Volume and Screen Brightness "reset themselves" at boot after Snow Leopard

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Level 3

525 points

Volume and Screen Brightness "reset themselves" at boot after Snow Leopard

When ever I restart the computer, after the computer comes back on, the sound has changed itself to "half volume" for whatever reason. (As in 8 "notches" loud - which sometimes can be too loud (like at night) or not loud enough (any other time I actually want to hear something)

My mother's iMac does this as well. Both are now running snow leopard, and the problem seemed to have stared after the update. (I don't restart my mac's that much so it is possible that it did happen in 10.5, but I doubt it because both my MacBook Pro and my mothers iMac are having this issue that the same time.) Her iMac also changes the screen brightness to the max at boot as well. And I'm guessing my MacBook is doing that as well, but the ambient light sensor turns it back down if it is not needed. It happens even before I log on. You can tell at the log in screen.

So, any fix yet? 10.6.2?

-Scott

13" MacBook Pro/4GB RAM/320GB HD - 500MHz iBook G3/640 RAM/160GB HD/WiFi, Other OS, OS X 10.5.x Leopard on the MacBook Pro, and OS X 10.4.11 Tiger on the iBook

Posted on Sep 19, 2009 9:01 PM

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Answer 1

Sep 19, 2009 11:36 PM in response to sdschramm

I would suggest a PRAM reset as a first step.

Hold down Command-Option-P-R while booting until the bong sounds a second time then let go of the keys and let it boot. This will cause it to start in full volume and full brightness. Then go to system Prefs and set things how you want them, or use the F keys to set them. They should remember where they are set to the next time your boot. If they don't, take two aspirin and call me in the morning.....scratch that last line.

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Answer 2

sdschramm Author

Level 3

525 points

Sep 20, 2009 6:10 PM in response to Gregory Mcintire

Sorry, should have explained what I've tried.

yes, I did a PRAM reset 3 times, as well as an SMC reset.
I called Apple and they said that brightness problem is a "known issue" that has been going on for a while now, and apparently it is not related to snow leopard. The only workaround I have found that works is to set the brightness as notch one (one above the very minimum) and then restart. That works. Anything other then level one: Full brightness at restart.

As for the sound turning it self up/down, don't know. Forgot to ask Apple about that one.

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Answer 3

HayMoose

Level 1

10 points

Oct 3, 2009 6:37 PM in response to sdschramm

In Macintosh HD / Library / Preferences / Audio there are two audio setting files. Delete them. Set your sound to the desired setting. Restart.

Stolen from: http://superuser.com/questions/36572/snow-leopard-resets-sound-volume-whenever-i -start-my-computer

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Answer 4

sdschramm Author

Level 3

525 points

Apr 30, 2010 7:44 PM in response to sdschramm

Thanks, the audio fix your provided fixed that issue and as for the brightness issue on the iMac, we had to get the LCD panel replaced and because of major burn in issues and since then we have not had the "reset to max" problem anymore. So I guess this problem is solved other then the fact that about every other week I have to go in and delete the audio cache file.

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