Changing network settings since the 9/25/08 [Solved/Closed]

I found some alternate info elsewhere. The issue is with a security patch Apple released. They changed the way PPP and PPPoE passwords are maintained on your system. To fix it you first need to make that lame "Your network settings have been changed by another application" dialog stop popping up. To do this open "System Preferences" and go to "Security". Tick off "Require password to unlock each secure system preference". Now click "show all" at the top. I had to quit "System Preferences" to make the change take effect. Open "System Preferences" again and choose "Network". You will probably get the annoying pop up once, but this time when you click "OK" it won't loop. Notice that the padlock in the bottom left corner is now locked. Click it to unlock. Enter your password (assuming you are the administrator on the Mac). Now click back on the show all button. The Mac will think you made a change and ask if you want to " Apply configuration changes" click "Apply". Once it saves the changes your problem should be fixed. You can go back to the "Security" pane and untick the option you enabled earlier.

There is one catch to this fix that had me stumped for a good while. If you have ever used an external modem on your system there could be PPP settings that you can't get to without having the modem attached. What a pain! I could see "External Modem" in the port configurations, but it was grayed out and I couldn't make any changes. The only way to edit the PPP password was to find a modem and plug it in. "External Modem" became an available option and I could now edit the settings. Such a stupid problem! Hope that nugget helps anyone stuck in a similar situation.

I am experiencing the same problem. (pop up window stating: your network settings have chagned... ) I have to force quit system preferences to close it. Have you any luck correcting this?

Thank you for posting this fix! I have tried several things without success, and this is the only thing that worked; plus, it only took seconds to do, and worked instantly. No more looping. Clear instructions are very appreciated.

One more variant that worked for me - briefly:

Switch to Show: Network Status
Lock padlock
Unlock padlock (asks for password)
Show All for System Preferences (asks to apply your changes, which you didn't make, but say yes)

Now, go into Network Preferences again and you can modify your settings again without being molested by the devil's sheet.

After I went back in again the sheet came back, but I was able to make my change. How horrifying that Apple is breaking systems with its security updates. A not-so-subtle hint to get on the upgrade wagon that they haven't done anything to fix this.

click on the apple icon in the upper left hand corner of the menu bar. Select "Force Quit" A window opens.. select system preferences, then click on "force Quit" another box opens asking if you really want to do this, click on force quit and there you go. you made the system preferences box close. this doesn't fix the problem we are experiencing. When I open sys pref again and select Network the drop down box comes back and the only way to get rid of the whole thing is to do the force quit operation again. I went to the genius bar and the guy told me to back up my stuff and come back and ask to have my hard drive erased and reinstall the OS and this will probably correct the problem.then you have to rebuild all your data. Seems like a lot of trouble. Before I do this I'll keep researching other means.

Thank you so much!

Brilliant! James, thank you so much for this simple fix. I've just locked the padlock in the security pane, and this was sufficient to kill the bug! Genius, you are.

James, you are a total hero.

I have been grappling with this thing since January. All sorted now.
Many many thanks.

Brilliant, problem fixed. Thank you James.

If you hit return you get a very brief window of time to use the mouse so hover the pointer over a button before hitting return. It's very brief.

In my case the solution was to lock the padlock on the security pane itself. That disappeared the pop-up window. Glad somebody else felt like throwing their Mac against the wall!

The idiots at Apple told me I had a "trojan horse" and that I had to reinstall my software, I should have thought to google this first... a friend told me to after he remember having the same problem on a mac a couple of months. You would think Apple tech support would know how to handle his problem!

Great fix and many thanks for the effort of posting it for the rest of us. Much appreciated. Worked a treat!!!

10 out of 10 for Mac cameraderie :-)

It didn't really fix the problem, but is a good work around. Thanks so much though.....

thank you very much
you are a legend
i rang apple and they wanted to charge me nearly 50 euros to fix the problem,
wat a crowd of jokers
that works a treat james
happy days

Thank you SO Much for this posting. I found it quick and it solved my problem too with that annoying message!

Adam

Thank you so much i had no idea where to start with fixing this and was close to throwing my macbook out the window!! All i had to do on mine was lock the padlock on my settings and that sorted it out, can't believe it was so simple x

Thank you so much. I was on a road trip for the last 12 days, and I was wondering if my trusty PowerBook 12" might be freaking out on me for the first time. Your tip was most welcome. I definitely owe you beer.

You have no idea how much this little Mac owes its life to you. Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge. It is much appreciated.

Best Regards,
Kevin

Thanks so much for the fix. This problem has been bugging me for weeks. Just clicked the padlock on the security pane and problem solved! Greatly appreciated info.