System Preferences, the application for Mac OS X that allows you to modify various system settings. The application is organized into different preference panes.

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Why doesn't the screen saver delay that I set persist after restarting my Mac?

I have a problem with a screen saver, I set it to 20 minutes and when I lock the computer and unlock it, the settings are unchanged. However, when I restart my mac, then the screen saver is set to ...
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2answers
315 views

Applescript to change Wacom Driver settings

Can an Applescript change the primary monitor option within the Wacom Driver, and do it near instantly?
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1answer
178 views

AppleScript/Automator Workflow to restore OS X to “mint” condition

Under Mountain Lion, I wanted to create an AppleScript that would essentially restore my OS X install to "mint" condition, if possible even to the point of showing you the ML welcome screen asking you ...
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1answer
37 views

Spotlight Doesn't Properly Show Preference Panes

I'm having an issue where Spotlight isn't properly showing results for System Preference panels. When I search for a preference panel by name (e.g. Sharing or Network), I don't get any System ...
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1answer
522 views

Trackpad Gestures - Three-finger swipe unresponsive until I use two-finger scroll (OS X Lion)

Sometime within the last week or so, I noticed this really weird glitch with my trackpad. I have always used the three-finger swipe to navigate forwards and backwards on web browsers, between tabs in ...
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1answer
82 views

Why do Application Shortcuts in System Preferences disappear?

I have a longstanding issue with Application Shortcuts (ie. in System Preferences -> Keyboard -> Application Shortcuts). I can set up a new shortcut to a menu item of a specific application, eg. ...
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1answer
127 views

How can I reclaim quick-keys from special characters I never use?

I love Byword.app and there's a very handy quick key (⇧-⌥-p) that, recently, started showing the uppercase Greek character pi (∏) instead. I'm not sure what I changed, but it's very frustrating, as ...
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1answer
321 views

Toggle Natural scrolling from command line with reload

I'm looking to make a script that quickly toggles the Natural scrolling settings, so I need a way to do it from the command line. I think I found the correct defaults command, but I'm not sure how to ...
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1answer
351 views

Unable to link Apple ID with User Account in Lion 10.7.3

I'm desperately trying to link my user account with my Apple ID. After entering my ID and password a yellow warning sign appears in System Preferences beside the Set Apple ID button and the console ...
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0answers
203 views

What does OS X use “associated” Apple IDs for?

On OS X it is possible to associate Apple IDs with user accounts. Apple lists three consequences of doing so: The Apple IDs can be used to reset the user account The Apple IDs can be used to access ...
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0answers
343 views

Network preferences will not open

All network preferences are frozen on my macbook. This problem happens when I do the following: Fast User switching is on. At least two users are logged into the system. I've switched from one wifi ...
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0answers
80 views

iCloud can't find my MacBook

When I sign into icloud.com and click on the Find My iPhone icon, my MacBook does NOT show up in the located devices. I have already made sure that my location services are turned ON in System ...
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0answers
17 views

Search Results Within System Preferences Not Highlighted

This is just a minor annoyance, but usually, when typing in the search field inside of System Preferences, the icons for matching search results receive kind of a glowing background or highlight. ...
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0answers
66 views

Can Teleport set up be automated?

I've got two macs and I only use one keyboard and mouse thanks to teleport, the problem is that I have to activate it every time I turn my computer on. Would it be possible to do it automatically?
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0answers
88 views

Desktop background folder selections not persisting

Upgraded to Mountain Lion a few weeks ago, didn't have the problem. A few days ago I replaced the hard drive with a SSD and did a clean install of Mountain Lion then manually moved my background ...
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0answers
38 views

Keyboard shortcut to change the behavior of function keys?

Is there a shortcut for toggling the behavior of the function keys between standard and the media functions printed on them? I know I can do this in the Preferences, but it would be great to achieve ...
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0answers
238 views

Time/Clock in menu bar is always wrong, System Preferences crashes after upgrading to 10.8

Since upgrading to 10.8 the time displayed in the menu bar is always incorrect. Sometimes by minutes, or hours, other times it just displayes the same time (eg 3:13) for several days without changing. ...
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0answers
549 views

Found bizarre signed exceptions under com.apple.alf.plist

In the never-ending quest to track down odd errors on my late 2008 MBP, running 10.6.8, I have recently noticed that I have several .plist files are created anew several times a day. The list varies, ...
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0answers
1k views

How to change a password for an OpenLDAP user, which fails when using Lion's System Preferences?

The Problem Users are unable to change their password using System Preferences -> Users & Groups on a Mac that is connected to an LDAP server (specifically, OpenLDAP). This error appears to be a ...
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0answers
85 views

My hostname is now out of sync

My hostname got out of sync with what it is set to in System Preferences - Sharing. From what I've read this is most likely related to a router having the ability to update my hostname. Anyhow, I've ...
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0answers
57 views

How can I connect to the App Store again?

When i try to open xcode, It show me message like:you can't open the application "Xcode" because it is being updated. When i try to update the xcode through App Store, It display the message like: ...
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0answers
68 views

Desktop Background with multiple displays

I user a single external display at work with my MacBook Pro, running 10.8.2. I have the displays set up in extended desktop mode (as opposed to mirroring). I have the external monitor set as the main ...
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0answers
235 views

iCloud Mail setting not saved in System Preferences on Mountain Lion

I'm having difficulty keeping a Mail setting in System Preferences (10.8.2) persistent. I have an iCloud account that is the same as my AppleID - xxx@mac.com. I don't want to use the xxx@mac.com as ...
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109 views

How Do I Access/Change OSX System Preferences Using SSH?

I currently have SSH enabled on my 2011 Mac Mini Lion Server. I want to be able to use a VNC Viewer to connect to it as well from my Windows 7 client. I've downloaded the RealVNC VNC Viewer and ...
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21 views

Get rid of little circles on Teleport

I've installed Teleport in order to use two macs with one keyboard and mouse, but when I change of screen there apper some little red circles like a trail of the mouse. Is it possible to get rid of ...