Troubleshooting the Mac OS X 10.2.4 Date Bug: AppleScript workaround; the "Clock" application

Date bug workaround AppleScriptBernard Rey offers an AppleScript that will automatically perform the previously reported CHUD Tools workaround for Mac OS X 10.2.4's persistent date reset bug.

• tell application "System Preferences"
• activate
• end tell
• tell application "System Events"
• tell process "System Preferences"
• click menu item "CPU" of menu "View" of menu bar 1
• delay 1
• click radio button "Single CPU" of radio group 1 of window "CPU"
• delay 3
• end tell
• end tell
• tell application "System Preferences" to quit
• delay 1
• tell application "Finder" to shut down

Note 1: In order to function properly, it may need some specific tools to be installed. The "CHUD" itself, and also the "System Events 1.2", the Script Editor 2.0 being recommended. These tools are part of the "December 2002 Dev tools" to be downloaded from Apple's developer pages: http://developer.apple.com/tools/macosxtools.html

Note 2: the "click menu item "CPU" of menu "View" of menu bar 1" line should be localized: for instance, in the French version, the name for the "View" menu reading "Presentation"...

After updating to Mac OS X 10.2.4, some systems constantly resets themselves to the date "Wed Dec 31 19:00:00 EST 1969" after being restarted.

The "Clock" application One MacFixIt reader reports he was able to solve the date bug by using the Apple application "Clock" in Mac OS X, setting the date and time manually in System Preferences/Date and Time and choosing Save.

Opening "Clock" and changing the time creates the file "home/library/preferences/com.apple.clock.plist".

Opening Date and Time and choosing MenuBarClock creates the file "home/library/preferences/com.apple.MenuBarClock.plist". Changing the date and time without "Clock" being open has no effect on "com.apple.clock.plist".

The reader reports that on each of his iMacs, the dates of the two files were different--the MenuBarClock.plist was current while the clock.plist was dated December 31, 1969.

For "always-on" connection users (cable, DSL, T1, etc.), the usage of a network time server can resolve the date bug . Check the box next to "Use a network time server" under the "Network Time" tab in the Date and Time pane of System Preferences.

For dial-up connection users, the solution is to install Apple's CHUD Tools version 2.5.3 . Then open System Preferences, use the Other/CPU, tab and change the setting to use only one processor. Do this right before you shut down. When you start your system again, the data and time will be set correctly, and the system will automatically default back into dual-processor mode.

Feedback on this issue? Drop us a line at late-breakers@macfixit.com.

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