Error message when trying to open Messages.

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Error message when trying to open Messages.

Just upgraded to Mountain Lion (10.8) yesterday. Messages won't open. Reports "An Internal Messages error occurred. There was a problem with Messages. You need to quit and open Messages again."

Console shows: 7/29/12 8:53:41.594 PM Messages[834]: [Warning] Bad response from daemon for setup info

Anyone have any thoughts on what might be causing this?

I did have iChat in a subdirectory within applications, but the install blew it away. Some arcane .plist somewhere?

Oh, also I had system prefs in "Utilities" directory and it did not get blown away by the new install. Instead, it remained behind and I had to remove it as root user, leaving the correct system prefs in "Applications."

MacBook Pro 2008; 6 gb ram; hybrid SSD/SATA drive; OS X 10.8. Can't think of anything else to include that might be relevant. Ask if I forgot something, and I'll post it.

Any assistance that you may provide in resolving this little glitch would be sincerely appreciated. 🙂

James Reid

Sierra Foothills

Northern California

MacBook Pro, OS X Mountain Lion, Have a copy of Server 10.7.1 on the

Posted on Jul 29, 2012 9:07 PM

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Answer 1

Jul 31, 2012 6:55 AM in response to codefish46

The same issue here. I followed an advice from a forum on the internet to create a new user, but the problem continued when logged in as a new user: "You need to quit and open Messages again". When doing so and reopening Messages, the same thing happens again. And again.

MacBook Pro 2010, 8 GB ram, Mountain Lion.

John Arne Eidsmo

Kanalveien 33

3678 Notodden

Norway

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Answer 2

Jul 31, 2012 2:01 PM in response to codefish46

Hi,

My first though is What ???

Preferences.

This shoould be a folder in your Home Folder/Library/(and then Preferences)

However in Lion and Mountain Lion this Library is hidden.

There is another Preferences In Hard Drive name/Library (i.e. at the top level of the Hard Drive)

This one hold system wide settings in the form of .plist mainly.

I see I should be concentrating on System Preferences as an App.

System Preferences (The App that is normally in the DOCK as well) has always been in Applications and not Applications/Utilities.

iChat was the application up to Lion when it had gotten to version 6

Messages beta was listed as being at version 6.1 and replaced iChat if you installed it.

Messages in Mountain Lion replaces iChat if you have not already done so and is credited with being Version 7

Essentially it uses the same iChat Engine and is a sort of iChat+

Many items need to be in the "Correct" places when you Upgrade or even when you Update or the new packages cannot find the correct itme to Update or Upgrade.

Why were System Preferences moved in the previous OS ?

What are you doing to open Messages and what is it asking you first ?

It would normally ask for an Apple ID (later it checks the Disk for iChat accounts mainly from System Preferences > Mail, Contacts and Calendars)

If you have not done so already restart the Mac so it is calling on the "right" System Preferences info.

10:01 PM Tuesday; July 31, 2012

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

 iMac 2.5Ghz 5i 2011 (Lion 10.7.2)
 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

codefish46 Author

Level 1

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Aug 3, 2012 2:07 PM in response to Ralph-Johns-UK

Why were System Preferences moved in the previous OS ?.

Housekeeping-- just keeping related apps together, so, in short, personal choice. Caused no problems whatever in Lion, but when installing Mountain Lion, the installer didn't remove the oddly located System Prefs app. Removed it and reinstalled MtLion, fsck -fy'd a couple of times and zapped the PRAM a couple of times also. No change.

------------------------------

What are you doing to open Messages and what is it asking you first ?

I use Launch Bar or double click on the Messages app. Either way, same result-- error message.

------------------------------

It would normally ask for an Apple ID (later it checks the Disk for iChat accounts mainly from System Preferences > Mail, Contacts and Calendars)

Never gets this far. Message appears immediately.

------------------------------

If you have not done so already restart the Mac so it is calling on the "right" System Preferences info.

Have done so to no avail.

Thanks for your suggestions.

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Answer 4

Aug 3, 2012 2:35 PM in response to codefish46

HI,

You can in fact move all the Apps out of the Application Folder and put them somewhere else and they will work

In some cases if the app is moved too far certain routines it needs to run may not be called for.

This can be because of the way the call fro the routine is organised.

Lets say the old iChat gets moved and you want to do a Video Chat

This means starting the Video routine.

This is actually a separate item in Hard Drive/Library/PrivateFrameworks/VideoConference.framework

That is to say two folders up from iChat one across and three down.

If the call is written this way but the app is moved it can't find the folder called Library that is (it thinks) two folders up and one across (from Applications)

On apps that calls routines and functions by name may take a little longer to find them but is likely to be more stable about moves around your hard dive.

As I said before though, many will not update when you Update the OS and may get missed on Upgrades.

Launch Pad is an AID to launching and like the DOCK is linked to the App and as long as the App is Application it will work (Even if you create folders in Launch Pad)

If It is not launching even from the Applications Folder itself (And it is NOT in an extra Folder here) then try this:-

Open Activity Monitor in Application/Utilities

Find the item IMAgent

Highlight it and use the Quit Button top left

Confirm Force Quit

(It will relaunch right away)

Restart Messages.

If this does not work you will have to use this method to access the right Library.

Make th Finder the "Front" app (The one whose name appears in the Menu Bar)

Open th Go Menu

Hold down th ALT key so that the Library option shows up

Select the Library

Open Preferences Inside the Library

Find com.apple.imagent.plist and com.apple.ichat.plist and drag both to the Trash.

Restart Messages.

10:35 PM Friday; August 3, 2012

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

 iMac 2.5Ghz 5i 2011 (Lion 10.7.2)
 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 5

Aug 5, 2012 11:33 AM in response to Ralph-Johns-UK

Hi,

I've just had that exact same problem and Ralph's suggestion fixed it for me 🙂

Thank you very much for your advice!

Dan

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Answer 6

Aug 5, 2012 12:42 PM in response to danielsmith89

Thanks for Lettings us know.

8:42 PM Sunday; August 5, 2012

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

 iMac 2.5Ghz 5i 2011 (Lion 10.7.2)
 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

Answer 7

codefish46 Author

Level 1

0 points

Aug 25, 2012 6:51 AM in response to Ralph-Johns-UK

Helpful tip, holding down option button and selecting go under finder to reveal library directory.

That said, and your input well appreciated, Messages will still not launch after blowing away the .plist files you suggested. I did reboot after doing this, just to be sure that some process might need to reload, but...

Also (force) quit IMAgent using Activity Monitor. When quitting this process, it immediately restarts. Tried this several times just to observe.

Last week I installed an SSD where the main drive was, shifting the main drive to a carrier in the optical bay. After installing Mt. Lion onto the new drive, and before migrating my main two users from the original drive to the new drive, Messages did start up correctly. Once I migrated over the users, no go.

As a matter of fact, when I log into the new user created by Mt. Lion when I installed on the new drive, Messages DOES open, so we see that the problem is at the user level.

The next question is: what is preventing Messages from opening? Hmmm. Not .plist corruption, apparently, so I wonder what it is. Somewhere there is an evil gremlin.

What "internal" error could the alert be referring to?

On a lark, I ejected the original drive to see if Messages might be addressing a duplicate file there by mistake. No positive result.

Any further thoughts you might have would be welcome, as I'm not coming up with any illuminating inspirations here.

Thanks.

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Answer 8

codefish46 Author

Level 1

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Aug 25, 2012 6:56 AM in response to codefish46

(The <b/> tags were an attempt to create some additional space after the image. I must have edited too many times, as I can no longer correct the post. So please ignore the <b/> tags. Thanks.)

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Answer 9

Aug 25, 2012 12:01 PM in response to codefish46

HI,

If it does not work in an "Old" account even if it has been Migrated to the new drive or is being run from the moved drive BUT does work in a New Account then the issue is one of the .plist

Quit Messages if Open

Using Finder > Go Menu > Hold down ALT Key > Select Library > Open Preferences

Find these .plists and move them to the Trash

com.apple.ichat.plist

com.apple.ichat.AIM.plist

com.apple.ichat.Jabber.plist

com.apple.ichat.Yahoo.plist

com.apple.ichat.Subnet.plist

com.apple.imagent.plist

com.apple.imessage.bag.plist and

com.apple.imservice.iMessage.plist

Leave the....

com.apple.iChat.StatusMessages.plist (this holds the Saved Status Messages you have created and Saved)

com.apple.iChat.LSSharedFileList.plist (this holds the details for the Recents Lists in the File Menu)

Before opening Messages check the Address Book/Contacts at the My Card (Head and Shoulders icon) and make sure this is your details.

This has caused problems when there is no Card listed as the My Card or in some cases where it is the "wrong" card.

Restart Messages.

8:01 PM Saturday; August 25, 2012

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

 iMac 2.5Ghz 5i 2011 (Lion 10.7.2)
 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

Answer 10

codefish46 Author

Level 1

0 points

Aug 25, 2012 1:15 PM in response to Ralph-Johns-UK

I followed your suggested .plist removals. Only one was extant-- the first, ichat.plist.

I'm removing these at the user level. Hmm. OK. Just removed them at the root level also.

Unfortunately, no dice yet.

I did confirm that it seems all other users that were migrated from the original HDD can successfully start Messages. So the problem is, as you astutely observed, at the user level.

Wonder what else besides .plist files could be interfering with Messages loading? Some other file that's needed?

Tough nut to crack. I appreciate the benefit of your thinking on this and remain open to suggestions. Is there any information that I could supply that might help in isolating the cause of the problem? Log files or whatnot? Happy to post whatever might help.

Thank you very much for your investment of energy in replying. I sincerely appreciate it.

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Answer 11

Aug 25, 2012 2:03 PM in response to codefish46

Hi,

Later version of the OS also seem to create some .plists in a folder within Preferences called By Host

These tend to have hexidecimal type numbers added to the name

Try moving these as well.

IF you are really sure the com.apple.ichat.plist one is not there you need to check if you have Permissions to Write to the Preferences folder.

Open the Preferences folder

Go to the Finder > View Menu > Show Path Bar

This will put the route across the bottom of the Finder window

Double Click the Library item

Now highlight the Preference FOlder

Do a Get Info (See Finder > File Menu) CMD + i together

Scroll to the Bottom of the new panel that opens.

Use Padlock if required and the cogwheel type icon to see the Owner (It should say your Shortname but be greyed out if you Own it)

Above that in the list you should also be listed with Read and Write permissions

10:03 PM Saturday; August 25, 2012

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

 iMac 2.5Ghz 5i 2011 (Lion 10.7.2)
 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

Answer 12

codefish46 Author

Level 1

0 points

Aug 26, 2012 4:20 PM in response to Ralph-Johns-UK

@Ralph Thanks. Here's how I proceeded with your suggestions.

Try moving these as well.

Indeed, there were some files as you described in the "By Host" directory. I removed those, trashing them, and, for good measure re-examined the parent directory (Library), removing any (newly created for the most part) files matching the .plist list provided in your post.

IF you are really sure the com.apple.ichat.plist one is not there you need to check if you have Permissions to Write to the Preferences folder.

Hmm. Perhaps I could've been clearer in my post: the com.apple.ichat.plist was the only one of those files you specified that actually was in the prefs directory. Nonetheless I carried out your instructions to check for ownership and determined that, indeed, the ownership of the Preferences directory was corrrectly ascribed to the user from which I checked this-- my main user account (same that is having difficulty with starting Messages, to be perfectly clear).

The plot, though 'twas not thick enough, yet thickens more:

By chance I opened FaceTime, which I don't often use on my laptop, and attempted to sign in. The app opened successfully, but when I filled in my user name and submitted, it failed to connect to Apple. I went to Preferences and tossed out all the FaceTime .plists. (including one in the By Host directory).

This didn't help. I tried filling in my AppleID user data to "open a new account." FaceTime immediately connected and told me that a user with that email already exists, would I like to use this information to log in. "Yes," I eagerly replied.

FaceTime switched back to the login screen with the AppleID and password pre-filled, but when I submitted the form, it again failed to log in, after some considerable time, it returned the error you see to the left.

Also relevant are the facts that I checked the Firewall setting (on) and created rules in Little Snitch to allow both FaceTime and Messages both incoming and outgoing connections.

And so, despite our commendable collective efforts, we've not yet prevailed. Since the purchase of Mountain Lion was recent, perhaps it is getting to be time to give Apple a call and see if, based on that purchase, they are willing to speak with me and try and troubleshoot the situation.

Thanks again for your perseverance and help. I remain open to suggestions, should any further thoughts occur to you.

Best regards,

codefish46

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Answer 13

Aug 27, 2012 11:35 AM in response to codefish46

HI,

Did you do this bit from the 3rd Aug ?

Open Activity Monitor in Application/Utilities

Find the item IMAgent

Highlight it and use the Quit Button top left

Confirm Force Quit

(It will relaunch right away)

Restart Messages.

7:35 PM Monday; August 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 10.7.2)
 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

Answer 14

codefish46 Author

Level 1

0 points

Aug 28, 2012 4:19 PM in response to Ralph-Johns-UK

Hi, Ralph. Thanks.

I vaguely recall doing that, but when I tried just now, it doesn't show up in Activity Monitor.

User uploaded file

When I start messages under another user, IMAgent appears, but lists that user as the "User."

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Answer 15

Aug 29, 2012 1:22 PM in response to codefish46

Umm,

IMAgent should respawn if you quit it via Activity Monitor.

It should also appear as soon as you start your Computer as both Messages and FaceTime use it to "Listen" for people calling you when you computer is On but the relevant app is not started.

It is possible to set FaceTime to Off in the FaceTime Preferences and Messages can be set to "When I Quit Set my Status to Off-line" which does the same thing so IMAgent may not start up.

If I check Activity Monitor, imagent (in lower case), is showing as the 200th PID to start up (Process ID).

It is listed as belonging to the User (Me).

9:22 PM Wednesday; August 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 10.7.2)
 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