Delete macintosh system file?

I have a macintosh classic without an operating system. when I try to install one(7.0), it gives me this error:
The installer cannot copy the file "system" onto the disk "Classic HD" installation cannot continue. Please delete this file and try running the installer again.
I know no way of deleting it without an operating system. ideas?

Hi,
First of all, is it a plain Macintosh Classic (not just any "classic" Macintosh computer)?
http://support.apple.com/kb/sp198
Yes, as BDAqua indicated, you could boot from a Disk Tools floppy and then erase the hard disk. The best way may be to run the Apple HD SC Setup utility and completely reformat/initialise the hard disk (of course, providing that you are aware of that this will delete everything on the disk).
Alternatively, when booting from a Disk Tools floppy, it should also be possible to just drag any existing files on the hard disk to the Wastebasket/Trash (and empty the Trash).
Are you using an original set of System 7.0 system floppies, or have you created properly sector-copied floppies from the System 7.0 download (via the Make A Copy button in Disk Copy 4.2)?
http://download.info.apple.com/Apple_Support_Area/Apple_Software_Updates/English -North_American/Macintosh/System/Older_System/System_7.0.x/System_7.0.smi.bin
http://download.info.apple.com/Apple_Support_Area/Apple_Software_Updates/English -North_American/Macintosh/Utilities/Disk_Copy/Disk_Copy_4.2.sea.bin
Jan

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Won't boot from install discs after deleting some system files

I've been looking through the forum and haven't found an answer to my problem - maybe someone can help me out.
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Hi bboross,
Tough without a Tiger Disk, but try fsck...
To use fsck, you must run it from the command line. Unlike using your mouse to open an application to do something, you'll need to type a text command at the prompt (#) to tell fsck what to do. The Terminal application (/Applications/Utilities) and single-user mode are two examples of command-line interfaces in which you can type such commands. To use fsck:
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(space between fsck and -fy important)
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4. When fsck reports that your volume is OK, type reboot at the prompt and then press Return.
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106214
Then Safe Boot , (holding Shift key down at bootup), & use Disk Utility from there to Repair Permissions, reboot once more.

I accidentally deleted hidden system files! Please help!

Hi guys.
Well after purchasing a mint MBP today running Mountain Lion, I wanted to "tidy up" the desktop and Finder. I saw many hidden files and thought it was very peculiar as my iMac hasn't got anything of the kind. I thought it could have been some files from a USB that were left there from previous usage. Anyway, I've ended up deleting key system files which now causes the MacBook to fail boot and keep restarting.
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Many thanks for the advice.
Apologies if this is something you have heard before, it's a horrible feeling and I just want it fixed.
Thanks.
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To install Lion that belongs to you will require you to repartition the drive first. You cannot do a simple reinstall of Lion over a Mountain Lion system. You will need to follow this guide instead:
Install Lion/Mountain Lion on a New HDD/SDD
Be sure you backup your files to an external drive or second internal drive because the following procedure will remove everything from the hard drive.
Boot to the Internet Recovery HD:
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Partition and Format the hard drive:
1. Select Disk Utility from the main menu and click on the Continue button.
2. After DU loads select your external hard drive (this is the entry with the mfgr.'s ID and size) from the left side list. Click on the Partition tab in the DU main window.
3. Under the Volume Scheme heading set the number of partitions from the drop down menu to one. Click on the Options button, set the partition scheme to GUID then click on the OK button. Set the format type to Mac OS Extended (Journaled.) Click on the Partition button and wait until the process has completed. Quit DU and return to the main menu.
Reinstall Lion/Mountain Lion: Select Reinstall Lion/Mountain Lion and click on the Install button. Be sure to select the correct drive to use if you have more than one.
Note: You will need an active Internet connection. I suggest using Ethernet if possible because it is three times faster than wireless.
This is the procedure you must go through because your hard drive does not have a Lion version of the Recovery HD.

I accidentally deleted the systems file on my macbook.

In preparation for upgrading from Leopard 5.8 to Snow Leopard I backed up my entire macbook system to an external hard drive. Then I deleted some files prior to installing Snow Leopard but I accidentally deleted the systems files. I can't boot the system now. How do I resolve the situation?

Thanks for the reply.
The backup was via Time Machine.
No, I have not tried booting from the SL 6.0 disc using the c key or Option/alt key. When do I push the option/alt key?

I may have deleted some system files from my computer due to my antivirus and now my imac won't start. Actually it does, and then there is a blank screeen with the apple logo and it shuts down right away. is tehre a possibility of recovering my files?

Hello
I was having some problems with my Imac, for a while it was slow and often disconneceted from my wifi, while this one worked perfectly (tested with other devices)
I thoug i might have a virus, so i downloaded an antivirus (mac keeper) and started checking.
I also did a scan of my computer using Console or something from the utilities, and then a folder popped witha file I had canceled a while ago. I canceled the file and then my Imac continued to be slow.
i then restarted my Imac, but when it started, the usual grey logo of Apple appeared, and then it shut down suddently.
I tried to reboot it holding the command key and R but nothing, and then i tried holding the shift key and a bar appeared, and at half of the bar it sut itself down again.
I think it is probably a preoblem because I may have cancelled some of the system files from a folder called "private" in the "documents" folder.
Is there any way I can recover some of my files? maybe all of them? I hope so because I have some important files there
Is this a thing I can do myself or do Ineed to go to a MacStore to repair it? Will I need to change HD or just to format it and reinstall? also if there is any way i can recover some of my files that would be great.
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Ludo
P.S. problems appeared when i installed the Mavericks version.

If MacKeeper corrupted the Recovery partition then even I underestimated its potential for damage. Garbage "cleaning" apps will cause misery but I have not found that the Recovery partition to have been affected by using MacKeeper or anything like it. I doubt that it did so, but I have learned not to underestimate the potential for such things to result in system corruption.
Before concluding your Mac has a hardware failure, try booting OS X Internet Recovery by holding command option r on startup (three fingers). That will force your iMac to bypass the Recovery partition altogether, and convey the ability to create a new one.
An Internet connection will be required (wired or wireless).
At the Mac OS X Utilities screen, select Disk Utility. Select your startup volume (usually named "Macintosh HD") and click the Repair Disk button. Describe any errors it reports in red. If Disk Utility reports "The volume Macintosh HD appears to be OK" in green then you can be reasonably (though not completely) assured your hard disk is in good working order.
Assuming the HD remains usable you can then use Disk Utility to erase it. Reinstall OS X, restore your essential software and other files, and don't reinstall the junk.

I accidentally deleted a system file and my macbook pro will not boot

i accidentally deleted some files and i am guessing now that they were system files. now my macbook pro will not boot. i need help please

What OS version are you on? You're not running iOS 6.1.2 on it.
If you're on 10.7 or 10.8, try the recovery option:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4718

Deleted a system file, now nothing works

Hi,
I downloaded and used a 3rd party file that changes the login window UI, but decided yesterday I wanted it back to normal, I had a backup of the original file already in the directory, so I deleted the file and double clicked the zip file (thinking stupidly this was it done).
But it appears I've deleted the file and the file didn't unzip and now my mac won't boot up at all, it's stuck in an endless blue screen loop at the login window.
The directory is - System/Library/CoreServices/SecurityAgentPlugins
and the file itself in that folder is - loginwindow.bundle
So I've completely screwed things up, here is the things I have tried and failed:
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- Holding 'C' with Leopard Installation CD
- Booting into safe mode
- Booting into single user mode (successfully) and tried /sbin/fsck -fy (it repaired something but it still doesn't boot)
I was hoping I could archive and install from the OS DVD, but for some reason it doesn't seem responsive (blank white screen, or at one point just shutdown my macbook).
All because of one system file?
Is there anyway I can unzip the file back to where it should be? Is there anyway I can archive and install from single user mode? Is there anyway I can repair the system files to default from single user mode? Or do a OS DVD repair from single user mode? Better yet - is there anyway I can completely bypass the login GUI window?
I know the exact file, I have the default file in the correct directory, I know where the problem is - I just can't get to it.
I really don't want to loose everything on my HD.

If you're unable to boot from a Mac OS X install disk, there are a few possible reasons:
1) The disk is damaged
2) The disk is not appropriate for the computer
3) The optical drive is damaged
4) There's some other hardware problem
5) The hard drive is so badly corrupted that you can't boot from anything (rare, I've only seen a confirmed case like this once)
6) You have a peripheral connected that is interfering
If #1 is the case, there's not much you can do but replace the disk. In the case of #2, note that gray disks that shipped with a different machine won't work and that [you can't install an older system than what shipped on your machine|http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2186]. #3 is probably only diagnosable (is that a word?) if your system is working (so you can test other disks) or if Apple takes a look at it. #4 can be tested with [Apple Hardware Test|http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1509], if you can manage to boot into that. And #5 can be difficult to fix, usually involving the assistance of another machine (for example, you could boot in [FireWire target mode|http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1661] and try repairing with something like [DiskWarrior|http://www.alsoft.com/DiskWarrior/index.html] or just erase the drive). Finally, #6 is easy to test - just unplug everything but the keyboard and mouse and test again.
Since fsck reported errors on your drive that had to be repaired, #5 could be possible, but then I would think it wouldn't boot into single-user mode. Try going back to single-user mode and keep running fsck repeatedly until no problems are found (or until you're reasonably sure they won't be fixed).
Unfortunately, since we know your hard drive was damaged, you may have already lost everything on the drive if you didn't have backups.

Can't delete Previous System File

Hi,
I did an archive and install and was left with a Previous System folder that is about 13G. I used "whatsize" app to move it to the trash where I then did a Secure empty trash. Trash can is empty, but when I run Whatsize again, the same previous system folder is still there, taking up 13G's of hard drive space. Any idea how to get rid of this file?
Thanks!

How To Fix Stubborn Trash and Why it Won't Delete
http://www.osxfaq.com/Tutorials/LearningCenter/HowTo/Trash/index.ws
Solving Trash Problems
http://www.thexlab.com/faqs/trash.html
 Cheers, Tom

How do I delete a system file from Time Machine?

After consulting this support document, I tried to delete a Safari cache file that was captured by Sophos's Quarantine Manager as containing a common phishing hook. But it's in Library and Time Machine can't locate it. The Library folder, as you know, is typically hidden, and it wasn't there when I went to the starfield.
It's not a big threat to me, and will soon disappear from my cache, but it bugs me that I can't get to it.

Enter Time Machine from within your user Library folder. That will bring you to your user Library within Time Machine. (Your user Library is visible under the Go menu in Finder if you hold down the Option key.)

OK to delete "Previous Systems" file?

I noticed that after installing 10.5 (or maybe 10.5.1, because of the date), I have a folder called "Previous Systems" with a folder inside that called 2008-01-27_1835. Is it okay to delete this? It's taking 15 GB of space on my disk. Everything is working fine.

Hi J Micael;
If the Previous Systems folder was from either 10.5 or 10.5.1, then the chances of it being of any use are really slim. I think that deleting it will be a good thing.
Allan

I had acidently deleted my iphone 4 system file and for now my iphone gatting jam on apple logo

PLZ HELP ME OUT FOR THIS

What are you talking about? How can you "accidentaly delete" the "system file"? And what, exactly do you mean by that?
Google iPhone DFU mode. Put the phone in DFU mode and restore it.

Deleted system files, MBA doesn't operate anymore.

Hello everyone,
I'm new to mac and i just installed some programs yesterday. Because I have a 64GB MBA I thought I should delete some stuff and I guess I accidentally deleted some system files. Now my MBA doens't operate proper and I can't open anything. Finder crashes all the time and I can't go trough my stuff. I need my schoolstuff back..
Is there anyone out there who can help me with this issue?
Halit.

I is not my purpose to preach but every user that has valuable data should have a backup. Based on your response I sense that you do not but I suspect you are coming to understand the value of backing up your data.
What you may have deleted in error is an unknown. It may very well have included some/all of your data. Theoretically and OSX installation will not delete any user data.
The choices that you have are as follows:
1. Try the reinstall as described earlier.
2. See if you can start the MBA in target disk mode and copy data off of the MBA SSD and then perform the reinstall.
http://support.apple.com/kb/PH10725
3. Get data recovery software and try to get the data on another storage device.
4. Employ a data recover firm to retrieve the data, but that will be very expensive with no guarantees of ANY success.
Ciao.

I can't download anything as it keeps telling me my start up disk is full. I have deleted loads of files and it still keeps popping up with the same messge??

Please help - I am not too computer savvi and my computer keeps telling me my start up disk is full. I have purchased a passport and transferred loads of images and files onto that and then deleted them from my computer but the message is still the same and I can't download anything.

How big is your hard drive, and how much space is used/free?
To find out, click once on the hard drive icon on your desktop to highlight it (it will be called Macintosh HD unless you renamed it). Click the command and I keys on your keyboard to open the information window. In "General", you will see Capacity and Available. What are those figures?
If you have a little bit of space left, I recommend that you install Omnidisksweeper (it's free) to tell you what folders are using up the most room.
Be careful when you transfer files - only move files that you know are yours. Don't move or delete any system files unless you're specifically recommended to do so (some files are safe to delete; some are not).
Matt

Why is Itunes cluttering my music folder with system files?

Ok i was using windows 7 before this and it was fine. Then i reformatted my drive and put windows 7 again. Downloaded latest itunes v9 and installed. Copied my entire music library backed up on my external hd and copied it to the music folder under the libraries section. In windows 7 the "my music" folder under user>documents and settings is actually the same as the "music" folder in the libraries on your pc. The music folder in libraries simply can compose of multiple folder so it simply displays all the contents of the "my music" folder and can also include other folders.
Anyhow itunes screw up indexing my library but thats a whole problem of another sort. The main issue is that after it sees my music library and after I have downloaded something it does this. http://img169.imageshack.us/i/65030372.jpg/
In that link as you can see in music under libraries it just leaves all those system and downloaded files.There actually ends up being hundreds after it gets album/song artwork since each artwork picture comes up as a ict2 file.
However if i go to the my music folder in documents and settings it neatly tucks away all those files into their respective folder in itunes media or artworkd, despite the few core library files. http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/5956/55950795.jpg
AT the moment i have deleted all the music in my library. Deleting those system files simply makes itunes no longer see an library. I have tried reinstalling with no avail. Why is it putting everything in folder in my music but not doing the same in music-libraries which is the same identical folder.

This is just a thought, because I've not played with Windows 7, but near the top of your 1st image it says *Music Library, Includes 2 Locations*. I think you're looking at a view there which will display the contents of all possible music storage locations and the contents all of their subfolders, i.e. like a search result box. The other image corrsponds to a regular folder layout. iTunes stores an Album Artwork folder inside the main iTunes folder along with it's main database and a number of other supporting files. These files are required for iTunes to work so you can't just delete them. If you want to look at your media folders the use Windows Explorer to look inside *iTunes\iTunes Media*.
tt2

Removing previous system files

Will I gain space on my HD by deleting previous system files.

You won't gain any space until you empty the trash, and that may take quite a long time. The last time I did it, I deleted one top-level folder at a time, then emptied the trash, to reduce the impact. Several of those sub-folders took quite a while.

Delete macintosh system file?

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