Messages preferences missing

Question

Messages preferences missing

Hi,

Hope someone can help out. My messages app doesn't sync messages from my other apple devices. (thats a common problem i realise) I can sign in ok but no messages. An interesting side issue is that in the Messages -> Preferences screen, i only get two tabs: "General"' and "Accounts". "Viewing" and "Audio/Video" are missing. I suspect the application is corrupted. I am not interested in rebuilding the entire OS just for this app though. was wondering if anyone has seen this before and if so have they found a solution?

I'm thinking this might be related to me having originally used the beta a few years ago - it looks to have been upgraded with the new OS (i am now on Yosemite). Messages v 8.0 (48725).

Anyone have any ideas?

iMac, OS X Yosemite (10.10), Messages

Posted on Oct 17, 2014 3:24 AM

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Answer 1

Oct 19, 2014 12:00 PM in response to stevefromsurryhills

Hi,

This is not an issue related to ever running the Beta version Messages that ended in Dec 2012.

You might be lucky if you accessed the ~/Library/Preferences folder and delete com.apple.iChat.plist (Drag it to the Trash).

Restart the app. This might, and I repeat, might, be enough to trigger it to show you the other Preferences Panes.

Most likely you will have to do a Restore.

7:59 pm Sunday; October 19, 2014

 iMac 2.5Ghz i5 2011 (Mavericks 10.9)
 G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
 MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
 Mac OS X (10.6.8),
 Couple of iPhones and an iPad

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Answer 2

Apr 19, 2015 1:20 PM in response to hyperjeff

HI,

Open System Preferences > Users a Groups > His Account > Click the Pic to edit.

Does he get a Camera option ?
If he does does it work (Can he see himself ?) ?

If that does not work hold the ALT key down whilst using the Apple Icon Menu and chose System Info

In Hardware, then USB is the camera showing Up ?

There are other apps you could try the camera in such as Quicktime Player and then the File Menu > New Movie Recording.

If the camera does not show UP try a PRAM/NVRAM reset:-

Restart the computer holding down ALT+CMD+P+R keys until you have hear three start up Bongs and then letting the start up continue.

If this does not work contact Apple Support under your 90 Days telephone support.

They may suggest you return the Computer and get a replacement.

If they offer a repair ask what they will be doing.

On a Lap top the camera is supplied by an internal USB lead that goes through th hinge and up the back of the screen.

One option is to swap out the screen section as a whole.

Longer options time wise mean opening up the case somewhat to differing degrees to check component parts to access the camera and lead - strangely more cost in manpower to them and more chances that things will not go back quite the same.

Compare time without the computer against level of repair - you might feel a replacement is a better option.

9:20 pm Sunday; April 19, 2015

 iMac 2.5Ghz i5 2011 (Mavericks 10.9)
 G4/1GhzDual MDD (Leopard 10.5.8)
 MacBookPro 2Gb (Snow Leopard 10.6.8)
 Mac OS X (10.6.8),
 Couple of iPhones and an iPad

Reply

Answer 3

Apr 19, 2015 11:12 AM in response to stevefromsurryhills

I have a friend who just bought a brand new MacBook Pro, fresh install of Yosemite, with the exact same problem. So, no legacy account settings to worry about. No idea what's wrong. Screensharing works just fine, as does Facetime, but in Messages: no Video menu, the Buddy menu only has 4 items in it, and no Audio/Video preference pane at all. Also, possibly unrelated: He is unable to set his account to be "online", even though we can use Messages to chat regardless. I just can't see that he's on. Did you ever figure out a solution to this? Thanks for any help!

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