Time Machine lost it's vortex image and stars

Question

Time Machine lost it's vortex image and stars

Not a serious problem, but more of an annoyance.

Time Machine no longer displays it's space background and moving stars. Instead, the background is just white.

I've repaired the disk and permissions, installed all the latest updates - but no change.

Time Machine works fine, it backs up, it restores perfectly. Albeit a little less aesthetically pleasing 😉

I've checked the resources in Finder.app and the vortex.png file is there - it's system readable, everything checks out OK.

Any idea what might be happening?

Cheers,

MacPro Quad 2.66Ghz, 7Gb RAM, 750Gb HDD, 256Mb nVidia, Intensity Pro PCI, Mac OS X (10.5.5), iMac G5 2.0Ghz 1stGen, 2x MB Pro 17", MB (Black), MacMini Server + 10Tb Storage

Posted on Sep 20, 2008 4:07 AM

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Answer 1

Sep 20, 2008 6:11 AM in response to Robert Tolton

Hi:

You might try trashing the preference file and restarting (com.apple.timemachine.plist).

Barry

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Answer 2

Sep 20, 2008 12:39 PM in response to Robert Tolton

Exactly the same here. I have Googled my heart out and we're not alone (heh) but no fix out there...

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Answer 3

Sep 20, 2008 1:56 PM in response to Robert Tolton

Are you using multiple graphics adapters and monitors? I have two graphics cards and if my primary monitor is connected to the bottom card in the slots I get the white background in the Time Machine display. If the primary display is connected to the top card I get the starfield.

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Answer 4

Sep 20, 2008 3:56 PM in response to Wayne of America

I do indeed have two graphics cards,

An ATI 3870 HD in the bottom driving primary and secondary Apple Cinema Displays, and an NVIDIA GeForce 7300 GT in the top driving a tertiary display.

It seems a bit ridiculous that this would happen,

I don't see that trashing the plist would solve anything, because it doesn't contain any information that would affect the back-end of Time Machine - only what the user can actually interface with.

10.5.5 didn't seem to solve the problem either,

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Answer 5

Sep 20, 2008 4:27 PM in response to Wayne of America

Me too!

Two Graphics Cards;

X1900XT in the bottom slot - driving primary display.

I'll check WoA's theory....

Wayne of America, you are the ' Man'

I have just swapped my Primary to the topmost card and the starfield is back!

Whip out yer tertiaries Bob and yer home and dry 😉

Thanks Wayne.

Message was edited by: switchlight

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Answer 6

Sep 21, 2008 7:20 AM in response to switchlight

Unfortunately I don't think I'm going to be able to do any swapping - my main card, the ATI sits in the only x16 lane I have - at the bottom, which drives the two most important screens. The NVIDIA sits in the top lane at x8 and only drives the third screen.

Oh well, Time Machine was nice to look at when it worked,

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Answer 7

Sep 21, 2008 7:48 AM in response to Robert Tolton

Robert,

Taken like a man 😉

I'm going back to white with you (for similar reasons)..

I am grateful WoA for the clue. I can't live with conundrums.

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Answer 8

Sep 21, 2008 7:54 AM in response to switchlight

I need mah third screen, it has iTunes and Adium on it!!!

😉

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Answer 9

Sep 21, 2008 8:21 AM in response to Robert Tolton

Adium ! Not MSN Messenger then? Phew, that's a relief........

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Answer 10

Sep 21, 2008 8:39 AM in response to switchlight

Adium all the way!

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