference, or even in the "About this Mac" system information. I don't know if the dongle is even working.
In the "Print and Fax" area of the System Preferences, I have no luck either. When I hit the add button ( + ) to add a device, the "fax" button at the top only shows the word "Bluetooth" and it is listed as a Fax. Any suggestions would be wonderful.

Gee,
You've gotten no response for over two weeks, I see. So, maybe you're resolved your issue.
If not, I'll just say that I have an Apple USB modem on my 2009 Mini, though I connect to the Internet via WiFi most of the time, and the modem has been pretty effortless to use. It's recognized in Network Preferences, even when not in use.
Maybe your issue is electro-mechanical, i.e., is it wrongly plugged into the Ethernet port?
Or, is your USB modem plugged directly into your Mini, instead of a powered or un-powered USB hub?
Anyway, please let us all hear if you've resolved your issue and what it was.
Peace to you,
C. Livingstone

Please Help - Network System Preferences/Advanced Airport Not Working

Hi all.....I posted here before and got no replies but I'll try again.....nothing happens when I click the advanced button in Network System preferences but only in Airport - which is my primary connection....I have reinstalled the 10.5.6 update and have been trying to resolve for weeks......any help is most, most appreciated!
Thanks

Thanks...I did and twice the cpu just froze........no kidding......I was able to set up a new location after reinstalling 10.5.6 but still the advanced button in sys prefs/network, only in airport, does not do a thing.
Here's the console message after clicking the advanced button:
4/26/09 11:49:55 AM System Preferences[17974] Error: Could not load AirPortOptionsTabView.nib
4/26/09 11:49:55 AM System Preferences[17974] * Assertion failure in -[NSTextFieldCell _objectValue:forString:errorDescription:], /SourceCache/AppKit/AppKit-949.43/AppKit.subproj/NSCell.m:1338
4/26/09 11:49:55 AM System Preferences[17974] Invalid parameter not satisfying: aString != nil
Thanks for any help.....I'm dying to change my DNS Settings using airport and can't.........plus this just doesn't seem "right."

System preferences hangs

installed ML, but system preferences hangs so can't change any preferences.It opens the icon, but the window never appears.
I have re-installed - but same happens
moreover, I can't get it to restart without forcing a quit by turning on/off button (it hangs on the blank 'light grey' screen)
I have checked repair permissions, no problem there.
any ideas?
imac 2.4GHz intel core 2 duo, 3 GB sdram

On my MacPro:
My problem began with a nearly non-functioning Mail program after upgrade to OS M Lion, which is detailed in my post a few days ago. After trying everything I could to resolve it unsuccessfully, (rebuild directory structure, fix permissions, trash preferences for iCloud apps, zap PRAM, and several other efforts, including a reinstall of M Lion from recovery drive) I contacted Apple Support and ended up on the phone with a rep. We set-up remote access so he could see the Mail hang-up everytime I attempted to fill in the outgoing email address field in a new message window (spinning ball) - it took up to 30 sec for each letter I typed to appear and overall about 2-3 minutes to completely populate the field with the address. All other Mail functions were working better, but seriously sluggish. We tried disabling each email account, one by one to see if another account was causing the problem (my primary account is a .me address). No problem with other accounts. Then the unexpected happened. He asked me to open Safari and log into iCloud so we could see if Mail was working via the web. Upon login, the icons for all the iCloud applications appeared with completely corrupted text labels under each icon... each was a mix of letters and symbols stacked on top of each other. It appeared that my entire iCloud account might be corrupted. However, testing the same login via Firefox worked just fine, so the issue was narrowing to iCloud and interaction between the default apps between this computer and iCloud via Safari. We then attempted to open Contacts from Launch Pad on HD - It opened, but none of my contacts were there. Further indication of iCloud account corruption. Since I am able to access and use all iCloud features and apps on my MacBook Pro, an early assumption is that the OS upgrade to Mountain Lion on my MacPro may have been severely corrupted. Before going so far as to do a clean install of M Lion, we installed a Data Capture program and I ran through the attempts to set-up and send a new email while it captured all system activitiy in that process. This data and the screen captures obtained during this session have now been sent up to Apple OS engineers to dig into and figure out why, and how a corruption of the ML install could have occured. I have agreed not to do a 'clean install' of the OS until the engineers get back to me as they may need to run more remote diagnostics on this computer to narrow it down to the actual cause.... this, so that a fix can be implemented before countless other computers are effected. I am scheduled to hear back form them today or on Monday and I will post the results here. They seem quite busy with bug fixing right now. The toys and features of Lion and M Lion are very cool, but I am seriously beginning to miss the speed and reliability of Leapord/Snow Leopard.... even Tiger - I fired up my old G5 tower with Leopard ... it is amazing just how fast and solid it is compared to these new OS builds that feel and look more like virtual machines than a real Mac OS.   I hope all these diagnostics and interaction with senior engineers provide some solid solutions soon.
MACHINE WITH PROBLEM OS UPGRADE:
Model Name:          Mac Pro
Model Identifier:          MacPro3,1
Processor Name:          Quad-Core Intel Xeon
Processor Speed:          2.8 GHz
Number of Processors:          2
Total Number of Cores:          8
L2 Cache (per Processor):          12 MB
Memory:          12 GB
Bus Speed:          1.6 GHz
Boot ROM Version:          MP31.006C.B05
SMC Version (system):          1.25f4

System Preferences Hangs After a Successful Sync to .Mac

Okay, I think this is going to be a tough one to track down, but I'm hoping you guys can help.
Problem: When I manually sync my data to .Mac using the .Mac area of System Preferences, System Preferences hangs right after the sync process completes.
If I manually start the sync in System Preferences and then quit System Preferences while the sync is in progress, the sync completes with no ill effects (i.e., because System Preferences is no longer running, it can't hang when the .Mac sync completes).
Things I've done to address the problem:
(1) Trashed com.apple.PreferenceSync.plist (restart system and try recreating the problem ... no change).
(2) Trashed the contents of ~/Library/FileSync/ (restart system and try recreating the problem ... no change).
(3) Unregister my computer from .Mac, delete old sync data, and re-register my computer with .Mac (as I said, the .Mac sync completes, so this was just a shot in the dark ... restart system and try recreating the problem ... no change).
The system.log records the following when System Preferences hangs:
Jun 7 00:07:31 Joel-McIntoshs-Computer System Preferences[401]: exception while performing selector syncPlanWithIdentifier: on server: NSPortTimeoutException connection timeout: did not receive reply
Jun 7 00:07:31 Joel-McIntoshs-Computer SystemUIServer[107]: exception while performing selector syncPlanWithIdentifier: on server: NSPortTimeoutException connection timeout: did not receive reply
Jun 7 00:07:31 Joel-McIntoshs-Computer System Preferences[401]: * -[NSConditionLock lockBeforeDate:]: deadlock (<NSConditionLock: 0x199997a0> '(null)')
Jun 7 00:07:31 Joel-McIntoshs-Computer System Preferences[401]: * Break on _NSLockError() to debug.

Thanks for the help. I think I've tracked down the problem.
I created a test user and the sync and system preferences worked fine.
I started trouble shooting by going back to the main account, and testing item by item various third-party "items" that were present in the main account, but that were absent in the test user account. I removed most third party "stuff" and started adding it back in one at a time and testing sync with each addition.
I finally recreated the System Preferences hang after I installed TextExpander -AND- had .Mac sync checked in the TextExpander preferences (it didn't hang if that box was not checked in TextExpander). Unchecked, no hang ... checked hang.
I've contacted the developer for assistance.

What is the process for connecting ethernet. Have ethernet cable connected to stereo received for internet radio and Blue Ray. However Network System Preferences indicates ethernet not connected and has red dot to left. Note Airport wireless is working.

What is the process for connecting airport extreme ethernet? I have ethernet cables connected to stereo receiver for internet radio and another to blue ray player. The system preference network indicates "ethernet not connected" with red dot to left of this message. The airport wireless works and has green dot to left of it. The stereo receiver and blue ray player do not respond and give message not connect to internet. Thank you. / cfpirate

It worked for me finally. I took out the DNS numbers in airport admin utility, and restarted the airport express. I do not remember putting the DNS numbers in, I wonder from where the airport express got those numbers.
After restarting, it worked.
Thanks!

Network system preferences hangs

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