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Killerbob

macrumors 68000
Original poster
Jan 25, 2008
1,888
653
Hi,

Since updating to High Sierra I have a really irritating issue with the desktop wallpaper. It keeps switching back to the default High Sierra one. I have deleted the com.apple.Desktop.plist file, I have moved all the files in the Library/Desktop Pictures folder, and I have set it all back to std., and then selected another wallpaper from the same folder.

If I reboot on the spot it is fine. If I log out and back in, it is fine. But, if I shot down, and wait a few hours, and then start the Mac Pro, it has reverted back to the default one. In one case (when I had deleted all the files in the directory, macOS still found the file from somewhere???

Please, this is driving me crazy!!!
 

Killerbob

macrumors 68000
Original poster
Jan 25, 2008
1,888
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It's a bit bigger than just wall paper defaulting when I cold boot. My WiFi settings also changes for instance...

When I just log out and back in, it is fine. But when I turn off, and thenback on again, if I have disabled WiFi it is turned back on when I start up again???
[doublepost=1507992679][/doublepost]And just to clarify;

I have two monitors, and the defaulting to HS wallpaper is only on the primary one. The settings I make in "Desktop & Screen Saver", for instance if I select "Change Picture" and "Random Order", they are then unticked when I have cold booted... On the secondary monitor all is fine...
 

Killerbob

macrumors 68000
Original poster
Jan 25, 2008
1,888
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This is still going on, and I have almost gotten used to not shutting down my Mac Pro, but that is of course not a solution.

Does anyone have a suggestion on how to fix that my High Sierra installation on my Mac Pro reverts to the default desktop picture everytime I restart the machine?
 

h9826790

macrumors P6
Apr 3, 2014
16,656
8,583
Hong Kong
I generally won’t recommend to use Onxy. But in this case, can you set the wallpaper via Onxy, and it survival after reboot?
 

Killerbob

macrumors 68000
Original poster
Jan 25, 2008
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I am not talking about the login wallpaper, but the desktop wallpaper. I don't think you can change that using Onyx...
 

DeltaMac

macrumors G5
Jul 30, 2003
13,712
4,553
Delaware
You said that random other settings (such as Wifi) also reset to defaults... Is that still true?
Another example, does the Startup Disk also un-set? (Startup Disk has to be unlocked to check that setting :) )
Do your energy saver settings go to defaults, too?

You have several Macs. is this only on your Mac Pro? Or, do you have your other Macs on High Sierra?
 
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h9826790

macrumors P6
Apr 3, 2014
16,656
8,583
Hong Kong
I am not talking about the login wallpaper, but the desktop wallpaper. I don't think you can change that using Onyx...

You are correct, but I suspect your system is keep falling back to that login wallpaper. So, if you don't mind to change the login wallpaper, that may become your "default" wallpaper (If fall back happen again).
 

Killerbob

macrumors 68000
Original poster
Jan 25, 2008
1,888
653
You said that random other settings (such as Wifi) also reset to defaults... Is that still true?
Another example, does the Startup Disk also un-set? (Startup Disk has to be unlocked to check that setting :) )
Do your energy saver settings go to defaults, too?

You have several Macs. is this only on your Mac Pro? Or, do you have your other Macs on High Sierra?

The other things that reset when rebooting the Mac was all sorted out in December some time. Nothing wlse “resets”, startup disk, energy settings, WiFi, it is all fine - just not wallpaper...

And, I run the same versino of HS (10.13.3 Beta now) on my MacBook Pro, and have no problems.
[doublepost=1516395633][/doublepost]
You are correct, but I suspect your system is keep falling back to that login wallpaper. So, if you don't mind to change the login wallpaper, that may become your "default" wallpaper (If fall back happen again).

So you are suggesting to create a PNG file, set it as login wallpaper using Onyx, and see of the Mac reverts to that when rebooting?
 

h9826790

macrumors P6
Apr 3, 2014
16,656
8,583
Hong Kong
So you are suggesting to create a PNG file, set it as login wallpaper using Onyx, and see of the Mac reverts to that when rebooting?

I am not sure if you really need PNG file. I believe just use whatever wallpaper you want, and ONXY will do the rest for you.

And yes, it can test if the wallpaper is falling back to the login wallpaper (lost desktop wallpaper setting), or the desktop wallpaper setting keep changed back to the default desktop wallpaper. They looks the same, but the reason behind is different.
 

Killerbob

macrumors 68000
Original poster
Jan 25, 2008
1,888
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I set a funky Login wallpaper using ONYX, but following a reboot, my Mac Pro has reverted to the default HS wallpaper again. The Login wallpaper stayed funky, but the desktop wallpaper changed back to default.
 

DeltaMac

macrumors G5
Jul 30, 2003
13,712
4,553
Delaware
How about any other settings?

Startup Disk would be a good example to check, where defaults would be NOTHING set.
Remember that you have to unlock that pane to check the setting.
 

Killerbob

macrumors 68000
Original poster
Jan 25, 2008
1,888
653
Nothing else resets to Default. All is working fine, except the desktop wallpaper.
 

Dr. Stealth

macrumors 6502a
Sep 14, 2004
814
739
SoCal-Surf City USA
Killerbob... Here is your solution. A 3-minute fix.... :)


I had the exact same problem when I switched to High Sierra. Everything worked great but my Desktops on two monitors always reverted to the Default High Sierra desktop picture on reboot. I found this YouTube video on how to resolve the issue and it has worked great ever since.

Hope it helps...

 
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Killerbob

macrumors 68000
Original poster
Jan 25, 2008
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So basically create a new desktop space, go into the new one, set wallpaper and then delete the original one? We'll see, I did it, and it was OK on the first reboot, but sometimes it lasts a day... Thx...
 
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