Spotlight icon is messed up.

Hi. The spotlight icon that appears in the upper right corner of my screen is messed up. It's just a circle, but the "handle" has disappeared. Does anyone know where those graphics are stored on the system? It's a minor glitch, but it bothers me. If I can find the location of the graphic, I'll just copy it from another Mac and put it on my system. Any help would be appreciated.

Problem resolved. I don't honestly remember what fixed it. I just noticed that this was still marked as "not answered" and I wanted to close it out.

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Desktop freeze on user load- only spotlight icon appears

I've got a problem with my main user load up. When I log in, my desktop picture (background) appears and then the spotlight icon top right but NOTHING else. The finder freezes and I can't access anything- all I can do is force a power-down and login as another user.
This is the third time this has happened on 3 different macs, the other two times I had to delete the user and create a new one (then load in all user data from a back up)- but obviously I have to then load in all application settings and I lost the user pref data.
Has anyone else experienced this fault which is now becoming 'frequent' or more importantly can anyone advise how to fix it, without losing any user data?
Many thanks
Jon

Hi Jon, Welcome to Apple Discussions.
Try starting in "Safe Mode". If all works well there, then delete these 2 files:
com.apple.finder.plist
com.apple.sidebarlists.plist
(You will have to reset a few finder prefs the way you like them.)
Also disable any Login items in System Preferrences >> Accounts >> Login Items.
Then restart normally and let us know.
-mj
[email protected]
Message was edited by: macjack

Spotlight icon flashing

After installing 10.6 all the icons in the menu bar that would normally be shown disappear, these are the one that you select from system preferences and also the spotlight icon flashes and i'm unable to use spotlight.

HI and Welcome to Apple Discussions
Try deleting this file.
com.apple.systemuiserver.plist
/Users/YourName/Library/Preferences. Drag that file from the Preferences folder to the Trash, empty the Trash and restart your Mac.
See if that helps...
Carolyn

Spotlight icon constantly flashing

Hi!
My spotlight icon is constantly flashing
and most of my Apple aps, plus my preferences
don't work anymore.
All I did was to trying to follow this suggestion to fix a QT issue:
Re: Workaround for 7.1.6 video freeze (audio continues)
Posted: 2007-06-08 16:16 in response to: Sailhome
Click to reply to this topic Reply email Email
I figured out a way to reinstall QuickTime 7.1.5.
1. Download Quicktime 7.1.5 installer:
http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/quicktime715formac.html
2. Mount the installer package. This is very important.
3. Download and install Pacifist from this location:
http://www.charlessoft.com/
4. Run Pacifist. In its dialog press the "Open Package" button. Browse for the .PKG file in the mounted package. In the appearing list Right Click on the .PKG and from the context menu choose "Install To Default Location". Please note that if you mistakenly select the unmounted .DMG file into Pacifist instead of the PKG, there will be an installation but without an effect.
5. Check in the "User Administrator Privileges" checkbox. Press Install.
6. When asked tell the installer to replace the already existing files. Do this with all the files.
7. When the install process is finished restart the computer.
8. Run the QuickTime 7.1.5 installer package again WITHOUT Pacifist and let it install the files again.
9. Restart the computer
Courtesy to:
http://www.archicadwiki.com/Bugs/QuickTimecrash_on_MAC_OSX10.3

loumel
First question: why did you apply a fix for a PPC 10.3.9 issue to an Intel 10.4.9 machine.
From the link you supplied:
Problem
ArchiCAD 10 crashes after a few steps on MAc OS X 10.3
Mac OS X 10.4 is not affected. ArchiCAD version 9 and earlier are also not affected.
Cause
QuickTime version 7.1.5 is installed on MAC OS X 10.3. QuickTime 7.1.5 is offered as part of the Automatic Software Update.
Solution
New solution: In QuickTime version 7.1.6 the problem is solved!!!
Note that whatever problem you were having on 10.4, it was not this one: Mac OS X 10.4 is not affected.
The problem now is that you have damaged your system. Some things to try:
1. Re-apply the Quicktime 7.1.6 update.
2. Re-apply the 10.4.9 updates.
If these don't work, you will need to consider an Archive and Install of the OS.
Regards
TD

Networked user logs in and only gets dock and spotlight icon

Here's the deal: I have a networked user (PHD) that logs in the only gets her dock and spotlight icon to come up. The rest of the menu bar at the top is missing. If you click on an icon in the dock it bounces and trys to open but never does and quits. Any ideas? This has happened before to two other users of mine using the same type of computer (2.0ghz 20in iMac G5) With the other two I was very busy so I just dropped our editorial image/clone on there and that fixed it. What is weird about this is that the user can log in on another computer fine and different users can log in on that computer fine. The computer is running 10.4.4 and the xserve is running 10.3.9
Thanks!

well its created by using bad fonts at one time in your system - or fonts that do not exist on a local volume. when you load a font that is bad and may conflict with a current font etc the system encounters problems - upon reboot the "font cache" remembers this font and doesnt initialize the window server properly. the other case i mentioned is when i loads up and tries to load the font that was cached but was loaded into suitcase or some font management from a cd or network volume. the volume is not available and then the user login fails to finish... been a problem ever since 10.4 came out. 10.3 had its own way of showing the same issue.

Computers (G5Towers & G5 Imacs) booting up to Spotlight Icon only

We have been having an issue lately where the computers seem to boot up normally until after the login screen. Then, all we get is the spotlight icon. We can then safe boot the machine and everything will come up normally. We have been runnig YASU on the affected machines when it happens and that seems to correct the problem for a day or so. Then it does it again. It doesn't do it on all our machines (we have a mixture of G5 towers and G5 Imacs). Is this a cache problem and if so, is there a way to set the OS to purge the offending cache before it causes the problem? Thanks in advance for any help you might be able to provide.

Hi, mraftis. Welcome to the Discussions.
If the Macs in question startup normally in Safe Mode, but not otherwise, this implies a problematic Startup or Login Item. See my "Troubleshooting Startup and Login Items" FAQ for steps that might help you with this problem.
Good luck!
Dr. Smoke
Author: Troubleshooting Mac® OS X
Note: The information provided in the link(s) above is freely available. However, because I own The X Lab™, a commercial Web site to which some of these links point, the Apple Discussions Terms of Use require I include the following disclosure statement with this post:
I may receive some form of compensation, financial or otherwise, from my recommendation or link.

Spotlight icon keeps dissapearing

Hi, can someone help me please.
I have recently installed Mavericks on my Unibody MacBook (late 2008) and have gotten everything set up working just fine, no problems - except for one: my spotlight icon seems to want to dissapear most of the time, and seems to have a mind of its own. Not sure why this is happening so have posted my question here.
I do have some software installed that sits in the menubar (Adobe Creative Cloud, Plex Server, Boom (sound util), f.lux, dropbox, and an old version of MainMenu). This problem was around before i installed any of these things as far as I recall but in any event I've tried quitting all these apps to make it a clean menubar, and still the spotlight icon chooses to dissapear and reappear at will. I've run disk permission from within Disk Utilty and also run MainMenu to clean the system, but this hasn't helped.
Has anyone ran across the same problem, and if so - how did you fix it?
Many thanks.
Matt

Open the Finder. From the Finder menu bar click Go > Go to Folder
Type or copy paste the following:
~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.systemuiserver.plist
Click Go then move the com.apple.systemuiserver.plist file to the Trash
Retart your Mac. Hopefully the Spotlight icon has reappeared.
If that didn't help, one or more (Cloud, Plex Server, Boom (sound util), f.lux, dropbox, and an old version of MainMenu)) may not be compatible and can't be used the status menu bar.
Yuo can remove items from the status menu bar by holding down the Command key and dragging the icon off the menu bar.
message edited by: cs

Only Spotlight Icon loads with 10.4.5

Hi There,
I upgraded to 10.4.5 earlier today, and since my Mac is just refusing to work properly!
When I try to load as normal, just my desktop background and the small spotlight icon appear.
I have tried starting up in Safe Mode, but when the screen changes to the blue background and the "Starting Operation System" dialog appears, the computer just turns off!
I have repaired permissions, this didnt fix it, I have ran the thorough Hardware test with no faults.
But when I chose "Verify Disk" in Disk Utility, I do get the error: "The underlying task reported failure on exit".
As far as I can tell at the moment, my only option is to re-install Tiger, will this delete all my files or just install the require system files?
Help!
Thanks, Tom!

Hi, Tom. Welcome to the Discussions.
1. You wrote: "... when I chose "Verify Disk" in Disk Utility, I do get the error: "The underlying task reported failure on exit"."
1.1. Did you try starting up from your Tiger install disc and running Disk Utility > Repair Disk? For step-by-step instructions, see Step 1 of my "Resolving Disk, Permission, and Cache Corruption" FAQ.
1.2. Have you checked the SMART diagnostics of your hard drive? See: "Disk Utility 10.5 Help: Checking the S.M.A.R.T. status of your hard disk."
1.3. See "Disk Utility reports "Underlying task reported failure" when repairing a volume."
2. You wrote:"my only option is to re-install Tiger, will this delete all my files or just install the require system files?"That may not help if the hard drive itself has gone bad, per the results from point 1.2 above and what the document linked in point 1.3 implies given the results you reported from Verify Disk.
If your hard drive has failed or is failing, your first order of business is to backup whatever you can.
Have you implemented a comprehensive backup and recovery solution? If so, backup your startup disk. If not, see "Mac OS X: How to Back Up and Restore Your Files" for an emergency backup procedure.
Reinstalling via the "Archive and Install" method won't delete all your files provided you select the correct options. See my "General advice on performing an Archive and Install" FAQ. However, performing an Archive and Install on a failed or failing hard drive won't help.
Once you recover your Mac from this problem, I recommend you implement a comprehensive backup and recovery solution. For advice on the backup and recovery solution I use, see my "Backup and Recovery" FAQ.
3. Another thing to consider: If my suggestion in point 1.1 enables you to startup in Safe Mode, and points 1.2 and 1.3 are AOK, see my "Troubleshooting Startup and Login Items" FAQ. Sometimes incompatible Startup or Login Items can cause issues after Mac OS X Updates.
Good luck!
Dr. Smoke
Author: Troubleshooting Mac® OS X
Note: The information provided in the link(s) above is freely available. However, because I own The X Lab™, a commercial Web site to which some of these links point, the Apple Discussions Terms of Use require I include the following disclosure statement with this post:
I may receive some form of compensation, financial or otherwise, from my recommendation or link.

Blinking notification icon/spotlight icon in top right screen menu

I have an issue in the top of the finder window. I have a blinking notification icon/spotlight icon in top right screen menu. I am not able to click on the notification icon and change any settings.

Same thing occurs after restart. It will not occur under guest login? Is there preference I can trash?

User Home Folder Fails to Load-Stuck on SpotLight icon!

Dear Mac Gurus:
I am managing users on OSX v.10.4.9 on G4 and G5.
One common problem is cropping up on G4 and G5:
When the user tries to log into Local User Account, It is stuck on the "SpotLight" icon at the upper right-hand corner. The Beach Ball keeps spinning for over an hour. Nothing else happens.
Other users are able to log on, no problem whatsoever.
Help, Please! Thanks!
Max NYC
G4, G5 Mac OS X (10.4.9)

Max
try delete the com.apple.systemuiserver.plist file from the home / library / preferences folder
Regards
TD

I'm working with dual monitors but can't get it to boot up on my main screen, so all my icons get messed up

Hey all,
So I have a Mac Pro at work and it's connected to a 30" monitor and a smaller monitor. I have the larger one set as the primary screen, but when the computer boots it always uses the smaller monitor as the primary, load all my icon on the smaller monitor, then finally swaps everything to the larger monitor. This messes up all my icons on my desktop since they go from placment on a smaller screen then back to the larger one.
Is there any way to force the mac to boot up with the larger monitor? Or not screw up all my icons?

Yes.
A previous attempt was made through my home network, but after much name-calling at the tech support (dude wasn't listening to me) for the print server I bought (which SAYS they work with Mac... such BS), I gave up on that and hooked it back up to the PC. it worked fine. ButI want it to work with the Mac. It should be able to.
So, now it's hooked up, via USB, directly to the Mac. I love this MF printer... it's the one one I could find a the time that did everything I wanted... and I wouldn't go back to HP, even if they paid me. (that's what I had before)
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System preference icons all messed up

some of the icons on my system preferences are all screwy. like light switches but messed up text underthem thats cut off
how do i reset them back to normal, i tried deleting the system preferences file in user>library>preferences
but no luck
any help would be mas appreciated

Choose Go to Folder from the Finder's Go menu and
enter ~/Library/Caches/ as the folder's location;
when this folder has appeared, move the item named
com.apple.preferencepanes to the desktop and relaunch
System Preferences. If the icons appear properly,
throw away the file you previously moved.
(17849)
thanks, worked like a charm

I would like to remove the spotlight icon from the menu bar

is this possible?
i'd like to keep spotlight on and available, but have that icon hidden?

computer > system > library > core services > search.bundle
i deleted that and it gets rid of the icon, but doesn't keep spotlight active. i also turned spotlight off from start up using sudo pico /etc/hostconfig in the terminal and turning it off. but that turns it off, duh!!!
haha. i'll let you know if i find anything

Spotlight icon in Services menu = fail?

Just noticed this today. The icon for Spotlight in the Services menu appears to be M.I.A. The shortcut still functions completely properly. Is this just a problem with my computer or perhaps a bug?
http://img34.imageshack.us/img34/7671/screenshot20091129at104.png

Apple has this to say about that...
http://www.apple.com/macosx/refinements/
The Services menu is contextual, so it shows just the services appropriate for the application you’re using or content you’re viewing rather than all available services. You can access services with a right click of your mouse or Control-click of your trackpad. You can configure the menu to show only the services you want, and you can even create your own services using Automator.

Spotlight icons corrupted

!http://img.skitch.com/20090209-rs3au5tgcta9s3mdkq8aub7rad.jpg!
!http://img.skitch.com/20090209-gd1ub686tpytdg4sxbmk19x97w.jpg!
Recently the application icons in Spotlight's search window look odd.
There's no problem with the search itself, Spotlight hasn't slowed down, the indexing seems ok, in fact the whole system appears to be ok, let aside these odd looking icons.
Logging out or restarting the system works for a while, 3 Spotlight searches to be precisely, the icons are fine for a while, but the fourth search returns every application icon the way it is seen on the screenshots I made.
What I already tried:
A restart
Repaired permissions
Cleared cahes
Updated prebinding etc.
Update the whatis database
Cleaned font cache
Deleted Spotlight's preference file
and many many restarts
Again it works for a while, but the fourth Spotlight search will give these annoying corrupted icons.
Has anyone seen this before?
What may be the cause?
And more important: can it be fixed?
Thanks in advance!

Update:
I don't think Gimp and quartz vm have been the cause.
The so-called QCDialog.droplet and another droplet which uses the same icon CocoaDialog.droplet are part of an application called OMCEdit (On My Command).
With this app you can add contextual menu items from a pre-installed list or you can create and edit your own.
I only use two of them: "Send with Mail" and "Set Image as Desktop Picture".
I have used these contextual menu items only a few times and I don't know how these droplets relate to the contextual menu items and how they would relate to the spotlight index.
Out of curiosity I have set a couple of desktop pictures and send files with mail via these contextual menu items and did some spotlight searches and everything is fine (by now), but as soon these annoying icons take over all the other application icons I think I'll uninstall OMCEdit.
And in retrospect, I didn't have to start a thread: rebuilding the spotlight index was a pretty obvious first solution.
What made me doubt from doing this is that I didn't aspect this indexing to be so quick and casual, I thought it would take hours and hours.
Thanks for the help!

Spotlight icon is messed up.

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