Help with iChat, please

[JoshLV]

Yesterday my iChat was working fine and dandy. Today I try to get on and my entire buddy list is gone and I can't add anyone. I'm new to macs and I have a trial .Mac membership. It might be expired because it's getting close to 1 month. Does iChat run off of .Mac, causing my iChat to no longer work? Also, my MBP is running slower than usual today so things are just being weird. Help please

 

[JoshLV]

Anyone? I need this fixed quick because I'm depending on it for my group project in school.

 

[5855997]

I guess it is because your .mac trial is finished. because all your contact gone through that account.

Now you have the following options: pay and extend for your .mac membership or use an alternative email address with iChat. If you already have an AIM address, you can simly use that one and pay nothing. Or just make a new one.

I am not sure if you have to add all your contacts again, but I think you have to because I think they're not stored in iChat itself.


Why your MBP runs slower should be a complete other question. I really don't think it's related to your iChat problem.

Maybe you've installed something new in the last days which is running in the background, or maybe some automated (time machine) backups?

Just think of everything you changed on your system lately.


Hope that helps!

 

[allan.nyholm]

The thing about your buddylist disappearing I can say that I also had that. I deleted my version of iChat and reinstalled from my Time Machine backup. You could also install it from the Leopard DVD.

The other thing is that, I hear that the .mac signin name for you use for iChat remains even after the trial has ended. I can't say for sure since i've never tried this.

 

[decal]

Before deleting the whole program try just deleting the Preference file.

HD > Users > "Home Folder" > Library > Preferences. Then look for anything with iChat in it and delete them. Do a restart of iChat.
You will most likely need to put your user name and password back in.

Once your iChat trail ends you keep your user name for iChat but can not access any of the other .Mac features.
The best way to add buddy's is to put them into your address book 1st then go to iChat and add them in using the address book card.

Hope this helps!