IanBlackburn
Level 1 (5 points)
Mac OS X

Q: Can't change the source for Screensaver photo's in OS X 10.10.3

When I go to System Preferences > Desktop & Screensaver I get a message box pop-up as shown below.  It is trying to access a Windows machine called "Familyserver" that has long since been removed from the network.  Clicking OK dismisses the dialog for a few seconds after which it returns.

 

The Source dropdown just says "loading" - and selecting it shows no other options.

 

I can't find a way to remove the "Familyserver" location and then select a different source?

 

Cheers

 

Ian

 

2015-04-19_13-08-00.png

iMac with Retina 5K display, OS X Yosemite (10.10.3)

Posted on Apr 19, 2015 5:12 AM

by IanBlackburn,Solvedanswer
IanBlackburn IanBlackburn
Level 1 (5 points)
Mac OS X
A:

I fixed it by starting iPhoto then creating a new Library (which became the default)  It has no pictures in it, but the Photo's app has a different library that is working fine so it's all good .  The old iPhoto library was the problem.

Posted on Apr 20, 2015 1:23 PM

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IanBlackburn

Q: Can't change the source for Screensaver photo's in OS X 10.10.3

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  • Helpful answers

  • by Eric Root,

    Eric Root Eric Root Apr 19, 2015 8:55 AM in response to IanBlackburn
    Level 9 (71,364 points)
    iTunes
    Apr 19, 2015 8:55 AM in response to IanBlackburn

    Do a backup.


    Quit the application.


    Go to Finder and select your user/home folder. With that Finder window as the front window, either select Finder/View/Show View options or go command - J.  When the View options opens, check ’Show Library Folder’. That should make your user library folder visible in your user/home folder.  Select Library. Then go to Preferences/com.apple.screensaver.plist. Move the .plist to your desktop.

     

    Restart the computer, open the application and test. If it works okay, delete the plist from the desktop.


    If the application is the same, return the .plist to where you got it from, overwriting the newer one.


    Thanks to leonie for some information contained in this.

  • by Linc Davis,

    Linc Davis Linc Davis Apr 19, 2015 10:49 AM in response to IanBlackburn
    Level 10 (207,963 points)
    Applications
    Apr 19, 2015 10:49 AM in response to IanBlackburn

    These instructions apply if you're using an iPhoto library as the source of images for the screensaver.

    You have one or more links to a disused server in the iPhoto library. Since the server is no longer accessible, those links are now invalid. You should be able to find them by a tedious process of elimination. First, back up all data.

    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.

    When you've isolated the invalid items, delete them and then select

              iPhoto ▹ Empty iPhoto Trash

    from the menu bar. Finally, rebuild the iPhoto library.

    (Credit for this idea to Winston Moy of winstonmoy.com.)

    In some cases, the above procedure may not work. Then you'll have to create a new library with the contents of the existing one. The easiest way to do that is with a third-party application called "iPhoto Library Manager," which you can find in a web search. From the application's menu bar (not the iPhoto menu bar), select

              Library ▹ Rebuild

    Books, calendars, and slideshows won't be preserved.

  • by IanBlackburn,

    IanBlackburn IanBlackburn Apr 20, 2015 12:49 PM in response to Linc Davis
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 20, 2015 12:49 PM in response to Linc Davis

    Thanks Linc,

     

    However I am not using the iPhoto library, but rather the new Photo's app and an upgraded Aperture library.  Is there a similar procedure for that?

  • by IanBlackburn,

    IanBlackburn IanBlackburn Apr 20, 2015 12:50 PM in response to Eric Root
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 20, 2015 12:50 PM in response to Eric Root

    Thanks Eric,

     

    I tried this but unfortunately it did not help.  Is there something else I can try?

     

    Ian

  • by Linc Davis,

    Linc Davis Linc Davis Apr 20, 2015 1:00 PM in response to IanBlackburn
    Level 10 (207,963 points)
    Applications
    Apr 20, 2015 1:00 PM in response to IanBlackburn

    The same procedure might work. Try it.

  • by IanBlackburn,Solvedanswer

    IanBlackburn IanBlackburn Apr 20, 2015 1:23 PM in response to Linc Davis
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Mac OS X
    Apr 20, 2015 1:23 PM in response to Linc Davis

    I fixed it by starting iPhoto then creating a new Library (which became the default)  It has no pictures in it, but the Photo's app has a different library that is working fine so it's all good .  The old iPhoto library was the problem.