Can't edit preferences

Question

Can't edit preferences

For a while I wasn't able to edit my desktop background, then I found this post http://discussions.apple.com/message.jspa?messageID=7990895 and deleted the Desktop.plist file and that was updated. Then I couldn't change my Dock preferences, so I found the Dock.plist file, deleted it, and was able to edit those preferences again. Then I couldn't edit the global menu to be solid rather than translucent and I sensed there is was pattern—I can't edit preferences—in lieu of this discovery I've tested several of the preferences (by no means all of them) in System Preferences and some of my preferences will change, others won't. What I'd like to know is, how to I fix it so that I can edit all of my preferences without deleting all my plists?

Unibody late 2008, Mac OS X (10.6.2)

Posted on Mar 12, 2010 8:37 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Mar 12, 2010 11:07 AM in response to justaboutnormal

I'm not sure about this, but I think a repair permission with Disk Utility can help

Reply

Answer 2

macjack

Level 10

111,242 points

Mar 12, 2010 11:24 AM in response to justaboutnormal

Welcome to Apple Discussions.

Can you explain toward what end you want to edit the preferences (other than to get back to justaboutnormal) and what you were using for a texteditor?

-mj

Reply

Answer 3

Mar 12, 2010 11:25 AM in response to Yann Bizeul

I've tried repairing the disk permissions and that had no effect.

Reply

Answer 4

Mar 12, 2010 11:28 AM in response to macjack

No quite sure what you mean, I was just using the System Preferences App to edit preferences. Once I either logged out or closed the system preferences the preferences went back to the way they were (e.g. the global menu bar became translucent again though I had unchecked the box).

Reply

Answer 5

macjack

Level 10

111,242 points

Mar 12, 2010 11:44 AM in response to justaboutnormal

Now I understand. Editing preferences has a whole other meaning which would opening .plist file in a text editor and altering the code.

Try moving /Users/yourname/Library/Preferences/ com.apple.systempreferences.plist to the Desktop, then restarting.

-mj

Reply

Answer 6

Mar 12, 2010 12:14 PM in response to macjack

Tried it, moving systempreferences.plist to the desktop and restarting does not resolve the issue.

Reply

Answer 7

macjack

Level 10

111,242 points

Mar 12, 2010 12:22 PM in response to justaboutnormal

There are some more simple troubleshooting steps you can take.

Create a new User go to System Preferences >> Accounts >> "+" (make it an admin acct) and test the apps in this new account, if they work the problem is isolated to your User and not systemwide.

If the issue is limited to your user account try starting up Safe Mode (It will take more time to startup in Safe Mode because it runs a directory check.)

If your apps functions correctly that way, go to System Preferences >> Accounts >> Login Items, and remove them. Boot normally and test. If not go to ~(yourHome)/Library /Contextual Menu Items and move whatever is there to the desktop. Then do the same with /Library/ Contextual Menu Items. Lastly, try moving ~(yourHome)/Library/ Fonts to your desktop and restarting.

Log out/in or restart, if that sorts it start putting items back one at a time until you find the culprit.

If the issue is systemwide then, you may be able to repair this with the The 10.6.2 Combo Update This is a fuller install, as opposed to an incremental "delta" update so it should overwrite any files that are damaged or missing. It does not matter if you have applied it before.

Remember to Verify Disk before update and repair permissions after update from /Applications/Utilities/Disk Utility.

-mj

Reply

Answer 8

thomas_r.

Level 7

32,031 points

Mar 12, 2010 12:22 PM in response to justaboutnormal

Did you, by any chance, at some point in the past, change permissions on your user folder or preferences folder and use the "Apply to enclosed items" command in the Get Info window, or some equivalent in the Terminal? If so, that's probably what's going on: you've messed up the permissions on your preference files, which is why deleting them solves the problem for those particular preferences.

Reply

Answer 9

Mar 12, 2010 12:34 PM in response to thomas_r.

Yes, I did. I reinstalled my system and when I did the permissions got messed up. I really thought that I got all of the problems, it really shouldn't have been a problem in the first place. I redid the permissions and applied it to the folder and now it is working correctly.

Thank you, and everyone, for you help.

Reply