iMessage on Mountain Lion problem

i am having a problem connecting to my icloud account on messages on only this computer.

nothing has changed, i was working and then suddenly it wasn't. i suspect that it is due to the fact that i am on a hiddden network, but i'm not sure. can anyone confirm this?

thanks

HI,

If you mean that you happen to be "hidden" by the fact your Public IP address cannot be seen then you will have issues.

The AIM servers in particular need to know "where" you are in relation to the whole internet.

They will in fact Suspend AIM Accounts and even Apple ID that are Valid names if they suspect "Unusual Activity". Recently this has included trips abroad and using the Screen Names from somewhere else.

The AIM account and the iMessages account require and Always On connection (much more than a Browser or the Mail App uses).

Any time the servers cannot maintain the connection you will get dropped.

This is turn may lead to issues about signing back in again.

For Instance the AIM servers keep track of whether you are connected or not.

There is a .plist called com.apple.iChat.AIM.plist that is used in Messages as well as iChat that holds the apparent status of your App regarding it's AIM login.

When the two don't match you can get "refused".

As we know iMessages uses the Mac's own Serial Number to generate the Auth-Token then we can presume a similar state is used here.

9:49 PM Saturday; February 2, 2013

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

 iMac 2.5Ghz 5i 2011 (Mountain Lion 10.8.2)
 G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
 MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
 Mac OS X (10.6.8),
 Couple of iPhones and an iPad
"Limit the Logs to the Bits above Binary Images."  No, Seriously

i mean that i have set up a hidden network using that feature of the airport extremem so that my neighbors don't even see that my wireless network exists. if that is hiding my IP, then yes. however, i have an AIM account that works perfectly.

is there a way to make my icloud account authenticate without exposing my wireless network?

thanks

Hi,

The Modem or router will still get an Public IP from your ISP.

Not Broadcasting the SSID is not the same thing.

Hiding just the WiFi part of your LAN from your neighbours is prudent but not part of this.

The data packets still get the header info that allows return Data to get things to your computer on your network.

Are we talking about System Preferences > iCloud working and syncing or are we talking about an iCloud name being uses for the iMessages ID ?

7:06 PM Sunday; February 3, 2013

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

 iMac 2.5Ghz 5i 2011 (Mountain Lion 10.8.2)
 G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
 MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
 Mac OS X (10.6.8),
 Couple of iPhones and an iPad
"Limit the Logs to the Bits above Binary Images."  No, Seriously

using icloud name for messages. i click on enable account

i put in my password...

it spins for a minute

i click ok and it takes me back to this

i have turned icloud off and back on again. i cannot delete the icloud/message account (it's grayed out) and i cannot add an icloud/message account (i don't have the option, only jabber, aim and yahoo).

have also deleted all plists related to ichat and messages with no change in behavior.

HI,

Why is the password not already in the details ?

Click the Sign Out button

Re-enter the Apple ID and it's Password.

7:50 PM Sunday; February 3, 2013

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

 iMac 2.5Ghz 5i 2011 (Mountain Lion 10.8.2)
 G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
 MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
 Mac OS X (10.6.8),
 Couple of iPhones and an iPad
"Limit the Logs to the Bits above Binary Images."  No, Seriously

i'm not sure what you mean by that, but if i'm to take a guess, you're asking why the passowrd is not already input. that's the problem. it won't authenticate at the server, so it won't keep the password.

Hi,

I would try adding a Public DNS server to your System Preferences > Network settings.

(Click the Advanced Button then the DNS tab)

Google run 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4

These seem to help "find" the iMessages servers that some ISP DNS servers seem to have problems with.

8:21 PM Sunday; February 3, 2013

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

 iMac 2.5Ghz 5i 2011 (Mountain Lion 10.8.2)
 G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
 MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
 Mac OS X (10.6.8),
 Couple of iPhones and an iPad
"Limit the Logs to the Bits above Binary Images."  No, Seriously

ok, tried that. did not work. getting same cannot connect to server error.

and just to check that my password is correct, i tried logging in to icloud, which was successful. so the password is indeed correct.

just looking at a different thread about this, my system serial number is not in the system. had my MLB repalced and did not put the serial number back in. could this be the issue?

OK,

Use the Sign Out option.

Quit Messages.

In the Finder hold the ALT key down and go to the Go Menu

Chose the Library item that now shows.

In here open the Preferences and find com.apple.imessages.bag.plist and com.apple.imservice.iMessage.plist and drag both to the Trash.

Restart Messages.

The iMessages account should have disappeared and will need re-entering from scratch.

EDIT

Yes the missing Serial Number will be the issue

It will have to be replaced at either an APple Store or Apple Authorised Service Provider.

8:37 PM Sunday; February 3, 2013

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

 iMac 2.5Ghz 5i 2011 (Mountain Lion 10.8.2)
 G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
 MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
 Mac OS X (10.6.8),
 Couple of iPhones and an iPad
"Limit the Logs to the Bits above Binary Images."  No, Seriously

Message was edited by: Ralph Johns (UK)

i've done that already, but i'll try it again.

ok, board has been reserialized and now everything is working. thank you SO much for your guidance!

Good to hear.

9:14 PM Sunday; February 3, 2013

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

 iMac 2.5Ghz 5i 2011 (Mountain Lion 10.8.2)
 G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
 MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
 Mac OS X (10.6.8),
 Couple of iPhones and an iPad
"Limit the Logs to the Bits above Binary Images."  No, Seriously

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