As far as I know, I did nothing to cause a problem. Only didn't like being sent spam for trying paid software Etrecheck.
That is the ONLY thing I can think of why yesterday I could sign on and today cannot.
Hoping this is not the reason and there is a temporary problem.
Skiph
iMac (27-inch Mid 2011), macOS High Sierra (10.13)
Hello skiph,
You must have downloaded and run EtreCheck about two weeks ago. EtreCheck it will display a single notification two weeks after you generate a report. That would explain the notification and the fact that you have 4 reports available. Tech support via web discussion forum is a new concept to most people. If people are having a problem bad enough to download and run EtreCheck, I want them to follow up and see if the problem is still there or has been resolved.
Unless you have disabled Apple's Gatekeeper security system, it is not possible for EtreCheck or any other app to download and run itself. You would have to physically double-click on the app and then confirm with Gatekeeper that you downloaded it and want to run it. Only then would it actually run. EtreCheck does not install or move itself. If it is no longer where you downloaded it, you must have moved it. EtreCheck is designed to be a temporary app and can run from any location.
EtreCheck is free to use. Obviously you have already used it once for free. It is designed to be used to generate 5 reports for free. That should be enough to identify the problem, work through solutions, and confirm that the problem has been resolved. After that, you can throw it in the trash. But if you like what it does, you can choose to pay for it and keep using it.
As for your "unauthorized posts" problems, there are a few of possible causes:
1) Apple is currently re-writing the forum software. Since the forum is huge and can't be shut down, they are doing that while it is running. Sometimes it just flakes out. This is a regular annoyance for regular users.
2) Your post could have been removed. If this happens, you should have an e-mail message from the Apple hosts explaining why your post was removed.
3) You could have replied to another post that was removed. If this happens, you won't get any e-mail about it. When the Apple hosts remove a post, that removes all replies to it. This is the internet and sometimes people just go off the deep end. The hosts are very good at cleaning up messes.
I looked at your other thread and I don't see the reply that was quoted above. It looks like something was removed. I wouldn't worry about it. People have a tendency to lose their inhibitions and decorum on the internet. Even though this site ends in "apple.com", it is still just another publicly-accessible forum on the internet. Sometimes the Apple moderators' skill at cleaning things up does a disservice to how nasty and potentially dangerous the internet can be. You have already unnecessarily revealed some personal information in this thread. That is a bad idea.
I'm sorry I didn't see your concerns sooner. I can assure you that EtreCheck has nothing in common with MacKeeper or other "clean up" apps. EtreCheck just reports what it finds and never makes changes*. (*If you ask it to, EtreCheck does remove adware and clean up some partially removed and non-functional files).
I will add another reply to your original thread that may shed some light on your original problem.
Hello skiph,
You must have downloaded and run EtreCheck about two weeks ago. EtreCheck it will display a single notification two weeks after you generate a report. That would explain the notification and the fact that you have 4 reports available. Tech support via web discussion forum is a new concept to most people. If people are having a problem bad enough to download and run EtreCheck, I want them to follow up and see if the problem is still there or has been resolved.
Unless you have disabled Apple's Gatekeeper security system, it is not possible for EtreCheck or any other app to download and run itself. You would have to physically double-click on the app and then confirm with Gatekeeper that you downloaded it and want to run it. Only then would it actually run. EtreCheck does not install or move itself. If it is no longer where you downloaded it, you must have moved it. EtreCheck is designed to be a temporary app and can run from any location.
EtreCheck is free to use. Obviously you have already used it once for free. It is designed to be used to generate 5 reports for free. That should be enough to identify the problem, work through solutions, and confirm that the problem has been resolved. After that, you can throw it in the trash. But if you like what it does, you can choose to pay for it and keep using it.
As for your "unauthorized posts" problems, there are a few of possible causes:
1) Apple is currently re-writing the forum software. Since the forum is huge and can't be shut down, they are doing that while it is running. Sometimes it just flakes out. This is a regular annoyance for regular users.
2) Your post could have been removed. If this happens, you should have an e-mail message from the Apple hosts explaining why your post was removed.
3) You could have replied to another post that was removed. If this happens, you won't get any e-mail about it. When the Apple hosts remove a post, that removes all replies to it. This is the internet and sometimes people just go off the deep end. The hosts are very good at cleaning up messes.
I looked at your other thread and I don't see the reply that was quoted above. It looks like something was removed. I wouldn't worry about it. People have a tendency to lose their inhibitions and decorum on the internet. Even though this site ends in "apple.com", it is still just another publicly-accessible forum on the internet. Sometimes the Apple moderators' skill at cleaning things up does a disservice to how nasty and potentially dangerous the internet can be. You have already unnecessarily revealed some personal information in this thread. That is a bad idea.
I'm sorry I didn't see your concerns sooner. I can assure you that EtreCheck has nothing in common with MacKeeper or other "clean up" apps. EtreCheck just reports what it finds and never makes changes*. (*If you ask it to, EtreCheck does remove adware and clean up some partially removed and non-functional files).
I will add another reply to your original thread that may shed some light on your original problem.
Yes it was. I went to my profile and was able to find my discussion and get to it that way. But I clicked on the link in the email to view the discussion. That was when I got the unauthorized message. Normally, that's how I get back to a post.
Now I am able to get to my posts. It may have just been the link within the email that no longer work. Why it didn't tell me that instead of telling me I wasn't authorized, I have NO idea.
But closing this particular problem.
Thank you for clarifying, 'skip'.
I accept what you say - 100%. 😉
I'm pretty sure you are well aware that I didn't actually doubt your word. I simply wanted to draw out more information from you. Perhaps other good folk here will now start to take an interest in what happened to you.
I've just read this post of yours for the very first time, 'skiph':-
Aug 9, 2018 5:21 PM in response to rkaufmann87
I went to the Etrecheck site the other day. Looked around. Found the bit about paying for it. Went away.
It loaded itself to my mac. I did NOT hit any kind of "download here" thing. First thing this AM I get a notification from ETRECHECK - then a box pops up and tells me I have 4 more times I can run a report before I have to pay.
I just visited the creepy site for pete's sake! I just put it in the trash. Jeeze.
=
Did that REALLY happen? Are you SURE you didn't click to download the software?
If so, something is seriously wrong. 😮
Is there anyone reading hear who can check this out?
Anyone?
Comptia Linux+ and Network+ certified. People with certifications and degrees can still be idiots but I worked with and for the DoD for almost 20 years. Again, not proof but indicative. Worked mainframes to minis to PCs. Generally, I know when I am downloading software. That was my whole point. It was suggested I load Etrecheck. I knew nothing of it. Went to the site, saw that it was a paid product (not much but that's not the point). I was looking for native Apple solutions not 3rd party MacKeeper kinds of things. This was contested. Being a paid product. Was told it was free. Went back to the site and checked their purchase options and copied and pasted where they quote how much it costs. These were the only times I went to the site. Big red CHECK mark (in yellow) on my iMac today. I agree something is not right somewhere. I didn't want it. Not even to try. So I would NOT have downloaded it for evaluation. Just for giggles, I checked my download folder. No Etrecheck. I don't know everything. Even at my age I learn 10 new things a day but I am not computer stupid and this just gives me the willies.
Over time, you will learn to avoid most of the issues.
Try some of these tweaks.
How to improve your experience with Apple Support Communities ( ASC )
To find you way around the communities, I use Turingtest2's "Site map of Communities and Categories"
Site map of Communities and Categories
This actually works for navigating around the ASC site. [ cannot say that about Apple's version. ] See the first for link at the top of the document for how to find your stuff.
Fix the user experience.
or
Adjust the format and layout of ASC Web Pages I use Waterfox a Firefox clone.
R
PS. This is my third post of this information today. ASC must be having a bad day.
I was actually hoping to keep my association with "ASC" as minimal as possible as the only time I seem to show up here is when I have a, to me, bad problem.
But this is certainly good info and I plan on taking it to heart and looking at your helpful hints.
You know how it is, you are trying to get from Point A to B and seems you always have to go by way of Chicago ("Access Denied") first. This was just one more thing added to my bag of woes. And yes, these are definitely First World issues. 😉
I do appreciate the response.
This post?
I don't defend it, I don't define it, about it downloading itself. Belief by others is nice but not required.
You can use Etrecheck for free for 5 checks. Usually that's enough for analyzing an issue or two and certainly more than I have used it in several years total. Beyond 5 you can buy it.
Absolutely. And I know you don't know me from Adam or his aunt. I appreciate your response and your replies.
✅ All good! 😁
Totally. Thanks.
Have a great one.
I am now unauthorized to view my own posts?
