[ender]

Help! I've lost all internet access from my Mac at home (resorting to my PC at work for this post!). I've got a cable modem with OS 10.2.8. When opening the Network preference pane, it displays the "Loading" icon, but then stops. If I select a another system preference pane, and the return to Network, it sort of loads. The tabs (Modem, TCP/IP, PPP, etc) are there, but it's COMPLETELY blank below them. The Locations drop-down only contains "New Location" and "Edit Location", neither of which do anything. The ports listed are "Built-in Ethernet" (use with the cable modem) and something like "PCI Ethernet Slot A1, Port 2" (which never appeared before as I have no PCI ethernet card!). The modem option is missing. When I try to quit System Preferences it crashes.

Everthing was working fine yesterday morning, but when I booted last night everything was messed up. My first thought was a corrupted preference file for the network settings, but I don't know which file that is. Does anyone know which file that is, or have any other ideas for things to try?

Thanks! I need my Mac back on-line before my boss catches me using my work computer for personal business!!!

[glowingcactus]

Originally posted by ender:
Help! I've lost all internet access from my Mac at home (resorting to my PC at work for this post!). I've got a cable modem with OS 10.2.8. When opening the Network preference pane, it displays the "Loading" icon, but then stops. If I select a another system preference pane, and the return to Network, it sort of loads. The tabs (Modem, TCP/IP, PPP, etc) are there, but it's COMPLETELY blank below them. The Locations drop-down only contains "New Location" and "Edit Location", neither of which do anything. The ports listed are "Built-in Ethernet" (use with the cable modem) and something like "PCI Ethernet Slot A1, Port 2" (which never appeared before as I have no PCI ethernet card!). The modem option is missing. When I try to quit System Preferences it crashes.

sorry this is not an answer to your problem but more of a "me too" and a bump-up.

This happened to me EXACTLY as you describe. Just today in fact. This was in Jaguar 10.2.8 on a PB Ti and I was creating a new network loction then POW!!... System prefs unexpectedly quit. and the Network panel will not open properly. I can get the exact same thing as you describe ie a long list of tabs but no fields to fill in and 'PCI Ethernet Slot A1, Port 2" which I have never seen before. The Location submenu in Apple menu lists my previous locations OK and I can tick any one of them I want but they do nothing. Now I have no network traffic (IP stuck to 0.0.0.0) All usernames even new ones are the same.

I have looked for any prefs file but there does not seem to be one. I am considering taking a day or two out backing up what I can of my own personal stuff to DVD and installing that copy of Panther that is sat on my desk and upgrading stuff that breaks. There are a number of issues holding me back on Panther But I guess I better do a completely clean install as I dont want this mucked up network to follow me.

Help does anyone know how to fix this in 10.2.8?

[pat++]

Try to reset the PRAM (hold command-option-P-R during boot).

If it's not enough I would try this :

cd /Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration
sudo mv NetworkInterfaces.plist NetworkInterfaces.plist.old

and then try to reboot...

you can revert this back with :
cd /Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration
sudo mv NetworkInterfaces.plist.old NetworkInterfaces.plist

[glowingcactus]

Originally posted by pat++:
Try to reset the PRAM (hold command-option-P-R during boot).

If it's not enough I would try this :

cd /Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration
sudo mv NetworkInterfaces.plist NetworkInterfaces.plist.old

and then try to reboot...

you can revert this back with :
cd /Library/Preferences/SystemConfiguration
sudo mv NetworkInterfaces.plist.old NetworkInterfaces.plist

Thanks.

I will try the PRAM trick soon but a quick look shows there is no NetworkInterfaces.plist in that directory

Edit: In fact there is no such directory on either machine

[iMac:/Library/Preferences] admin% ls
DirectoryService com.apple.HIToolbox.plist com.apple.loginwindow.plist
EFI com.apple.MCX.plist com.apple.sharing.firewall.plist
SD Settings com.apple.SoftwareUpdate.plist com.apple.soundpref.plist
com.apple.BezelServices.plist com.apple.dockfixup.plist com.apple.windowserver.plist
com.apple.ColorSyncDeviceList.plist com.apple.java.util.prefs.plist loginwindow.plist


and I have looked on an iMac using the same OS version (10.2.8) and there is no such file there either (see above). Did a global find on just 'Network' and it did not find anything like this. Are you sure that is for 10.2.8?

[pat++]

Originally posted by glowingcactus:
Are you sure that is for 10.2.8?

I thought it was the same under 10.2 It's definitely here under 10.3... anyway the PRAM reset should be enough (hopefully).

[glowingcactus]

Thanks pat++

The reboot and zap the PRAM trick (alt apple-P-R) cured this network glitch totally. I was all set for a Panther install this morning but now I have an excuse to put it off a little longer.

Does anyone know why this works? What is getting changed/trashed here?