Some times a MacOS X machine which has successfully connected to a server before will stop connecting and also stop asking for a username and password. Instead, the user will immediately see the note:

Could not connect to the server because the name or password is not correct.

Possible causes for this error include:

• An old password is stored in the keychain
• The challenge from the server is not accepted
• A preference file is corrupted

Keychain problems can be fixed by removing the entry for the server from the user's keychain. First open the Keychain Access program in

Applications -> Utilities -> Keychain access

and then remove the server reference by clicking on it and then clicking the Delete button. CLASnet recommends not saving any server passwords in the keychain for security reasons.

Challenge problems may occur if the server is changed, but such changes are usually announced. A more likely problem is that the preference file which lists acceptable challenges is corrupt. If there wasn't an announced change to the server login system, try re-creating the preferences file.

Corrupt preferences for server logins are usually in a file called .GlobalPreferences.plist in the user's personal library preferences directory. To re-create the file, first open the Terminal program in

Applications -> Utilities -> Terminal

and then remove the current copy of the file by typing:

rm ~/Library/Preferences/.GlobalPreferences.plist

NOTE: If you are actually typing this instead of using copy-paste, you can use the <tab> key to auto-complete the line:

rm ~/Lib<tab>/Pref<tab>/.Glo<tab>

which will cut down on possible typographical errors. After deleting the file, log out or restart and log back in to the Macintosh.