Something is wrong with my Mac's display - no idea what

[raspberrysoul]

Hello,
Thank you so much in advance for reading this and offering any advice you have. I have a macbook pro 13 inch that I purchased in 2009. It was working fine, maybe slowing down a bit, until I installed the last software update. I had turned my laptop off, and when I turned it back on, all of my settings on the home page were gone. It looks like a factory reset to the original background and application bar at the bottom, but all of my content seems to be here. I ran a check for the flash trojan and it found nothing. I ran Dr. WebLight and it found nothing. I'm running Sophos now but have not seen any alerts yet.

My technical skills are not advanced so I have no idea what's wrong. Please advise. Thanks!

 

[iLog.Genius]

Reset PRAM.

1. Turn on your computer
2. Press and hold Command + Option + P + R
3. Wait until you hear two startup chimes and then release keys.

 

[GGJstudios]

I'm running Sophos now but have not seen any alerts yet.

I recommend that you avoid using Sophos, as it could actually increase your Mac's vulnerability, as described here and here.

Macs are not immune to malware, but no true viruses exist in the wild that can run on Mac OS X, and there never have been any since it was released over 10 years ago. The only malware in the wild that can affect Mac OS X is a handful of trojans, which can be easily avoided by practicing safe computing (see below). Also, Mac OS X Snow Leopard and Lion have anti-malware protection built in, further reducing the need for 3rd party antivirus apps.

Mac Virus/Malware FAQ​

1. Make sure your built-in Mac firewall is enabled in System Preferences > Security > Firewall
   
   
2. Uncheck "Open "safe" files after downloading" in Safari > Preferences > General
   
   
3. Disable Java in your browser (Safari, Chrome, Firefox). This will protect you from malware that exploits Java in your browser, including the recent Flashback trojan. Leave Java disabled until you visit a trusted site that requires it, then re-enable only for the duration of your visit to that site. (This is not to be confused with JavaScript, which you should leave enabled.)
   
   
4. Change your DNS servers to OpenDNS servers by reading this.
   
   
5. Be careful to only install software from trusted, reputable sites. Never install pirated software. If you're not sure about an app, ask in this forum before installing.
   
   
6. Never let someone else have access to install anything on your Mac.
   
   
7. Don't open files that you receive from unknown or untrusted sources.
   
   
8. For added security, make sure all network, email, financial and other important passwords are long and complex, including upper and lower case letters, numbers and special characters.
   
   
9. Always keep your Mac and application software updated. Use Software Update for your Mac software. For other software, it's safer to get updates from the developer's site or from the menu item "Check for updates", rather than installing from any notification window that pops up while you're surfing the web.

That's all you need to do to keep your Mac completely free of any Mac OS X malware that has ever been released into the wild. You don't need any 3rd party software to keep your Mac secure.

 

[raspberrysoul]

Thanks very much! I will test these suggestions out and report on my results.

Your help is much appreciated!

 

[raspberrysoul]

Always keep your Mac and application software updated. Use Software Update for your Mac software. For other software, it's safer to get updates from the developer's site or from the menu item "Check for updates", rather than installing from any notification window that pops up while you're surfing the web.
[/LIST]
That's all you need to do to keep your Mac completely free of any Mac OS X malware that has ever been released into the wild. You don't need any 3rd party software to keep your Mac secure.

Thanks for these tips. I followed all your advice and downloaded a security update from apple. I think i've done something wrong, though, because the display is still factory standard. I even had to re-register my MS Word when it opened. Is there any fix for this, or do I have to redo everything?

Thanks again.

 

[PurrBall]

Sounds like your Library folder got busted during the update. It might be lying somewhere on your hard drive, but I wouldn't count on it.

 

[raspberrysoul]

Sounds like your Library folder got busted during the update. It might be lying somewhere on your hard drive, but I wouldn't count on it.

Purrball, I had my data backed up before this happened, so I should be able to recover it there. Do you think the update was the cause of this problem?

 

[Arelunde]

Reset PRAM.

1. Turn on your computer
2. Press and hold Command + Option + P + R
3. Wait until you hear two startup chimes and then release keys.

Genius, Is this a hard reset sequence? Usually, to do what I think is a hard reset, I press and hold the power key until the screen goes black, then restart.
However, I really haven't had to do this since I figured out some of the basics on my MBP.

Perhaps a full restore would be advisable for the OP, from iCloud or iTunes, depending where the update was handled. He might have to re-install the update afterward, though. Seems like the only answer at this point, short of starting over.

 

[raspberrysoul]

Genius, Is this a hard reset sequence? Usually, to do what I think is a hard reset, I press and hold the power key until the screen goes black, then restart.
However, I really haven't had to do this since I figured out some of the basics on my MBP.

Perhaps a full restore would be advisable for the OP, from iCloud or iTunes, depending where the update was handled. He might have to re-install the update afterward, though. Seems like the only answer at this point, short of starting over.

it's the darndest thing, my files are all here as far as I can tell. I will try to just change what was messed up and if I see something else wrong, go from there. Thanks everyone for your help.

 

[PurrBall]

Purrball, I had my data backed up before this happened, so I should be able to recover it there. Do you think the update was the cause of this problem?

Yes, you should be able to replace your user account Library if it was backed up. However, in Lion, it's hidden by default so you'll need to hold down the "option" key while in Finder's "Go" menu to get to it.
While it seems odd that the update would do this, it's totally possible. Happened to me before.

 

[iLog.Genius]

Genius, Is this a hard reset sequence? Usually, to do what I think is a hard reset, I press and hold the power key until the screen goes black, then restart.
However, I really haven't had to do this since I figured out some of the basics on my MBP.

Perhaps a full restore would be advisable for the OP, from iCloud or iTunes, depending where the update was handled. He might have to re-install the update afterward, though. Seems like the only answer at this point, short of starting over.

It's a simple command to help reset what's store in PRAM (some preferences) like what OP experienced but it's not guaranteed to correct it - the problem could be other factors/problems.