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

This problem is a real pain in the A@EEE!!!! Ive tried editing the hosts file in the etc folder..tried removing plist file etc all of the solutions keep getting could not sign in..i am running mac 10.8.2 yes i have my serial number..yes i am running mountain lion yes my apple id is valid..yes it works with itunes..yes my wireless network is OK.....this is really, really frustrating..for a flagship application.can somone please run past me how to solve this problem please thanks Ralph for your inputs..

HI,

Try this.

It is a Combo action approach.

With Messages shut down.

In the Finder > Go Menu > Go to Folder and type ~/Library/Preferences in the dialogue box that appears

In here delete (Drag to Trash) anything that has com.apple.ichat in it but ending in .plist.

Also com.apple.imagent.plist

Plus anything with iMessage in it (there are two)

Now Restart the Computer with the PRAM reset.

Shut down the computer.

Restart it holding down Apple/CMD ( or ⌘)+ALT( ⌥)+P+R Keys until you have heard two Start Up Bongs.

8:40 PM      Saturday; January 19, 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

Thanks Ralph did remove all of the files as suggested except i did not remove the files that ended in .lockfile..did the PRAM start up..went to Factime (it always takes ages to fire up when you turn the swtich to ON same response (Could Not Sign In check network etc etc)..imagent.lockfile file is in library file by the way..

Opps,

The Thread title lists Messages first.

You talk about the "flagship" app so I presumed you meant Messages as it can do more than FaceTime or Game Center.

Messages uses the iChat.plists for AIM, Jabber, Yahoo and Subnet (Bonjour) Logins as well as the saving of the info in the Preferences (Mainly com.apple.ichat.plist itself)

The Shared List one is about the Recent List in Messages and the Status Message one does what is says in the tin.

imagent.plist is used by both apps. Mostly it does a partial sign in to "Listen" for Off Line calls (if you have the apps set that way)

You will need to remove the .plist with FaceTime in them (lower case ones as well as ones as shown) along with the imagent one again.

Also repeat the PRAM reset.

Sorry for the confusion.

7:45 PM      Sunday; January 20, 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

Hi Ralph  - I took a break from this for a while... just tried deleting all of the ichat files again and did a pram reset - no luck.  Running out of ideas...

I tried almost everything on this threads and no way to reach my imessages... My others apps all works just imessages doesnt.

I'm in the same boat as you. No joy.

HI,

This is part of the iTunes "Contact Support" process https://expresslane.apple.com/Issues.action

Choose the "Manage Account" options as you  progress towards the right hand side.

Eventually you will be offered and Email Link.

I have heard of people getting these Apple Support Contacts being able to manually reset some Apple IDs in certain cases.  (It does not seem clear what the criteria is exactly)

An Important Note on this.

I have read people getting help this way and posting here.

I have also seen people post they were asked to Pay as they did not have AppleCare.

8:18 PM      Tuesday; January 22, 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

THANK YOU!! I spent so many hours searching through forums to find out how to resolve my iMessage sign in issue. I tried everything but this worked perfectly. Very helpful!

Carditz... exactly what worked for you?

Sorry, it was in response to Pixart's post (https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4314177?start=0&tstart=0#19656024).

<Insert Sad Face>  I see.  Well, glad it worked for you.

For those of you who don't see their serial number under the Hardware section in the System Informations, I found a way to flash your logic board serial number yourlselves on another forum. It really works. I've been trying all of the above steps with no results. So I noticed, as Ralph Jones said, that my serial # was missing. I did mount this DMG onto a bootable partition of my USB drive and restart by pressing ALT (option key). I wrote down my serial (under my battery - MPB early 2008) and I copy it into the right text field! Be careful! You can't rewrite your serial number once you've confirmed it!

Thanks a lot Ralph!

Here is the file for those who want it :

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/9694599/Blan...Serializer.zip

That's handy.

By the way it's J O H N S

7:51 PM      Friday; January 25, 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

Sorry I was writing it in a hurry I did not notice your last name!