Fast User Switching icon disappears from menu

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Level 3

672 points

Fast User Switching icon disappears from menu

I have "Enable Fast User Switching" checked in all our accounts on our iBook G4 running Tiger. But on my user account, the icon in the menu bar often disappears. If I go to System Preferences, unlock, and select "Log in items," the icon will reset.

As a workaround, I have the Fast User Switching icon installed in Butler's docklet, where I can access it even if the menu bar icon is missing, but I'd like to know why it keeps happening.

Any ideas?

iBook G4 14 in (1.42 GHz, 1.5 G RAM), Mac OS X (10.4.11), iMac 400 MHz G3 OS 9.2.2

Posted on Jun 11, 2009 1:58 PM

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Answer 1

BDAqua

Level 10

250,259 points

Jun 11, 2009 3:48 PM in response to Kabing

Hi, not certain, but Apple Menu Bar Icons Gone...

You've probably got a couple of corrupt preference files.

In "/Users/<yourname>/Library/Preferences", delete com.apple.systemuiserver.plist

In "/Users/<yourname>/Library/Preferences/ByHost", delete com.apple.systemuiserver.xxx.plist where 'xxx' is a 12 digit (hexadecimal) numeric string.

Reboot.

This will reset your Menu Bar to the default, you'll need to go through System Preferences to reset the ones you need. (If they are already checked, uncheck them first and then recheck them).

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Answer 2

Kabing Author

Level 3

672 points

Jun 16, 2009 7:45 AM in response to BDAqua

Thanks for the suggestion. It worked for a while, but today the icon disappeared again.

It's a nuisance I can live with, as long as it's not a sign of deeper trouble.

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Answer 3

BDAqua

Level 10

250,259 points

Jun 16, 2009 9:53 AM in response to Kabing

It worked for a while, but today the icon disappeared again.

Yes, that is a sign of deeper problems, possibly RAM or Hard Drive.

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Answer 4

Kabing Author

Level 3

672 points

Jun 16, 2009 8:20 PM in response to BDAqua

Hmm..... On the one hand that makes some sense, as I had a series of kernel panics about a month ago. At the time, I booted from my install CD and ran the Repair Disk function of Disk Utility...Nothing came up. And I've not seen a kernel panic since.

I ran onyx's verifications today, including the SMART status, an the only issues that surfaced were permissions that needed repairing.

I also ran the memtest from single-user mode (reminder to self, run that overnight next time!), and three passes picked up no problems with the RAM.

So, I guess I'll just have to watch it for the time being unless there are other things I should be doing.

kabing

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Answer 5

BDAqua

Level 10

250,259 points

Jun 16, 2009 9:00 PM in response to Kabing

I also ran the memtest from single-user mode (reminder to self, run that overnight next time!), and three passes picked up no problems with the RAM.

Good work, unfortunately bad RAM is really hard to test/find, you can only really trust it if it FINDS bad RAM... and OSX seems the very best RAM tester there is! 🙂

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