User profile for user: rstreborg
rstreborg Author
User level: Level 1
24 points

Anyone seen this odd screen behavior with Mavericks?

I have multiple users on my computer. This behavior only occurs for the second and third active users. It does not occur for the first user logged in.


Immediately after hitting enter on the login selection screen the display partially fills in with the user desktop using the top left 3/4 of the display. Almost immediately afterwords the full screen is used but the finder windows are now relocated to the top left. The first image shows partial screen draw, the second the relocated windows.

User uploaded file

User uploaded file


The windows were originally centered. It appears the initially shortened screen may be causing the window relocation.


If I switch to the first user and then back to the second user the problem repeats. If I logon a third user the problem repeats. If I logoff both users and reverse the order of the logon the problem again repeats with the second and third users.


This began a few days ago but I've had Mavericks installed for a couple of months. I’ve tried restart, power down reboot, reset NVRAM, power down and unplug AC power cord for 10+ seconds to reset SMC. Also, tried booting from different HD.


This screen behavior does happen whan booted to either Mavericks 9.2 and 9.3. This does not happen when booted from either Mountain Lion or Snow Leopard.


Any suggestions would be appreciated.


This is occuring on a 2008 quad Mac Pro 3,1 with a 23 inch Cinema Display, factory installed GeForce 8800 GT graphs card, and 20 gig of memory.

Posted on Jun 7, 2014 9:28 AM

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33 replies
User profile for user: rstreborg
rstreborg Author
User level: Level 1
24 points

Jun 7, 2014 6:44 PM in response to Linc Davis

Sounds very similar. It provides a partial solution. If I minimized or maximize the Dock the behavior is not present for Logon, but remains during fast user switching. Also, I have seen this behavior in Mavericks 9.2 and 9.3. I did not see it until 9.3, but when I rebooted in 9.2 the behavior was also present. Another thing I noticed sometimes the windows only shift left, and not to the top. The amount of horizontal and vertical window shift seems to depend on the window's position on the desktop before fast user switching.


Thanks for pointing out the other thread. The symptoms are very similar and are likely the same problem. I did not switch to Mavericks until early February and started with 9.2 and upgraded to 9.3 a few weeks ago. Interestingly enough the odd screen behavior only began a few days ago. I'll be monitoring both threads am considering reporting it to Apple.

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User profile for user: rstreborg
rstreborg Author
User level: Level 1
24 points

Jun 7, 2014 6:59 PM in response to rstreborg

By the way, my windows are not stuck as noted on the other threads referenced by Linc. I can relocate them at any time and they stay where I put them. They just jump up and left when I fast user switch or logon. Although as I noted above, if the Dock is maximized or minimized the behavior stops for logon but continues for fast user switch.

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User profile for user: Linc Davis
Linc Davis
User level: Level 10
209,739 points

Jun 7, 2014 7:32 PM in response to rstreborg

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 turn on the computer, and again when you log in.

Note: If FileVault is enabled, or if a firmware password is set, or if the startup volume is a Fusion Drive or a software RAID, you can’t do this. Ask for further instructions.

Safe mode is much slower to start up 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 startup 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, restart as usual (not in safe mode) and verify that you still have the problem. Post the results of the test.

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User profile for user: rstreborg
rstreborg Author
User level: Level 1
24 points

Jun 7, 2014 8:37 PM in response to Linc Davis

I have resolved the problem, at least for now. I'll post a status back in a few days. I used a free utility named Onyx by Titanium Software. It is cleaning and optimization utility that digs deep into the system. I've used it for years to keep my Mac performing, but this is the first time it fixed a problem. Here is how I did it.


Started the program and selected the Maintenance function, selected the Scripts option and checked all three boxes, then clicked Execute.

User uploaded file

Next I selected the Cleaning function, selected the System options, checked all the boxes, then clicked Execute.

User uploaded file

Next I chose the User option, checked all boxes except Xcode, and clicked Execute. I continued with the User, Internet, etc options accepting the default checked boxes and Executing all available options.


The program requires and admin id and pw. It then suggests you have a good backup, check status of your disks, and correct permissions. I concur. Please read the authors documentation before using. You can download it from here at MacUpdate.

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User profile for user: Drew Reece
Drew Reece
User level: Level 6
10,684 points

Jun 8, 2014 11:52 AM in response to rstreborg

I have a Mac Pro running 10.9.3 with a GT8800 GPU. This Mac Pro is a 1,1 which is unsupported for 10.9 so it is running the 'Sixty Four On Thirty Two' hack, however I also see this issue…


This is a clean installed 10.9.3 OS with the installer creating the user accounts, I do have home folders on a second disk with the path set in the advanced user settings of Users and Groups.


My Main user is fine.

This is a 'standard account' all logins are fine with this user.


Switching to the admin user (created upon a clean install of 10.9.2).

The Desktop flashes the grey area for 1/4 of a second or so & everything jumps back into place. App windows also restore into the correct locations. The OS is fine for this user. This is the only user that is stored on the boot partition inside /Users.


Switching to a migrated user (from 10.6.8).

The Desktop is as described, the grey area stays in place. The Desktop and the grey area is actually like two different apps. I can use (cmd+shift+4, then tap space) to take a 'window screenshot' of each area as a separate window (each one highlights with the camera icon).


I logged out of the migrated user & deleted /Users/MIGRATED-USER/Library/Caches folder. The issue appears to have gone - now it behaves like the other account, a brief flash of grey & then it goes to normal. Now for the weird part…

This user's home folder is actually on another disk /Volumes/data/Users, so deleting the path above shouldn't have any effect at all!

The user is configured with its home path to /Volumes/data/Users in the advanced user settings of Users and Groups.

This users cache is /Volumes/data/Users/MIGRATED-USER/Library/Caches - this is still the same - I didn't delete this at all.



Incidentally if I go to the login window first the issue goes away (even with the original user still logged in).


@rstreborg,

If you can find away to make the issue reappear we can try more testing, but as it stands for me it doesn't seem to come back now.


Do you have your users on another disk? If so how is it configured?

Did Onyx delete all the users caches?

Do you have any custom bootloaders?

Do you want to compare Etrecheck reports to look for similar software?

http://www.etresoft.com/etrecheck


@Linc Davis, can you explain this? It's almost like the OS has hardcoded the path to use User's cache folder but I cannot see how that could work, it would break for network users etc? It seems to be the login window system, but it really isn't clear to me. Could open directory have cached the path somewhere? My non-admin users were created as normal but I changed the home paths to point to the second disk.


Do you want me to run any commands to parse the logs or does my hacked boot EFI make this something you won't look at?


If It shows up again I will try it in safe mode, but I cannot reproduce at present - any ideas for this?

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Anyone seen this odd screen behavior with Mavericks?

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