I have a problem with my mac book pro screen saver. I have selected a screen saver from the apple folder in desktop & screen saver. When I restart my computer, my selected screen saver does not appear. It restarts with a random screen saver. Appreciate any feedback.
MacBook Pro with Retina display, Mac OS X (10.7.5)
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 named "ByHost" should open. Look inside it for a file with a long name that begins "com.apple.screensaver" or "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.
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 named "ByHost" should open. Look inside it for a file with a long name that begins "com.apple.screensaver" or "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.
Thank you, Linc Davis.
It didn't solve the problem but I appreciate your help.
Which screen saver are you selecting?
I am selecting the apple desktop pictures folder with the "Beach" photo. When I restart my computer, my screen saver is the desktop picture solid color??
You may be triggering a known bug, but that's not the usual manifestation. What happens if you select a built-in screen saver that is not a slideshow, such as "Flurry"?
I did not describe the issue correctly. The problem is with my desktop wallpaper/background.
1. If you log in automatically, a bug in some versions of OS X will cause the desktop picture to revert to the default image at every startup. The only known workaround is to disable automatic login in the Users & Groups preference pane.
2. If the selected Desktop picture is stored in an iPhoto library on an external drive, export it from iPhoto and move it to a folder on the startup volume. (Credit for this solution to ASC member janay.)
3. If the desktop picture always reverts to a plain blue background, one of your login items may be causing the problem. The "TeamViewer" application can have this effect; see this thread. If it's not that in your case, rule out all other third-party login items as possible causes.
4. If you have a MacBook Pro with automatic graphics switching, disable it temporarily in the Energy Saver preference pane, set the Desktop picture, then restart the computer and re-enable graphics switching.
5. If none of the above applies to you, proceed as follows.
Back up all data.
In the Finder, hold down the option key and select
Go ▹ Library
from the menu bar. From the Library folder, delete the following item, if it exists:
Caches/com.apple.systempreferences
and move the following items to the Desktop, if they exist:
Application Support/Dock/desktoppicture.db
Preferences/com.apple.desktop.plist
Launch System Preferences and test. If you still have the issue, put the items you moved to the Desktop back where they came from and post again. Otherwise, delete the items.
Thank you Linc Davis, I went down the list and the last instructions worked. Any idea what I may have done that created the problem?
Once again, Thank you!!
It's nothing you did. Just a glitch.
mac book pro screen saver malfunction
