'Your network settings have been changed by another app' - THE SOLUTION

I believe, from what I've read, that if there is no PPP type setting requiring a password in one's locations, then it is possible the problem won't appear.

Yes, that was the main contention, and I do have that, as I;m on Dialup 99/99% of the time! 🙂

I typically wait a couple of weeks, during which time reports like these start to surface if something is amiss.

Very good practice, and what I strongly recommend for anybody with work to get done! 🙂

Hi all -

Tried this fix and when I restarted my computer, was unable to turn AirPort on at all (there was just a message in gray: AirPort not configured). Tried to use Network Assistant to figure it out but was unsuccessful. Apple tech didn't know how to fix it either. Luckily, I copied the files first, so I restored them and I'm back online - but the problem remains. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks.

When I first rebooted had the same issue but went through network assistant and chose airport as my preferred interface and somehow it all worked again. The bug has disappeared and everything is faster now.

Halleluja! I am very pleased - definitely the way to solve this!

Not sure what you mean by "chose AirPort as my preferred interface." Is this something you do before or after deletion of the files? Sorry, I'm a new Mac user. Could use some help.

Boy, am I glad i found this thread. I just upgraded my old Panther system to Tiger and the first thing it wanted to do was install the security update, so I said, "sure!" Next thing I knew, I tried to access my network preferences and I got caught in that ghastly loop before I figured out the same kludgy exit strategies you all found too. But I thought it was just Tiger so you can imagine my relief when I read about it here.

Bigtime BOO to Apple for letting this cat out of the bag too soon!

Smokeyroom - After deleting the files.

Adrian

I simply cannot believe this issue still exists! I found this thread (thankfully) back in October, and then had several other clients who needed at as well over the following month or two. Then, sometime in the last two or three weeks, I've run into another handful of machines exhibiting the bug. [Obviously, a machine could go months without it being discovered, as a visit to the Network Sys. Prefs pane is not a regular necessity on most machines.]

Having seen it pop up this much, and reading about it here, it does boggle the mind that Apple hasn't issued a fix by now.

C'mon guys, get on the stick! (Sorry, just had to do that... I realize that expecting anyone at Apple to actually read (let alone respond to) a thread here is futile.)

I urge everyone affected by this issue, to post feedback here:

http://www.apple.com/feedback/macosx.html

In order to save my previous settings for various networks I followed the advice given further down in this string. I opened the "Network" pane, played the mouse-click game to get the "Location:" bar and then selected "Edit Locations." I used "Duplicate" on all of the network pre-set names that I wanted to save (Example: "Home" becomes "Home Copy"). After that I used the "Delete" button on the same mask to get rid of all of my old locations. Then hit the "Done" button. After it closed I expected "Your network settings..." to pop up again...but it didn't. It's not coming up anymore and all of the "Copy" versions of my settings work fine.

Good to know Starfish!

Thanks...

I posted this yesterday on macosxhints.com where I first came across reference to SOLUTION. here it is again in the hope that someone has help.
.......
I removed the 4 /SystemConfiguration files as suggested by raboox8 and the annoying ""Your network settings .." thing ended. After accessing each item in the System Preferences application the 4 deleted files were eventually automatically rewritten. All OK.
*Except that the "Date & Time" panel will no longer open!*
When I click on that I get the BeachBall spinning and Application Not Responding so I must Force Quit. Has anyone seen this?
Any ideas please?
George

My mom has the same problem. Deleting the plists you mentioned, however, did not get rid of the annoying box. Changing the security setting to demand authentication allowed her to dismiss the popup temporarily, but it is still there. She was able to reset her Network Prefs with her ISP info, but the popup is perennially annoying. Any other solutions/ places to look to fix this?

She has an iMac G4 17" flat panel running OX 10.4.11. She connects to the Net through her ethernet port via cable modem. Interestingly, I have never had this problem on my Macbook, running OS 10.4.11 -- but I only connect using wireless.

Your help is appreciated!

I don't think Jona's been heard from in a while, but did you see an *alternate fix* above in this very long thread? This might work:

Registered: Sep 24, 2003
Re: and easier solution - make copy of a location
Posted: Nov 4, 2008 6:18 PM in response to: Jona

As was said before, be quick to select something after you press okay
Select Locations, then Edit Locations.
Using the duplicate, rename and delete buttons in the dropdown, create a copy of each interface >you want to keep. Then delete the original.

Apparently the problem is a corrupted location. but copying it creates a good location to use.

Ignore +be quick to select something after you press okay.+ Instead, go to System Preferences/ Security and check the box +Require Password to unlock each secure system preferences+. This will stop the popup so you can proceed as above.

"Instead, go to System Preferences/ Security and check the box Require Password to unlock each secure system preferences. This will stop the popup so you can proceed as above. "

We did that already, and it has not prevented the popup. Thanks, though.

Instead, go to System Preferences/Security and check the box +Require Password to unlock each secure system preference.+ This will stop the popup so you can proceed as above.

Should have added, "then lock Security," i.e. "click the lock to prevent further changes." Make sure you know the admin password before trying this, so it can be reversed if needed.

Does that do it?