OS X: After "Apply to enclosed items…", unable to change prefs, remove or save files, iPhoto & iTunes issues, Preview & TextEdit quit

Products Affected

OS X Lion, OS X Mountain Lion

Symptoms

After using the Get Info inspector action menu item "Apply to enclosed items…" on your Home folder or on the default folders located inside a Home folder (while running OS X Lion v10.7, 10.7.1, 10.7.2, or 10.7.3):

  • Some changes made within System Preferences are not saved when System Preferences is quit and re-opened.
  • Changes made to icons on Dock (adding, removing, or re-arranging icons) will be lost after the after logging out and back in.
  • Windows that that were open the last time you logged out prior to using "Apply to enclosed items…" will continue to re-open every time you log in (even if different windows were open the last time).
  • Windows that were open the last time an application was quit prior to using "Apply to enclosed items…" will continue to re-open every time that application is opened.
  • An admin user must enter their password to move or trash any files that were present in the home folder when "Apply to enclosed items…" was used.
  • When saving a file that was created prior to using "Apply to enclosed items…", you may get a message indicating that the file is locked or you don't have permissions to save it.
  • Preview, TextEdit, or other sandboxed applications may unexpectedly quit when opened.
  • Slow system performance, or an alert stating "Your Mac OS X startup disk has no more space available for application memory"; Activity Monitor shows Safari or SafariDAVClient using a large amount of system resources.
  • iPhoto: Imported photos not shown when iPhoto is re-opened, but they are in the iPhoto Library package.
  • iPhoto: Library updates repeat when iPhoto is re-opened.
  • iPhoto: Library selection is not retained when iPhoto is re-opened.
  • iTunes: Sync issues.
  • After upgrading to Mountain Lion, Mail unexpectedly quits.

Resolution

  1. Run Software Update and install all updates (including the OS X Lion v10.7.4 Update, or later) until it reports "Your Software is Up To Date".
  2. Open the Get Info inspector for the account's Home folder:
    • In Finder, select Go > Home or press Shift Command H (⇧⌘H).
    • In Finder, select File > Get Info or press Command I (⌘I).
  3. If needed, click the disclosure triangle to expand the "Sharing & Permissions:" section of the Get Info window.
  4. If needed, click the padlock icon in the lower right corner of the Get Info window.
    • When prompted, enter an admin user name and password, then click OK.
  5. From the Action menu () at the bottom of the Get Info window, choose "Apply to enclosed items…"
  6. Click OK in the confirmation sheet.
  7. Wait for the process to complete.
Important: Information about products not manufactured by Apple is provided for information purposes only and does not constitute Apple’s recommendation or endorsement. Please contact the vendor for additional information.
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