Safari preferences will not open even in safe mode

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Level 1

8 points

Safari preferences will not open even in safe mode

Running safari 11.0.1 and High Sierra 10.13.6

I can open preferences on all accounts except my main (admin) one. I opened a new admin account and can run preferences from there. I can't run it from main profile even in safe mode. I've deleted everything I can figure from the library regarding safari (plist etc). I'm leaning towards just rebuilding my admin account to a different profile....

I've tried everything I can come up with, including most of the info here: https://appletoolbox.com/safari-problems-after-upgrade-how-to-fix/

and here:

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT203538

Any help???

Posted on Oct 19, 2019 3:37 PM

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Answer 1

Best reply

els70 Author

Level 1

8 points

Nov 3, 2019 6:48 AM in response to els70

Solved!

In going back to where I had overlooked the obvious, I used finder to search for Safari hoping to find wayward files. It turns out that the safari app had been duplicated outside the applications folder and that the safari dock link in the admin account pointed to the duplicated safari rather than the one in the app folder.

All of the other accounts had the dock link point back to the original application folder safari. Once I deleted the duplicate safari in the admin account and removed it from the dock, then restarted safari from the applications folder and added that back to the dock everything is working again.....

It was around the time of an update to either the OS or safari that this started, so that must have been the trigger for the problem.... The application had been duplicated long before that though (for reasons that I don't understand or remember...)

Thanks so much for all of the work helping me to figure this out, definitely not something that I think anyone else could have anticipated.....

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Answer 2

Eric Root

Level 10

684,219 points

Oct 19, 2019 6:51 PM in response to els70

Try running this program in your normal user account, then copy and paste the output in a reply. The program was created by etresoft, a frequent contributor. Please use copy and paste as screen shots can be hard to read. Click “Share Report” button in the toolbar, select “Copy Report” and then paste into a reply. This will show what is running on your computer. No personal information is shown. If the log won’t post, try posting it in Pastebin and provide a link in a reply Pastebin

Etrecheck – System Information 10.10 and later

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Answer 3

els70 Author

Level 1

8 points

Oct 20, 2019 8:32 AM in response to Eric Root

Seemed reasonable and may have been installed around the time this started, but didn't work. I took the opportunity to remove two other programs that showed up on the report and are no longer used (i-drive and divx). I ran a new report and attached it. I appreciate the time you have taken on this! Any other thoughts?

etrecheck report 2

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Answer 4

Eric Root

Level 10

684,219 points

Oct 20, 2019 7:38 AM in response to els70

You are welcome. I would uninstall Avast. It tends to interfere with the computer's operation while providing minimal to no benefit unless you work with Windows files. Most long time posters recommend not using antivirus software or cleaning software such as CleanMyMac. After uninstalling, restart the computer.

Avast

Avast Un-install

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Answer 5

Eric Root

Level 10

684,219 points

Oct 20, 2019 10:05 AM in response to els70

You are welcome. I don't see anything that normally causes problems. If you want to, try removing all your login items from System Preferences/Users & Groups, restart the computer, and don't open any programs except Safari. See if it works.

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Answer 6

els70 Author

Level 1

8 points

Nov 2, 2019 5:53 PM in response to Eric Root

Sorry that I left you hanging on this, especially with the prompt and very helpful replies. I had initial hope as there were 3 programs loading, iTunes helper, fitbit connect, and the i-drive program that I had previously deleted. Unfortunately this didn't work either. I'm frustrated as I'm usually fairly savvy and your advice (Eric Root) has been great. I'll chalk it up to a computer ghost and rebuild the admin account unless you (or anyone!) has any better advice. Thanks!

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