Mac OSX Sierra Issue or Something else?

[MFUREIN#2]

I have a 2014 IMac with Sierra 10.12.1 installed.

Here is what is happening.

1. When I try to open an application from the dock, the application fails to open, and the screen background changes.
2. When I try to open an application via the finder, the application does not open.
3. This holds true for just about every application that is installed, any Microsoft office, calendar, games, Safari, Firefox, any of the utilities (Disk Utility, Console, Terminal).
4. Restart, Clearing P RAM, and SMC restart to no avail.
5. OS X Reload also no avail.

Any ideas?

 

[harryb2448]

G'day and welcome to the forums.

What precisely do you mean by a 'reload'? A full erase of the hard drive and download a new version of Sierra? Did you do a simple upgrade from El Capitan or earlier? Do you have the same problem if you have a backup on an external drive, not Time Machine as it is not bootable?

 

[ferrarr]

Create a new user to see if the issue happens with a new user.

 

[MFUREIN#2]

Reinstall MacOS via MacOS utilities.

Not sure how to create another user in Sierra, and frankly, doubtful it would work.

 

[MFUREIN#2]

This also happens when I start a program loaded on an external hard drive.

 

[MFUREIN#2]

Just to add to the confusion. When I go through 1Password to access a website, Safari does open.

 

[ferrarr]

Reinstall MacOS via MacOS utilities.

Not sure how to create another user in Sierra, and frankly, doubtful it would work.

Here is Apple Support Article for El Capitan, should be the same steps.

https://support.apple.com/kb/PH21994?viewlocale=en_US&locale=en_US

 

[ferrarr]

Just to add to the confusion. When I go through 1Password to access a website, Safari does open.

This, makes it seem like there is an issue with your user account and not macOS.

 

[MFUREIN#2]

I am not able to access system preferences either, and therefore can't access users and groups. It appears that the Finder is relaunching every time I try to open a program.

 

[harryb2448]

What do you mean by installing via Mac OS Utilities? Internet Recovery?

 

[MFUREIN#2]

Yes, Internet Recovery. I reloaded Sierra last night, and I still have the same issue.

 

[ferrarr]

Are you erasing the drive and then installing Sierra, or are you just reinstalling Sierra? Also, do you have a Time Machine backup, or another type of backup for your important data?

 

[ferrarr]

I also just noticed you are using a 2014 iMac, if you are truly doing Internet Recovery, you should not be installing Sierra. Internet Recovery should install the Mac OS X version that your iMac shipped with.

 

[MFUREIN#2]

Why would I have to go back to 10.9 OS? When I first attempted recovery, it would not let me go backward since Sierra was already installed. And erasing the drive... really? That is the only way to fix this? Yes, I've backed up. With Time Machine and just using an external hard drive.

 

[ferrarr]

I guess you can keep trying different things. Not me, I like using my computer. It's why I switched from Windows.

 

[MFUREIN#2]

These kind of responses don't help. Perhaps you should just say...yup, you need to erase your drive.

 

[dtravis7]

Internet recovery usually installs the OS the system shipped with. That is what the other poster was saying. I have never once had your issue but in some ways it seems like it could be something with your user account. that is why someone earlier suggested making another account and see if the issue is still there.

 

[gsahli]

Don't most applications HAVE TO be on the startup drive? Can you clarify if you've done something different?

 

[MacInWin]

Why would I have to go back to 10.9 OS? When I first attempted recovery, it would not let me go backward since Sierra was already installed. And erasing the drive... really? That is the only way to fix this? Yes, I've backed up. With Time Machine and just using an external hard drive.

If you do the Internet recovery, Apple will install the version that was on the machine when it was originally sold. That's the only one they are certain of for THAT machine. After getting it going, you can update the OS and restore from your backups. And yes, you are correct that if YOU try to go backwards, you cannot. That's just how it works.