asked on

Widgets, Network Preferences and Software Updates won;t connect suddenly

On Monday, my various Mac widgets (Accuweather, currency converter) etc stopped been updating. They do not connect to the internet. I also have the problem that if I go to Network Preferences, I get stuck in an endless loop with a drop down box which can only be broken out of by quick mouse moves (thanks to advice on another site, so this is a known problem). I also cannot not connect to Apple software updates. So my machine is mot functioning as it was on Sunday. Finally, the connection to the internet from Parallels has stopped working, whereas it did before.

On Monday I installed the latest Security Update from Apple. This may be the problem. I am still running Tiger 10.4.11 for VPN reasons back home, but the above problems occcur without any firewall or VPN activated. I have a MacBook 2GHz Intel Core Duo.

Here are the updates I did:

2008-09-29 16:21:04 +0200: Installed "MacBook EFI Firmware Update" (1.1)
2008-09-29 16:21:18 +0200: Installed "Java for Mac OS X 10.4, Release 7" (1.0)
2008-09-29 16:21:45 +0200: Installed "QuickTime" (7.5.5)
2008-09-29 16:26:19 +0200: Installed "iTunes" (8.0)
2008-09-29 16:29:25 +0200: Installed "Security Update 2008-006 (Intel)" (1.0)

Thanks for any help

Judith

strung

Try booting in safe mode by holding down the shift key. Once booted, see if you can access your network prefs. (It may take a long time to boot in safe mode as the computer will attempt a disk directory repair while booting.

redjay

ASKER

OK, and what do I do then?

redjay

ASKER

Oh, OK, I see what you mean - sorry, did not read properly. Will try that and get back to you. Thanks!

redjay

ASKER

I tried the safe boot. Same behaviour. See attached file for the Network Prefs error. This one I have a workaround to, though it is irritating. The others:
- widgets
- software updates
- Parallels
I am stuck on.
NetworkPrefs.jpg

strung

That's a horse of a different colour:

Delete the following files from Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration com.apple.airport.preferences.plist

NetworkInterfaces.plist
preferences.plist
com.apple.nat.plist

then restart.

Once restarted, you will have to reset your network prefs.

redjay

ASKER

Resetting all my network preferences is not something I would do lightly. I would like to explore how this problem is connected to the others I am experiencing first. Is it the master problem, in that the others will go away when this is fixed? As I say, I'm not all that keen to go down this route unless I really have to.

strung

That should solve everything. If you can access your network prefs, write down what they are before deleting those files.

(You could also try moving them to the desktop. Then if your problem is not solved, just move them back.)

redjay

ASKER

I did that. Initially, the Automatic connection to the internet (via LAN) did not come up. I went into Assist on the Network Configurations panel, and the exact same error occurred, i.e. I got the screen I sent last time about "Your network settings have been changed.".However, the following are now working:
-- widgets
-- software updates
Parallels is not yet working, but I am bashing away at it.

Have you any solution to the Network Configuration problem? Thanks a lot.

strung

Try turning off the external modem

redjay

ASKER

It is not showing up, so I presume it is off. Network Status shows Built-in ethernet, Aport and two (en) Ethernet adapters. The drop down menu shows Bluetooth and firewire in addition.

strung

The JPEG you sent earlier shows an external modem.

redjay

ASKER

Yes, but it is not there after the delete and reboot. But, the very good news is that the panel loop has gone away, so this ticket is now solved! My thanks to you.

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

strung

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