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TICKET ARCHIVE -> Isync

kakumerva - Nov 19, 2005 - 11:12 am

I am using version 10.4.3

My iSync application was working fine for a while. All of the sudden it will not run automatically. When I try to run it manually, I get the following message, "SYNC UNAVAILABLE ... an unknown error occured while performing a sync operation. Please check your account and network settings and try again."

I set up a test user and ran the iSync. It worked just fine. So it's got to be some setting under my user account. I tried Apple support. After a while they just referred me back to iMac support web page.

Maybe I am just lucky but this is the first time I've had trouble with an Apple aplication. Can anyone out there help me?

Thanks,

Kaku

ishan - Nov 19, 2005 - 4:02 pm

Try deleting your "com.apple.iSync.plist file in the Preferences folder in your Library folder in your home directory. Sometimes, these prefs files get corrupted. Reboot (just to be safe). You will need to set up a new set of prefs for iSync, but it should work fine.

There's an utility to check all user and system preferences called Preferential treatment available at versiontracker.com and macupdate.com. It flags all damaged prefs. You may want to keep that handy for future use.

HTH and please let us know what happens.

kakumerva - Nov 19, 2005 - 9:48 pm

I deleted the "com.apple.iSync.plist" file and restarted my iBook. Unfortunately, it did not help. I ran the Preferential progam. It did not find any problems.

I have noticed on different discussion boards that there are problems with the iSync and keychains... that this is a problem with the Tiger version of iSync. Have you heard of a problem with this? Still at a loss but thanks for trying to help.

ishan - Nov 20, 2005 - 6:29 am

There are MAJOR problems with iSync in Tiger (I'm testing 10.4.4 beta, and it's still not fixed. But you never heard me say that...


I think you're going to have to make a new account for yourself, set it up as you like and delete your old account. I know that shouldn't be necessary, but at this point, I'm not sure that spending hours monkeying with UNIX commands is worth it for you. Sorry.

Cheryl - Dec 25, 2006 - 6:50 am

Kaku,

You are not alone with the problems you are experiencing with iSync.
Try this:
Open System Preferences (light switch in the dock)
go to .Mac preferences>Advanced and unregister the computer. Then register it. This should clear up any problems you may have had.

Let me know if this helps.

Cheryl

kakumerva - Dec 27, 2006 - 7:53 am

Cheryl,

I have received that advice in the past. Unfortunately, I am not able to select the "ISYNC" or "ADVANCED" tabs in the .mac preferences. I can see the tabs but when I select them, nothing happens.

I have tried to just re-install iSync. That does not work. I think I am at the point where it just won't work unless I reinstall Tiger ... and that is too much trouble ... especially on an old iBook.

Thanks anyway.

Cheryl - Dec 27, 2006 - 8:50 am

Kaku,

You can do an archive and preserve install of Tiger. This will not touch your home folder or the applications that you have installed, but it will give you a fresh system.

Start up from your Mac OS X Install DVD or CD. Remember to use the power adaptor before starting up with the CD.
Before clicking on the installer screen, go to the Installer menu and select Disk Utility.
Click on the second hard drive icon in the side bar, then click on Repair Disk.
Watch the activity screen. If it does any repairs - you will need to click on the Repair Disk button a second time after the first pass is done. The object is to make sure it finds all the problems and repairs them. You may need to hit that button a third or fourth time to get no references to repairs made.

Now click on Repair Permissions. When done, quit Disk Utility.

Select your language. The Welcome to the Mac OS X Installer window appears.
Click Continue. The Important Information window appears.
After reading or printing the information, click Continue. The Software License Agreement window appears.
After reading or printing the information, click Continue.
An agreement sheet appears. If you agree with the license agreement, click Agree. The Select a Destination window appears.
Click the volume that you wish to install to.
Click Options. The installation options sheet appears.
Select Archive and Install.
Select the volume which already has Mac OS X installed.
You should also select Preserve Users and Network Settings, to preserve network and Home directory settings.
Click OK.
Click Continue to begin the installation.

After restart, go to the Utilities folder and start up Disk Utility to repair permissions.

You will have a new System folder and a Previous system folder. In the Previous system folder>Library (not Library in System folder - the one sitting by itself) is a folder named Receipts. You need to compare that folder with the new Hard Drive>Library>Receipts folder. Just drag and drop The packages that are not in the newer folder. You are looking for any iLife programs or third party programs. Do not move over any Apple update pkgs or security update pkgs.

Also in the Library folder check the Application Support folder and compare that with your newer folder as well as Contextual Menu Items, Fonts, Internet Plugins, Mail, and Mozilla (if you have it).
Once compared, you can trash the entire Previous System folder.

Now get the 10.4.8 combo update from here:
http://www.apple.com/support/downloa...updateppc.html

Once installed, and the computer restarted, use Disk Utility to repair permissions.

Now All the components of the OS should be working smoothly. You should use Software Update to get the security updates installed.

Cheryl

Cheryl - Dec 27, 2006 - 8:51 am

One more thing, make sure you have your .mac account entered in the .Mac preference panel.

Cheryl