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September 29, 2008 1:30 PM PDT
Never-ending "Your network settings have been changed" message; fix
Some users have reported an issue wherein, after applying Security Update 2008-006 for Mac OS X 10.4.11, their systems repeatedly display the message "Your network settings have been changed by another application." This message is sometimes accompanied by dropous in wireless connectivity.
The potential fix is as follows:
Delete the following files from Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration
- com.apple.airport.preferences.plist
- NetworkInterfaces.plist
- preferences.plist
- com.apple.nat.plist
then restart.
This fix is similar to one that we've recommended for wireless connectivity issues after various security and system updates. It's a good first line of attack if you're having such problems after an incremenal Mac OS X or security update.
Feedback? http://www.macfixit.com/contact.
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while constantly clicking the Ok button, if I could get into the lock icon and lock the network preferences, then I could later unlock the network preferences and not have that dreaded message.
Yes I also tried the same tactic , but it re appeared on restarting the computer or reopening the Network Preferences.
The fix posted today (at my request) is THE ONLY ONE I have found to give a permanent solution.
Unfortunately MacFixit did not give credit to the original person (Robert Rezek) who originated the idea. I only passed it on from the Forum as it had been annoying the heck out of me for days, and I could not believe that it had not been covered by Apple or MacFixit.
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DocOnMac
macnews.de (German Mac forum) posting on September 30 2008
Christian Bürli [macparc.ch]
Managed to click on the lock icon after clicking on the ok button on the dropdown about 50 times. Now got it locked and hopefully no more dropdowns. What a mess, not impressed Mr Apple, not impressed !!
If the plist turns out not to be the problem, or if removing it makes things worse (both do occur) You can easily put it back where it belongs and all your preferences will reappear rather than you being forced to set them all manually again.
Additionally, it is best practice to NEVER EVER delete files, particularly from the system, until you are sure you really want to do so. The less you know about how the OS actually functions the more crucial this is, but it is best practice regardless.
I do not often bother to post here, for lots of reasons, but troubleshooting sites that give advice like "start out by destroying this OS component" are really doing their readers a disservice, and in my opinion (as someone whose been supporting Macs for 16 years and using them for 24) they are being irresponsible. Unless you really understand what you are doing, don't EVER destroy OS files without having a known functional backup. Moving the files is the easiest reliable way to accomplish this. Delete them later after you know that they were the cause of the problem.
After doing all this I do not get the endless, "Your network settings have been changed..." message.
Apple really sent out a stinker of a Security Update this time. All of our machines have been affected by this problem. Reading the posts at the Apple Forums, it's clear that thousands and thousands of users have this problem (and more) caused by this latest update. Perhaps Apple *is* getting stretched a bit thin. This update clearly was not tested well.
A more convenient solution :
go to the Security preferences, and enable the option "Require password to unlock each secure system preference".
and it's all over...
This easy solution doesn't solve the problem itself, but only hides it.... The anoying message won't display anymore BUT you won't be able to modify your network setup either. At the first atempt of modifying your network setup, you'll have this message again and again, and you won't be able to save your new setup.
Your correct. Setting the "Click the lock to prevent further changes" just hides the problem temporary. Also the real problem will still be there.
My problem was that after updating with Security Update 2008-006 on a PowerBook G4 running 10.4.11 I lost the AirPort connection so I tried to open Network which gave me this never ending "Your network settings have been changed by another application". But read this option to lock the Network setting which stopped the never-end message but didn't solve my real problem of AirPort not working properly. Deleting those files in /Library/Preference/System Configuration and then rebooting solved my problem. I notice something missing from these instructions is that if you have many settings in your Network location then you should copy all of that information somewhere and then move, instead of delete, these files to another location so you can retrieve this information later if needed.
I remember I have many settings on my system when I deleted these settings I have re-enter all of these Network locations when I rebooted. Again good thing I have these setting information copied somewhere.
It will occur, only if you have one or more, saved network configurations that includes PPP connection setup.
If you have such a network configuration, open it and take note of the different setup informations
Then delete the configuration and recreate it from scratch (taking advantage of the note you took at the previous step)
When each configuration including a PPP connection setup will have been deleted and recreated, you'll be delivered of this annoying message.
If not, just search for one more PPP configuration somewhere.
(after this, if you open the MacOS X keychain application, you'll note that a new PPP password, in the system keychain, has been registered)
Thank you, remyleroy. Your suggestion to remove all locations from the Network Preference Pane that include a PPP configuration fixed the problem of the never-ending error message, "Your network settings have been changed". (Removing the preference files listed in the MacFixIt article did not fix the problem).
I have the problem, and I have no PPP connections set up at all. Sigh.
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Gib Henry
Sorry, but that's overkill. All you need do is go through the relevant PPP settings and uncheck the wee "Save password' box. The eternal "settings changed" message will be gone and you can undo the lock-down via the Security pane, then restore your PPP passwords and again check "Save password".
The point of the exercise is just to get the system to remember the passwords in the new way rather than the old and now-problematic way. Deleting setting sets wholesale and trashing preference files is just too Gatesian.
When you apply this "fix", you lose ALL YOUR PREVIOUS LOCATIONS AND NETWORK SETTINGS! Unfortunately, I'm not sure how you're supposed to copy all that info when you're stuck with the problem in the first place?!?
Anyway, beware, you're going to have some work to do if you have much in the way of customized settings/locations in your Network prefpane...
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PEACE, POPPAJOHN
- by mluther November 2, 2008 5:39 AM PST
- Has anyone witnessed THIS behavior. My PowerBook has the "Never-ending" message in the Network settings. I deleted the four files in this fix. I rebooted, then needed to reinstall the Verizon VZAccess software for my USB modem. After an uninstall and reinstall of the Verizon software, I went back in to the System Prefs>Network; and the same never-ending drop down box had returned. I thought deleting these files would fix the problem?
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