Cannot Load iMac Desktop after latest Update

Question

Cannot Load iMac Desktop after latest Update

Since installing the latest update, About the OS X El Capitan v10.11.6 Update, on my iMac (2009 model) I cannot load the desktop.

It starts fine, user accounts appear, I login with password, then just a constant waiting, with spinning circle.

However, I can access system preferences via the Apple icon, and my imessage window opens. Can access internet browser if I click on any links in messages or app store.

I have

started up in safe mode and run disk utility and repaired disk

started in single use mode and run fsck fy (can't remember full command, but it checked and repaired the disk until it said it system was OK)

Reinstalled OSX

Still doesn't load.

Any help is appreciated.

iMac, OS X El Capitan (10.11.6)

Posted on Aug 13, 2016 1:45 PM

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Answer 1

Eric Root

Level 10

685,293 points

Aug 13, 2016 2:32 PM in response to Crackerjackscribeapple

Might be a corrupt .plist.

Do a backup, preferably 2 backups on 2 separate drives.

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.finder.plist and com.apple.desktop.plist. Move the .plists to your desktop.

Re-launch Finder by restarting the computer and test. If it works okay, delete the plists from the desktop.

If the same, return the .plists to where you got it from, overwriting the newer one.

Thanks to leonie for some information contained in this.

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Answer 2

Aug 14, 2016 6:49 PM in response to Eric Root

Thanks for the suggestion, however I came across another solution: I unplugged all other devices except power to my mac, and it started!

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