A pop up keeps appearing and disappearing

Question

shardy00x Author

Level 1

9 points

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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Answer 1

kaz-k

Level 8

48,966 points

Aug 12, 2013 1:41 AM in response to shardy00x

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

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Answer 2

shardy00x Author

Level 1

9 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...

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Answer 3

macjack

Level 10

111,168 points

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.)

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Answer 4

shardy00x Author

Level 1

9 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.

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Answer 5

shardy00x Author

Level 1

9 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...

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

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

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Answer 6

macjack

Level 10

111,168 points

Aug 13, 2013 4:50 PM in response to shardy00x

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

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Answer 7

shardy00x Author

Level 1

9 points

Aug 13, 2013 4:56 PM in response to macjack

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

No trace of Java in Options or Advanced...

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)...

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Answer 8

macjack

Level 10

111,168 points

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.

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Answer 9

shardy00x Author

Level 1

9 points

Aug 13, 2013 5:32 PM in response to macjack

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

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:

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+?

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Answer 10

macjack

Level 10

111,168 points

Aug 13, 2013 5:50 PM in response to shardy00x

What is this?

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Answer 11

shardy00x Author

Level 1

9 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.

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Answer 12

macjack

Level 10

111,168 points

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.

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Answer 13

shardy00x Author

Level 1

9 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.

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Answer 14

macjack

Level 10

111,168 points

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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Answer 15

shardy00x Author

Level 1

9 points

Aug 13, 2013 7:04 PM in response to macjack

Oh ok, I see.
Well I may have to turn it off, and try that.

I've just re-installed Java for OS X 2013-004 and nothing has changed...

According to this website if you have Java 7 installed, it should be in your Preferences:

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5648?viewlocale=en_US&locale=en_US

I'm guessing I don't seems it isn't there (although I thought Java 6 had a preference option too).

I may install that too, in order to get some preferences at least.

Thanks for your time anyway.

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