Stop programs from automatically re-open after spontaneous restart?

[Doc69]

When my Mac Pro, for some unknown reason, spontaneously restarts, then all previously open programs will automatically re-open if I don't click NO within 60 seconds in the checkbox that comes up. I never want programs to re-start after a re-boot, but when a spontaneous restart happens, they always do.

Is there a terminal command that can change this behavior? I want it to be the exact opposite, i.e. if I don't say yes, then I don't want any programs to automatically re-open after a restart.

I have disliked this behavior ever since it was introduced in Lion. There should be a setting to reverse it. Hopefully a terminal command exists to fix it!

 

[Taz Mangus]

When my Mac Pro, for some unknown reason, spontaneously restarts, then all previously open programs will automatically re-open if I don't click NO within 60 seconds in the checkbox that comes up. I never want programs to re-start after a re-boot, but when a spontaneous restart happens, they always do.

Is there a terminal command that can change this behavior? I want it to be the exact opposite, i.e. if I don't say yes, then I don't want any programs to automatically re-open after a restart.

I have disliked this behavior ever since it was introduced in Lion. There should be a setting to reverse it. Hopefully a terminal command exists to fix it!

Click on the Apple icon in the upper left hand corner and select "Log Out" but don't logout. If the "Restart Applications" check box enabled? If so, uncheck it.

Now as far as the spontaneously restarts happening, open the console application and see if there are any crash logs generated.

 

[Doc69]

Click on the Apple icon in the upper left hand corner and select "Log Out" but don't logout. If the "Restart Applications" check box enabled? If so, uncheck it.

Hi Taz, I have unchecked that box a long time ago. Are you sure this box should aspect behavior after a crash, and not only when you log out properly? If so, perhaps I have a bug?

Next time I re-boot, I will check the box and the reboot again and uncheck it. Just to make sure there's no glitch there.

----------

Now as far as the spontaneously restarts happening, open the console application and see if there are any crash logs generated.

I've looked in Console before but couldn't find any answers. Where are the info about a crashes supposed to be stored? Anything labeled CrashReporter is empty.

 

[KoolAid-Drink]

Upon the next crash and restart, press SHIFT as your user account is signing in (NOT when the Apple logo appears; after that). That should prevent any programs from opening.

 

[KALLT]

Have you checked the option ‘Close windows when quitting an app’ in System Preferences > General? That should disable this feature altogether, to my knowledge.

 

[Doc69]

Upon the next crash and restart, press SHIFT as your user account is signing in (NOT when the Apple logo appears; after that). That should prevent any programs from opening.

Thanks, I didn't know that. I'll use it next time it happens if I'm by the computer (which unfortunately I'm usually not).

----------

Have you checked the option ‘Close windows when quitting an app’ in System Preferences > General? That should disable this feature altogether, to my knowledge.

Yes, this option is already checked, but it doesn't seem to have an effect on programs closed because of a logout or crash.

 

[F1Mac]

Upon the next crash and restart, press SHIFT as your user account is signing in (NOT when the Apple logo appears; after that). That should prevent any programs from opening.

This will only affect login items no?

 

[Taz Mangus]

I've looked in Console before but couldn't find any answers. Where are the info about a crashes supposed to be stored? Anything labeled CrashReporter is empty.

Expand "System Diagnostic Reports" and look for items that end with ".crash".

 

[KoolAid-Drink]

This will only affect login items no?

I heard it also stops programs that were previously running from starting again. Could be wrong, though, it's worth a try.

 

[grahamperrin]

… programs closed because of a … crash.

Do you mean, a crash of the app?

Or, a kernel panic (a crash of the operating system)?

 

[Doc69]

Finally found a Solution

Just for reference, I have now found the solution to the problem:

Quit all your apps.

Navigate to: ~/Library/Preferences/ByHost/com.apple.loginwindow.*.plist (whereby * is a bunch of characters)

Get Info on the file, and lock it using the "Locked" checkbox.

You've now prevented OS X from saving what apps and windows are open. To reverse this setting, simply unlock the file!


Many thanks to Mike who came up with this solution!

http://www.mikeindustries.com/blog/...ion-from-ever-re-opening-apps-after-a-restart