Creating a new user account and curious log in behavior...

Question

First off I'd just like to apologize if that is not the correct place to be posting this, but after looking around I don't see a perfect fit for this topic anywhere, so I figured here should be okay. Also I want to apologize if this turns out to be a rather lengthy post, I just want to ensure that I supply all info...
Okay, so about a month ago I recognized that my current user account is slowly but surely taking longer and longer to "boot up" after I put in my password and tell it to log in. What usually happens is that I click log in, the background image and taskbar almost immediately pop up but nothing else (finder icons, dock, and the multiple icons in the taskbar which include the airport signal, user name, bluetooth status, battery strength, volume, and my iChat and Adium status) the only things to immediately "activate" in the taskbar are the clock and spotlight.
As of late when I log in something especially strange is happening in that after the 5 or so minutes it takes the dock, rest of taskbar, and finder icons to appear my PB will play the default Apple sound of me emptying trash, rather there is anything actually in the trash or not. It dosen't delete the objects in the trash (if any, as I usually keep it empty), just simply plays the sound. I'm not sure if it playing this sound ties in any with the lagging log in times, I just wanted to mention it as the log in times have slowed down considerably since this sound started.
Bottom line given that there is no way that I know of fixing this problem, I am planning to simply create a new user account. Actually I have already created the new account (by the way, it logs in literally instantaneously, and does not make the strange trash being emptied sound) but was looking for info on how to get all of my files from one account to the other. Unfortunately for me everytime that I install a program and the dialog box pops up asking if you want to install it on all user accounts or just the current one I always click "just the current one" (please don't ask why, as there is seriously no reasoning to this at all...), so is there a way to transfer my current programs from one user account to the other without reinstalling??? It's actually not that many programs I'm talking about here (Shapeshifter, Xounds, XFactor, AIM, Adium, Cocktail, Toast, Popcorn, iPod Rip, and Office), I just figured that if I can simply transfer rather than reinstalling them, it would be a lot easier.
However my 2 primary concerns are my iTunes and iPhoto libraries (3330 songs and 4182 pcitures respectively), considering that I've spent literally hours making countless playlist in iTunes, and countless folders, slideshows, and books in iPhoto, if I was to lose all this it would truly be a mess.
I know I'm probably making a big deal out of this and it's an extremely easy and basic process, please just pardon this still pretty new Mac user and help me out:) Also if anybody else has experienced the log in slow down or strange trash being emptied sound I would be glad to hear your experiences.
Thanks in advance!!!
Mervyn

Answer 1

Hi Mervin,
Bottom line given that there is no way that I know of fixing this problem, I am planning to simply create a new user account.
You can do that (but I wouldn't) this KB article outlines how:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=155373
Basically you will copy the folders within your old home to replace the folders in the new home. Here is a list of specific folders if you decide to do that but a better solution would be to sort your existing user.
Here where your important data is stored ("~" stands for "Home"):
Your Data in Documents
~/Library/Application Support/AddressBook (copy the whole folder)
~/Library/Application Support/iCal(copy the whole folder)
Also in ~ / Library/ Application Support (copy whatever else you need)
~ /Library/Keychains (copy the whole folder)
~/Library/Mail (copy the whole folder)
~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.mail.plist * This is a very important file which contains all email account settings and general mail preferences.
~ / Library/iTunes (copy the whole folder)
~ / Library/Safari (copy the whole folder)
~ / Library/iMovie (copy the whole folder)
~/ Pictures/iPhoto Library
If you want cookies:
~/Library/Cookies/Cookies.plist
~/Library/Application Support/WebFoundation/HTTPCookies.plist
so is there a way to transfer my current programs from one user account to the other without reinstalling???
As for applications, they should all be in your Application folder(there is only one) and available to ALL users, unless you have put "limitations" or "parental controls" on the account.
Now to the best course of action:
To find the issue affecting your existing user account, follow these steps:
Log back into your normal user account:
1. Navigate to ~(yourhome/library/fonts - drag this folder to the desktop.
     • Restart and test your applications.
     • If they work start adding the fonts back few at a time.
( Likely suspects are Time RO & Helvetica Fractions, also if you do not use Classic you can trash the classic fonts.)
2. Check Preferences Thoroughly;
     • Navigate to ~(yourhome/library/preferences drag this folder to the desktop.
     • Restart and test your applications.
     • If this works, save the old preferences folder somewhere else or on disk, name it "old prefs" .
** Note: A very important file is the "com.apple.Mail.plist" preference file located in the Preferences folder which contains all email account settings and general mail preferences (hold this one and replace if your problem is not with Mail).
You'll have to go through some of your System Preferences and apps to set the preferences back to how you like them. (Or if you have the time and inclination, "cherry pick" through until you find the problem one or two.)
3. Check Permissions Inside Home Folder
   • Navigate to yourhome/library.
   • Get Info (Command - i) on folders for apps you are having problems with.
   • Open the "Ownership & permissions" disclosure triangle.
   • Make sure you are the owner, with "read and write" access.
• Click on "apply to all"
   • If this is correct, open the "Applications Support" folder and do the same      procedure (Command+I) for the folders with the names of the applications you are      having trouble with.
Note:
The reason to check this is because repairing permissions with Disk Utility doesn't touch permissions inside your home folder.
If the isssue persists navigate to ~/library/caches and drag this folder to the trash, then log out and back or restart. There is no need to replace this folder.
Good luck, let us know.