I cannot get the OS to remember dock changes, or remember the last descktop arrangements of files open on the screen. My drives are aligned, Also, I'm haveing problems withfirewire apps showing error code 0. I've tryed reinstalling affected software, and reinstalled 10.5.8 updater. I tried making a new user login and some things fixed, but dock still does not remember any changes made.
Mac Pro, Mac OS X (10.5.8), Mac Pro 3,1 8 Core, 2.8GHz
so my question is what can I do to allow the Dock to remember the changes I set up in it? Also Do you have any idea as to why my descktop does not remember changes like open drive windows etc? Thanks....
Hi Steve, does the Dock only change when you log out or restart?
How many Users are shown in Macintosh HD>Users folder?
Yes upon restart.... thnx
Oh yeah... sorry... there are 2 now in the users folder, both admins as I just made a new user account to test if it would help...
First, Safe Boot , (holding Shift key down at bootup), use Disk Utility from there to Repair Permissions, test if things work OK in Safe Mode.
Then move these files to the Desktop...
/Users/YourUserName/Library/Preferences/com.apple.finder.plist
/Users/YourUserName/Library/Preferences/com.apple.dock.plist
/Users/YourUserName/Library/Preferences/com.apple.systempreferences.plist
/Users/YourUserName/Library/Preferences/com.apple.sidebarlists.plist
/Users/YourUserName/Library/Preferences/com.apple.desktop.plist
/Users/YourUserName/Library/Preferences/com.apple.recentitems.plist
Reboot & test.
PS. Safe boot may stay on the gray radian for a long time, let it go, it's trying to repair the Hard Drive.
I've done all the above remedies, but nothing works. What I have noticed is that on my working OS10.5.8 on my MacBookPro the Dock.plst file gets updated everytime I restart. Something is broken in the ability for my MACPRO tower to write to the .plst and .db files associated with screen settings such as what folders are left open at closedown and any changes to the dock. I completly reinstalled 10.4 OS from the cd saving my user info because I have a lot of music software on here that I seem to be losing through all this, but the reinstall did not fix this problem. It just took a long time to get everything back to 10.5.8. The .plst files are in there from last month or last week and the just don't update. I replaced them in a test from my working laptop and they make everything look llke the laptop dock but then when I change them they don't save. Where is the app that saves these changes to the dock and desktop? If I knew I could see if that script/app etc would look like my laptop. Line by line I've tried to compare in all system and library folders, cashes preferences, but I can't seem to find it. Anyone here deep enough into this software to help me. I would be so very grateful... very...
steve
Hmmmm, this is very strange, try copying the working one over then try Locking the file, does that get replaced on restart?
To completely reset the dock back to the original factory settings do the following:
Cheers, Tom 😉
nope... it stays as whatever I put in there.... the system has lost the ability to replace or change the .plst or db. associated with views, desktop open windows or dock settings... and maybe others I haven't noticed yet.... thnx for helping...I'm totally stymied on this...
steve
Especially stymieing since you replaced all the OS components!
Do a get info on the /Users/YourUserName/Library/Preferences/ folder, does it say you have Write privileges? How about the Library folder above it?
yes I have the privileges, and I even went to the other user name I just set up where things work and put all the dock system etc and desktop .db .plst files into the main user name where I'm having the problems and it opens upon restart looking like the other users settings, but when I make a change in views or dock or windows open on desktop they do not get saved when I restart. It's frozen as the one I put in there. I need to know what part op the OS writes to these .plst and .db settings so I can replace it or parts it needs to do this. It might be another part of the user Preferences as it only happens in my older user name. But that name has so many plug ins and apps tied to it, it would be insane to try to change all that...... maybe I can drag my older preference folder to a new user and see what happens.....
Oh, I misunderstood before, so the new admin account works fine!?
If so it's not likely part of the OS doing it then.
At this point I think you should get Applejack...
http://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/15667/applejack
After installing, reboot holding down CMD+s, (+s), then when the DOS like prompt shows, type in...
applejack AUTO
Then let it do all 6 of it's things.
At least it'll eliminate some questions if it doesn't fix it.
The 6 things it does are...
Correct any Disk problems.
Repair Permissions.
Clear out Cache Files.
Repair/check several plist files.
Dump the VM files for a fresh start.
Trash old Log files.
When it fishes with AUTO, go back & type just applejack, & do steps 3 & 4 for the old user.
First reboot will be slower, sometimes 2 or 3 restarts will be required for full benefit... my guess is files relying upon other files relying upon other files! :-)
Disconnect the USB cable from any Uninterruptible Power Supply so the system doesn't shut down in the middle of the process.
okay...I finally got the applejack app, but it is scaring me a bit as I have a lot of software and passcodes etc, that I don't want an app that I really don't totally understand doing more things to my preferences and OS which is what CleanMyMac did on it's own and now I'm in virtual ****. Is this a pretty safe app??? I'm confused as to how you can run it under the new user account and then after that do the 3 and 4 applejack routines on my old user, because the applejack utility runs pre-user boot. In optioon s mode.... can you elaborate? I can't beieve this whole mess. I just had to reinstall all my printer drivers because they were thrown out I guess on the syatem reinstall i did...ughhh! thnx for all you time...
steve
It's pretty safe, far far safer than CleanMyMac in my experience.
It doesn't run under any user account, but as root when you invoke it in Single User Mode
Boot into SU and just type...
applejack
You'll see a list of things numbered 1 through 5, always do them in order 1st, after it completes each step it'll ask what you want to do next, after doiing 1 throigh 5, type 3, it''l ask if you want to do individual users, typey & /users/your original username.
Not Option+s to get SU mode, but CMD+s
Ask if you have more need to. 🙂
i meant that...I'm just stressed out and brain dead after 4 days of this and it's not getting any better..ha
thnx
steve
CleanMyMac problems with Dock and applications
