iChat 5.0.3 won't open any conversation windows, video, audio, or file shares. What is going on?

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iChat 5.0.3 won't open any conversation windows, video, audio, or file shares. What is going on?

I'm currently running Snow Leopard 10.06.08 and iChat version 5.0.3. After browing through the Dicussions and around the web, I've deleted and reinstalled the app itself, deleted the .plists in the folder, changed preferences in iChat itself, restored from Time Machine and still nothing works. I log in perfectly fine, all of my buddies names appear and show me online to them, but upon double clicking a name or going through the "Buddies" tab, I can't open any conversation box, group box, video, file share, nothing. Nothing appears. If they send me anything, the red notification appears on the icon, but nothing shows up on my screen. My system is up to date and everything else is working just find, except iChat. Can anyone provide any clarity?

Mac Pro, Mac OS X (10.5.8)

Posted on Feb 26, 2012 5:41 PM

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Answer 1

LilyKlep Author

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Feb 26, 2012 6:13 PM in response to LilyKlep

now iChat won't appear at all once opened; it shows it is open on the dock and the heading bar appears at the top of finder, but nothing shows up at all. What is going on?!

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Answer 2

Feb 27, 2012 12:49 PM in response to LilyKlep

HI,

If iChat is Open and your think Accounts/Screen Names are logged in then go to the Window Menu

This should list the accounts that are logged in with various keystrokes ( Apple/CMD ( or ⌘) and a Number) shown next to them.

Using these should get the Buddy list "back".

It is possible to Hide the Buddy list and then Quit iChat.

iChat will then "remember" where the windows were eve if this was Hidden.

Can you confirm that after reinstalling or restoring from Time Machine with possibly an Earlier Version you have Downloaded the COMBO version of OS X 10.6.8 and "run the COMBO" (Installed it - again) to update iChat ?

It is possible the text chat Window is also Hidden on double clicking a Buddy.

The easiest way for this to happen is to use a second Display and drag some windows to the second Display.

iChat "remembers" where you last had Outgoing Chats so Audio and Video windows will be where you left them as will Text Chats.

Incoming Chat Invites are normally in set places unless there is a chat already open to that Buddy.

With Windowing issue like this is sometimes pays to delete com.apple.ichat.plist itself (on it's own) and restart iChat (this plist holds the window positions amongst other things)

8:49 PM Monday; February 27, 2012

Please, if posting Logs, do not post any Log info after the line "Binary Images for iChat"

 iMac 2.5Ghz 5i 2011 (Lion 10.7.3)
 G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
 MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
 Mac OS X (10.6.8),
"Limit the Logs to the Bits above Binary Images."  No, Seriously

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Answer 3

LilyKlep Author

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Feb 27, 2012 3:35 PM in response to Ralph-Johns-UK

I restored iChat from a back up a couple of weeks ago when I know it was working, which didn't solve anything. I am unable to download the COMBO update for whatever reason.

iChat recognizes that I have clicked on a name and opened a text box, but it does not appear on screen (the text box itself isn't hidden on any other display-I checked) I get a notification that I have recieved a message, and I can apparently type text, hit enter, and have whomever I last clicked on recieve that message-whatever it was that I typed.

It's as though the text window itself has disappeared from the iChat application....

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Answer 4

LilyKlep Author

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Feb 27, 2012 4:11 PM in response to Ralph-Johns-UK

Ok, so I was just able to download the COMBO update (not really sure why it wasn't working before) but still no change with iChat....still the same issue.

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Answer 5

Feb 28, 2012 12:25 PM in response to LilyKlep

Hi,

With a Windowing issue like this is sometimes pays to delete com.apple.ichat.plist itself (on it's own) and restart iChat (this plist holds the window positions amongst other things)

In Lion go to the FInder > Go Menu and Hold the ALT key to see the Library option.

Select the Library then open the Preferences

Find the listed .plist and drag it to the Trash.

Restart iChat.

8:25 PM Tuesday; February 28, 2012

Please, if posting Logs, do not post any Log info after the line "Binary Images for iChat"

 iMac 2.5Ghz 5i 2011 (Lion 10.7.3)
 G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
 MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
 Mac OS X (10.6.8),
"Limit the Logs to the Bits above Binary Images."  No, Seriously

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Answer 6

LilyKlep Author

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Feb 28, 2012 3:20 PM in response to Ralph-Johns-UK

I've already tried deleting the ichat.plists; still nothing.

I'm really at a loss.

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Answer 7

Feb 29, 2012 11:12 AM in response to LilyKlep

Ok,

If it is Not the .plists (or specifically the one I mentioned) and the info about where the window should be on a single display (meaning they have not been dragged Off screen or similar) ...

Then there is one likely thing left.

Are you using Spaces ?

I do not use Spaces myself but it is possible to have the Buddy Lists in one Space and the Chat windows (any sort) in another Space.

I think this happens when using the DOCK icon in one Space to bring the app to the Front and either the Buddy List or the Chat window gets moved from the Space it is In.

Try it without Spaces or ste iChat to be in All Spaces.

7:12 PM Wednesday; February 29, 2012

Please, if posting Logs, do not post any Log info after the line "Binary Images for iChat"

 iMac 2.5Ghz 5i 2011 (Lion 10.7.3)
 G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
 MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
 Mac OS X (10.6.8),
"Limit the Logs to the Bits above Binary Images."  No, Seriously

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Answer 8

LilyKlep Author

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Feb 29, 2012 11:19 AM in response to Ralph-Johns-UK

Definitely not Spaces, I checked that out the first time I was having this problem.

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Answer 9

Feb 29, 2012 1:38 PM in response to LilyKlep

Hi,

As this one is your own thread as it were I will keep to this one.

(That also presumes I have something more to say 😀)

So to summarise.

Video, Audio and Text chats and Invites do not appear in view in the Desktop.

Some evidence that they are somewhere as Messaging can still be done.

Do not appear to be related to using a second display.

Does not appear to be linked in minimising or putting an Chat in the DOCK.

Is not related to the "Known" spaces issue.

Deleting .plists does not seem to have helped.

Nor has a Reinstall and Time Machine Restore with a COMBO Update to update the app.

I do not have anything else to suggest right now.

9:38 PM Wednesday; February 29, 2012

Please, if posting Logs, do not post any Log info after the line "Binary Images for iChat"

 iMac 2.5Ghz 5i 2011 (Lion 10.7.3)
 G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
 MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
 Mac OS X (10.6.8),
"Limit the Logs to the Bits above Binary Images."  No, Seriously

Reply