#962 Privoxy does not automatically startup; won't uninstall

[Anonymous]

I've installed Privoxy on OSX 10.5. It no longer automatically starts. There is a /Library/Startup Items/Privoxy folder containing Privoxy and StartupParameters.plist. I suspect that this may be a result of Privoxy wanting to add a user via niutil. However, on 10.5 niutil is no longer on the system.

Meanwhile, the uninstall script doesn't work. All the rm commands fail with 'permission denied' and when it tries to use niutil, it can't find it, as before.

While both issues need to be addressed, I'd welcome a fix for getting it to start automatically first. Once it has been started manually, I've had no trouble, and I'm pleased that it is now native on Intel.

[Nobody/Anonymous]

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I'm using OS X 10.5 (Leopard) and have installed Privoxy. Although, as you say, niutil no longer exists it seemed to install correctly. When I uninstalled Privoxy the script did complain about niutil not being there. And now I'm wondering if the uninstallation script left some files or other things behind... It looks like everything was removed but I'm not sure...

[Nobody/Anonymous]

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If you download the Tor bundle here:

http://www.torproject.org/dist/osx/Tor-0.1.2.18-tiger-universal-Bundle.dmg

you can do a customized install and uncheck the things you don't want (assuming you don't want Tor and the Tor Button). This is a Universal binary, and it installs Privoxy with a startup script, which you can turn on right away by going to:

/Library/Privoxy/StartPrivoxy.command

and double-clicking it. After that, it should startup automatically every time you logout and login, or reboot.

[Jennifer]

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I, too, have this issue but only after upgrading to v3.0.6 from v3.0.3. 3.0.3 started just fine after upgrading to 10.5.

Here's what I see in the console log right after startup:

11/28/07 9:02:08 PM com.apple.SystemStarter[39] Nov 28 21:02:08 Privoxy(000002a0) Fatal error: User privoxy not found.
11/28/07 9:02:08 PM com.apple.SystemStarter[39] Nov 28 21:02:08 Privoxy(000002a0) Fatal error: User privoxy not found.

Here's what I get trying to start with system starter:

% sudo SystemStarter start Privoxy
Starting Privoxy
Nov 23 20:44:14 Privoxy(000002a0) Fatal error: User privoxy not found.
Nov 23 20:44:14 Privoxy(000002a0) Fatal error: User privoxy not found.
%

Manually running StartPrivoxy from the command line works just fine.

I see the comment about using Tor to install Privoxy and then start it (am I reading that right?) but the instructions don't appear any different than I'm already doing but my installation refuses to start by itself on a reboot. Is there something special in the Tor version of the StartPrivoxy.command file? I kinda doubt it.

Thanks, Jennifer

[Nobody/Anonymous]

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Same here - Privoxy 3.0.6 "Intel" will not start on login but will start if "StartPrivoxy.command" is used and admin password given when prompted in Terminal.

Mac OS X 10.5.1 on an Intel Mac Pro.

[Nobody/Anonymous]

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Same problem here.
What a pity this (small ?) glitch isn't being addressed as it prevents non technical users from benefitting of this great piece of s/w.

The developers should get a medal for it but, why not fixing the OSX version?

[Fabian Keil]

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Please try the 3.0.8 OS X packages and report
back if the problems still exists.

[Jennifer]

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Yes, I've tried 3.0.8 and Privoxy still does not start by itself. I've made a script and wrapped it in Platypus for now to work around the problem.

[mark miller]

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an updated version of privoxy for mac os x has been released (version 3.0.8-2).

please try this updated version and let me know if it works for you.

[Nobody/Anonymous]

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I have seen the same complaint on different forums. The developers really need to look into this.

I have installed the latest (alpha or beta or whatever) expert release for over a year. Never had this problem with previous versions. However, the latest privoxy is definitely not starting up.

If you install the tor/privoxy bundle you will have 3.06.

I installed 3.08 on top of that.

As a workaround, I have set iKeys to run StopPrivoxy at shutdown and StartPrivoxy at startup. You can do the same with cronniX or other launcher.

[Nobody/Anonymous]

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the tor developers will need to modify their software to support the changes in privoxy 3.0.8 for mac os x .

[Jennifer]

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v 3.0.8-2 works for me now, though I'm not sure it wasn't other actions I took that allowed it to start working.

Basically, befre running the installer this time, I renamed the /usr/local/etc/privoxy, /Library/StartupItems/Privoxy and /Library/Privoxy (the last is a hold over from pre-3.0.6 days?) directories so the new 3.0.8-2 installer or privoxy itself wouldn't have any old data lying around.

Restarting after the installation produced a running privoxy -- hurray!

Thanks so much for working this out.

Jennifer

[mark miller]

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thanks for letting us know your results.

one of the new features in privoxy 3.0.8-2 for mac os x is that during installation, it will attempt to backup and restore any existing privoxy config.

as a result, the installer will 1) first look for any existing config in the /Library/Privoxy folder and use that config, 2) if no config exists, then look for any existing config in the /usr/local/etc/privoxy folder and use that config, 3) otherwise, use the default config.