shardy00x

Q: A pop up keeps appearing and disappearing

I keep seeing a Pop Up that pops up and disappears again for a split second on my screen.

It's so fast, I can't tell what it is, but it looks like a warning dialog box.

 

It pops up at random times. It doesn't matter what windows or finders I have open.

Sometimes it appears when I'm surfing youtube or ebay, others when I'm watching movies or streaming videos online....

 

The problem is, It disappears before I get the chance to see what it is or deal with it. (It's gone before I can even screen shot it).

It's been happening for a few weeks now and even after updating, it's still there.... I get the feeling it's slowing down my system some what too...

 

Any ideas what it may be or how I can go about finding out? and potentially removing it?

 

Thanks guys and girls.

MacBook Pro, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.2)

Posted on Aug 11, 2013 8:43 PM

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Q: A pop up keeps appearing and disappearing

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  • by kaz-k,

    kaz-k kaz-k Aug 12, 2013 1:41 AM in response to shardy00x
    Level 5 (5,845 points)
    Desktops
    Aug 12, 2013 1:41 AM in response to shardy00x

    Is there any odd process which you can see with Activity Monitor?

  • by shardy00x,

    shardy00x shardy00x Aug 12, 2013 4:52 AM in response to kaz-k
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 12, 2013 4:52 AM in response to kaz-k

    I check the Activity Monitor regularly, especially just after I see it, but I don't see anything unfamilar or that shouldn't be there... Having said that, I'm no Apple Genius or Mac expert so not 100% sure of what shouldn't be there...

  • by macjack,

    macjack macjack Aug 12, 2013 5:32 AM in response to shardy00x
    Level 9 (55,709 points)
    Mac OS X
    Aug 12, 2013 5:32 AM in response to shardy00x

    I've seen that behavior in some builds of Mountain Lion. It may be a third party app like Java, do you have Java installed? If so, it may be the allow dialog. You can disable it in your browser and see if the problem continues.

     

    If that's not it, try starting in Safe Mode and see if the problem still occurs?

    Restart holding the "shift" key.

    (Expect it to take longer to start this way because it runs a directory check first.)

  • by shardy00x,

    shardy00x shardy00x Aug 12, 2013 2:01 PM in response to macjack
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 12, 2013 2:01 PM in response to macjack

    Oh really?

    I thought it may have been an App so I've removed everything I can (most third party stuff at least) but it's still doing it so...

     

    I shall have to try safe mode. Thanks for your comment.

  • by shardy00x,

    shardy00x shardy00x Aug 13, 2013 3:01 PM in response to macjack
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 13, 2013 3:01 PM in response to macjack

    Hello again,

     

    I was doing a screen-recording and it popped up so managed to finally catch it on camera (least I hope it's the same one...)

     

    Here's a screen shot of it from the video...

    Screen Shot 2013-08-13 at 22.50.02.png

     

    Direct link for high-res: http://imgur.com/XkQhnOz

     

    What do I need to do as I cannot see where Java is installed?

  • by macjack,

    macjack macjack Aug 13, 2013 4:50 PM in response to shardy00x
    Level 9 (55,709 points)
    Mac OS X
    Aug 13, 2013 4:50 PM in response to shardy00x

    Yup! As it says, can be changed in your firewall pane.

  • by shardy00x,

    shardy00x shardy00x Aug 13, 2013 4:56 PM in response to macjack
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 13, 2013 4:56 PM in response to macjack

    There is no sign of Java settings or preferences...

    Screen Shot 2013-08-14 at 00.52.55.png

    No trace of Java in Options or Advanced...

    Screen Shot 2013-08-14 at 00.53.29.png

    I can't find Java in my Apps or anywhere (no sure of it's default location if it's not supposed to be in Apps)...

  • by macjack,

    macjack macjack Aug 13, 2013 5:14 PM in response to shardy00x
    Level 9 (55,709 points)
    Mac OS X
    Aug 13, 2013 5:14 PM in response to shardy00x

    Have a look in Utilties folder. That's the only other place besides System Preferences you may have it.

  • by shardy00x,

    shardy00x shardy00x Aug 13, 2013 5:32 PM in response to macjack
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 13, 2013 5:32 PM in response to macjack

    Here's a screenshot of the Applications folder and the Utilities:

     

    Screen Shot 2013-08-14 at 01.16.27.png

    Direct link for high-res image: http://imgur.com/98Q6Pec

     

    It's nowhere to be seen.

    If I search it manually, apart from a bunch of documents and Netbeans projects, the only App it shows is the "Java VisualVM". I thought that was to aid Netbeans.

     

    In the System Report, Installations, I have the following Java Updates:

    Screen Shot 2013-08-14 at 01.21.16.png

    Direct link for high-res image: http://imgur.com/5uq5CoA

     

    Looks like it only goes up to Java 6 in which case shouldn't there be a "preferences" option in the System Preferences? I thought it was only removed in Java 7+?

  • by macjack,

    macjack macjack Aug 13, 2013 5:50 PM in response to shardy00x
    Level 9 (55,709 points)
    Mac OS X
    Aug 13, 2013 5:50 PM in response to shardy00x

    What is this?

     

    Screen Shot 2013-08-13 at 5.48.56 PM.png

  • by shardy00x,

    shardy00x shardy00x Aug 13, 2013 6:21 PM in response to macjack
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 13, 2013 6:21 PM in response to macjack

    Sorry, I don't understand what you mean?
    What is what?
    If you mean the location, its the Applications folder on the right and the Utilities folder on the left.

  • by macjack,

    macjack macjack Aug 13, 2013 6:31 PM in response to shardy00x
    Level 9 (55,709 points)
    Mac OS X
    Aug 13, 2013 6:31 PM in response to shardy00x

    No I mean what is in those Adobe folders, Adobe Application Manager & Adobe Installers. Also you have Flash Player Install Manager, what is it managing?

     

    Although I'd expect to see the Java Preferences in your Utilities folder. Was Java ever installed then uninstalled. Java goes pretty deep into the file system and there could be a leftover component somewhere.

  • by shardy00x,

    shardy00x shardy00x Aug 13, 2013 6:39 PM in response to macjack
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 13, 2013 6:39 PM in response to macjack

    Oh, sorry. I think the Adobe Application Manager is managing the trial of After Effects i'm in the middle of and the Adobe Installers just contains the uninstaller for it.

     

    Yes, I'd of expected to see it too. This is why I'm lost.

    I don't ever remember deleting it as the only things I delete are projects, apps and music.

     

    In the installer log, it says Java was updated on the 15th July.

    I update everything at the same time, when it pops up or I check manually. So It must be somewhere...

     

    I guess turning the firewall off would stop it prompting but that's too risky.

  • by macjack,

    macjack macjack Aug 13, 2013 6:52 PM in response to shardy00x
    Level 9 (55,709 points)
    Mac OS X
    Aug 13, 2013 6:52 PM in response to shardy00x

    If you're connected through wi-fi or through a hard wired router, you really don't need the firewall.

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