Q: ML 10.8.2 Cannot login to Messages, Facetime, or Game Center

OK, "serial #" is exactly an evidence for a blank serial number.

Get your computer flashed with a valid serial number and it'll work.

Sorry, guess I should have been more clear - there is a valid serial number: W87440 etc.

I read it that way.

7:59 PM      Wednesday; December 19, 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

That kb/TS3970 article didn't do anything for me. I did check the email addresses associated with my Apple ID. One of the alternate addresses was primary on a different ID. I took that address out of the list and nothing changed.

I don't have a third-party firewall (on the Mac*, but of course the router in the house does NAT and hence includes some bit of firewall-like function. The kb article talks about allow connections *from* apple and verisign. Of course no connection *initiated* by outside hosts is going to reach through a NAT (without magic configuration in the router). I'm going to suppose the article was inaccurate in that respect.

HI,

What is the make of the router and is it set to do  UPnP ?

7:55 PM      Monday; December 24, 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

Ralph can you help me?

I did everything that was listed.

I commented my hole /etc/hosts, removed files from ~/Library/Preferences, removed certificates for imessage.

Before I these steps, I was getting the "unable to signin" error that everyone is getting. After all the steps, the error goes away, but the iMessage stucks in this screen (I removed my email from the screenshot):

I type the email, and click in finish, and it stay stuck.

Is there anyway to debug this to get the error message is going on under this?

HI,

So this is an Apple ID ?

The Screen does not move on, back to the Preferences Screen at the iMessages Account saying "Awaiting Verification" ?

Is there anything (notification message) in Console about this ?

If there is it will most likely be about the Authorisation Token not being generated.

IS the Mac Serial Number showing up where it should  (System Information > Hardware) ?

8:04 PM      Wednesday; December 26, 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

It's an appleID.

If I press 'back' it return to the iMessage Setup screen.

I've even created a new appleID to test, I get the same stuck error.

How do I access the console for notification messages?

Any way to force or reset this Authorisation Token?

The serial number would be this Hardware UUID? If yes, it has a giant code.

HI,

The Console App is in Applications/Utilities.

Another way to look at the Serial Number is to use the Apple Icon Menu > About this Mac and click the OS version number line twice.

You Need the Serial Number not the UUID

8:33 PM      Wednesday; December 26, 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

Ok, I get this from the console:

12/26/12 6:41:10.216 PM Messages[1473]: [Warning] Empty account query with service: iMessage

12/26/12 6:41:10.453 PM com.apple.SecurityServer[15]: Session 100015 created

- Here I click on finish, there is no new messages about this after that.

There is a serial number there, is there any way to reset it?

HI,

That Serial Number should match the one on the back or bottom of the computer (on a label sometimes in the battery compartment of a laptop.)

If they match then it does not needs resetting.

The most common reason for it being missing is the computer has been refurbished or repaired and the Logic board has been replaced.

The Serial Number is supposed to be "Flashed" back as part of this process.

Is your Mac Firewall On ?

Is it allowing Signed Apps ?

Are Messages and IMAgent part of the listed apps ?

8:50 PM      Wednesday; December 26, 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

In trying to be helpful let me post my information as well. This is the log file I get. The "cause" of iMessage not working is peculiar. Literally it crashed with an error around 9am this morning and hasn't worked since.  I keep getting the "The server encountered an error processing registration. Please try again later".

I have tried at both home and work.  I have tried adding the public dns server 8.8.8.8 to no avail. I have flushed the cache several times.  I have deleted all the keys with the name "message or messages" from the keychain access, I have deleted all ichat and imessage and com.apple.whatnot from the ~/Library/Preferenes file.  I tried creating a test account and signing in.  I have also tried deleting all my "accounts" from the computer and signing in that way. My wifes account does NOT work on this computer.

I HAVE successfully logged into my account on my wifes MBP.

Peculiar is that I keep seeing an error in the log saying "netbiosd: name servers down?" as if dns lookup is having an issue. I should note, I have a hackintosh HP Probook 4530s.  The reason I mention that is, I do not think this is a serial issue.  I have been using this for six months, with iMessage with no issue.  It just quit working while I was at work.  Something is up.

Anywho, maybe my problem is different, but here is my log file. 

1/2/13 3:57:08.442 PM Messages[377]: [Warning] Empty account query with service: iMessage

1/2/13 3:57:08.748 PM com.apple.SecurityServer[24]: Session 100016 created

1/2/13 3:57:20.682 PM imagent[202]: [Warning] *** Listener ID: com.apple.CalendarAgent  does not have capability: (Status), not allowing request

1/2/13 3:57:20.682 PM imagent[202]: [Warning] 1   IMFoundation                        0x000000010c3cfbe2 IMLogBacktraceToDepth + 69

1/2/13 3:57:20.683 PM imagent[202]: [Warning] 2   imagent                             0x000000010c380de8 imagent + 81384

1/2/13 3:57:20.683 PM imagent[202]: [Warning] 3   imagent                             0x000000010c381f6a imagent + 85866

1/2/13 3:57:20.683 PM imagent[202]: [Warning] 4   CoreFoundation                      0x000000010cf7663c __invoking___ + 140

1/2/13 3:57:20.683 PM imagent[202]: [Warning] 5   CoreFoundation                      0x000000010cf764d7 -[NSInvocation invoke] + 263

1/2/13 3:57:20.683 PM imagent[202]: [Warning] 6   CoreFoundation                      0x000000010cf766a9 -[NSInvocation invokeWithTarget:] + 57

1/2/13 3:57:20.683 PM imagent[202]: [Warning] 7   IMFoundation                        0x000000010c3cc5d5 im_local_object_peer_event_handler + 7128

1/2/13 3:57:20.683 PM imagent[202]: [Warning] 8   IMFoundation                        0x000000010c3cc6b3 im_local_object_peer_event_handler + 7350

1/2/13 3:57:20.683 PM imagent[202]: [Warning] 9   IMFoundation                        0x000000010c3cc767 im_local_object_peer_event_handler + 7530

1/2/13 3:57:20.683 PM imagent[202]: [Warning] 10  Foundation                          0x000000010c8bc677 __NSThreadPerformPerform + 225

1/2/13 3:57:20.684 PM imagent[202]: [Warning] 11  CoreFoundation                      0x000000010cf02101 __CFRUNLOOP_IS_CALLING_OUT_TO_A_SOURCE0_PERFORM_FUNCTION__ + 17

1/2/13 3:57:20.684 PM imagent[202]: [Warning] 12  CoreFoundation                      0x000000010cf01aed __CFRunLoopDoSources0 + 445

1/2/13 3:57:20.684 PM imagent[202]: [Warning] 13  CoreFoundation                      0x000000010cf24dc5 __CFRunLoopRun + 789

1/2/13 3:57:20.684 PM imagent[202]: [Warning] 14  CoreFoundation                      0x000000010cf246b2 CFRunLoopRunSpecific + 290

1/2/13 3:57:20.684 PM imagent[202]: [Warning] 15  Foundation                          0x000000010c8c489e -[NSRunLoop(NSRunLoop) runMode:beforeDate:] + 268

1/2/13 3:57:20.684 PM imagent[202]: [Warning] 16  Foundation                          0x000000010c85d18a -[NSRunLoop(NSRunLoop) run] + 74

1/2/13 3:57:20.684 PM imagent[202]: [Warning] 17  imagent                             0x000000010c3750ab imagent + 32939

1/2/13 3:57:20.685 PM imagent[202]: [Warning] 18  libdyld.dylib                       0x000000010ea937e1 start + 0

1/2/13 3:57:20.685 PM imagent[202]: [Warning] *** Listener ID: com.apple.systempreferences  does not have capability: (Status), not allowing request

1/2/13 3:57:20.685 PM imagent[202]: [Warning] 1   IMFoundation                        0x000000010c3cfbe2 IMLogBacktraceToDepth + 69

1/2/13 3:57:20.686 PM imagent[202]: [Warning] 2   imagent                             0x000000010c380de8 imagent + 81384

1/2/13 3:57:20.686 PM imagent[202]: [Warning] 3   imagent                             0x000000010c381f6a imagent + 85866

1/2/13 3:57:20.686 PM imagent[202]: [Warning] 4   CoreFoundation                      0x000000010cf7663c __invoking___ + 140

1/2/13 3:57:20.686 PM imagent[202]: [Warning] 5   CoreFoundation                      0x000000010cf764d7 -[NSInvocation invoke] + 263

1/2/13 3:57:20.686 PM imagent[202]: [Warning] 6   CoreFoundation                      0x000000010cf766a9 -[NSInvocation invokeWithTarget:] + 57

1/2/13 3:57:20.686 PM imagent[202]: [Warning] 7   IMFoundation                        0x000000010c3cc5d5 im_local_object_peer_event_handler + 7128

1/2/13 3:57:20.686 PM imagent[202]: [Warning] 8   IMFoundation                        0x000000010c3cc6b3 im_local_object_peer_event_handler + 7350

1/2/13 3:57:20.687 PM imagent[202]: [Warning] 9   IMFoundation                        0x000000010c3cc767 im_local_object_peer_event_handler + 7530

1/2/13 3:57:20.687 PM imagent[202]: [Warning] 10  Foundation                          0x000000010c8bc677 __NSThreadPerformPerform + 225

1/2/13 3:57:20.687 PM imagent[202]: [Warning] 11  CoreFoundation                      0x000000010cf02101 __CFRUNLOOP_IS_CALLING_OUT_TO_A_SOURCE0_PERFORM_FUNCTION__ + 17

1/2/13 3:57:20.687 PM imagent[202]: [Warning] 12  CoreFoundation                      0x000000010cf01aed __CFRunLoopDoSources0 + 445

1/2/13 3:57:20.687 PM imagent[202]: [Warning] 13  CoreFoundation                      0x000000010cf24dc5 __CFRunLoopRun + 789

1/2/13 3:57:20.687 PM imagent[202]: [Warning] 14  CoreFoundation                      0x000000010cf246b2 CFRunLoopRunSpecific + 290

1/2/13 3:57:20.687 PM imagent[202]: [Warning] 15  Foundation                          0x000000010c8c489e -[NSRunLoop(NSRunLoop) runMode:beforeDate:] + 268

1/2/13 3:57:20.688 PM imagent[202]: [Warning] 16  Foundation                          0x000000010c85d18a -[NSRunLoop(NSRunLoop) run] + 74

1/2/13 3:57:20.688 PM imagent[202]: [Warning] 17  imagent                             0x000000010c3750ab imagent + 32939

1/2/13 3:57:20.688 PM imagent[202]: [Warning] 18  libdyld.dylib                       0x000000010ea937e1 start + 0

HI,

As the log is about IMAgent (which is used by Messages and FaceTime) I would delete the .plist for it and then restart the Mac

In the Finder > Go Menu > Go to Folder type ~/Library/preferences into the dialogue box.

Find com.apple.imagent.plist and drag it to the Trash.

As this item performs  Off Line "Listening" functions from the time the computer is turned On restart the computer.

9:23 PM      Wednesday; January 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

Opp, forgot to mention I deleted that one too. I just tried agian as well and I get the same error.  I even tried creating and verifying a brand new appleid and I get the same thing. 

HI,

This may be related to Bonjour (mDNS) and the :-

Peculiar is that I keep seeing an error in the log saying "netbiosd: name servers down?"

Have a look in System Preferences > Network > Advanced Button > WINS tab

This should list the Netbios name being used.

Commonly it is the computer's shortname as seen in System Preferences > Sharing (minus the  apostrophe)

Make sure this computer has not gained the  same name as another computer LAN

8:58 PM      Thursday; January 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