KeyServer problems with iPhoto - WTH?

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Level 1

26 points

KeyServer problems with iPhoto - WTH?

Hey there -- just got a new powerbook, so everything should be hunky-dory. iPhoto was fine until this morning, when all of a sudden I start getting the following message whenever I try to start it:

KeyAccess (KS-240)

The network KeyServer, which is required by KeyServer controlled programs, cannot grant you permission to run this program. If you think you have received this message in error, please contact your KeyServer Administrator.

... and then it dies unceremoniously.

So two things are obvious questions here: first, why is iLife having to do network authentication to run? And, less importantly, what the heck is going on with my system's server? The second question is more appropriate for our department's admins (already sent them a cheery note), but I was hoping someone here could offer an explanation for the first question ... is this a plug-in issue? (e.g., is there Adobe code inside iPhoto that needs authentication -- I dislike Adobe only slightly less than Microsoft -- in which case I can imagine any number of things that went wrong) Funny thing: no messages whatsoever show up in Console ...

Any pointers would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Bruce

Message was edited by: bruce jacob

17 intelBook + 30 cinema display, Mac OS X (10.5.2), loved the cube

Posted on Feb 22, 2008 8:36 AM

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Answer 1

Yer_Man

Level 10

162,254 points

Feb 22, 2008 9:34 AM in response to bruce jacob

Bruce

Have nver seen this message, but iPhoto may well be checking for updates or web albums when you launch it.

Regards

TD

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Answer 2

Old Toad

Level 10

207,313 points

Feb 22, 2008 11:09 AM in response to bruce jacob

bruce:

Do you have any 3rd party plug-ins installed in iPhoto? Try deleting the iPhoto preference file, com.apple.iPhoto.plist, that resides in your User/Library/Preferences folder and try again.

TIP: For insurance against the iPhoto database corruption that many users have experienced I recommend making a backup copy of the Library6.iPhoto database file and keep it current. If problems crop up where iPhoto suddenly can't see any photos or thinks there are no photos in the library, replacing the working Library6.iPhoto file with the backup will often get the library back. By keeping it current I mean backup after each import and/or any serious editing or work on books, slideshows, calendars, cards, etc. That insures that if a problem pops up and you do need to replace the database file, you'll retain all those efforts. It doesn't take long to make the backup and it's good insurance.
I've created an Automator workflow application (requires Tiger), iPhoto dB File Backup, that will copy the selected Library6.iPhoto file from your iPhoto Library folder to the Pictures folder, replacing any previous version of it. It's compatible with iPhoto 08 libraries and Leopard. iPhoto does not have to be closed to run the application, just idle. You can download it at Toad's Cellar. Be sure to read the Read Me pdf file.

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Answer 3

bruce jacob Author

Level 1

26 points

Feb 26, 2008 7:31 AM in response to bruce jacob

Thanks, guys --

Toad: I tried reinstalling iLife08 from scratch. Same problem. Tried deleting the preferences file; same problem. I have not consciously added any plug-ins ... it seems to have some already installed, though.

Terence: if so, any ideas how to get it to stop?

The only thing I can think that could be related was dragging Adobe CS2 folders to the trash ... when I migrated from my old machine to this one, the CS2 installation got munged somehow, so I deleted it & will reinstall when I get the time. But if that's the case, why would iPhoto be interacting with Adobe's authentication? Though, now that I think of it, I did import a handful of photoshopped images a while back ... getting a nasty feeling that's the problem.

Thanks,
Bruce

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Answer 4

Yer_Man

Level 10

162,254 points

Feb 26, 2008 7:54 AM in response to bruce jacob

Bruce

iPhoto -> Preferences and uncheck 'Check for Updates Automatically'

I don't see that having Photoshop edited files in the library will do anything in this area. Who needs authentication to look at a file?

Anyway a little bit of googling provides some information: I have no such KeyServer software on my Mac, and it's made by

http://www.sassafras.com/

they even mention the particular message (way down...) on this page:

http://www.sassafras.com/docs51/messages.htm

This KeyServer software is:

an integrated software asset management suite for automated IT asset auditing and software license management.

So, do you use your Mac in a Corporate environment? Does your employer have software on there? Is the Mac issued to you by an IT department somewhere? For there lies the root of your problem, is my guess.

Regards

TD

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Answer 5

bruce jacob Author

Level 1

26 points

Feb 27, 2008 6:27 AM in response to Yer_Man

Terence Devlin wrote:
So, do you use your Mac in a Corporate environment? Does your employer have software on there? Is the Mac issued to you by an IT department somewhere? For there lies the root of your problem, is my guess.

Hey there -- I'm at the University of Maryland, but I've only got two pieces of software from our software licensing department on my machine:

+ Adobe FrameMaker (runs in Windows emulation via CrossOver)
+ Adobe Creative Suite (which I deleted the other day)

Thus I suspected Adobe (via UM Software Licensing). I'll ask the licensing guys about it ... thanks.

Bruce

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