Grey "Character" pop up window flashing intermittently over everything?

Question

Grey "Character" pop up window flashing intermittently over everything?

Hi

I was drafting an email earlier and I clicked on the "Edit" menu option and then on the "Special Characters" option in the dropdown menu. The pop up window containing the Special Characters options did not open, instead a grey pop up window of the same size began to flash intermittently on whatever screen or program I am using. The timer is visible in the centre of the screen and the word "Characters" is visible at the top of the window...

I tried a restart but it did not solve it.

Any thoughts would be very much appreciated.

D

Mac Book, Mac OS X (10.6.4), Windows onboard via Parallels

Posted on May 30, 2011 9:14 AM

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Answer 1

Tom Gewecke

Level 10

122,438 points

May 30, 2011 10:35 AM in response to deaglanbrennan

Try trashing the .plist in Home/Library/Preferences with CharacterPalette in its name.

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Answer 2

May 31, 2011 3:57 AM in response to Tom Gewecke

Hi Tom

I just want to say thank you very much for solving my Mac issue.

My first mac was bought as a present from NJ when I was over visiting my girlfriends Mother, Thanksgiving 2008.

I live in Ireland where we have no Mac Store : ( I am always concerned that something like yesterday's issue would arise (thankfully this was the first time).

Sure, we have approved service agents etc but there is nothing like the reassurance of walking into a Mac Store for your appointment with an expert, that is, until yesterday when I realised the power of the Apple Support Communities.

People like you give non techie Mac lovers a great peace of mind and freedom to enjoy the experience safe in the knowledge that we have somewhere to turn if we get stuck!

Again I am very grateful.

Slan agus go raibh mile maith agat

Declan Brennan

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Answer 3

Tom Gewecke

Level 10

122,438 points

May 31, 2011 6:52 AM in response to deaglanbrennan

deaglanbrennan wrote:

Slan agus go raibh mile maith agat

Tá fáilte romhat!

(I have fond memories of the time I lived in Dublin during the 1980's, but almost none of the Irish I tried to learn then).

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Answer 4

May 31, 2011 8:25 AM in response to Tom Gewecke

😁 Very good!

My Irish is extremely limited, despite learning it in school. This is mainly because in our home it was a second language and never used. In some homes it is their first language, this depends mostly on your geographical location, but generally speaking the closer you are to large towns or cities the less likely you are to have Irish as a first language! It is a pity really as it is one of our national treasures.

All the best.

Declan

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