Saving system preferences

I have a new (summer 2011) MacBook Pro running 10.6 Snow Leopard.
Whenever I completely shut down my computer and then restart it, I discover that my system display preferences are not saved, and I must go in and manually put them back the way I want them -- things like the keyboard backlight, the battery indicator (percentage vs. time remaining), and the dock (size of icons, auto-hide, which items are on the dock, etc.
Is this simply the way it works, or is something wrong and *should* I be able to save these preferences and have them maintained even when the computer is turned off?  It's mildly frustrating.

OK. Since the issue is specific to your original user account, you can proceed in two ways. One is to log into your new account, make a list of the preference files (plists) located in /username/Library/Preferences/, including any in the ByHost subfolder, log back into the original account, move everything on that list from the original account's Preferences folder into a newly created folder on the Desktop, log out and back in, and see if the problem goes away. If so, you can copy the ones in the Desktop folder (one at time) back into /Preferences/, restart, and see if the problem returns. If so, you've identified the corrupt/conflicting one. Continue with all of them until isolating the bad ones. That'll save you the trouble of resetting preferences.
The second way is much more detailed and I'll not burden you with the steps unless the above doesn't fix the issue.

Similar Messages

  • Problems saving system preference settings

    Hi All
    I have just bought a new intel Mac and upgraded it to Mac OS 10.7 Lion. Everything works great except for one small anoying problem. When I go to system preferences and set my sound output option to my external speakers all is ok untill I restart the machine. Now the setting is not saved and I have to redo it manually each time. All my other settings save ok.  I have tried reparing permissions and reparing the start up volume with password utility as mentioned online. I have also deleted and redone my system prefrences plist file in the system folder. Does anyone out there know what is going on and how to fix it.
    Thanks for your help.
    Regards
    Paul

    Problems such as yours are sometimes caused by files that should belong to you but are locked or have wrong permissions. This procedure will check for such files. It makes no changes and therefore will not, in itself, solve your problem.
    First, empty the Trash.
    Triple-click the line below to select it, then copy the selected text to the Clipboard (command-C):
    find ~ $TMPDIR.. \( -flags +sappnd,schg,uappnd,uchg -o ! -user $UID -o ! -perm -600 -o -acl \) 2> /dev/null | wc -l
    Launch the Terminal application in any of the following ways:
    ☞ Enter the first few letters of its name into a Spotlight search. Select it in the results (it should be at the top.)
    ☞ In the Finder, select Go ▹ Utilities from the menu bar, or press the key combination shift-command-U. The application is in the folder that opens.
    ☞ Open LaunchPad. Click Utilities, then Terminal in the icon grid.
    Paste into the Terminal window (command-V). The command may take a noticeable amount of time to run. Wait for a new line ending in a dollar sign (“$”) to appear.
    The output of this command, on a line directly below what you entered, will be a number such as "41." Please post it in a reply.

  • Lion not saving system preferences on restart

    I'm using Lion on a new Macbook Air where it came pre-installed.  I just updated to 10.7.2 and Lion is no longer saving my mouse and keyboard settings.
    I have "Scroll direction: natural" unchecked but when I restart my Mac natural scrolling is enabled.  When I open up Trackpad settings the setting is unchecked by I have to re-check and then uncheck this setting to turn off natural scrolling.
    I have custom modifier key settings (General Settings -> Keyboard -> Modifier Keys) where I swap Command and Control.  My modifier key settings are now getting reset to the default every time I restart my computer.
    Any ideas on how to fix this?  I've tried calling Apple Support but they are no help.

    Make sure the systemprefs plist file is not locked. If it is, unlock it. If it isn't, delete it then restart.
    To find the file
    1. Make Finder active. Choose 'Go' from the menu bar, hold down the option key.
    2. Choose Library (you must have the 'option' key held down).
    3. Go to Preferences > com.apple.systemprefereces.plist
    4. Right-click (or hit 'cmd-i' on the keyboard) and choose 'Get Info'. If the 'Locked' option is ticked, untick it. Then Restart. If the 'Locked' option is not ticked, close the dialogue, remove the file to trash. Restart.
    5. What happens now is that system will restart at default system prefs. However, it should now save your new settings. To test it, just set one of the setting that you know didn't 'stick before', then restart and see if all is good. 

  • Is it possible to have your system preferences saved as a profile?

    I have hooked my Mac up to my 40" TV. I'm using a clever little box that combines the minidisplay port and toslink into an HDMI output. However, I would like different settings in preferences depending on which display I'm using. For example I would like the dock, icons and cursor a bit bigger and optical audio output for the TV, but normal sized and analouge out for my usual monitor. Since I'll never be using both at the same time (I only have the one head) I'd like to be able to save my system preferences into 2 profiles and select between the 2 rather than manualy changing everything each time. Is this possible? It seems like it should be but I can't find a straight forward way to do it.
    Two potential solutions spring to mind, first use different users for each display and switch between the 2 but this is far less than ideal. Secondly, set up for one display and save copies of the relevant plist files, then set up for the second display and save again then use a script/automator action to switch between the 2 and restart Finder. Although I have no idea about the technicalites of the second solution. All help appreciated.

    Some progress on second idea. Saved a copy of universal access plist with cursor set to large then set the cursor to small again. Replacing the plist file had no effect until I went into the UA pane and changed a setting at which point it must rewrite the file and refresh because the cursor size also changed at this point.
    Tried the same again and restarted Finder, no effect. Also tried altering another pref pane instead with no effect. Need a way to force the computer to look at the plist files, no idea how though. :-)

  • System Preferences not being saved

    I've set up Hot Corners with a modifier key, because my mouse cursor occasionally jumps around and ends up in the screen corners, where it would activate hot corners. However, suddenly yesterday (I think), the modifier key isn't being saved. The corner assignments are still the way they were. But the modifier key setting isn't "saved". I tried re-enabling the key settings. I'd click okay in the drop-down sheet, and then when I clicked the Hot Corners button again, the settings were there. Then, only a few hours later, the settings would be gone. It doesn't happen immediately.
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    Repair permissions and try deleting the com.apple.systempreferences.plist
    ~/Library/Preferences.

  • Mouse System Preferences not saved

    I´m using a MacMini with the latest updtes and only apple harware, suddenly the mouse stoped puping up the dashboard, when I go to system preferences the scroll botton is not asigned to the dashboard, a click on it and then it works fine as long as i do not close system preferences, if I do close them then it stops working and if I reopen system preferences the button is again not asigned to the dashborad, the fact is that the preferences I define for the mouse regardless of the funcion i asign to them are not saved after closing system preferences.
    Thanks for any help.
    Mac Mini   Mac OS X (10.4.8)  

    Sounds like you might have a series of corrupt preference (.plist) files, or else more problems.
    likely a corrupt
    com.apple.systempreferences.plist  and a  com.apple.dockpreferences.plist files in your User/Library folder
    However it might not be just that alone
    Run through this list of repairs in the order given (1-16)
    Step by Step to fix your Mac
    If you can't isolate the and solve problem by #16, then do #17 after backing up your data

  • ICloud mail settings not saved in System Preferences on Mountain Lion

    I note that iCloud mail settings not saved in System Preferences on Mountain Lion even if I tick mail in Icloud then close system preferences then open system preferences and it is untiked again?
    Does anyone know how to fix this?
    Cheers
    Paul

    Back up all data. Don't continue unless you're sure you can restore from a backup, even if you're unable to log in.
    This procedure will unlock all your user files (not system files) and reset their ownership and access-control lists to the default. If you've set special values for those attributes on any of your files, they will be reverted. In that case, either stop here, or be prepared to recreate the settings if necessary. Do so only after verifying that those settings didn't cause the problem. If none of this is meaningful to you, you don't need to worry about it.
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    Launch the Terminal application in any of the following ways:
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    ☞ In the Finder, select Go ▹ Utilities from the menu bar, or press the key combination shift-command-U. The application is in the folder that opens.
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     ▹ Restart
    from the menu bar.

  • System preferences not saving

    Every time I log out, any system preferences I had set up are not saving. Such as what should boot up in the dock or what programs should be in the system bar or the settings for the keyboard and mouse.
    Thanks for any guidance on this issue.

    i did the:
    chmod -RN ~/Library/Preferences
    workks great and now my preferences are saving, but my MAIL preferences not, at least i fix one problem.
    i found this:
    " WillytheKidd
    what I did or seem to have found is that if I do a clean install of Lion and do not use the Snow Leopard preferences from the Time Machine Backup I have I do not have a problem.  I have tried several ways to fix this and the only thing that worked for ME is a complete clean install OS and apps. "
    I used the preferences from my TM, maybe thats the problem.

  • Where are System preferences- Keyboard- Text settings saved?

    I am trying to find the Settings of my System preferences->Keyboard->Text on my drive. I deleted my whole user library, and after reloading i still find my settings in the pane( so my conclusion is they are not in the ~/Library location. Does anyone have any idea where these settings are saved on the hard drive?

    Hello Eric,
    yes, restart is done after removing the user library. Still, the shortcuts are in the system preferences pane.
    To explain why I'm after these files: I'm not trying to clear the settings, i'm actually trying to find the file, so i might safe/load them on different users.
    My biggest bet did not work: ~/Library.
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  • Hi. i tried to sign out from icloud and the icon signing out is still working. will i loose everything now i have saved on my mac? i cant even turn off the mac because system preferences is still working .....

    Hi
    I signed out from my icloud because wanted to change my maill address and password for it cause couldnt connect with my old password and mail acc i dont know why.But then realised that i will loose all my data...
    Will i loose eveything i have saved now on my mac by signing out the icloud?
    and is still 'signing out'...cant turn off my mac and 'system preferences' is still working..
    Can i re instal it back?
    Please advice what to do ....how to cancel signing out....turn off my mac...or re instal icloud...
    Thank you

    I have the same problem. Unfortunately, the troubleshooting link you added has the first step listed as "Verify that FaceTime is enabled in FaceTime > Preferences" which we (the original poster and I) can't do as our Preferences are greyed out. We can't click on them to verify anything.
    In FaceTime itself it's verified my apple id (also double checked via the site) and then it says the email is "verified" but then it freezes and after a minute or so it says "Could not verify the email address. Please check your network connection and try again."
    After checking the network connection, it still doesn't work. It's rather frustrating as it all worked fine until about a week or two ago.
    Any help would be appreciated.
    -H

  • My systems preferences are not saved from each previous session! Mark

    Each time I start up my new iMac computer, the system preferences I set up in my previous session are lost! Can anybody help me figure out what I need to do to make my preferences persist?

    Usually a loss of preferences after reboot or logout is attributed to user permission issues.
    First reboot your system then try this:
    1. Open a Finder window.
    2. Choose "Go" from your top menu bar.
    3. Choose "Home"
    4. Choose "File from your menu bar.
    5. Choose "Get info"
    6. Open the "Sharing & Permissions section using the disclosure arrow.
    7. Unlock the padlock in the corner with your password.
    8. Click the little gear button.
    9. Choose "Apply to enclosed items"
    10. Once process is done set your preferences and attempt a restart of the system.
    EE

  • Microphone "Input Volume" Setting In "System Preferences" Not Being Saved.

    Hello,
    While using iChat for the first time, I was experiencing an echo sound. I went into System Preferences > Sound > Input, and changed my "Input Volume" slider from the default 71% down to 25%. This solved the echo problem.
    The "Input Volume" will stay at my setting of 25% during this iChat session, and also upon quitting iChat. However, when I start a new iChat session, the "Input Volume" slider returns back to the default 71%.
    How can I get the "Input Volume" slider to stay at my desired setting of 25% upon starting a new iChat session?
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    Hi DeanMachine,
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    Ralph,
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  • System Preferences not staying saved.

    When I click the "require password to wake this computer from screensaver" button in System Preferences it works. Then a few minutes later I turn on the screensaver and walk away. I come back and it goes straight to the screen. I have clicked the lock button but it still doesn't works.

    Repair permissions and try deleting the com.apple.systempreferences.plist
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  • Saving Guest account system preferences.

    I recently moved over from Windows and am loving OSX so far. However there are a few simple things that are driving me crazy.
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  • System Preferences - Trackpad settings not saving

    This topic is refers to the location of System Preferences > Trackpad
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    Any information or suggestions on how to prevent this from happening?

    I have been having the same trackpad preference problem on my MacBook 10.6.8 . . .
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