Screen Saver reverts to National Geographic

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Level 2

170 points

Screen Saver reverts to National Geographic

Several times lately (Yosemite only???), I have discovered my screen saver has reset itself to show National Geographic photos. And they are usually set to show both my iMac and my second monitor the same photos.

It's easy enough to set back to my desired iPhoto library. But I wonder what causes it to be reset?

What I haven't figured out is what to do when both monitors are displaying the same photos. Eventually that problem fixes itself. Nor what to do when it starts with the same photos in the same order. (I have a hot corner, and have been testing after I reset it to use my iPhoto library, and each time I turn it on, I get the same photo sequence as before - on both monitors).

I just tried it again - the third time since I started this message - and it's back to National Geographic.

I set it back, this time telling it to shuffle, and both monitors showed different photos as desired. I should have checked that earlier. But why doesn't my setting stay?

iMac, OS X Yosemite (10.10)

Posted on Nov 3, 2014 5:12 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Linc Davis

Level 10

209,649 points

Nov 3, 2014 6:57 PM in response to Howard Brazee

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 all to the Trash.

Log out or restart the computer. Test. If the problem is resolved, empty the Trash and recreate your settings in the Screen Saver tab.

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Answer 2

Howard Brazee Author

Level 2

170 points

Nov 4, 2014 12:55 PM in response to Linc Davis

I bet that solved my problem. It took me a while to figure out that I needed to select a display method, and I didn't find a method that is quite what I had before, but it is working. Since the problem was intermittent, I can't be sure it is gone away, but it makes sense that it has been solved, thanks.

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Answer 3

Schof

Level 1

30 points

Nov 5, 2014 12:41 AM in response to Howard Brazee

Hello Linc

It was annoying that I could no longer use my photos as a screen save after upgrading to Yosemite. This solution certainly solved my problem. Thank you very much.

Regards

Schof

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Answer 4

peckurz

Level 1

0 points

Nov 5, 2014 12:20 PM in response to Howard Brazee

I did all of the above, and now I have no choices for my screen saver. All that is left is the options tab, which lets me regulate Streams/Thickness/Speed. Thanks

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Answer 5

peckurz

Level 1

0 points

Nov 5, 2014 12:22 PM in response to Linc Davis

I did all that you outlined, and now I have no choices to select any screen saver. All I have is a Screen Saver Options tab. This lets me regulate Streams/Thickness/Speed. Thanks.

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Answer 6

peckurz

Level 1

0 points

Nov 5, 2014 4:41 PM in response to Linc Davis

Since this did not work, I tried putting the files back in the folder. Still no choices on screen saver menu. I am at a loss.

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Answer 7

Howard Brazee Author

Level 2

170 points

Nov 5, 2014 4:50 PM in response to peckurz

Share a screen print of what the screen saver menu looks like.

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Answer 8

Nov 5, 2014 4:56 PM in response to Linc Davis

Linc, I tried your fix but it does not seem to be working for me. The screensaver keeps reverting back to Nat Geo.

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Answer 9

peckurz

Level 1

0 points

Nov 5, 2014 5:03 PM in response to Howard Brazee

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Answer 10

peckurz

Level 1

0 points

Nov 5, 2014 5:08 PM in response to peckurz

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Answer 11

Howard Brazee Author

Level 2

170 points

Nov 5, 2014 5:09 PM in response to Howard Brazee

I had that same image, and it puzzled me too:

https://discussions.apple.com/content/attachment/496766040

I needed to select one of the options on the left. After that I was able to select iTunes on the right.

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Answer 12

peckurz

Level 1

0 points

Nov 5, 2014 5:45 PM in response to Howard Brazee

Looks like that gets the regular menu back. Seems simple now. Thanks. By the way, do I also remove the .locklist file with all the other screensaver files.

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