I don't know if the underlying cause of this is software or hardware related, but my system preference settings won't stay set. The date and time are reset every time the computer restarts, the mouse tracking speed sometimes gets reset, and my quicktime settings (connection speed and pro registration) won't even stay set for two minutes while the computer is running. As a result I can't play any streaming media - everything just asks me to set my connection speed in the quicktime preference pane, and I can't use any of the pro player features that I've paid for. This has only been happening since I updated to 10.2.6. Could it just be the battery on my motherboard (G4/400 w Radeon 8500) or is something more sinister at play?
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Help! System Preference settings won't stay set
- Thread starter jamall
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While this is a possibility, I would repair disk permissions... That's where the culprit probably lies. If the system can't write to the preferences, it can't retain settings.
On another note, why do you have to reboot so often? Most users only need reboot for software updates...
pnw
Thanks, I'll try repairing disk permissions when I get home this evening, and if that fails I'll get a battery. My G4 usually runs for several days at a time without restart, but as I live in a rural area with single phase power, temporary blackouts are not uncommon.
Ah, I see and can sympathize. UPS's are cheap anymore, might not hurt to pick one up for your equipment... Blackouts and brownouts can be very hard on equipment. For $70 you can get an APC unit that provides 2-5 minutes of runtime, depending on your system... Don't plug things like printers or speakers in...
just a thought, it can be worth the cost for annoyance factor
pnw
Have you by chance recently filled (or nearly filled) your hard drive? For some reason if virtual memory can't do its thing you'll get all kinds of preferences issues. I did that on my iBook and basically gave it alzheimers. I didn't know what the issue was at the time (and I still don't know the fix) so I created a new users.
i don't see why you would suspect the mobo battery of being at fault for losing your preferences. they are stored on the hard drive, most of them probably in your ~/library folder. though barring the permissions issues, i can't imagine what else would do this to you...
I've noticed a similar problem since I upgraded from OS 10.1.5 to OS 10.2.4 and later to OS 10.2.6 on my PowerBook. The preference for "Sound | Input | Line In" keeps resetting itself at every login and it makes the internal microphone sensitive to background noises like the hard disk and the fans, which makes the device unusable until I change the setting.
Hint from OS X hints
Mac OS X Networking Problems? Try deleting these preference files
We previously noted this procedure as part of a workaround for users who were unable to use AirPort functionality after applying one of Apple's firmware updates.
MacFixIt reader Colin writes "I had a bizarre problem where my network settings were screwy. Although I don't use it PPPoE was checked and every time I unchecked it, it would re-enable itself."
If you are experiencing a problem similar to this, or an issue where Network Preferences cannot remember other settings, delete the following files using the Terminal's "sudo rm" command:
/var/db/NetworkInterfaces.xml
/var/db/SystemConfiguration/*.xml
Restart should not be required, but can be performed to ensure no other factors are hampering network access.
Mac OS X Networking Problems? Try deleting these preference files
We previously noted this procedure as part of a workaround for users who were unable to use AirPort functionality after applying one of Apple's firmware updates.
MacFixIt reader Colin writes "I had a bizarre problem where my network settings were screwy. Although I don't use it PPPoE was checked and every time I unchecked it, it would re-enable itself."
If you are experiencing a problem similar to this, or an issue where Network Preferences cannot remember other settings, delete the following files using the Terminal's "sudo rm" command:
/var/db/NetworkInterfaces.xml
/var/db/SystemConfiguration/*.xml
Restart should not be required, but can be performed to ensure no other factors are hampering network access.
The new motherboard battery hasn't worked either! My hard drive is only about 70% full and I've already repaired permissions, and now I'm stumped. This is really frustrating, but I think I can wait a month or two until Panther is released. Hopefully 10.3 will fix whatever has gone wrong.
It could be the PRAM battery. One thing you could try is while booting: press cmd-option-P-R. You will hear it boot again and then the PRAM will be zapped. This might solve the issue. Though I'm not so sure that this trick still works with newer macs.
Greets
Greets