The error message keeps appearing, but when I go to fix it in System Prefs and sign in it then says: an unknown error occurred.
Any help much appreciated.
MacBook Pro, OS X El Capitan (10.11.6), 2.8 GHz Intel core 2 duo; 8GB RAM
ry setting up another admin user account to see if the same problem continues. If Back-to-My Mac is selected in System Preferences, the Guest account will not work. The intent is to see if it is specific to one account or a system wide problem. This account can be deleted later. Please post if this worked or not.
Isolating an issue by using another user account
If the problem is still there, try booting into the Safe Mode using your normal account. Disconnect all peripherals except those needed for the test. Shut down the computer and then power it back up after waiting 10 seconds. Immediately after hearing the startup chime, hold down the shift key and continue to hold it until the gray Apple icon and a progress bar appear. The boot up is significantly slower than normal. This will reset some caches, forces a directory check, and disables all startup and login items, among other things. When you reboot normally, the initial reboot may be slower than normal. If the system operates normally, there may be 3rd party applications which are causing a problem. Try deleting/disabling the third party applications after a restart by using the application un-installer or by using the developer’s uninstall instructions. For each disable/delete, you will need to restart if you don't do them all at once. Please post if this worked or not.
Safe Mode - About El Capitan
also Sierra
Safe Mode Startup – El Capitan. also Sierra
If it works in the Safe Mode, try running this program when booted normally and then copy and paste the output in a reply. The program was created by Etresoft, a frequent contributor. Please use copy and paste as screen shots can be hard to read. Click “Share Report” button in the toolbar, select “Copy to Clipboard” and then paste into a reply. This will show what is running on your computer. No personal information is shown. You can run the report for free at least once, but if you run it several times, at some point it will ask you to pay a license fee.
ry setting up another admin user account to see if the same problem continues. If Back-to-My Mac is selected in System Preferences, the Guest account will not work. The intent is to see if it is specific to one account or a system wide problem. This account can be deleted later. Please post if this worked or not.
Isolating an issue by using another user account
If the problem is still there, try booting into the Safe Mode using your normal account. Disconnect all peripherals except those needed for the test. Shut down the computer and then power it back up after waiting 10 seconds. Immediately after hearing the startup chime, hold down the shift key and continue to hold it until the gray Apple icon and a progress bar appear. The boot up is significantly slower than normal. This will reset some caches, forces a directory check, and disables all startup and login items, among other things. When you reboot normally, the initial reboot may be slower than normal. If the system operates normally, there may be 3rd party applications which are causing a problem. Try deleting/disabling the third party applications after a restart by using the application un-installer or by using the developer’s uninstall instructions. For each disable/delete, you will need to restart if you don't do them all at once. Please post if this worked or not.
Safe Mode - About El Capitan
also Sierra
Safe Mode Startup – El Capitan. also Sierra
If it works in the Safe Mode, try running this program when booted normally and then copy and paste the output in a reply. The program was created by Etresoft, a frequent contributor. Please use copy and paste as screen shots can be hard to read. Click “Share Report” button in the toolbar, select “Copy to Clipboard” and then paste into a reply. This will show what is running on your computer. No personal information is shown. You can run the report for free at least once, but if you run it several times, at some point it will ask you to pay a license fee.
I have just logged back in to my usual account and once again System Prefs asked me to update my password. It didn't accept the first time, but at the the second attempt my iPad was sent the verification code and now the computer appears to work properly again.
[This computer does a few strange things, the most frequent being that the finder stops responding and has to be relaunched, so this is not entirely surprising. This has happened since an upgrade to an SSD wth the SATA moved to the optical drive bay.]
Thanks again for the suggestion.
OK, once again, thanks very much. I've booted into safe mode and run EtreCheck. The report is below.
Problem description:
The problem was that iCloud kept asking for password update, but when I did this it did not register it. It also failed to recognize my correct Apple ID password. After setting up another account to see whether the problem persisted I then went back my usual account, and after one false start the system appears to have finally recognized the password.
Here is an EtreCheck report none the less.
EtreCheck version: 2.1.5 (108)
Report generated 3 April 2018 at 19:28:53 GMT+1
Click the [Support] links for help with non-Apple products.
Click the [Details] links for more information about that line.
Click the [Adware] links for help removing adware.
Hardware Information: ℹ
MacBook Pro (15-inch, Late 2008) (Verified)
MacBook Pro - model: MacBookPro5,1
1 2.8 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo CPU: 2-core
8 GB RAM Upgradeable
BANK 0/DIMM0
4 GB DDR3 1067 MHz ok
BANK 0/DIMM1
4 GB DDR3 1067 MHz ok
Bluetooth: Old - Handoff/Airdrop2 not supported
Wireless: en1: 802.11 a/b/g/n
Video Information: ℹ
NVIDIA GeForce 9400M - VRAM: 256 MB
NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT - VRAM: 512 MB
System Software: ℹ
OS X 10.11.6 (15G19009) - Uptime: 0:6:12
Disk Information: ℹ
WDC WD7500BPKX-00HPJT0 disk1 : (750.16 GB)
EFI (disk1s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB
Files_HD (disk1s2) /Volumes/Files_HD : 749.81 GB (370.15 GB free)
Crucial_CT275MX300SSD1 disk0 : (275.06 GB)
EFI (disk0s1) <not mounted> : 210 MB
Macintosh SSD (disk0s2) / : 274.20 GB (148.78 GB free)
Recovery HD (disk0s3) <not mounted> [Recovery]: 650 MB
USB Information: ℹ
Apple Inc. Built-in iSight
Apple, Inc. Apple Internal Keyboard / Trackpad
Apple Computer, Inc. IR Receiver
Apple Inc. BRCM2046 Hub
Apple Inc. Bluetooth USB Host Controller
Gatekeeper: ℹ
Mac App Store and identified developers
Kernel Extensions: ℹ
/Library/Application Support/VirtualBox
[not loaded] org.virtualbox.kext.VBoxDrv (5.1.22) [Support]
[not loaded] org.virtualbox.kext.VBoxNetAdp (5.1.22) [Support]
[not loaded] org.virtualbox.kext.VBoxNetFlt (5.1.22) [Support]
[not loaded] org.virtualbox.kext.VBoxUSB (5.1.22) [Support]
/Library/Extensions
[not loaded] at.obdev.nke.LittleSnitch (4724 - SDK 10.11) [Support]
/System/Library/Extensions
[not loaded] com.Cycling74.driver.Soundflower (1.5.1) [Support]
[not loaded] com.FTDI.driver.FTDIUSBSerialDriver (2.2.16) [Support]
[not loaded] com.ZTE.driver.ZTEUSBCDCACMData (1.3.13) [Support]
[not loaded] com.ZTE.driver.ZTEUSBMassStorageFilter (1.3.13) [Support]
[not loaded] com.eltima.ElmediaPlayer.kext (1.0) [Support]
[not loaded] com.eltima.SyncMate.kext (0.2.4b13) [Support]
[not loaded] com.joshuawise.kexts.HoRNDIS (1.0.0d1 - SDK 10.6) [Support]
[not loaded] com.motorola-mobility.driver.MotMobileUSB (1.2.2 - SDK 10.5) [Support]
[not loaded] com.novatelwireless.kext.wwan (3.0.23) [Support]
[not loaded] com.sierrawireless.driver.SierraDIPSupport (1.0.0) [Support]
[not loaded] com.sierrawireless.driver.SierraFSRSupport (3.0.0) [Support]
[not loaded] com.sierrawireless.driver.SierraHSRSupport (3.0.0) [Support]
[not loaded] com.sierrawireless.driver.SierraIPDirect (1.1.4) [Support]
/System/Library/Extensions/MotMobileUSB.kext/Contents/PlugIns
[not loaded] com.motorola-mobility.driver.MotMobileMS (1.0.0 - SDK 10.5) [Support]
[not loaded] com.motorola-mobility.driver.MotMobileMTP (1.2.2 - SDK 10.5) [Support]
[not loaded] com.motorola-mobility.driver.MotMobileUSBLAN (1.2.2 - SDK 10.5) [Support]
[not loaded] com.motorola-mobility.driver.MotMobileUSBLANMerge (1.2.2 - SDK 10.5) [Support]
[not loaded] com.motorola-mobility.driver.MotMobileUSBSwch (1.2.2 - SDK 10.5) [Support]
/System/Library/Extensions/NovatelWirelessWWAN.kext/Contents/PlugIns
[not loaded] com.NovatelWireless.driver.NovatelWirelessUSBCDCECMControl (3.0.23) [Support]
[not loaded] com.NovatelWireless.driver.NovatelWirelessUSBCDCECMData (3.0.23) [Support]
[not loaded] com.novatelwireless.driver.3G (3.0.23) [Support]
[not loaded] com.novatelwireless.driver.3GData (3.0.23) [Support]
[not loaded] com.novatelwireless.driver.DisableAutoInstall (3.0.23) [Support]
[not loaded] com.novatelwireless.driver.NWVBE (3.0.23) [Support]
Problem System Launch Daemons: ℹ
[failed] com.apple.logd.plist [Details]
[failed] com.apple.ucupdate.plist
[failed] com.apple.watchdogd.plist [Details]
[loaded] org.postfix.newaliases.plist [Support]
Launch Agents: ℹ
[not loaded] at.obdev.LittleSnitchUIAgent.plist [Support]
[not loaded] com.google.keystone.agent.plist [Support]
[invalid?] com.motorola.MDMUpdater.plist [Support]
[not loaded] com.motorola.motohelper.plist [Support]
[not loaded] com.motorola.motohelperUpdater.plist [Support]
[not loaded] com.oracle.java.Java-Updater.plist [Support]
[invalid?] SwapperUFi.plist [Support]
Launch Daemons: ℹ
[not loaded] at.obdev.littlesnitchd.plist [Support]
[not loaded] com.adobe.fpsaud.plist [Support]
[not loaded] com.google.keystone.daemon.plist [Support]
[invalid?] com.motorola-mobility.mmcfgd.plist [Support]
[not loaded] com.oracle.java.Helper-Tool.plist [Support]
[not loaded] com.rogueamoeba.instanton-agent.plist [Support]
[not loaded] org.virtualbox.startup.plist [Support]
[invalid?] PPPMonitord.plist [Support]
User Launch Agents: ℹ
[not loaded] com.adobe.ARM.[...].plist [Support]
[not loaded] com.dropbox.DropboxMacUpdate.agent.plist [Support]
[invalid?] com.skype.skype.shareagent.plist [Support]
[not loaded] com.spotify.webhelper.plist [Support]
[not loaded] org.virtualbox.vboxwebsrv.plist [Support]
User Login Items: ℹ
Stickies Application (/Applications/Stickies.app)
Dropbox Application (/Applications/Dropbox.app)
Speedtest Application (/Applications/Speedtest.app)
Internet Plug-ins: ℹ
DirectorShockwave: Version: 12.0.9r149 - SDK 10.6 [Support]
o1dbrowserplugin: Version: 5.41.3.0 - SDK 10.8 [Support]
Default Browser: Version: 601 - SDK 10.11
Flip4Mac WMV Plugin: Version: 3.2.0.16 - SDK 10.8 [Support]
Silverlight: Version: 5.1.50901.0 - SDK 10.6 [Support]
FlashPlayer-10.6: Version: 29.0.0.113 - SDK 10.12 [Support]
AmazonMP3DownloaderPlugin101749: Version: AmazonMP3DownloaderPlugin 1.0.17 - SDK 10.4 [Support]
QuickTime Plugin: Version: 7.7.3
Flash Player: Version: 29.0.0.113 - SDK 10.12 [Support]
googletalkbrowserplugin: Version: 5.41.3.0 - SDK 10.8 [Support]
npgtpo3dautoplugin: Version: 0.1.44.29 - SDK 10.5 [Support]
JavaAppletPlugin: Version: Java 8 Update 161 build 12 Check version
User internet Plug-ins: ℹ
EMusic: Version: EMusic 1.0.0 [Support]
RealPlayer Plugin: Version: Unknown
3rd Party Preference Panes: ℹ
CepstralVoices [Support]
Flash Player [Support]
Flip4Mac WMV [Support]
Java [Support]
MagicPrefs [Support]
Time Machine: ℹ
Skip System Files: NO
Mobile backups: ON
Auto backup: YES
Volumes being backed up:
Macintosh SSD: Disk size: 274.20 GB Disk used: 125.42 GB
Destinations:
pqbTimeMachine [Local]
Total size: 3.00 TB
Total number of backups: 68
Oldest backup: 2015-10-05 16:05:26 +0000
Last backup: 2017-10-27 06:26:32 +0000
Size of backup disk: Excellent
Backup size 3.00 TB > (Disk size 274.20 GB X 3)
Top Processes by CPU: ℹ
3% WindowServer
1% usernoted
0% ps
0% SystemUIServer
0% CalNCService
Top Processes by Memory: ℹ
129 MB Finder
103 MB CalendarAgent
94 MB Dock
94 MB WindowServer
86 MB Spotlight
Virtual Memory Information: ℹ
3.06 GB Free RAM
3.91 GB Active RAM
641 MB Inactive RAM
978 MB Wired RAM
925 MB Page-ins
0 B Page-outs
Diagnostics Information: ℹ
Apr 3, 2018, 07:23:17 PM Self test - passed
What exactly does the prompt say?
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. Move the following to the Trash and restart.
Close all running apps. Put the following items in the trash:
1) In the ~/Library/ folder, put the Caches folder in the trash.
2) In the ~/Library/Application Support/ folder, put the folder iCloud in the trash.
3) In the ~/Library/Preferences/ folder, put the file MobileMeAccounts.plist in the trash.
Learned fromKurt Lang
The prompt asks to finish updating password, but it already is updated, so this is some kind of bug, isn't it?
iCloud is synchronizing what it should now, whereas it wasn't before.
What other data would be destroyed by trashing these files? The issue appears to have almost disappeared, so I'm inclined not to destroy data that might be useful for other functions.
I'll delete the extra account I set up to test this initially.
Thanks for replying.
It seems to be OK in the newly created admin account. iCloud drive copied across quickly and notes too.
Now what should I do to cure my usual account?
Thanks for replying.
It seems to be OK in the newly created admin account. iCloud drive copied across quickly and notes too.
Now what should I do to cure my usual account?
You are welcome. Try the Safe Mode on your normal account. If it works there, run the Ertrecheck report.
Still getting the prompt to update user information in system prefs, but the iCloud appears to be working normally, eg Notes and Pages files are syncing between computer & iPad.
computer cannot sign into icloud
