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User profile for user: Kevin Kuchta
Kevin Kuchta Author
User level: Level 1
0 points

Can't disable desktop changes via iPhoto

I am the admin for a computer, using iPhoto 5.0.4 and I have locked changes to the system preferences for the student account. Among other things, I am tired of seeing female sumo wrestlers, naked cambodians, and giant squirrels on the desktops when I come in every day. Thus, I don't want them to be able to change the desktop. However, they can do this via iPhoto, sing the "desktop" button, and I can't seem to find a way to disable this.

In another thread, someone reccommended SysPref>Security>"Require password to unlock secure system prefs" and checking that box. I did this, and it had no effect.

Any suggestions?

Mac OS X (10.4.5), iPhoto 5.0.4

Posted on Apr 24, 2006 9:54 AM

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User profile for user: Garrett Cobarr
Garrett Cobarr
User level: Level 1
134 points

Apr 24, 2006 11:09 AM in response to Kevin Kuchta

Kevin, I am sorry you did not get a reply and I do not have one as well but I am hoping that in answering yours someone might give clue to my issue.

I inadvertently pushed that button and now my desktop is an unwanted image and there apperas to be no undo. Also I cannot locate the name of the image I had made as a custom desktop, a simple nuetral gray with grid.

I cannot find it among the hundreds of thousands of files on my computer. I am hoping that someone might know hoe to get iPhoto to either get the image back that I had before or tell me where these things are stored so I can find it.
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User profile for user: lori_diloreto
lori_diloreto
User level: Level 6
17,006 points

Apr 24, 2006 11:37 AM in response to Kevin Kuchta

Hi Kevin,
I was wondering if you could open the iPhoto plist file with a Property editor such as Prefsetter
http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/systemdiskutilities/prefsetter.html
Open Prefsetter and put iPhoto in the search bar.
Double click iPhoto in the next window to open up the plist file
scroll down to "ToolbarShowDesktop" and change the value from YES to NO.
Save the changes and close the app.
Before you do this make sure you set the desktop to what you want, then edit the plist file and save the changes. This will take the desktop icon out of the toolbar for the user.
I have not tried this so I don't know how it will work.
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User profile for user: Kevin Kuchta
Kevin Kuchta Author
User level: Level 1
0 points

Apr 25, 2006 9:31 AM in response to lori_diloreto

I would certainly like to try that, but the mac lab I am operating (where this computer is) is part of the school network, and is behind the ridiculous web filtering software, which does not allow access to the download of your link. I'm working on bypassing it, but if you have any similar property editors, that would be helpful.
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Can't disable desktop changes via iPhoto

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