Cannot sign into Messages on Mountain Lion OSX

Hi,

I have an email notification from the Communities from Pandry but coming here I cannot see it

At present iPhone iOS updates have been free.

OS X Upgrades (OS X 10.1 to OS X 10.2 for example) have Cost.

Updates (OS X 10.8.1 to OS X 10.8.2) have been free. (Even if you wait several Updates and jump using a COMBO update (say 10.8.1 to 10.8.5 (if we ever get that far) ) these are free as well.

I am not entirely sure based on the dates you say whether Mountain Lion had been released.

Most searches though do say July 25th.

Depending where you bought it you may have had a store that had older Stock with Lion still on it.

It would then be down to you to find out what they might be doing to Upgrade it prior to Sale.

10:24 PM Saturday; September 22, 2012

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 and iPad
"Limit the Logs to the Bits above Binary Images."  No, Seriously

Hi Ralph,

I have just installed OS X Mountain Lion and have installed the update as well so running on Version 10.8.2 on my iMac. I have tried everything in your summary:

Make sure you are using only one method to Connect (such a Wifi or Ethernet but not Both)

Try killing IMagent in Activity Monitor (with Message open and when it is closed)

The Restart Messages afterwards.

Try a PRAM reset (Softer option that others)

Try Safe Boot.

Delete com.apple.imagent.plist whilst Messages is shut down.

Then restart Messages.

Delete com.apple.imservice.imessage.plist

Restart Messages.

I haven't suggested it before but a good old "Repair Permissions" might do it.

I am still getting the message "The server encountered an eror processing registration. Please try again later."

Anything further that you can add as it has been a couple of months since the last thread. Can't see why this still is an issue???

Any help would be greatly appreciated

Mike

Hi,

This remains an issue as it seems there may be several reasons that Messages gives this Message when "registering" for iMessages.

Some do seem to be related to what IMAgent is supposed to do.

Some seem to be to do with the actual name (Hence deleting com.apple.imserver.iMessages.plist)

Some seem to have difficulty in their computer finding the Apple server that is involved

Try Adding some Public DNS servers (Google run 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4) to the Network Settings (System Preferences)

If that does not work also try deleting com.apple.imessage.bag.plist

This one holds the server name it is using and some AT&T timing info.

10:07 PM Wednesday; October 10, 2012

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

Had already added 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4 to the DNS servers list for a previous problem I have had with slow internet speeds, which is now resolved. Have just tried deleting com.appl.imessage.bag.plist I restarted and then tried setting up iMessages again and yet it still comes up with the "server encountered an error ... " message. Really don't understand why this is happening and why apple haven't done anything about it???

I'm all out of ideas on this one 😟

Mike

Just so you know Mike, you're not the only one. I too have exhausted everything to the point of quitting and just using my iPhone to iMessage. I really wish there was a fix out there for us.

Yea it *****, I know lots of others having the same problem just by googling it, which is why I don't understand why Apple haven't got the message yet! so frustrating, especially as it was one of the main reasons I bought Mountain Lion.

Will go in to my local store and see if there is anything they can think of.

Will update this thread if I ever get a fix

Mike

HI,

Try this.

Delete the Apple ID on the iPhone.

You will get a warning it will be deleted from all devices.

ON the Mac in Messages Menu > Preferences > Accounts > iMessages use the Sign Out Button (Account Details Button then Sign Out if version 7.0)

Now shut down the App on the Mac.

Add the Apple ID back to the iPhone.

Shut the iPhone Down completely.

Reboot the iPhone.

Restart Messages on the Mac.

If you have not been alerted on the Mac to the fact of linking the iPhone Number and Apple ID to Messages then Add the Apple ID again.

7:20 PM Thursday; October 11, 2012

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

Hi Mike,

I was reading this post of yours regarding the DNS Servers. I too have been noticing slower internet speeds on my iMac recently. I'm relatively new to the Mac world. Is this something easy that I can do with my machine to help boost the speeds?

please, help. can't make messages work. the register problem. i've done everything you said, ralph. please. feeling tired.

Hi,

This does seem to be an odd one.

When the Messages Beta came out ot seemed that some people's Macs could not find the iMessages server and hence the suggestion to add Public DNS servers to the Network Settings.

Then it seemed that the support app - IMAgent - was the issues and needed to be Quit in the Activity Monitor.

It starts up in the background when the Mac starts up and does not have an icon on the DOCK. Using the Activity Monitor is the only way to Stop it running outside of shutting the Mac down.

We have also tried deleting the various .plists involved with IMAgent, the com.apple.imservice.iMessages and the imessage.bag one.

This has worked for some (On restarting Messages) for some but not for others.

More recently we have tried removing the Apple ID for the iOS devices and the Mac App in an effort to "Start Again".

By now people will have normally posted back enough times for a judgement to be made as to what seems to be working the best.

Some claim to have tried deleting the Apple ID from the Messages app on the Mac then the iPhone plus all the .plists with ichat, imagent and iMessages in them, then stopping the IAMgent from running in the Activity Monitor on the Mac and then starting the app again.

I would remove the Apple ID from the Messages app on the Mac.
Shut down the App

I would enter ~/Library/Preferences in the Finder > Go Menu > Go to Folder in the dialgue box box that appears.

Remove the following

Anything with com.apple.ichat. .plist in the name

The com.apple.imagent.plist

The com.appple.imservice.imessage.plist

The com.apple.imessage.bag.plist

Then I would open the Activity Monitor and Quit IMAgent.

I would follow this be removing the Apple ID from all iOS devices followed by turning the devices Off (or putting in to Airplane mode for at least 5 minutes).

I would then try adding the Apple ID to an iPhone first..

If that seems to get Accepted I would start up the Messages app on the Mac and add the Apple ID there.

8:10 PM Wednesday; October 17, 2012

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 want to follow these steps you`ve said, but i can't remove the Apple ID from the Messages app on the Mac. The option doesn't appear. If i sign in the gmail account, i can remove it afterwards - but this is not possible with iMessage. Here goes the printscreen:

The minus button doesn't work, just can't remove it.

Thanks for being there, ralph. Let's figure it out!

Hi

I have seen some pics where the Apple ID appears to be entered but just does not connect.

In Messages ver 7.0.1 you get this Sign Out Button (in version 7 you need Account Details first.)

As you have not got that far in the "registration" you do not have to worry about removing the ID.

One other thing.

The Mac's own Date and Time plus Time Zone have to be correct.

It also pays to check your router.

7:32 PM Thursday; October 18, 2012

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

still not working. i cound't find the sign out button you've shown. the date and hour is fine.

before i update to Mountain Lion, i've downloaded de Lion version of Message. somehow this messed all up? it used to work before.

thanks!

I too am having this issue. This is on a new MacPro that came with Lion Installed and I upgraded to ML

I did a Data Migration from an old HD.

What I have attempted so far.

Logged int Messages from a differenc comp -Success on that other computer only

Modified DNS -Fail

Different User account -Fail

New User account* -Fail

Deleted all ~Library/Prefs prefs and rebooted -Fail (User Prefs)

Deleted all Library/Prefs and rebooted -Fail (System Prefs)

Deleted Both above and rebooted** -Fail

Different Apple ID (New One) -Fail

* When creating the account, I logged into the messages services using the account I want, and it recognized my other accounts and my contacts on icloud, but Messages still does not sign in.

** Created account without signing into messages services and attempted to add account into messages. Still Failed

From what I can acertain, this isn't a user account issue, but must reside at the System/Library Level or the Library Level (not prefs)

Chris Lund

Hi,

If you are using Mountain Lion but have not updated to OS X 10.8.2 that the Messages version has an Accounts Details Button that you need to use to access the Sign Out button.

If the ID you are trying to use has not been accepted at all by the servers then there is not Account in the list on the left in the first place to access any sort of Button (in the right)

Your picture from the 18th looks like it is somewhere between these two states.

It looks like the ID was accepted but has been Removed - expecting it to be re-added or a new ID used.

Have you been to the Preferences Folder (~/Library/Preferences) and deleted the .plists I spoke about ?

7:23 PM Thursday; October 25, 2012

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