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Replies
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13
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1
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Last Post
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Oct 21, 2009 1:16 PM
by: donv (The Ghost)
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Posts:
8
From:
Brazil
Registered:
Oct 19, 2009
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System preferences keep blocked and cannot be changed
Posted:
Oct 19, 2009 5:03 PM
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The system preferences keep blocked all the time because the "Lock" picture cannot be opened by being clicked.
It happened after snow leopard installation.
What can I do to change preferences such as power settings, parental controls, accounts, etc.. ?
Mack Book Pro 13"
Mac OS X (10.6)
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Posts:
4,620
From:
Austin TX (in the machine)
Registered:
Aug 10, 2004
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Re: System preferences keep blocked and cannot be changed
Posted:
Oct 19, 2009 5:16 PM
in response to: dregis
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I assume you are logged in as administrator. If yes, then you might try setting up a new administrator account and seeing if things work from there. If this step works, then we can talk about what to do with the old account.
Message was edited by: donv (The Ghost)
15" 4 GB 2.8 GHz 500 GB MacBook Pro with LaCie 1TB external 7200 RPM RAID 0
Mac OS X (10.6)
PowerBook 540c; iBook G4; 2 Dell Laps; 1 HP Lap; Mega Gateway FX Desk
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Posts:
14,825
From:
Apple USA
Registered:
Aug 5, 2005
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Re: System preferences keep blocked and cannot be changed
Posted:
Oct 19, 2009 7:12 PM
in response to: dregis
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HI,
Try repairing disk permissions and see if that helps.
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.
Try deleting this file also.
com.apple.systempreferences.plist
~/Library/Preferences.
Move that file to the Trash and restart your Mac.
Intel iMac 2.66
Mac OS X (10.6.1)
iPhone 3GS PBookG4 iBookG4 Intuos Tablet Epson Olympus Airport iPods JBL
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Posts:
8
From:
Brazil
Registered:
Oct 19, 2009
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Re: System preferences keep blocked and cannot be changed
Posted:
Oct 20, 2009 10:22 AM
in response to: donv (The Ghost)
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Hello donv,
Thanks for your collaboration.
The point is that I cannot create a new user account because de "Lock" is closed.
Mack Book Pro 13"
Mac OS X (10.6)
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Posts:
8
From:
Brazil
Registered:
Oct 19, 2009
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Re: System preferences keep blocked and cannot be changed
Posted:
Oct 20, 2009 10:33 AM
in response to: Carolyn Samit
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Hi, Carolyn,
Thank you for your tips....
I've tried both.. Disk utility app and deleting com.apple.systempreferences.plist
None of this worked out...
What else can I do ?
Mack Book Pro 13"
Mac OS X (10.6)
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Posts:
10,462
From:
The Big Apple
Registered:
Aug 18, 2003
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Re: System preferences keep blocked and cannot be changed
Posted:
Oct 20, 2009 10:50 AM
in response to: dregis
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Have you gone to Applications/Utilities/Disk Utility choose it and then "Get Info" (command-i) uncheck the "Locked" box if it is checked. You may need to authenticate.
-mj
iMac 24" 2.16 GHz 3GB RAM/22" external HP display
Mac OS X (10.6)
iMac G4 17" 800 MHz 768MB/ iMac 333MHz 256 MB / LaCie d2s/ APC-UPS
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Posts:
8
From:
Brazil
Registered:
Oct 19, 2009
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Re: System preferences keep blocked and cannot be changed
Posted:
Oct 20, 2009 12:06 PM
in response to: macjack
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I Tried to do what you have indicated...
But as well as in the system preferences, when I click on the lock image, it does not unlock the lock.
Actually, when I do that, the lock goes to unlock position for less than 0,5 second and turn back to lock position.
Mack Book Pro 13"
Mac OS X (10.6)
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Posts:
4,620
From:
Austin TX (in the machine)
Registered:
Aug 10, 2004
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Re: System preferences keep blocked and cannot be changed
Posted:
Oct 20, 2009 12:15 PM
in response to: donv (The Ghost)
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Yes, of course, I see what you mean. You might try starting up to your install DVD and trying to reset your administrator password. If you can do so, then "something" may have changed enough that you can open the locks. Also, you might try starting up to your install DVD and seeing if you can reinstall Sno over Sno as in doing an upgrade install. If you can, then perhaps you can straighten things out during the install. This procedure is very safe, but like with any other install, you should be well backed up before proceeding. Finally, I am sure that there is a way to fix your problem via Terminal. Perhaps someone with really good Terminal skills will turn up.
15" 4 GB 2.8 GHz 500 GB MacBook Pro with LaCie 1TB external 7200 RPM RAID 0
Mac OS X (10.6)
PowerBook 540c; iBook G4; 2 Dell Laps; 1 HP Lap; Mega Gateway FX Desk
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Posts:
1,299
From:
Hamburg, Germany
Registered:
Jun 21, 2007
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Re: System preferences keep blocked and cannot be changed
Posted:
Oct 20, 2009 12:43 PM
in response to: donv (The Ghost)
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Perhaps someone with really good Terminal skills will turn up.
that'd be Niel, i suppose - he's pulling scripts out of the hat like david bl**dy copperfield
15"MBP SR C2D 2,4 GHz, 4 GB RAM / 17"PB G4 1,67 GHz 1 GB RAM
Mac OS X (10.6.1)
TC dual 500 GB, AEBS (n), 2x AE (b/g), ATV 40 GB, iPod Touch 2nd gen (OS 3.1),
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Posts:
10,462
From:
The Big Apple
Registered:
Aug 18, 2003
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Re: System preferences keep blocked and cannot be changed
Posted:
Oct 21, 2009 6:03 AM
in response to: dregis
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You might try launching Terminal and at the prompt type: chflags nouchg (Don't press return yet) Then drag the System Preferences app into your terminal window where it will add the path to your command.
Then press Return.
I tested this with some apps and it worked well.
-mj
iMac 24" 2.16 GHz 3GB RAM/22" external HP display
Mac OS X (10.6)
iMac G4 17" 800 MHz 768MB/ iMac 333MHz 256 MB / LaCie d2s/ APC-UPS
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Posts:
8
From:
Brazil
Registered:
Oct 19, 2009
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Re: System preferences keep blocked and cannot be changed
Posted:
Oct 21, 2009 8:12 AM
in response to: macjack
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Hello Macjac & Donv,
I've tried your last tips and the problem was still not solved.
I'm now figuring out that the cause of this problem is the same of the other topic I've posted in this forum. "Updater App doesn't work properly ".
The point is that all actions I'm trying to do that need need administrator or super user privileges, cannot be done.
In the other topic, someone said that re-installing snow leopard should solve the problem...
When I clicked in the confirmation button on the OS installer, the program returned to the last screen and did not proceed the installation. That's exactly the same behavior of the updater app.
Should it be some kind off permission that is missing ?
Should I edit some configuration file to give to my user the permission or put the user in some user group ?
I have a few knowlege about terminal and if you tell me what should I do, I'll do it as root user "sudo su -"
Mack Book Pro 13"
Mac OS X (10.6)
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Posts:
4,620
From:
Austin TX (in the machine)
Registered:
Aug 10, 2004
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Re: System preferences keep blocked and cannot be changed
Posted:
Oct 21, 2009 8:56 AM
in response to: dregis
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Solved
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Try this solution. If it doesn't work, then we can think about reinstalling.
Go to ~/Library/preferences/ByHost/ and delete all com.apple.HIToolbox files.
Restart your Mac.
Go to your user account preference pane.
Unlock the lock
Type your password.
Lock the lock.
Try installing whatever you are having problems with again.
15" 4 GB 2.8 GHz 500 GB MacBook Pro with LaCie 1TB external 7200 RPM RAID 0
Mac OS X (10.6)
PowerBook 540c; iBook G4; 2 Dell Laps; 1 HP Lap; Mega Gateway FX Desk
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Posts:
8
From:
Brazil
Registered:
Oct 19, 2009
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Re: System preferences keep blocked and cannot be changed
Posted:
Oct 21, 2009 12:58 PM
in response to: donv (The Ghost)
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Thanks Donv,
Your tip helped a lot and completely solved the problem....
Mack Book Pro 13"
Mac OS X (10.6)
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Posts:
4,620
From:
Austin TX (in the machine)
Registered:
Aug 10, 2004
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Re: System preferences keep blocked and cannot be changed
Posted:
Oct 21, 2009 1:16 PM
in response to: dregis
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You are very welcome. I didn't realize that both of your problems were likely connected until you posted about the installer problem on this thread. Then, I was able to connect the dots.
15" 4 GB 2.8 GHz 500 GB MacBook Pro with LaCie 1TB external 7200 RPM RAID 0
Mac OS X (10.6)
PowerBook 540c; iBook G4; 2 Dell Laps; 1 HP Lap; Mega Gateway FX Desk
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