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I'm running Mac OS 10.6 server, and have a set of 10.6 and 10.7 workstations connected to it for authentication and MCX. Users have network profiles (home folder stored on server, via AFP).

When users are logged in, they can change their desktop background. So far so good.

However, the next time they log in, their desktop background has been reset to "Andromeda Galaxy.jpg".

Though MCX is enabled and used to control other settings, MCX is disabled for the Desktop.

What is keeping the users' desktop background from being preserved? How can I fix it?

HopelessN00b
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smokris
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1 Answers1

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You should have a look at com.apple.desktop.plist file located in /AFP_HomeFolder/Users/username/Library/Preferences/ (usually in local ~/Library/Preferences/).

To have the Library appearing in Lion, hold 'alt'(option) from the finder Go menu and select Library, or use Go to folder and type the path

In this xml is defined the current desktop wallpaper used (Tag ImageFilePath). Check the file permissions(POSIX/ACEs) and 'modified' timestamp metadata to figure if a user can write on this file.

Indeed, MCX might as well restrict write permission on this file.

Good luck

Florian Bidabé
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  • Thanks. Unix permissions were fine. Your answer prompted me to explore MCX some more, and I found an MCX setting lurking in somewhere I don't normally apply MCX — one of the groups this user belongs to. After deleting that user group MCX, the wallpaper no longer resets. – smokris Jul 13 '12 at 00:15