Gerald22
Level 1 (0 points)

Q: I was connected to a windows server and removed the server from the network.

After I removed the server from the network, I am still getting a message saying "There was a problem connecting to the server “servername”. The server may not exist or it is unavailable at this time. Check the server name or IP address, check your network connection, and then try again."  How can I stop this message from appearing?  The server is gone and will not be used anymore.  Also, (and it may be related) I had a screen saver that used photos in a folder on this server.  Now I cannot choose a new folder for the screen saver.  I assume that it is still looking at that server path and won't allow me to choose a different path.  How do I clear this old setting so I can select a new path for the folder to use?

iMac, OS X Mavericks (10.9.2)

Posted on Mar 3, 2014 11:31 AM

by Linc Davis,Solvedanswer
Linc Davis Linc Davis
Level 10 (208,037 points)
Applications
A:

Quit iPhoto and move the library to the Desktop. Relaunch iPhoto and follow the prompt to create a new, empty library. Test.

Posted on Mar 4, 2014 1:54 PM

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Gerald22

Q: I was connected to a windows server and removed the server from the network.

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  • by Linc Davis,

    Linc Davis Linc Davis Mar 3, 2014 1:58 PM in response to Gerald22
    Level 10 (208,037 points)
    Applications
    Mar 3, 2014 1:58 PM in response to Gerald22

    Try rebuilding the iPhoto library.

  • by Gerald22,

    Gerald22 Gerald22 Mar 3, 2014 2:43 PM in response to Linc Davis
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 3, 2014 2:43 PM in response to Linc Davis

    Thanks, tried it, but to no avail.

  • by Gerald22,

    Gerald22 Gerald22 Mar 3, 2014 2:44 PM in response to rack0 tack0
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 3, 2014 2:44 PM in response to rack0 tack0

    Went through these steps.  Situation is still the same.

  • by rack0 tack0,

    rack0 tack0 rack0 tack0 Mar 3, 2014 2:48 PM in response to Gerald22
    Level 4 (2,595 points)
    Mar 3, 2014 2:48 PM in response to Gerald22

    Well I am definatley out of ideas now, at least you have the generic screen savers.

     

    Hope you get a resolution.

  • by Linc Davis,

    Linc Davis Linc Davis Mar 3, 2014 2:56 PM in response to Gerald22
    Level 10 (208,037 points)
    Applications
    Mar 3, 2014 2:56 PM in response to Gerald22

    You have one or more links to the disused server in the iPhoto library. You should be able to find them by a process of elimination. Select about half of your photos and start to drag them. Don't actually move them anywhere; just drag them a little and release. If you get the warning, then some of the photos you selected are invalid links. Narrow down the selection. If you don't get the warning, select the other half of the library.

    Credit for this solution to Winston Moy of winstonmoy.com.

  • by Gerald22,

    Gerald22 Gerald22 Mar 4, 2014 12:03 PM in response to Linc Davis
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 4, 2014 12:03 PM in response to Linc Davis

    I went through this process.  There were a lot of photos from the unused server and I cleaned them all up.  I am fairly confident that I have them all clean as I can select the entire library and attempt to move them and I don't get an error.  However, when I go to the screen savers dialog I still get the error about not finding the server.  Is there any other cleanup that needs to be done?

  • by Linc Davis,

    Linc Davis Linc Davis Mar 4, 2014 12:19 PM in response to Gerald22
    Level 10 (208,037 points)
    Applications
    Mar 4, 2014 12:19 PM in response to Gerald22

    Back up all data. Quit System Preferences if it's running.

    Triple-click anywhere in the line below on this page to select it, then copy the text to the Clipboard by pressing the key combination command-C:

    ~/Library/Preferences/ByHost

    In the Finder, select

    Go ▹ Go to Folder...

    from the menu bar. Paste into the box that opens (command-V), then press return. A folder should open. If it does, look for a file with a long name that begins "com.apple.screensaver". There may be several such files. Move them to the Trash.

    Log out or reboot. Test. If the problem is resolved. recreate your settings in the Screen Saver tab.

  • by Linc Davis,

    Linc Davis Linc Davis Mar 4, 2014 12:20 PM in response to Gerald22
    Level 10 (208,037 points)
    Applications
    Mar 4, 2014 12:20 PM in response to Gerald22

    Did you empty the iPhoto Trash?

  • by Gerald22,

    Gerald22 Gerald22 Mar 4, 2014 12:59 PM in response to Linc Davis
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 4, 2014 12:59 PM in response to Linc Davis

    Yes, I did empty the iPhoto trash.  I also followed your steps multiple times and the result has been the same.  The difference I have now is that I can select a new photo album to use but the screen saver generates the error on startup and never displays the new selection it just displays "Loading...".  I should also note that when I open up the Desktop/Screen Saver preferences, I get the error and dismiss it twice, then I am able to select the new photo album.  There must still be a photo somewhere that is pointing to the old server but I am not finding it in iPhoto.

  • by Linc Davis,

    Linc Davis Linc Davis Mar 4, 2014 1:08 PM in response to Gerald22
    Level 10 (208,037 points)
    Applications
    Mar 4, 2014 1:08 PM in response to Gerald22

    Did you delete the preference files?

  • by Gerald22,

    Gerald22 Gerald22 Mar 4, 2014 1:45 PM in response to Linc Davis
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 4, 2014 1:45 PM in response to Linc Davis

    Yes, I did.  I am thinking about purging the entire iPhoto library and reimporting the photos.  Do you think the problem is in iPhoto or in one of those preference files?

  • by Linc Davis,Solvedanswer

    Linc Davis Linc Davis Mar 4, 2014 1:54 PM in response to Gerald22
    Level 10 (208,037 points)
    Applications
    Mar 4, 2014 1:54 PM in response to Gerald22

    Quit iPhoto and move the library to the Desktop. Relaunch iPhoto and follow the prompt to create a new, empty library. Test.

  • by Gerald22,

    Gerald22 Gerald22 Mar 5, 2014 6:18 AM in response to Linc Davis
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 5, 2014 6:18 AM in response to Linc Davis

    There was clearly a problem in the iPhoto library.  A new library eliminated the error and now the screen saver is behaving as expected.  Thanks for all the help.

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