Q: Photo Booth

what is the error?

When was the last time you restarted your computer?  If that does not work, see article = http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2090 How to Troubleshoot iSight

and see EZJim's Website for a possible solution.

SMB34 wrote:

 

This only happens when I am logged into my user.  when I log into another one it works fine.

Well done, SMB34! 

You have found the cause of your problem: your test shows that your normal (old) user account is damaged.

The fix is simple.  You merely need to change to a user account that works.

Because there are many thousands of files in any OS X system, I have never successfully "repaired" a user account. It is faster, easier, and more reliable to merely change to a different account that works properly.  Here is how I do it.

First, if you do not already have one, make a current backup of your important files.  If you need help, see:

  http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?path=Mac/10.7/en/mh9052.html

Next, decide whether you want to use an existing user accounts that you already know works.  Renaming account names can cause serious problems, so if you want a different name for your new everyday user account, it is best to create account with the name you like.  Test the new account, too, to be sure it is working properly before proceeding.

Now, copy needed data from your backup into your new user account that works.  Begin using this new account as your every-day "main" login account. Do not move or delete anything from the old (damaged) account at this time.

If you must add any third-party items to your new account, add only one at a time. Test thoroughly before adding another third-party item. This technique will help you quickly identify any particular item that might have been the cause of a conflict in your old account.

Use your new account long enough so you can be certain that everything you do with your Mac is working properly in the new account. Depending on how you use your Mac, this can take weeks or even months.

When you are certain that all is well with the new account that is now your normal account, you can throw away your damaged (old) original user account folder to reclaim its disk space.

Message was edited by: EZ Jim

Yes, follow EZ Jims instructions.  He is the expert in these matters.  You will not mess up.  If it will make it easier, print out his instructions.  This way you know you will not "mess up."

SMB34 wrote:

 

Thank you so much ...

 

... do you think there is an easierway to fix it without reseting my whole computer. ...

You're welcome.

(1) You might want to re-read my suggestion.  It explains the easiest way to correct your problem I know.  Moreover, the info I posted has nothing to do with resetting your whole computer.  It merely explains how I would change from a user account that has problems like yours to  one that works properly.

(2) The fact that your Photo Booth works in at least one user account different from the one you normally use means that the problem is with your normal user account, not with Photo Booth itself.  Therefore, reinstalling Photo Booth or trying to troubleshoot other system components will not help you.

(3) If you want another alternative to consider, a less advisable approach would be to Recover your entire system from a Time Machine Backup that was made while your entire system, including Photo Booth, worked properly.  Of course, this suggestion is only applicable if you made Time Machine backups at a time when Photo Booth was working.  Recovering your system from an earlier, working, backup will restore your normal user account to a working state.  However, this suggestion has two significant disadvantages:

  ( i.) Restoring your entire system from Time Machine (TM) takes hours.   Adopting a new user account for your daily use can be done in a couple of minutes.  Even if you need to copy data files from the backup recommended in my previous response to you into a new user account, doing that copying will almost certainly take less time than a TM restore.

  (ii.) You lose all info in your startup disk that was created between the present and the time of the TM backup you will use for the restore.  Depending on how long ago the working TM backup was made, copying the newer info back into your restored system from tha backup recommended in my previous response to you can take longer than my original suggestion.

(4) For the reasons above, simply switching user accounts is still my first, best, and simplest recommendation.  Carefully re-read and follow the instructions in my original suggestion.  There is nothing dangerous in those recommendations.

Message was edited by: EZ Jim

Yes

Message was edited by: EZ Jim

Hi EZ Jim,

Would you mind terribly if I disagree or offer alternatives ?  (please read in your best English Accent - ignore my rough Dorset twang )

The issue could be that the .plist has "lost" where to send the pics for saving.

As we know with iChat deletion of some .plists may bring back the correct function.

The com.apple.PhotoBooth.plist could be placed on thre desktop for "safe keeping" to see if it helps.

(i.e  it may not be the whole User Account that is affected)

Side Issues.

 

It could be the app itself is the issue but this seems unlikely as the app works OK in another User Account.

 

If it were not working there I would have suggested a Time Machine restore of just the App from a time when it was know to have been working.

 

Also depending on where it works or does not work I might have suggested Pacifist and a Reinstall that way followed by a COMBO version Update download and reinstall.

@SMB34

Do you have any issues with other apps storing files ?

For Instance will iChat Save Video chats you record to iTunes Properly ?

Which version of the OS are you using as it may make a difference about how we tell you to get to the Home Folder/Library/Preferences folder ?

10:49 PM      Saturday; January 28, 2012

Please, if posting Logs, do not post any Log info after the line "Binary Images for iChat"

  iMac 2.5Ghz 5i 2011 (Lion 10.7.2)
 G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
 MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
 Mac OS X (10.6.8),

"Limit the Logs to the Bits above Binary Images."  No, Seriously

Hello Ralph,

Your expertise is always appreciated and well worth OP's consideration.

Like you, my objective here is to help OP resolve issues as quickly and easily as possible.

Cheers for all you do for so many of us users!

jim

Hi,

I should have made this bit clearer:-

As we know with iChat deletion of some .plists may bring back the correct function.

I was trying to say that we know (because we have looked at the content and tried said move) that some .plists hold info such as window position, last used files/folders and the like (non Critical info that can be deleted without too much happening)

Some Apps hold much more critical info in their .plist  (Address Book and the Mail ones to name two)

I am trying to make it clear that if this works for you the idea cannot always be transfered to other Apps.

I have Developer Tools installed on my G4 (OS 10.5.8) and MacBook Pro (OS 10.6.8)  and Xcode on my iMac.

This gives me Property List Editor on the first two computers to read the .plists and Xcode itself reads and displays the content of the .plists in Lion.

You can use Quick Look to see the .plist in a basic Text layout but they are difficult to read this way.

</>

8:32 PM      Sunday; January 29, 2012

Please, if posting Logs, do not post any Log info after the line "Binary Images for iChat"

  iMac 2.5Ghz 5i 2011 (Lion 10.7.2)
 G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
 MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
 Mac OS X (10.6.8),

"Limit the Logs to the Bits above Binary Images."  No, Seriously