Time zone stuck on GMT

Okay - I am using 10.3 and still can't get any of this to work... that is if I am doing it correctly. I have gone through and finally realize that I CAN get other time zones - just NOT the one I need - PST. So can anyone help me (in very simple terms) to put that file back on my computer? Thanks!!

thank you thank you thank you!

just to let everyone know i did a migration from tiger to leopard (on my new macbook aluminum) and i had in the etc folder mentioned an alias named localtime next to the localtime folder that the instructions call for trashing. the recipe didnt work until i trashed BOTH of these...so look out for the alias if it doesnt work right away...

thanks again!

Total solution. Thanks, indeed. However, rather than rename the localtime folder I just deleted it as the user above suggests, then rebooted. After the reboot, the system replaced what had been a folder with an alias and presto: I could change the local time.

You are a GENIUS!!! This totally solved my problem. I can't thank you enough!

Thanks, barnamink! You completely solved my problem (which is something Apple Tech Support couldn't do, even after I spent four hours on the phone with them). What a relief!

lmacy wrote:
Actually you do not need to enable the root user. *Use the Finder's "Go to Folder..." command to open the /etc folder and drag the localtime folder to the trash*. You will need to authenticate as an admin to do this. Then just open System Preferences and set Date and Time settings.

It appears that this only happens in a migration to Leopard, but I can not be sure.

Larry

This is it. Thanks !

If Apple techs read this: the Migration tool should be updated to avoid this problem, where the solution was only found here.

Thank you soooooo much, this was driving me insane, as well as marking all my school assignments as being submitted late.

I submitted a bug report on this and it appears it is a known problem.

-Tony

This is a follow up to Bug ID# 6545953. After further investigation it has been determined that this is a known issue, which is currently being investigated by engineering. This issue has been filed in our bug database under the original Bug ID# 6478275. The original bug number being used to track this duplicate issue can be found in the State column, in this format: Duplicate/OrigBug#.

Thank you for submitting this bug report. We truly appreciate your assistance in helping us discover and isolate bugs.

Best Regards,

Kit Cheung
Apple Developer Connection
Worldwide Developer Relations

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Bug ID #: 6545953
Bug Title: Migration Assistant corrupts timezone selection when migrating from 10.4 to 10.5
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<GMT31-Jan-2009 06:33:55GMT>
When using the Migration Assistant to migrate from 10.4 to 10.5 the /etc/localtime file is brought across incorrectly. It should be kept as a link but instead the directory it links to is copied across. This leaves it as a directory rather than a link to /usr/share/zoneinfo/country/tz. This causes the Date Time preferences panel to be unable to change the time zone, leaving it stuck as GMT.

Disk Utility does correctly report this problem, but does not succeed in repairing the problem (it actually reports success in repairing all problems).

There is more information on this issue discussed at:
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID8340794

There seem to be two fixes required:

1. Migration Assistent should preserve the /etc/localtime as a symbolic link when migrating from 10.4

2. Disk Utility should delete /etc/localtime if it is a directory and make it a symbolic link to /usr/share/zoneinfo/US/Pacific to default it to USA PST. The the user can then change the time zone using the Date Time preference pane.

Thank you so much. I've been reading about this problem for one hour, till I found your wonderful easy solution. Best wishes!

I just had the same thing happen to me migrating from an old white plastic iMac to the new aluminum one...it was driving me nuts. I can't believe that this issue still hasn't been fixed via migration assistant. I am definately not a techie so it took some time to figure it out (thanks to the poster above who stated how to actually get to the "go to folder" command as I had no idea where to find it LOL).

I hope apple wakes up and corrects this issue since it appears there have been open tickets on it for months.

Message was edited by: anthroboi

You rule. This was driving me mental!

Thank you so much for posting.

you rock! this was driving me crazy i just bought it and tought i was gonna have to wait for an update
thank you very much

Thanks yoojin's apa. Great fix. Elegant and straightforward to carry out!

Fantastic, I migrated from my old imac and mail is now working perfectly.

lmacy wrote:
Actually you do not need to enable the root user. Use the Finder's "Go to Folder..." command to open the /etc folder and drag the localtime folder to the trash. You will need to authenticate as an admin to do this. Then just open System Preferences and set Date and Time settings.

It appears that this only happens in a migration to Leopard, but I can not be sure.

Larry

Yup! This worked! Thanks!!!