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on startup, imac tries to connect to a network server that doesn't exist.

Since I migrated my old iMac to the new one, it has been trying to connect to a non-existent "Server at an IP ADDRESS". Actually, it is trying to find a long defunct network media drive.


This glitch also hangs up the Clean my Mac software.


How do I tell the iMac to NOT try to locate this hardware?


Cheers

iMac, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.3), + 23HD Cinema display + Mac Mini (spare)

Posted on Jun 29, 2013 11:58 PM

Reply
3 replies

Jun 30, 2013 11:44 AM in response to AxeShack

Please take each of the following steps that you haven't already tried. Back up all data before making any changes.

Step 1

If you get the warning as soon as you log in, it's probably caused by one of your login items or a system modification that loads at startup or login. Ask if you need help identifying it. A common offender is "Adobe Synchronizer," which is a component of some Adobe products.

Step 2

If there's an icon representing the server in the sidebar of a Finder window, hold down the command key and drag it out.

Step 3


In the Finder, press the key combination command-K or select

Go Go to Server...

from the menu bar. In the upper right corner of the window that opens is a Recent Servers popup menu represented by a clock icon. From that menu, select

Clear Recent Servers…

and confirm. Test.


Step 4


Triple-click the line below to select it, then copy the text to the Clipboard (command-C):

~/Library/PDF Services

In the Finder, select

Go Go to Folder...

from the menu bar, paste into the box that opens (command-V). You won't see what you pasted because a line break is included. Press return. A folder may open. If it does, move the contents to the Desktop, or to a new folder on the Desktop. Log out and log back in. Test. If there's no change, put the items you moved back where they were and continue.

Step 5

Open the folder

~/Library/Preferences

as in Step 3 and move the file named "loginwindow.plist" items in that folder to the Trash, if it exists (it may not.)

Log out and back in again, and test.

Step 6

Other possible causes are references in the iPhoto, iTunes, or iMovie library pointing to the server, and bookmarks in the Preview application.

Aug 24, 2014 4:18 AM in response to Linc Davis

Tried all six steps and still getting this error message intermittently after a restart. Tried a few other things to determine what is causing this. The problem just surfaced a few days ago when connected to another computer that is not always on but on the same network. It has been fine like this for a couple of years up until the previously mentioned occurrence.


Regards

on startup, imac tries to connect to a network server that doesn't exist.

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