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Mountain Lion desktop wallpaper won't change!

Hi guys,


Hope somone can help with this, it's been bugging me ever since I upgraded to Mountain Lion!


Whenever I change the desktop wallpaper with any of the ones provided on my Mac and reboot my laptop it reverts back to the original wallpaper that was set back during Lion (OS X 10.7) before the upgrade. I'm currently running the latest update (10.8.1) on my MacBook Pro Retina and still having the same problem!


Any help would be appreciated! Thanks.

MacBook Pro with Retina display, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.1)

Posted on Sep 6, 2012 6:09 AM

Reply
62 replies

Sep 6, 2012 7:26 AM in response to S_Marafie

Quit System Preferences if it's running. In the Finder, hold down the option key and select Go Library from the menu bar. From the Library folder, delete the following item, if it exists:


Caches/com.apple.systempreferences


and move the following item to the Desktop:

Preferences/com.apple.desktop.plist

Launch System Preferences and test. If you still have the issue, put the item on the Desktop back where it came from and post again. Otherwise, delete the item.

Sep 6, 2012 9:34 AM in response to Linc Davis

After deleting (Caches/com.apple.systempreferences), the desktop wallpaper changes to the default Mountail Lion one (Galaxy picture) and keeps reverting to it after rebooting. Both moving and deleting (Preferences/com.apple.desktop.plist) brought the old wallpaper that I was stuck with back again and doesn't change!


Not sure whats going on exactly!

Sep 6, 2012 10:13 AM in response to S_Marafie

Please read this whole message before doing anything.


This procedure is a test, not a solution. Don’t be disappointed when you find that nothing has changed after you complete it.


Step 1


The purpose of this step is to determine whether the problem is localized to your user account.


Enable guest logins* and log in as Guest. For instructions, launch the System Preferences application, select Help from the menu bar, and enter “Set up guest users” (without the quotes) in the search box. Don't use the Safari-only “Guest User” login created by “Find My Mac.”


While logged in as Guest, you won’t have access to any of your personal files or settings. Applications will behave as if you were running them for the first time. Don’t be alarmed by this; it’s normal. If you need any passwords or other personal data in order to complete the test, memorize, print, or write them down before you begin.


Test while logged in as Guest. Same problem(s)?


After testing, log out of the guest account and, in your own account, disable it if you wish. Any files you created in the guest account will be deleted automatically when you log out of it.


*Note: If you’ve activated “Find My Mac” or FileVault, then you can’t enable the Guest account. The “Guest User” login created by “Find My Mac” is not the same. Create a new account in which to test, and delete it, including its home folder, after testing.


Step 2


The purpose of this step is to determine whether the problem is caused by third-party system modifications that load automatically at startup or login.


Disconnect all wired peripherals except those needed for the test, and remove all aftermarket expansion cards. Boot in safe mode* and log in to the account with the problem. The instructions provided by Apple are as follows:


  1. Be sure your Mac is shut down.
  2. Press the power button.
  3. Immediately after you hear the startup tone, hold the Shift key. The Shift key should be held as soon as possible after the startup tone, but not before the tone.
  4. Release the Shift key when you see the gray Apple icon and the progress indicator (looks like a spinning gear).


Safe mode is much slower to boot and run than normal, and some things won’t work at all, including wireless networking on certain Macs.


The login screen appears even if you usually log in automatically. You must know your login password in order to log in. If you’ve forgotten the password, you will need to reset it before you begin.


*Note: If FileVault is enabled, or if a firmware password is set, you can’t boot in safe mode.


Test while in safe mode. Same problem(s)?


After testing, reboot as usual (i.e., not in safe mode) and verify that you still have the problem. Post the results of steps 1 and 2.

Sep 6, 2012 2:51 PM in response to Linc Davis

Okay so I tried both steps as you mentioned. After performing Step 1, nothing happened and the problem persisted.


When I logged into Safe Mode (Step 2) and rebooted my Mac normally, the desktop wallpaper that I changed during Safe Mode appeared and not the old one that I was stuck with. This looked promising! But unfortunately when I change the wallpaper again and perform a normal reboot, the wallpaper from Safe Mode re-appears again (i.e. the same situation I had in the first place but now with a different wallpaper)!


Is there any way around this you think?

Sep 6, 2012 4:30 PM in response to S_Marafie

Please read this whole message before doing anything.


This procedure is a diagnostic test. It won’t solve your problem. Don’t be disappointed when you find that nothing has changed after you complete it.


Third-party system modifications are a common cause of usability problems. By a “system modification,” I mean software that affects the operation of other software — potentially for the worse. The following procedure will help identify which such modifications you've installed. Don’t be alarmed by the complexity of these instructions — they’re easy to carry out and won’t change anything on your Mac.


These steps are to be taken while booted in “normal” mode, not in safe mode. If you’re now running in safe mode, reboot as usual before continuing.


Below are instructions to enter some UNIX shell commands. The commands are harmless, but they must be entered exactly as given in order to work. If you have doubts about the safety of the procedure suggested here, search this site for other discussions in which it’s been followed without any report of ill effects.


Some of the commands will line-wrap or scroll in your browser, but each one is really just a single line, all of which must be selected. You can accomplish this easily by triple-clicking anywhere in the line. The whole line will highlight, and you can then either copy or drag it. The headings “Step 1” and so on are not part of the commands.


Note: If you have more than one user account, Step 2 must be taken as an administrator. Ordinarily that would be the user created automatically when you booted the system for the first time. The other steps should be taken as the user who has the problem, if different. Most personal Macs have only one user, and in that case this paragraph doesn’t apply.


Launch the Terminal application in any of the following ways:


☞ Enter the first few letters of its name into a Spotlight search. Select it in the results (it should be at the top.)


☞ In the Finder, select Go ▹ Utilities from the menu bar, or press the key combination shift-command-U. The application is in the folder that opens.


☞ Open LaunchPad. Click Utilities, then Terminal in the page that opens.


When you launch Terminal, a text window will open with a line already in it, ending either in a dollar sign (“$”) or a percent sign (“%”). If you get the percent sign, enter “sh” and press return. You should then get a new line ending in a dollar sign.


Step 1


Copy or drag — do not type — the line below into the Terminal window, then press return:


kextstat -kl | awk '!/com\.apple/{printf "%s %s\n", $6, $7}'


Post the lines of output (if any) that appear below what you just entered (the text, please, not a screenshot.) You can omit the final line ending in “$”.


Step 2


Repeat with this line:


sudo launchctl list | sed 1d | awk '!/0x|com\.(apple|openssh|vix)|edu\.mit|org\.(amavis|apache|cups|isc|ntp|postfix|x)/{print $3}'


This time, you'll be prompted for your login password, which won't be displayed when you type it. You may get a one-time warning not to screw up. You don't need to post the warning.


Note: If you don’t have a login password, you’ll need to set one before taking this step. If that’s not possible, skip to the next step.


Step 3


launchctl list | sed 1d | awk '!/0x|com\.apple|edu\.mit|org\.(x|openbsd)/{print $3}'


Step 4


ls -1A /e*/mach* {,/}L*/{Ad,Compon,Ex,Fram,In,Keyb,La,Mail/Bu,P*P,Priv,Qu,Scripti,Servi,Spo,Sta}* L*/Fonts 2> /dev/null


Important: If you formerly synchronized with a MobileMe account, your me.com email address may appear in the output of the above command. If so, anonymize it before posting.


Step 5


osascript -e 'tell application "System Events" to get name of every login item' 2> /dev/null


Remember, steps 1-5 are all drag-and-drop or copy-and-paste, whichever you prefer — no typing, except your password. Also remember to post the output.


You can then quit Terminal.

Sep 7, 2012 5:03 AM in response to Linc Davis

Here are the outpouts for each step:


Step 1:


com.logmein.driver.LogMeInSoundDriver (1.0.0)


Step 2:


com.timesoftware.timemachineeditor.backupd-auto

com.mcafee.virusscan.fmp

com.mcafee.virusscan.ssm.ScanManager

com.mcafee.ssm.Eupdate

com.logmein.raupdate

com.logmein.logmeinserver

com.google.keystone.daemon

com.adobe.fpsaud


Step 3:


org.thebends.iphonedisk.mobile_fs_util

com.mcafee.reporter

com.mcafee.menulet

com.logmein.logmeinguiagent

com.logmein.logmeingui

com.google.keystone.system.agent

ws.agile.1PasswordAgent

com.facebook.videochat.Sulaiman.updater

com.divx.agent.postinstall


Step 4:


/Library/Components:


/Library/Extensions:


/Library/Frameworks:

AEProfiling.framework

AERegistration.framework

AVEngine.framework

Adobe AIR.framework

AudioMixEngine.framework

DivX Toolkit.framework

FxPlug.framework

HPDeviceModel.framework

HPPml.framework

HPServicesInterface.framework

HPSmartPrint.framework

HPSmartX.framework

MacScanner.framework

NyxAudioAnalysis.framework

PluginManager.framework

ProFX.framework

ScanBooster.framework

TSLicense.framework

VirusScanPreferences.framework

iTunesLibrary.framework


/Library/Input Methods:


/Library/Internet Plug-Ins:

AdobePDFViewer.plugin

DirectorShockwave.plugin

Disabled Plug-Ins

DivXBrowserPlugin.plugin

Flash Player.plugin

Flip4Mac WMV Plugin.plugin

GarminGpsControl.plugin

Google Earth Web Plug-in.plugin

JavaAppletPlugin.plugin

LogMeIn.plugin

LogMeInSafari32.plugin

LogMeInSafari64.plugin

OVSHelper.plugin

OfficeLiveBrowserPlugin.plugin

Quartz Composer.webplugin

QuickTime Plugin.plugin

Silverlight.plugin

TVUPlugin.webplugin

flashplayer.xpt

googletalkbrowserplugin.plugin

iPhotoPhotocast.plugin

iPrint.plugin

npgtpo3dautoplugin.plugin

nsIQTScriptablePlugin.xpt


/Library/Keyboard Layouts:


/Library/LaunchAgents:

com.google.keystone.agent.plist

com.logmein.logmeingui.plist

com.logmein.logmeinguiagent.plist

com.logmein.logmeinguiagentatlogin.plist

com.mcafee.menulet.plist

com.mcafee.reporter.plist

org.thebends.iphonedisk.mobile_fs_util.plist


/Library/LaunchDaemons:

com.adobe.fpsaud.plist

com.google.keystone.daemon.plist

com.logmein.logmeinserver.plist

com.logmein.raupdate.plist

com.mcafee.ssm.Eupdate.plist

com.mcafee.ssm.ScanManager.plist

com.mcafee.virusscan.fmpd.plist

com.timesoftware.timemachineeditor.backupd-auto.plist


/Library/PhonePlugins:

<- Copy to ~:Library:PhonePlugins

Feisar-K770.phoneplugin


/Library/PreferencePanes:

DivX.prefPane

Flash Player.prefPane

Flip4Mac WMV.prefPane

HP Scanners.prefPane

MacFUSE.prefPane


/Library/PrivilegedHelperTools:


/Library/QuickLook:

GBQLGenerator.qlgenerator

iBooksAuthor.qlgenerator

iWork.qlgenerator


/Library/QuickTime:

AppleIntermediateCodec.component

AppleMPEG2Codec.component

DivX Decoder.component

DivX Encoder.component

Flip4Mac WMV Advanced.component

Flip4Mac WMV Export.component

Flip4Mac WMV Import.component


/Library/ScriptingAdditions:

Adobe Unit Types.osax


/Library/Spotlight:

GBSpotlightImporter.mdimporter

Microsoft Office.mdimporter

iBooksAuthor.mdimporter

iWork.mdimporter


/Library/StartupItems:

Aladdin

HP IO

HP Trap Monitor

HWNetMgr

cma


/etc/mach_init.d:


/etc/mach_init_per_login_session.d:


/etc/mach_init_per_user.d:


Library/Address Book Plug-Ins:

SkypeABDialer.bundle

SkypeABSMS.bundle

YMsgrCallABPlugin.bundle

YMsgrMsnABPlugin.bundle

YMsgrSmsABPlugin.bundle

YMsgrYimABPlugin.bundle


Library/Fonts:


Library/Input Methods:

.localized


Library/InputManagers:

Smart Crash Reports


Library/Internet Accounts:

V1


Library/Internet Plug-Ins:

FacebookVideoCalling.bundle


Library/Keyboard Layouts:


Library/LaunchAgents:

com.apple.AddressBook.ScheduledSync.ABExchangeSource.67885491-CF2E-4726-ABF0-7F6 D698DA360.plist

com.apple.AddressBook.ScheduledSync.PHXCardDAVSource.C575A6AF-BB78-4B6F-8953-9D6 A2947010D.plist

com.apple.FolderActions.enabled.plist

com.apple.FolderActions.folders.plist

com.apple.SafariBookmarksSyncer.plist

com.divx.agent.postinstall.plist

com.facebook.videochat.Sulaiman.plist

ws.agile.1PasswordAgent.plist


Library/PreferencePanes:

Perian.prefPane


Library/QuickTime:

AC3MovieImport.component

Perian.component


Library/ScriptingAdditions:

1Password Addition.osax


LimeWire/Incomplete:


Step 5:


Backup Engine, iprint-listener, iprint-listener-gui, HP Scanjet Manager, HP Scheduler



Not sure what all those are as long as they help fixing this annoying issue!

Sep 7, 2012 5:28 AM in response to S_Marafie

Please read this whole message carefully, especially the warnings, before doing anything.

1. The changes to your configuration suggested here should be considered provisional; they may not solve your problem, or they may remove functionality that you find useful. If a third-party system modification that you want to keep is causing the problem, seek help from its developer.

2. WARNING: Back up all data now if you haven’t already done so. Before proceeding, you must be sure you can restore your system to its present state, even if it becomes unbootable. If you’re not sure you can do that, STOP — DON’T CHANGE ANYTHING. If you’re dissatisfied with the results of the procedure suggested below, restore from your backup. I will not be responsible for the consequences, and I will not be able to help, if you ignore this warning.

3. You should either remove or update the following system modification(s), if an update is available from the developer:

N/A

and definitely remove at least the following:

† VirusScan

4. Whatever you remove must be removed completely, and (unless otherwise specified in this message) the only way to do that is to use the uninstallation tool, if any, provided by the third-party developers, or to follow their instructions. In some cases it may be necessary to re-download or even reinstall the software in order to get rid of it. I can't be more specific, because I don't install such things myself. Please do your own research.

Here are some general guidelines to get you started. Suppose you want to remove something called “BrickYourMac.” First, consult the product's Help menu, if there is one, for instructions. Finding none there, look on the developer's website, say www.brickyourmac.com. (That may not be the actual name of the site; if necessary, search the web for the product name.) If you don’t find anything on the website or in your search, email the developer. While you're waiting for a response, download BrickYourMac.dmg and open it. There may be an application in there such as “Uninstall BrickYourMac.” If not, open “BrickYourMac.pkg” and look for an Uninstall button.

Again, please don't ask me to do this research for you. You can do it better than I can, because I haven't installed the product and I may not even know what it is.

If you can’t remove software in any other way, you’ll have to erase your boot volume and perform a clean reinstallation of OS X. Never install any third-party software unless you're sure you know how to uninstall it; otherwise you may create problems that are very hard to solve.

WARNING: Trying to remove complex system modifications by hunting for files by name often will not work and may make the problem worse. The same goes for "utilities" that purport to remove software.

5. I recommend that you never reinstall the modifications marked with a dagger (†) above, if any. If your problem is resolved after uninstalling all the above modifications and rebooting, but you still want to use some of those not marked with a dagger, you can experiment with putting them back, one at a time, testing carefully after each step. Keep in mind that system modifications may be incompatible with each other or with future OS X updates, so it may not be clear which one is at fault.

6. If you still have problems after making the suggested changes and rebooting, post again. Remember: if you don’t like the results of this procedure, you can undo it by restoring from the last backup you made before you started.

Sep 11, 2012 2:25 AM in response to S_Marafie

I found out that I have the same issue. Deleting Caches/com.apple.systempreferences and Preferences/com.apple.desktop.plist did not helped. Finally I found out that is somehow related to login screen. If I enable login screen I can change the wallpaper picture without reverting to an old one after reboot. Unfortunately keeping the login screen is leading to another issue that seems to be still unsolved by Apple which is the "black screen after login" issue.

Mountain Lion desktop wallpaper won't change!

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