Strange symptoms.

I was using our computer when all of a sudden I heard speech witch isn't that abnormal but it was talking about everything like, "Open menu, Close menu,"
even saying the keys I was typing! Plus little Black boxes around every thing I clicked I ignored it at first then it got really annoying. If anyone has any suggestions it would be appreciated.

It's probably VoiceOver ("Seeing" pane "Universal Access" system preference).
Command-F5 will turn it on or off.

Similar Messages

Multiple & Strange Symptoms

Mac OS X Version 10.6.8 on iMac.
Symptoms:
1. Both itunes media downloads and general software updates are being reversed - happens only sometimes. Example: Daily Show almost completely finished downloading, but I come back to the computer later and not only is it not downloaded, but iTunes store says 'Download' as if I had never pressed it in the first place.
2. Partial Safari history suddenly disappears at the same time as #1, ie websites I know I visited are no longer listed in history.
3. Finder is opening on its own.
I do not have Time Machine set up so my original hypothesis that the computer is somehow resetting itself to a previous time seems false.
Any clue?
I'm concerned that my computer has a bug of some kind.

You need a backup, either Time Machine or a clone. I'll ask the hosts to relocate your post to the iiTunes for Mac community.

Strange symptoms on OSC-CSM

Hi!
I notice something strange with OSC-CSM card on ONS 15454 MSTP. It showed as red in CTC with APS state is disable. Alarm indicate equipemtn failure. But when I view at card level all ports are green and optical power is good. However on the network and circuit (OCHNC) view one of the line is grey while the other is green and the state is partial. Traffic from the client however is passing through. This is strange. The manual says that I can soft reset the card from CTC or reseat/replace it but I dont want to do this now as this will interrupt operation. What's the best course to take? Apreciate your expert advice. Thanks.

When you went back to Snow Leopard, did you erase the ENTIRE drive with the 10.6 disk first?
Lion alters the partition map of the boot drive, if you didn't erase and format the entire drive with the 10.6 version of the GUID parititon map, Snow Leopard might be having a problem with the 10.7 version of the GUID.
Clone the 10.6 OS X partiton off to a external drive with Carbon Copy Cloner, check that your files are there.
Hold c boot off the 10.6 disk and erase the entire drive (select the makers name and size on the far left) use the Zero Erase option, that will map off any bad sectors you might be having. Install 10.6 fresh, same log in name, Software Updater till clear.
Reinstall your 10.6 programs from fresh sources and finally hook up the clone and transfer just the users file folders (music, pictures etc., not Library) into the same ones on the internal.
This is know as a "Fresh Install" combined with the Zero Erase of the internal boot drive, should map off bad sectors and cure all your problems.
https://discussions.apple.com/community/notebooks/macbook_pro?view=documents
People don't know that Lion alters the GUID and creates a hidden Lion Recovery partition at the bottom of the drive, thus can cause issues as Snow Leopard doesn't know what the heck is going on.

Strange symptom since uninstall of Norton Antivirus 11.0

Hello
Since the uninstall of Norton my Macbook doesn't boot anymore (circle with a line through it)
Safeboot is working well and after the safeboot - if I do a restart - the restart works normal (macbook is in normal operation). If I do restart from "normal-mode" the macbook hangs again with the circle with a line through it sign and I have to do a safeboot again.
sorry for my bad english
thomas

I just found a uninstaller for version 10.0 (http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/num.nsf/docid/2005051716291611) and will try this one.
In another document on the support homepage it is told that version 11.0 shoul be uninstalled with the integrated uninstaller - this is what i did
I will post the result - thank you so far

IPod seems to be dead, strange symptoms

Saturday I'm driving around and I hit the play button on my iPod (an older one, probably 5 years old, 20 gig Classic-style). No music. I look down, and it's flipping through the songs: the song title/band/etc will be on the screen for 1-2 seconds, then off to another in a random order.
I do a reset, I do every reset I can, I do the "flip into disk mode" reset. In iTunes I tell it to reset to default. Now it won't power on, it's showing the icon to plug the AC adapter into the wall. Sadly, I don't have an AC adapter, so I can't do that. I seem to recall there were specific instructions to get past that icon, but I can't find them. I briefly got it into menus and all the music seemed to be gone, which is OK, I can load it easily enough.
So now I've got a spiffy-looking paperweight (my wife bought me the Flying Spaghetti Monster skin for Xmas!). Any suggestions? I'm going to go by Best Buy over lunch and buy an AC adapter, I'm also going to try plugging it into a speaker cradle.

Yeah, you'd think a car charger would work too...
have an URL for a program that would read/write the play lists on my iPod
Are you trying to put playlists on the iPod? That's a function of iTunes, if you use sync instead of manual loading of songs.
If you are trying to take playlists off the iPod onto the computer, I have used a program that can do so
http://www.zeleksoftware.com/liberator.htm
but it is not free ($25).

Call Manager 7.1. Strange symptoms

I have been getting reports of... " when I put someone on hold It hangs up on them. " When I transfer calls it hangs up on them." " Calls are going straight to voice mall". I can not re-create any of these claims but we are reciveing more and more reports of this.
I have NO clue on where to begin to trouble shoot this issue. I need any help that you can give.

The network directory needs to be an SFTP site that the system can access with the proper settings (directory, username, password) or the configuration will not be saved.
Are you seeing your backup device listed when on the devices page?

Suddenly strange symptoms

Mail (on a POP account) has lost its mind. When I highlight an inbox email and click reply, the frame around the window changes its shade of grey, but a reply window never comes up.
When I quit mail, each click of the reply button results in the draft count increasing in the left panel.
I relaunch and go to the list of drafts, and I have one unstarted draft for each click.
I delete those drafts, but they come back as I'm quitting the program...ie, the count returns to what it was before, and I see the list of multiple drafts in the list.
Just to make it even more difficult, I can't launch preferences. When I choose it, no window pops up.
I have tried deleting the envelope index, trashing the plist file, and running Disk First Aid. Will probably try DiskWarrior next unless there's a more specific fix for this.
Any suggestions? Thanks.

HI,
DiskWarrior isn't for repairing problems with the Mail application.
In Mac Mail, from the Menu Bar, click Mailbox/Rebuild and see if that helps.
Try pressing Command , (comma) to open Mail/Preferences.
If nothing helps, reinstall the Mail application from your install disk.
Insert the install disk. Open the Optional Installs folder, then open Optional Installs.mpkg
An Installer will start... click Continue. When you get to the Installation Type in the window on the right you will see: Applications. Click the Disclosure triangle so it faces down. Selec the Mail app and click Continue.
Then repair disk permissions...
Quit any open applications/programs. Launch Disk Utility. (Applications/Utilities) Select MacintoshHD in the panel on the left, select the FirstAid tab. Click: Repair Disk Permissions. When it's finished from the Menu Bar, Quit Disk Utility and restart your Mac. If you see a long list of "messages" in the permissions window, it's ok. That can be ignored. As long as you see, "Permissions Repair Complete" when it's finished... you're done. Quit Disk Utility and restart your Mac.
I'm trouble shooting for Leopard since you posted in the Leopard forum. Could you please click My Settings on the right side of this window and tell us which Mac you have and which Mac OS X verion 10.5.x ?? you are running... thanks!
Carolyn
Message was edited by: Carolyn Samit

Strange symptoms, need help to diagnose.

My mid 2010 macbook pro has been acting up. I could use some help.
1. 5 minute boot times
2. Sometimes refusing to launch any apps
3. Spinning beachball all the time or complete freeze
I have plenty of Ram available, did a clean reinstall of snow leopard (problems seemed to start when I upgraded to Lion, so I went back), 280 gigs free on HD, very few non apple apps, in the past disk repair seemed to help some. (now I can't get it to run)
Thanks everyone for your help.

When you went back to Snow Leopard, did you erase the ENTIRE drive with the 10.6 disk first?
Lion alters the partition map of the boot drive, if you didn't erase and format the entire drive with the 10.6 version of the GUID parititon map, Snow Leopard might be having a problem with the 10.7 version of the GUID.
Clone the 10.6 OS X partiton off to a external drive with Carbon Copy Cloner, check that your files are there.
Hold c boot off the 10.6 disk and erase the entire drive (select the makers name and size on the far left) use the Zero Erase option, that will map off any bad sectors you might be having. Install 10.6 fresh, same log in name, Software Updater till clear.
Reinstall your 10.6 programs from fresh sources and finally hook up the clone and transfer just the users file folders (music, pictures etc., not Library) into the same ones on the internal.
This is know as a "Fresh Install" combined with the Zero Erase of the internal boot drive, should map off bad sectors and cure all your problems.
https://discussions.apple.com/community/notebooks/macbook_pro?view=documents
People don't know that Lion alters the GUID and creates a hidden Lion Recovery partition at the bottom of the drive, thus can cause issues as Snow Leopard doesn't know what the heck is going on.

Strange battery symptoms and genius bar questions

Hi,
I have a white macbook that I bought used with a used battery. When the battery started showing strange symptoms I replaced it with a new one. The new battery functioned perfectly for one cycle, then the same symptoms started again. Basically the computer isn't always recognizing the battery, with an X showing in the icon. Also with the charger connected the battery will sometimes charge, sometimes not. The activity shown in the icon doesn't always match what the stats listed in "about this mac".
So my questions: Is it likely that the brand new battery could be flawed and producing the same symptoms the old one did? I bought the computer reconditioned through a third party with an extended warrantee that won't cover the battery. How do I determine if the battery is the problem, or if it's the computer itself and I should send it back to the seller?
I've read some about the "genius bar" and I'm hoping for some info on that also. Is it necessary to make a reservation, or will they take walk ins? Will they give me any grief because it's a used computer not bought from them? What do they charge? Can I expect a complete diagnosis from them?
thank-you for any info anyone can offer!
I should add that I've reset the PRAM and NVRAm with no results. resetting the SMC (did I get that right?) worked only until the next time I started the computer. The Battery updater seems to be updated.
Thanks

Yes, it's possible to get a defective new battery. It's also possible the AC adaptor is defective, and it's possible there's a problem with the motherboard.
I would look at the following articles for possible help:
Apple Portables- Troubleshooting MagSafe adapters
Troubleshooting Magsafe power adapters with stuck pins
Use and cleaning of power adapter with MagSafe connector
You can also run hardware diagnostics:
How to run hardware diagnostics for an Intel Mac
Boot from your original OS X Installer Disc One that came with your computer. After the chime press and hold down the "D" key until the diagnostic screen appears. Run the extended tests for a minimum of two or three hours. If any error messages appear note them down as you will need to report them to the service tech when you take the computer in for repair.
Some "common" error indicators:
SNS - sensor error
MEM - memory error
HDD - hard disk drive error
MOT - fan error

E71- strange horizontal blinks when i open popup m...

Hello,
im experiencing a very strange symptoms with this e71 phone.
when ever i open any popup menus under any application a strange and fast horizontal line blinks in the screen it looks like a problem with the vga chipset or something i cant really describe it well as it apears and hide so fast but its so annoying..
anyone experience similary circumstances ?

you're not alone. i experience it as well.
from the feedback i got, it seems to be asoftware problem more than anything else. hopefully the FW update will help =\

Strange happenings with Quicksilver 766MHz

Hello,
We've started having problems with several Quicksilver 766MHz macs in our labs.
The Symptoms:
1) Machine starts to boot up, then all of a sudden it's like someone's pulled out the kettle lead.
2) Occasionally, these machines manage to boot. But, take out the USB cable for the keyboard and it instantly shuts down.
Other strange symptoms:
Well, just repeating myself really. If it does boot up, if you pull out the keyboard USB lead then it will trigger the immediate shut down!!!*.
Things we're tried:
Removed all RAM, tried them one by one.
Swapped the PSU with a 'known good machine' (or was it a 'known good machine'? It's a long filthy job swapping PSUs).
Reset the motherboard.
Tried to ZAP the PRAM - at that point the machine wasn't getting any further than a couple of seconds into booting.
Checked graphics cards and all cables inside etc.
The battery is working because, i think, if it wasn't then it would get to do it's initial chime (most times it will chime, then power down, but sometimes it can't even be bothered to do that).
Searched archives. Found one thing where this guy was having similar problems, except that it wasn't booting at all, the On button would just glow. But i haven't found any information on this strange symptom involving the USB cable:
http://lists.apple.com/archives/macos-x-server/2005/Sep/msg00220.html
This general troubleshooting link from apple:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=95055
Other info:
The latest 3 machines behaving in this way were moved to another location and when they got there they were in this state.
The environment we're testing them in is not over heating them. They've dealt with far warmer conditions in the past.
A number of these machines, which were all purchased at the same time, have started behaving in this way
Any thoughts most welcome. Thanks in advance,
C
G4 Quicksilver 766MHz Mac OS X (10.4.5)

Hi, I've seen some occasional flakiness with the USB ports on my QS 2001. I believe that the USB ports just don't provide enough juice to run many peripherals off, so my suggestion would be to make sure that you use powered hubs for anything more than a keyboard, and if you use a keyboard with a port installed (Kensington's Keyboard-in-a-Box is one such), hang only one more device off of it.
Occasionally heat damage can be irreversible, and it sounds like you're experiencing some of the symptoms here as well. Just for grins, have you tried running the machines with the case open? The battery is also a symptom of all kinds of mischief. I'd replace that it in just one computer to see if it made a difference.
HTH,
~FifthWheel

Strange hiss and dim screen at start-up

My imac has begun exhibiting strange symptoms. When I start it up from sleep or being turned off it makes a high pitched hissing/whine noise. The monitor is dim for about 1-2 minutes and I can see horizontal lines on the screen similar to a TV that is not tuning in a station very well. The noise and the lines last about 5-7 minutes. Can anyone tell me what's going on? My first suspicion is that it is a problem with the monitor but I don't know enough about this to be sure.

Welcome to Apple Discussions. In fact, welcome to the Discussions for the new iMac Intel Core Duo!
You may get a better/quicker response by exposing your Mac issues to many more folks with a Mac like yours.
Here is a link to the correct forum for your post;
iMac (CRT)

Strange Log Outs

New IMac 27.......updated - all latest software.. Snow Leopard Etc.
New problem in the last few days.......Walk away and leave computer, come back in an indeterminate time frame and when "waking" up the computer it gives me the log in screen with user names! , but I never logged out! Also, the box seems to be slower of late??
Item two problem is a popup showing a message "The disk you inserted was not readable by this computer" - however NO disk was inserted to cause this message.........
Time Machine is working with a Western Digital Passport HD.
Very Strange Symptoms........anyone have any thoughts or similar experience???
Thanks.
Ken

Hello kensterling,
in System Preferences > Security you can set the option to auto-log-out after a period of inactivity. Have you checked whether that option is enabled?
floba
(MN603)

Importing photos crashed & now froze, how do I "stop import" in iPhoto?

I connected my camera to the macbook and once all my photos displayed, I selected photos I wished to import, and clicked/dragged them into a new Album that I created. I have always done this in the past, but this time while the photos were being imported, it seemed to have 'freezed' in the middle of it.
The camera listed under Devices still appears as if its importing. When I click onto the "Stop Import" button a pop-up window appears, asking: "Do you want to delete or keep the photos imported so far?"
It allows me to choose between 3 options:
Continue importing, Keep photos, Delete photos.
I've tried all 3 options, however nothing seems to work. There were no photos imported into the album; nor will the device cancel the import. Now I can't get it to go away, even when my camera is disconnected from my laptop. furthermore, when I tried reconnecting my camera, it will show up as a second device (meanwhile it is the same camera) and when trying to import other photos from it, it won't allow it because iPhotos thinks it is still importing the photos from the initial try. Please help me fix this, thanks!

While I am not sure what is going on with iPhoto & why it seems to have
failed while you were attempting to import image files from a camera, the
thing to try and do now may be to repair disk in the computer. This can be
done in a variety of similar yet slightly different ways, using Disk Utility.
Presuming you are familiar with using Disk Utility from either/or the booted
OS X installer DVD (options menu in Installer's header, once started from
the disc while holding C key down.) - OR from the Disk Utility version in the
computer (see GO in Finder, go to Utilities folder in drop-down menu, and
choose Disk Utility and launch it) and when this utility is running, choose
the Macintosh HD from the left-side menu within it, and then select the
'repair disk permissions' from the choice of click-on buttons available.
One fair choice before doing the latter, in the above, would be to start
the computer while holding the Shift key down, and hold that down
until you see a login screen, after logging in (admin password) then go
and launch Disk Utility, and run 'repair disk permissions' then when done,
quit Disk Utility and restart the computer. (Starting in SafeBoot, helps;
and running disk utility to repair permissions does a little more.)
Starting the computer with the Installer disc in the optical drive and the
C key held will start from the Installer; from the Installer's header, there
are options in drop-down menus, including Disk Utility. You can choose
to 'repair disk' or 'repair disk permissions' and 'verify' the disk. While
there, you could do all three. When done, quit Disk Utility and choose
to restart the computer using the Startup option in the Installer menu.
There may be something else going on in the computer, so to start with
what could be called 'general maintenance' may help; for more depth in
matters such as this, there are free-running utility interface tools that do
tasks in the OS X that should be done, one way or another. Instead of
doing some of these in Terminal or single-user modes, you can run one
of these utility tools to perform routine upkeep on the OS. The one I use
more often (maybe once every two or three months) is OnyX; it is free
and can be downloaded from Titanium Software online. In this, I use the
selection accessed in the Automation choice, and check-box all options.
(This can do many more things, so some effort should be taken to learn.)
If the computer's hard disk drive is getting too close to full, odd things
will happen to the system and whatever apps you run in it. Between
having sufficient installed chip RAM, and adequate unused space in
the computer's hard disk drive, these factors will affect performance
and the lack of working space in the hard drive can cause data loss.
Using Activity Monitor, you can tell the running status of the computer
and its OS, and the resources available to the configuration. You can
also identify the computer for the sake of discussion (precisely define)
by using the System Profiler; and note there are several kinds of info
disclosed in these two different processes.
Crashes and freezing events leave an activity log; there are several
kinds of logs available through the Console (utility) in its menu. The
logs of events can be relatively cryptic but sometimes they repeat a
message and in those, some do cite a cause or event. Date/time of
these is part of the logged event schedule.
If the hard disk drive is getting fuller than ideal, the computer can
freeze or apps can be slow to react to your interaction with the GUI.
So, to find out what else is going on in the computer system & apps,
will take some effort. There is cause & effect, and when things get
strange, symptoms can vary. Troubleshooting can take some effort.
Some kinds of crashes that do not take down the computer, are
different than those which obviously do; some are 'kernel panics'
and others are sometimes lesser events. There are times when
a lesser kernel event may affect the apps and OS; but they go
back to a cause. By providing some information on the status of
the computer's hard disk drive, used capacity verses unused, and
the amount of installed chip RAM, these may help tell a story.
So, there may be more than just the camera and iPhoto involved.
Sometimes, just by restarting the computer, a simple issue may
cease to be a problem; but by starting up as suggested previously,
you can initiate some basic repairs and maybe get that camera
issue to go away, at least for now. But more is going on to cause it.
Good luck & happy computing!
PS: Welcome to Apple Discussions!
{ edited }

After a month of usage, Helix has been a total disaster to me.

I bought Helix 16th of last month. It was the first day of release of Helix in Korea. I made a payment on 16th, and recieved the package on 17th.
The first one had a failing battery, and I had to replace it from the day one. Strangely these things happened to me quite often before, so I just thought **bleep** happened and went over it.
During the first weekend, My new Helix started to develop strange symptom. it had a ghost touch on the middle of the screen. At first it happened when I was holding it with my one hand. In-spec, only a **bleep**ty engineering, I thought at first, but over the weekend it developed and by tuesday it was virtually unusable. I sent in the device again, and I had it replaced for the second time. After 2 weeks of usage(a very frustrating one, due to those KB battery failure issues and crashing OSs), the phantom touch came back, this time, even worse.
I sent in my new machine earlier this week. They said they couldn't get me a replacement anymore, because I had it for over a month already(It was a month and a day, and that day had to be delayed because the previous day was f*****g sunday. BTW, I had it for two weeks, the rest of the time you guys had it.). They did offer a repair, and the replacement part was also defective, and had to be ordered again. Now I am even starting to forget that I even had a Helix at all.
I purchased 3Years TPP warranty, and I bought LCD protection film for every Helixs I got. The transportation cost to service center and for replacements weren't cheap(I wanted to get things solved fast and used quick courier services. Never knew I was only calling for other problems every single time). I think I spent like additional 500 dollars on this machine, only to get more and more frustration over time. I don't think I can handle this in-service-for-a-month-for-two-weeks-of-usage for the next three years, and I decided to bail out. As soon as I get the repaired machine, I am going to sell it. Of course it won't get payed well,(who would want to buy a used and repaired machine?) and I will probably lose enough money to buy another laptop. but I think it will save me a hell lot of money in the end.
I've been always on the defending side when people were complaining that Lenovo is destroying ThinkPad values, and I was a tenacious one. But only after a course of a month, I think I'll turn to the other side. It's never an easy thing to change a person's stance, and Lenovo sure proved they could.
If you cannot convince a user to stop leaving his old laptop in his office as a backup for the new machine, it doesn't quite qualify as a business machine. You don't even have to say if he actually had to use that Backup, and even more so if he had to use that backup more than the new one.
To anyone who is keeping the Helix, good luck, and god bless you.
Kim
W540( ), Helix(Sold), Tablet 2(Sold) Tablet 2( ), X120e(Sold), X201 Tablet, X41 Tablet(Sold), X41, X32*4, 701C*4

I don't know...but considering the massive number of complaints on malfunctioning Helixs on this forum, I don't think anyone could dare to be 100% sure that one will get a perfect Helix.
In my case, I decided to Give up on Helix and wait for...I don't know, X240T, maybe? Thinking of the limited options when looking for a device with high-res display and a Wacom digitizer, I don't think I could be able to make up my mind anytime soon. This I can be sure about, however: Lenovo will never have any advantages over all other makers in my list from this time on(yeah, that list include those cheap makers that stamp out dispensable laptops like Haier, or Hasee.)
In general, ThinkPad Helix is a good example of a tragic outcome of solid concept that cannot possibly fail(i7 processor with 8GB ram, with Wacom Digitizer, a KB dock with battery, and you can even flip the docking direction. How could it fail?), that has met with a horrible, horrible execution.
If Lenovo was trying to present their idea of ThinkPad's new DNA through the Helix, then their Double Helix is nothing but a pitifully deformed, inferior one that will not survive the natural selection.
Kim
W540( ), Helix(Sold), Tablet 2(Sold) Tablet 2( ), X120e(Sold), X201 Tablet, X41 Tablet(Sold), X41, X32*4, 701C*4

Strange symptoms.

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