10.4: Avoid a fast user switching color profile bug

There is a nasty bug in Tiger related to custom color profiles. Specifically, when you have a custom profile assigned to your display and use fast user switching, the profile will get reset and a "Generic RGB Profile" assigned instead. As a result, the display looks blindingly bright, colors get shifted, and it's practically impossible to work with the computer after that. Display settings don't work either -- when you try to return the old profile, the system just beeps and doesn't do anything. If you press the Calibrate button, it will return an error about a lost profile and exit. A reboot, however, will return everything to normal -- at least until you use fast user switching again.

This bug is old -- it's been known since 10.4.1 at least. It doesn't look like Apple cares to fix it at all in the short term, even though it's 100% reproducible and a lot of people are reporting it on different forums. Because of this bug, I stopped using fast user switching at all. Howevever, I recently absolutely needed the feature, so I started to dig deeper and after some investigation, I found that an application named "DMProxy" is the culprit.

I have no idea what this thing does, but it's obviously related to the CoreGraphics framework, as it resides here: /System -> Library -> Frameworks -> ApplicationServices.framework -> Versions -> A -> Frameworks -> CoreGraphics.framework -> Versions -> A -> Resources.

To make a long story short, just launch DMProxy from the Terminal without any parameters when you get "the blinding screen of death," and everything immediately returns to normal. Probably the simplest way to call it is just to drag-and-drop it to each of your accounts' Login Items (in System Preferences: Accounts, Login Items tab), and it will be called automatically every time when you log in. It will fix the problem completely -- the display profiles panel will work again, and the Calibrate button will call the built in display calibration utility. So far no side effects noted, but if you find something, let us know here!

[robg adds: I can't duplicate this problem on my PowerBook; switching between two users, both of whom have distinct color profiles, didn't cause the problem to occur. I'm posting the hint, though, as I have seen it reported in a number of places, so it does seem somewhat widespread. Please comment if you can provide additional details...]

tell application "Finder" activate open document file "DMProxy" of folder � "Resources" of folder "A" of folder "Versions" of folder � "CoreGraphics.framework" of folder "Frameworks" of folder "A" � of folder "Versions" of folder "ApplicationServices.framework" of folder � "Frameworks" of folder "Library" of folder "System" of startup disk end tell tell application "Terminal" activate delay 6 quit end tell

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10.4: Avoid a fast user switching color profile bug
Authored by: oliverchaddock on Mon, Jan 9 2006 at 8:10AM PST

I'm also experiencing a color profile bug, although of a different nature and mine affects 10.3.9 running on a powerbook.

I used a custom profile - it's just the standard ColorLCD profile but with the gamma changed to PC 2.2 (I find the display is too washed out white with the mac gamma). Whenever I hook the powerbook up to my TV via the VGA cable the screen refreshes on the laptop, and in doing so it reverts back to the default ColorLCD profile. In other words, after every movie/tv show/slideshow I watch via the mac I have to open system preferences and change the color profile back.

The strangest thing i suppose is that when I go into the display pane of sys prefs my custom profile is still highlighted as if it is active. But when i click on it again i see the changed gamma kick in.

I've never seen a solution for this 100% reproducible bug, but I thought perhaps someone reading the above hint might know a fix.

10.4: Avoid a fast user switching color profile bug
Authored by: Laurent on Mon, Jan 9 2006 at 8:42AM PST

It's my BIG problem.
I try this evening.

cyberdog

---
----------
Laurent

10.4: Avoid a fast user switching color profile bug
Authored by: Nordby on Mon, Jan 9 2006 at 8:28PM PST

Thank you. Thank You. Thank You! Worked as described.

This has been by far, the most annoying bug in Tiger for me to date. Let me echo a previous poster's curiosity: How did you figure this one out?

10.4: Avoid a fast user switching color profile bug
Authored by: mschaff on Mon, Jan 9 2006 at 9:18AM PST

When I submitted this bug to Apple, the status was changed to "Duplicate" so they are aware of the problem and hopefully a fix will be out with 10.4.4. It's a very annoying bug.

10.4: Avoid a fast user switching color profile bug
Authored by: olealf on Mon, Jan 9 2006 at 10:03AM PST

Thanks a lot! This has been bothering me for some time now and your solution worked flawless. Thanks.

10.4: Avoid a fast user switching color profile bug
Authored by: stevebr on Mon, Jan 9 2006 at 10:09AM PST

Works as described. Thank you very much.

I just posted links to this hint in a couple of the threads about this problem over at Apple's support discussions forum. It's bugging a lot of people.

I'm curious about how you figured this out!

10.4: Avoid a fast user switching color profile bug
Authored by: atverd on Mon, Jan 9 2006 at 10:13AM PST

I also found recently that you have to be an admin or root to make DMProxy work. So I just copied the DMProxy binary to my home, changed it's owner to root and assigned the SUID flag ("sudo chmod u+s DMProxy", should be done from an admin account). This SUID binary works from any account.

easy fix
Authored by: iroiro on Mon, Jan 9 2006 at 11:40AM PST

I've found a fix that works for my iBook running 10.4.2.

I noticed this bug a while ago (about 10.4.1) and found that whenever it occured it loaded up the 'generic RGB profile.icc' which is found at /System/Library/ColorSync/Profiles/Generic RGB Profile.icc

I normally use the default 'color LCD proile' (/Library/ColorSync/Profiles/Displays/Color LCD-4270A80.icc) which disappeared from finder whenever the bug occured. Anyway, all I did was to copy the Color LCD profile (or the one you normally use) and rename it to 'Generic RGB Profile.icc' and replace the one in /System/Library/ColorSync/Profiles/

This worked great as whenever the bug occurs it just loads the same coloursync (notice the correct spelling :-) properties and I don't notice a thing (in fact I forgot about the bug entirely until I read this post).

Note: the normally used profile won't be in /Library/ColorSync/Profiles/Displays/ if the bug has already happened - a reboot will bring it back and then you can copy and rename, replace easily. Also you should probably make a backup of the default Generic RGB profile as well.

Let me know if there is anything that is not easily understandable in my post and if this doesn't work for other people.

Iroiro

easy fix
Authored by: WilksRendai on Tue, May 9 2006 at 9:23PM PDT

Thanks Iroiro,

This same bug occurs under 10.3.9 on my G3 iBook Dual USB 900Mhz, but i noticed it was exclusive to when Noone was currently logged in. When you use the "switch user" command, the profile doesnt refresh, and it's fine, but if everyone logs out, bouya, its screwy.

But Iroiros' fix seems to be holding. Now if only i could lock down the display profile for my Nextbase SDV17-A, whose timing goes out, and X.3.9 thinks it's the VGA adapter, when its Video.... jeez, the difference 10Hz can make.....

easy fix
Authored by: VirtualWolf on Wed, Sep 6 2006 at 2:28AM PDT

Ack, don't do that!

I was mucking around in the /System/Library/ColorSync/Profiles folder a while back, and ended up with iPhoto screwing up its thumbnails (newly imported photos appeared black). I had to use this hint to solve it.

10.4: Avoid a fast user switching color profile bug
Authored by: pavao on Mon, Jan 9 2006 at 12:22PM PST

This happens regularly to me too. I use a workaround that I have found some time ago that has worked every time. When you first start up your Mac, login to at least 2 accounts using fast user switching before you ever put it to sleep. From here on, you can do whatever you want (including putting it to sleep) that the color profiles will be OK. It works on my iMac G5. I'd like to hear about how it goes for others.

10.4: Avoid a fast user switching color profile bug
Authored by: atverd on Mon, Jan 9 2006 at 12:56PM PST

I've tried this after reboot - doesn't work for me. As soon as I login to my second account display looks ok, but can't switch display profiles any more (only beep and nothing else) and then when I switch back to my primary account I'm getting the blinding screen.

10.4: Avoid a fast user switching color profile bug
Authored by: mschaff on Mon, Jan 9 2006 at 5:10PM PST

When you encounter the problem (i.e. a bright mis-colored display), open Terminal and type:

/System/Library/Frameworks/ApplicationServices.framework/\
Versions/A/Frameworks/CoreGraphics.framework/Versions/A/Resources/DMProxy

(all on one line, or paste as shown with the backslashes). This will do what the hint is referring to. I couldn't get it to work as a login item, but it corrected the problem when I ran the command above.

By the way, thanks for this hint. It's great!

another way...
Authored by: hellmachine on Mon, Jan 9 2006 at 3:05PM PST

great hint. just today i had the problem on my dual g5. i found another way out of this: unplug the display. then replug it. magically it works again for me. but now i prefer this new hint :-)

10.4: Avoid a fast user switching color profile bug
Authored by: markformac on Tue, Jan 10 2006 at 4:34AM PST

I only get the problem when the user switched to remains logged in and I switch back to my profile. If that persons logs off before switching back, then everthing remains normal.

---
Mark Brooks

color profile bug is gone, and so is the cube effect...?
Authored by: romulis on Tue, Jan 10 2006 at 6:32AM PST

I also stopped using fast user switching because I had this bug on my dual 2GHz G5 at work.
Before trying this hint I tried switching to another user and now, with 10.4.3, the bug seems to have disappeared, but the pretty cube effect is gone :-(

Has this happened to anyone else? Is there a way to get the cube effect back?

10.4.4 - not fixed.
Authored by: atverd on Tue, Jan 10 2006 at 3:39PM PST

Just have installed 10.4.4 and the problem is not fixed.
What a shame.

10.4.4 - not fixed.
Authored by: mschaff on Tue, Jan 10 2006 at 5:20PM PST

Yep...still a problem in 10.4.4...very disappointing...

10.4.4 - not fixed.
Authored by: landis on Fri, Jan 20 2006 at 11:35AM PST

I, too, was hoping that 10.4.4 would fix it. No dice.

I'm very happy to report that following this hint is the first workaround (besides rebooting) that has worked for me. Thanks for this in the meantime!

10.4.4 - not fixed.
Authored by: luckygofarms on Fri, Jan 27 2006 at 10:56AM PST

um.... call me stupid but i can't find "DMProxy" anywhere (looked both in our 10.4.4 PowerBook 1.5 and quad)...

There's not even "ApplicationServices.framework" directory!!!

we've been plagued with this for some time (ever since we started to calibrate our displays last year)...

please help...

thanks

10.4.4 - not fixed.
Authored by: luckygofarms on Fri, Jan 27 2006 at 10:58AM PST

wow, it worked (just typed it in the terminal like it was described):

/System/Library/Frameworks/ApplicationServices.framework/\
Versions/A/Frameworks/CoreGraphics.framework/Versions/A/Resources/DMProxy

10.4: Avoid a fast user switching color profile bug
Authored by: mretondo on Mon, Jan 30 2006 at 12:20PM PST

The way I can reproduce the bug is when I FUS to another user. Then instead of FUS back to myself I FUS to another user. Now the bug has been activated. Now when I FUS back to myself I can't change my profile and I have the Generic RGB profile.

10.4: Avoid a fast user switching color profile bug
Authored by: patniemeyer on Tue, Feb 7 2006 at 1:52PM PST

Works as advertised. I left the other user logged in and went back and forth. Running DMProxy resets the color space correctly. BTW, I just made a link in my home bin:

ln -s /System/Library/Frameworks/ApplicationServices.framework/\
Versions/A/Frameworks/CoreGraphics.framework/Versions/A/Resources/DMProxy .

Too complicated solution
Authored by: DonColore on Fri, Feb 24 2006 at 4:08PM PST

The problem is caused by missing access to the changed profile.

Modify the profile as admin user, move the profile from ~/Library/... to /Library/... and reselect it as the current monitor profile.

Now all users on your machine will use the new, modified profile :-)

If you are using a professional measurement device, you might want to check out the new "basICColor display 4", which does this for you automatically... There is a demo version available for download at <http://www.basiccolor.de>

Too complicated solution
Authored by: DonColore on Fri, Feb 24 2006 at 4:11PM PST

I forgot to mention - all users that use the default system profile will have the new profile automatically applied, all others will have to reselect it.

10.4.6: not fixed
Authored by: Sofad on Tue, Apr 4 2006 at 4:27AM PDT

problem still there with 10.4.6

dmproxy tip still works

10.4.6: not fixed
Authored by: errantaahz on Tue, Apr 4 2006 at 9:18AM PDT

This bug has been frustrating all users of our macs for some time. (Especially several very non-technical people who just depend on it working, but find even the DMproxy workaround confusing.) I've incorporated the DMProxy tip into an executable application, and it has resulted in a fairly effective workaround. This is my first attempt at Applescript, so pleae ignore any bad syntax or sctructure (etc.); feel free to improve it. ( It only took 20 minutes to guess the correct commands to get the desired effect...it's fairly intuitive!) Obviously, this is completely unsupported by Apple (and myself). If it does something bad to your mac, model, network, data or otherwise: I am not responsible.

But anyway, this is how it is used to make our macs run fairly painlessly, and it eliminated the need for constant IT intervention over the issue:

1) I have compiled the executable app (cut-and-paste the code from below) and saved it in the local "Utilities" folder.

2) Add it to user login items, and select the "hide at startup" option.

3) Add it to the dock.

4) Add a shortcut anywhere you think your users might look.

5) You can go one further: Customise the application icon with a big fat red button or something, and change the application name to something like "Click here to fix the colour, Joe Baduser" :P Even the most inexperienced users can learn this simple fix.

PS - If somebody has webspace to store the compiled executable application and provide a link, feel free.

-- -- -- -- -- --

10.4.6: not fixed
Authored by: tooki on Fri, Apr 14 2006 at 10:26AM PDT

That script is overly complicated. AppleScript can run shell commands without launching the Terminal.

For this, just enter:

do shell script "/System/Library/Frameworks/ApplicationServices.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/CoreGraphics.framework/Versions/A/Resources/DMProxy" user name "AnAdminUsername" password "ThatAdminPassword" with administrator privileges

Obviously replace AnAdminUsername with an admin's user name, and ThatAdminPassword with that account's password (leave the quotes around both!!!). This script, saved as an application (run-only, since it contains login info), will do the same thing faster.

10.4: Avoid a fast user switching color profile bug
Authored by: frodriguez on Thu, Apr 6 2006 at 5:47AM PDT

I believe I have found the main source of the bug. When a new user is created. Mac OS X does not create the Library/ColorSync/Profiles directory for the new user in the user's home directory. I was able to fix this by creating the Library/ColorSync/Profiles Directory and copying the appropriate .icc file into the directory. In the user's system preferences, I was then able to switch to that color profile as their default color profile. After that I had not problem with the color profile and fast user switching.

10.4: Avoid a fast user switching color profile bug
Authored by: blackstarliner on Fri, Jun 9 2006 at 12:38AM PDT

I came across this bug within 2 hours of starting to use my new 166 dci mini (I'm a newbie switcher)... My situation involved switching an admin user to standard - as soon as I did this the bug appeared on that now standard user's screen. After reading this hint and looking at both mine and the identical machine at work, I found that the colour sync profile was indeed at the root level, not under the user. I wondered then whether the standard user doesn't have rights to the colour sync profile at that level (I'm a newbie, so I don't know). I checked the colour sync profiles for both users (admin and standard) and both now had the default rgb profile selected and not the monitor's profile anymore. Making the standard user an admin again and restarting cured it. The machine at work, with all admin users, has never had this problem. So maybe part of this problem is with switching an admin to standard. I am going to set up a standard user tonight from scratch and see what happens. Just my 2c.

10.4: Avoid a fast user switching color profile bug
Authored by: avi4now on Mon, Jun 12 2006 at 8:09AM PDT

Excellent hint! Thanks!

BTW, if you use QuickSilver (and you should) then a quick way to run DMProxy is by adding its parent folder "Resources" to your QS catalog.

10.4: Avoid a fast user switching color profile bug
Authored by: atverd on Tue, Jun 27 2006 at 7:44PM PDT

10.4.7 - problem is not fixed, the DMProxy trick still works.
Should we involve press to attract some attention to this stupid problem?

10.4.8 N O T F I X E D
Authored by: Sofad on Fri, Sep 29 2006 at 4:12PM PDT

10.4.8 - problem is not fixed, the DMProxy trick still works

Thank you for your attention...

10.4.8 N O T F I X E D
Authored by: atverd on Mon, Oct 2 2006 at 2:56PM PDT

Ditto.

10.4.8 Worse!
Authored by: weefle on Mon, Oct 2 2006 at 4:35AM PDT

I just updated to 10.4.8, and after the system rebooted and auto-logged in, the colors were washed out, before switching to any other users. The Color LCD profile that I normally use still appears in the Finder, and in the Displays preference pane, I can select any profile including Color LCD, and they are all various shades of washed out.

Worse, whereas DMProxy used to restore the proper profile, it no longer appears to have any effect. I have yet to find anything that fixes the problem.

10.4.8 Worse!
Authored by: atverd on Mon, Oct 2 2006 at 2:54PM PDT

This is a separate issue - apple's discussion forums are full of complains and I think there are workarounds for this bug also.

Problem still exists in 10.4.8 on a MacPro
Authored by: macgizmo on Fri, Nov 10 2006 at 11:52AM PST

This problem still exists on my new MacPro running 10.4.8.

However, the DMProxy trick worked. I just dragged that file to the terminal and hit enter and it immediately fixed the problem.

Unlike other users above, it appears to have fixed the problem permanently. I've shut down the computer several times, put it to sleep switched users, etc. and I haven't had to run the DMProxy trick since.... all is well.

I did speak to AppleCare (before I found this tip) and they have entered it into the queue for the engineers to look at. I also told them I found this tip, so hopefully it helps narrow down the problem for them.

---
CreativeGuy: Daily tips, tricks & commentary for graphic designers.
www.jdempsey.com

10.4: Avoid a fast user switching color profile bug
Authored by: icode on Sun, Dec 24 2006 at 3:57PM PST

Thanks for sharing this! This worked perfectly for me. I was having this nasty behavior from 10.4.2 to 10.4.8. I still can't believe it isn't fixed by now since it is so obviously broken.

Works - Thanks!
Authored by: chrisrosa on Fri, Jan 12 2007 at 2:02PM PST

This hint definitely works. Not sure I want to run it each login, but made an alias for easy access in the future. Cheers

10.4: Avoid a fast user switching color profile bug
Authored by: Glide on Mon, Jan 22 2007 at 12:15AM PST

Thank you thank you thank you! This bug reared it's ugly head only moments ago for the first time since I've been using Tiger (since it first came out) and I nearly blew a rod wondering what the heck happened. This fix did the trick. Thanks again!

---

- Jase

10.4: Avoid a fast user switching color profile bug
Authored by: Skippy kangaroo on Fri, Jan 26 2007 at 6:46PM PST

I have also experienced this bug intermittently.

One thing I have tried that seemed to work for me as a permanent fix was to fix the permissions on the icc profiles in /Library/ColorSync/Profiles/Display.

If you look at the pre-installed one you notice that the owner is System and admin group has read/write whereas custom ones are owned by the creator and all other users have read only access. To solve the problem I selected the Displays folder and 'Got Info' - I then expanded the Ownership & Permissions section and clicked Apply to enclosed (because the Displays folder has the apparently correct permissions settings). This then gave system ownership to all the profiles there. I have yet to experience the problem again despite switching back and forth quite a bit to test it out.

Does this work for everyone? If it does it would seem to be a more permanent and more elegant fix than any of the others suggested above.

10.4: Avoid a fast user switching color profile bug
Authored by: avinashmeetoo on Sun, May 20 2007 at 12:31PM PDT

Important: For this tip to work, you must first reboot your Mac so that the missing profiles are recreated inside /Library/ColorSync/Profiles/Displays

The tip by Skippy kangaroo works great and seems to solve the issue permanently. Essentially what is needed is to change the permission on all files found inside /Library/ColorSync/Profiles/Displays to rw-rw-r-- from the default rw-r--r--

You can do that using Skippy kangaroo's technique or by opening a Terminal and typing (if you are an administrator):

sudo chmod 664 /Library/ColorSync/Profiles/Displays/*

You will be asked your password and the problem will be solved.

10.4: Avoid a fast user switching color profile bug
Authored by: aca on Sat, Feb 10 2007 at 2:15PM PST

huzzah! yes, this hint still works for me on a macbook pro, 10.4.8—it fixes a reeeeeeally longstanding annoyance. :)
Other hints above about permissions didn't do it for me--though it did help me notice that in my /Library/ColorSync/Profiles/Displays directory, the .icc file (Color LCD-4271800.icc) was *disappearing* when I fast user-switched back from my second account. Running DMProxy caused it to reappear. (This corresponds to the fact that in my display preferences, the ColorLCD option disappears and that's why I'm stuck back on GenericRGB)
Maybe creating a local "backup" copy of the .icc file in my own Library would indeed help, but I guess that would be needed for each user.
Would be nice if the file didn't get zapped in the first place, but for now I at least have a quick command to avoid needing to reboot.

10.4: Avoid a fast user switching color profile bug
Authored by: chiefthinker on Tue, Mar 13 2007 at 9:22AM PDT

if any of the fixes listed do not fix your washed out display please look into the following.

Universal Access - Monitor Contrast Adjustments in OSX

Be aware that OSX introduces a feature in the "Universal Access" utility that can severely limit the performance of your monitor. To review this feature proceed as follows:

Click on the Apple icon (top-left) then on "System Preferences"
Next, click on the "Universal Access" icon (bottom-right).

Ensure that the "Seeing" tab is selected.

Under "Display", ensure that the "Enhance Contrast" slider is as far left as possible - this is the normal position.

If the slider is positioned even a small fraction of an inch from the left, there will be a loss of shadow contrast that can hide subtle shadow details in your images.

Fast user switching color profile bug - an AppleScript that might help
Authored by: andrewj on Tue, Mar 20 2007 at 4:20PM PDT

As a refinement to this excellent hint, on our systems at home we did this:
1) put an alias to the DMProxy file in a folder in the Shared User directory so that any user could use the fix without delving amongst the Frameworks and so on in the System directory.
2) I also wrote the following AppleScript, which does the job, and then, after a pause of 3 seconds, quits the Terminal.app - the script can do this only if your Terminal windows are set to show the active process name.

tell application "Finder"
open document file "DMProxy" of folder "Resources" of folder "A" of folder "Versions" of folder "CoreGraphics.framework" of folder "Frameworks" of folder "A" of folder "Versions" of folder "ApplicationServices.framework" of folder "Frameworks" of folder "Library" of folder "System" of startup disk
end tell
delay 3
tell application "Terminal"
if name of window 1 is "Completed Command" then
quit
end if
end tell

This can be saved as a script (.scpt) which can be accessed from the Script Menu, or as an application (.app) wich can be used as a Toolbar Script in Finder windows.

10.4: Avoid a fast user switching color profile bug
Authored by: MultiFinder17 on Tue, Apr 17 2007 at 12:14PM PDT

Bug still present in 10.4.9...

Maybe Apple will fix it in Leopard...

this one works on iBook G4
Authored by: grzesieko on Thu, Apr 26 2007 at 5:01PM PDT

First of all I want to say hello to Mac OS X Hints community because I'm new here :) It is great that there are people who can help you resolve the problem. This site is very usefull!

I'm not advance Mac user but after reading your posts I did something like that and it works on my iBook G4:
First of all, I have two accounts - one with "admin" rights and one "standard". Ofcourse I had the same problem with missing LCD profile after returning (from standard account) to my admin account.
After restarting computer I logged in to my "admin" account. In the Display settings I did callibrated profile using LCD profile with exactly the same settings, then I selected it. Next I did a copy of file (LCD profile callibrated) from my user(admin) Library/ColorSync/Profiles/ to my desktop and using a DropBox I moved it (a copy) to a standard account.
I logged in to "standard" account. In the user(standard) Library I had to create ColorSync folder and Profiles folder in it. Then I moved my LCD profile callibrated inside Library/ColorSync/Profiles and had to go back to ColorSync folder to open Profiles folder info. There I've only pressed a "Apply to enclosed items..." button to fix the file acces rights. After that I could chose a new LCD profile callibrated from Display settings and it fixed all the problems.

Now I can freely change the accounts and always have right profile for my screen. More of that, my original LCD profile is always on its place and stopped disaper.

Sorry all of you for my english. Hope my hint will be helpfull for someone.

---
iBook G4 12"/1.33Ghz/1.5GB Ram/80GB HDD/Combo/AP/BT...so much fun!!!

Simple way to solve the problem permanently
Authored by: avinashmeetoo on Sun, May 20 2007 at 12:34PM PDT

Simple way to solve the problem permanently
Authored by: b3uk on Thu, Jun 28 2007 at 12:29PM PDT

Bug STILL present in 10.4.10! Looks like it'll _have_ to wait for Leopard :-(

Unless they fix it in a 10.4.11 release :D

---
"Do it now. Today will be yesterday tomorrow"
- Talking Moose

Simple way to solve the problem permanently
Authored by: b3uk on Thu, Jun 28 2007 at 12:31PM PDT

I should mention that I had previously used skippy's technique to fix this, but the system update brought it back. Launching DMProxy fixed it for me this time.

---
"Do it now. Today will be yesterday tomorrow"
- Talking Moose

Simple way to solve the problem permanently
Authored by: toneill on Sat, Aug 4 2007 at 5:23PM PDT

Was having the same problem with 10.4.10, and this permanently (until the next update?) fixed the problem. Thank you!!

10.4: Avoid a fast user switching color profile bug
Authored by: CyberSeb on Tue, Aug 21 2007 at 9:30AM PDT

I'm not sure if the "sudo chmod 664 /Library/ColorSync/Profiles/Displays/*"-trick has really worked for me.

Thanks to http://www.radiotope.com/writing/?p=71 I have found a way to call DMProxy on every fast user switch ...

USE IT ON YOUR OWN RISK!!!

1. Create a file "/Library/FixColor.sh" with the following contents:

=========================================================================
#!/bin/bash
sleep 3
/System/Library/Frameworks/ApplicationServices.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/CoreGraphics.framework/Versions/A/Resources/DMProxy
say "D M Proxy"
=========================================================================

You can remove the last line; it's just for testing purposes to see if the script will be called later on.

2. Change the permissions with:

chmod 770 /Library/FixColor.sh

3. Open /System/Library/SystemConfiguration/Kicker.bundle/Contents/Resources/Kicker.xml with your favorite text-editor and add the entries from below. Do not add it directly at the end, just above the last two lines - you'll see.

=========================================================================
<dict>
<key>execCommand</key>
<string>/Library/FixColor.sh</string>
<key>execUID</key>
<integer>0</integer>
<key>keys</key>
<array>
<string>State:/Users/ConsoleUser</string>
</array>
<key>name</key>
<string>FixColor</string>
</dict>
=========================================================================

Reboot the machine. It should work ...

Sebastian

Solution (for me at least)10.4: Avoid a fast user switching color profile bug
Authored by: learjet035 on Sat, Sep 22 2007 at 3:48PM PDT

Took my MBP in to Apple today. The fast user color profile bug was driving me crazy! All the profile and pref fixes were not working.
In about 2 seconds she had it fixed, and it seem permanent.

System Prefs/ Universal Access/ Slide the "Enhance contrast"

Done

I almost cried. Hope this helps someone.

10.4: Avoid a fast user switching color profile bug
Authored by: autumnmist on Wed, Oct 31 2007 at 3:39PM PDT

For what it's worth, I just got off the phone with Apple and the tech said this is supposed to be fixed in Leopard.

10.4: Avoid a fast user switching color profile bug
Authored by: martyl on Fri, Nov 2 2007 at 5:48PM PDT

Wow, glad I found this... worked for me on my MBP 2.2/10.4.10

Marty

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Marty Lindower

10.4: Avoid a fast user switching color profile bug
Authored by: martyl on Fri, Nov 2 2007 at 5:52PM PDT

oops... I meant the sudo chmod 664 /Library/ColorSync/Profiles/Displays/* fix is what worked for me...

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Marty Lindower

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