I have found a bug in Mac OS X Leopard. Confirmed by Applecare.
It affects you only if you have changed your system preferences thus:
- Gaeilge (Irish) or Welsh is your preferred language in the International prefs pane
If you do this your system will do strange things like -
- desktop icons (except HD icon) will dissappear from desktop, but not from the folder!
- you will not be allowed to create any new folders or files on your desktop, because you will not have access privileges to do so! This is because 'sharing & permissions' for your Desktop folder have been altered!!
- some websites in Safari will have different fonts (eg Macintouch)
- Firefox won't launch
- .dmg file may not be able to find its app, diskimagemounter(?)
- .pkg and .mpkg files give a "no default application specified ..." message
- iTunes - dialog says folder "iTunes cannot be found or created, and is required ..." and won't open!
- cocktail demo says "incorrect password", launches, then dissappears when you run it
- some Safari prefs are changed, eg, autofill is deselected
- Font Book has no fonts in it, and no "Default Install Location"
I discovered the cause after 30 calls to Applecare, 2 Archive & Installs, 2 Erase, Zero Out & Installs and lots of hair pulling and gnashing of teeth. It turned out that the engineering dept were aware of the issue, but had not told the Applecare call centre people! Which, of course, is really silly.
Workaround:
- change your language prefs to anything other than Irish or Welsh in the International prefs pane
- do a 'get info' for your dektop folder and correct the sharing & permissions privileges (this may or may not be neccessary)
Fixed: In Snow Leopard, I am assured.
If you have been experiencing this problem please send a message to Apple.
It affects you only if you have changed your system preferences thus:
- Gaeilge (Irish) or Welsh is your preferred language in the International prefs pane
If you do this your system will do strange things like -
- desktop icons (except HD icon) will dissappear from desktop, but not from the folder!
- you will not be allowed to create any new folders or files on your desktop, because you will not have access privileges to do so! This is because 'sharing & permissions' for your Desktop folder have been altered!!
- some websites in Safari will have different fonts (eg Macintouch)
- Firefox won't launch
- .dmg file may not be able to find its app, diskimagemounter(?)
- .pkg and .mpkg files give a "no default application specified ..." message
- iTunes - dialog says folder "iTunes cannot be found or created, and is required ..." and won't open!
- cocktail demo says "incorrect password", launches, then dissappears when you run it
- some Safari prefs are changed, eg, autofill is deselected
- Font Book has no fonts in it, and no "Default Install Location"
I discovered the cause after 30 calls to Applecare, 2 Archive & Installs, 2 Erase, Zero Out & Installs and lots of hair pulling and gnashing of teeth. It turned out that the engineering dept were aware of the issue, but had not told the Applecare call centre people! Which, of course, is really silly.
Workaround:
- change your language prefs to anything other than Irish or Welsh in the International prefs pane
- do a 'get info' for your dektop folder and correct the sharing & permissions privileges (this may or may not be neccessary)
Fixed: In Snow Leopard, I am assured.
If you have been experiencing this problem please send a message to Apple.