Q: iMessage and FaceTime do not work anymore on MacBook Air running Maverick.
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Feb 7, 2014 7:49 PMby Linc Davis,Please read this whole message before doing anything.
This procedure is a diagnostic test. It’s unlikely to solve your problem. Don’t be disappointed when you find that nothing has changed after you complete it.
The purpose of the test is to determine whether the problem is caused by third-party software that loads automatically at startup or login, by a peripheral device, by a font conflict, or by corruption of the file system or of certain system caches.
Disconnect all wired peripherals except those needed for the test, and remove all aftermarket expansion cards, if applicable. Start up in safe mode and log in to the account with the problem. You must hold down the shift key twice: once when you boot, and again when you log in.
Note: If FileVault is enabled, or if a firmware password is set, or if the boot volume is a Fusion Drive or a software RAID, you can’t do this. Ask for further instructions.
Safe mode is much slower to boot and run than normal, with limited graphics performance, and some things won’t work at all, including sound output and Wi-Fi on certain models. The next normal boot may also be somewhat slow.
The login screen appears even if you usually login automatically. You must know your login password in order to log in. If you’ve forgotten the password, you will need to reset it before you begin.
Test while in safe mode. Same problem?
After testing, reboot as usual (not in safe mode) and verify that you still have the problem. Post the results of the test.
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Feb 8, 2014 7:54 AMby Linc Davis,It's not really clear what you have been doing, so I'm going to make one last suggestion. You can either make a "Genius" appointment at an Apple Store (if possible), call Apple Support, or do as below.
Back up all data.
Hold down the option key and select
Go ▹ Library
from the Finder menu bar. From the Library folder, move the entire contents of the subfolder "Caches" (not the folder itself) to the Trash, then log out and log back in. Empty the Trash. Test.
If the problem is not solved, open the Library folder again in the same way and move the entire contents of the subfolder "Preferences" (not the folder itself) to a new folder on the Desktop (not to the Trash.) Log out and log back in. The account will then be pretty much in a clean state. Test. If you can still reproduce the problem, then put the Preferences folder contents back, replacing any that were created in their place, log out, and log in again.
If you can't reproduce the problem in the clean state, then start putting things back in the Preferences folder piecemeal, starting with items that seem unrelated to the issue. I can’t be more specific. After each group of items, repeat the log out/log in cycle and test. At some point, the problem may reappear, in which case you know that something in the last batch of files you restored is at fault. If it never reappears, the problem is solved.
