Desktop in Trash... HELP!

My desktop icon has wound up in the Trash somehow and I am not able to remove it. If I try to open up anything that is sitting on my desktop, a dialogue box pops up asking me to drag it out of the Trash. I've created a folder entitled Desktop and have saved it in my home, but it's really becoming a nuisance. Eventually, I'll need to empty out my Trash and I'm afraid of what will happen to my desktop when I do. Also, when I download a file, it no longer saves it on the actual desktop, but in the abovementioned Desktop folder.
Does anyone have any suggestions as to how to put the desktop icon back in its proper place?
Thx!
iMac G5 Mac OS X (10.3.9)

Welcome to Discussions - first, posting in CAPS is like SHOUTING, please don't.
Second, what are you trying to take out of the trash? If it's your desktop, just restart your computer and it will reappear. If something else is in the trash, click on the trash icon and select "open" then drag whatever is in there that you want onto the desktop.
Miriam

Similar Messages

Workflow Keeps Putting My Desktop In Trash

I've created a workflow that:
1. Gets a specified folder on USB stick, moves to trash.
2. Gets a specified folder on Macintosh HD, moves to trash.
3. Gets a specified folder on Macintosh HD, copies to USB stick.
4. Ejects USB stick.
There is no command in my workflow that says "move Desktop to trash"! I'm baffled. Not to mention freaked out about my Desktop disappearing.
The only thing I can think of is that in Step 2, the folder on the Macintosh HD might already have been deleted. As such, there would be nothing for Automator to delete. But I just assumed Automator would pass over an instruction it couldn't perform, not replace it with something seriously wacked like moving my entire Desktop to the trash.
Any insights would be appreciated!

Good sleuthing! I wouldn't have thought of that, but in retrospect it makes sense. The way the Finder plug-in works, it will attempt to pass file and folder information to the workflow. If your first action can accept that information as input, it will process it! This is from Automator Help:
Saving a workflow as a plug-in
Mac OS X and certain applications allow you to add Automator workflows as plug-ins. When a workflow is saved as a plug-in and installed, it can be run by the system or application. For example, in the Finder a workflow can be run whenever a file is added to a folder by saving it as a folder action plug-in, or a workflow can be run using iCal alarms by saving it as an iCal Alarm plug-in.
Here are some of the standard types of plug-ins:
Finder plug-in
These workflows run when chosen from the Finder's contextual menu. Any items selected in the Finder will be passed as input to the first action of the workflow.
Folder Action plug-in
These workflows appear as one of the contextual menu options for a folder. Folder actions can launch the workflow whenever the folder is modified.
iCal Alarm plug-in
These workflows become alarms in the iCal application and can be scheduled to run at a specific date and time.
Image Capture
These workflows become automatic tasks that can be performed on image files immediately after they are downloaded from a digital camera by the Image Capture application. They can be selected from the Automated Tasks pop-up in the Import dialog.
Print Workflow plug-in
These workflows perform actions on files that have been saved as PDFs. They can be chosen from the PDF pop-up in the Print dialog. The file is first saved as a PDF formatted file, then the path to the PDF is passed to the first action of the workflow.
Script menu plug-in
Script menu plug-ins are placed in the Script menu.
PowerMac G5 (June 2004) 2x1.8GHz 1.25GB, PowerBook G4 (12-inch DVI) 1x1GHz 768MB Mac OS X (10.4.3)

I need to use my iMac to run some Windows software and was thinking of using Parallels Desktop 9 to help with this. Do you still have to partition your drive with Parallels and does this leave you open to viruses?

I need to use my iMac to run some Windows software not available for Mac and was thinking of obtaining Parrallels Desktop 9 to help with this. If I use Parrallels do you still have to partitian your drive and does this leave you open to viruses?

You do not have to partition your drive - Parallels creates a disk image which contains your Windows installation. You do have to exercise anti-virus measures in the Windows partition, although such malware cannot affect the Mac filesystem.
Matt

Can't move files, folders on desktop to trash

Since updating to 10.4.4, unable to move temporary files or folders from the desktop to trash. Dialog box appears with "finder requires that you type your password". Enter password and progress bar claims "operation cannot be completed because you do not have sufficient priveleges for some of the items".
I am logged in as administrator and have repaired permissions.

Click on the desktop so that nothing on the desktop is selected, and then choose Get Info from the File menu. In the Get Info window, locate the Locked checkbox and clear it; if this box is grayed out, change the owner to yourself under Ownership & Permissions, and then clear the box. If it still doesn't work, verify that none of the items you are trying to throw away are locked.
(10738)

My creative CC for teams gives an error code (-60) download corrupted when trying to install any app from the CC on my desktop. Any help?

My creative CC for teams gives an error code (-60) download corrupted when trying to install any app from the CC on my desktop. Any help?

Rasco1 it sounds like your managed network needs to be configured to allow you to download successfully. You can find more details in Error downloading Creative Cloud applications - http://helpx.adobe.com/creative-cloud/kb/error-downloading-cc-apps.html.

I can not delete some power point files in the trash.help?

I can not delete some power point files in the trash.help?

Hi Gary,
The presentations were created originally with PowerPoint. I have been using them on both KeyNote and PowerPoint with no problem, even after updating to MountainLion. Problems started at the 10.8.3 upgrade. The installation was an upgrade form Lion. Yes I mean Open Office, I am able to open the presentation with Open Office and play it with no problems.
The presentation gets loaded by Power Point and the Power Point freezes. Key Note can not even load it. Stops 3/4 of the way. This happens with ALL my presentations.
I want to thank you for your help.
Leonardo

Cannot access desktop/finder/trash... itunes locked error msg?

I suddenly can't access these 4 things: desktop/finder/trash/itunes.
I was throwing away files, and wonder if I accidentally threw something important away?
With itunes, i get an error msg saying:
"The iTunes Library file is locked, on a locked disk, or you do not have write permission for this file."
No idea.

Try running Repair Permissions in Disk Utility.

A folder on my desktop disappeared and is not the trash, HELP

A folder on my desktop disappeared and is not in the trash, PLEASE HELP

I tried that and found one of the documents but it says it has been damaged or motified

When I move a file from the desktop to trash, the file only moves to the trash after I open the trash

So if I have a file on the desktop and I delete it, it makes the 'throwing it in the trash' sound but the trash can icon stays empty (if I don't already have something there) until I click on trash, and the file still appears to be on my desktop until I click the trash. If, after I've moved something to the trash, I then drag the file that seems to still be there around the desktop and drop it somewhere randomly, the file moves itself from the trash back onto the desktop! Can anyone help?
Thanks, Dan

Welcome to the Apple Discussions. Do you have Time Machine setup to backup your hard drive? If so you can use it to recover the files.
If not you will need to use a file recovery application like SubrosaSoft FileSalvage. It lets you run the application to check the drive for files that can be recovered before having to purchase it. There are other similar applications out there also. You can go to VersionTracker.com and search for "file recovery" to get other possible apps.
There are recovery services that can do the job for you. They are pretty expensive but if you can't get the recovery application to work they are another option.
Try to use the computer as little as possible beforehand so you don't run the risk of overwriting the deleted files.
OT

Dock icons will not disappear when I drag them to desktop or trash

On my MacBook Pro, when I drag an icon from the dock to the desktop or to trash, it bounces back to where it was on the dock. I tried to move Applescript Editor, AppleWorks 6, Keychain Access, Activity Monitor, Quick Time Player and several more icons and they all did the same. Each icon that will not disappear, has a blue dot reflection underneath it.
I moved one of the icons without a blue reflection to the desk top and it did go up in smoke, but as soon as i replaced that icon from finder back to the dock, it also had a blue reflection under it and I could not make it disappear again.
If anyone can help me, I would appreciate it. Thank you so much,
Arudi

You're only supposed to drag icons out of the Dock if you want to remove them from it; running applications won't disappear immediately but may do so when quit.
If you're trying to put icons on the desktop, find the items in the Finder and drag them there with the Option and Command keys held down.
(88931)

Editing iTune Playlists online from desktop (without iPhone) Help?

Hi - so new at this - help!? Long story short - iPhone gone (now have a Droid). I need to get into my music ONLINE (from my desktop) to delete like several 100 songs before I transfer to my new phone. Had no prob transfering thru an app from one to the other but it took EVERYTHING, killing most of my memory and
like said most are trash anyway, so I cleared the new phone to start over. What I wanted and or thought I should or could do was go into Itunes - sign in and then EDIT my music (getting rid of the bad tunes) and then REDOWNLOAD onto my Droid.
But when I get to the itunes store I can sign in to the account fine (on my DESKTOP) but can't seem to get into my music lists???
I don't have the iphone anymore (so I can't connect which before triggered me right to my music lists online) - HELP PLEASE (be so appreciated!)

Hi,
My Son has an iPhone and we can get his phone to Play my iTunes songs
However on his Phone he gets a message about only playing the songs that are linked to his Apple ID (i.e on his own computer).
Is it possible to "Share" other peoples iTunes Libraries in the way described in this thread ?
Consider me a Newbie outside of iChat.
9:47 PM Saturday; March 12, 2011

Finder crash when I control click on desktop or file - help please

Hi all,
My finder crashes when I control click on desktop or any file in a folder/directory. Do I have a preferences file that went bad or something? I already ran FSCK.
Thanks for the help.
Mitch

I had the same problem and I found the fix, thanks to Francine on your post:
I went into "/Users/yourname/Library/Contextual Menu Items" and into "/Library/Contextual Menu Items". I archived the contents of each, dropped the archives onto the desktop (in case I wanted them again) and trashed the contents of those 2 folders. Restarted and everything worked great getting the contextual menus up again on Finder items using Control-Click. I then replaced the appropriate archive into the "/Library/Contextual Menu Items", unarchived it (hoping to find the culprit item) and trashed the archive, restarted and again all worked fine again. I then repeated the process with the "/Users/yourname/Library/Contextual Menu Items" folder and again restarted and again everything worked fine! So found no culprits and the contextual menus work as they always did before the problem.
Hope this helps. PaulWR.

5000 mp3s stuck on desktop...Help!

Hi everyone, and thanks for your help in advance. I just made the switch from pc to an Imac and am very happy so far. I had just finished moving about 5000 mp3s onto my new computer yesterday, when my finger slipped and they all dropped onto the desktop... When I try to put them in the trash (which is what i was trying to do in the first place) I get "some of the files you are using are in use by another application" and i have to erase them ONE BY ONE?!? I have quit all programs and tried restarting in safe mode, but i still get the same message. Please save me from having to delete these files on by one. Thanks

Hi
Here's a solution I've used for other massively-filed-up desktops. Reboot the computer holding down the cmd and S keys to get into "single user mode". You'll get to a text prompt. Type in the following, and hit return after each line.
mount -uw /
cd Users
cd yourusername - for example, "cd rjcooker"
cd Desktop
mkdir mp3folder
mv *.m4a mp3folder
ls
The final command, "ls", will list the files on your desktop including any remaining music files (any which don't have an .mp3 extension). If there are a small number, you can ignore them. If you still have hundreds of files - perhaps with a .m4a extension (for AAC files), you can run the same "mv" command to get them into the folder:
mv *.m4a mp3folder
Once you've got the files moved, type "exit" to reboot. You should now be able to see your Desktop!
Matt
Message was edited by: Matt Clifton

Dragging photos from desktop to trash suddenly doesn't work.

I have a number of photos on my desktop that I am trying to move to trash. The notice that is now on my desktop is "Preparing to move to trash". This preparing message has been there for several days. I'd appreciate any help. Thank you.

You may be able to restart the process by going to the Apple logo (top left of your screen) and click on that.   The seventh item down in the drop down panel is Force Quit.   Click on that and in the drop down panel click on trash if it is showing.   You could then try the process again.
You cannot be looking in the right place for the secure empty trash.   You will have Finder in your Dock.
Clicking on that will bring you to a screen with 'Finder' written in the top left hand corner next to your Apple logo.   Clicking on the word, Finder, will produce a drop down panel in which, the third item down is Empty Trash and the fourth item down is Secure Empty Trash.   Click on whichever one you need to use and then on the prompt which will appear.

I keep being redirected to mobile versions of most sites even though I'm using my desktop...Help!

For some reason recently, my computer has decided that I'm always using a mobile device and I keep getting redirected to mobile versions of websites. I do use my phone to broadcast a wifi hotspot but I had been using it for months with no issue to the webpages until just a few weeks ago. Most times I can go to the bottom of the page and change it back to desktop but it never keeps it that way. I have run into the issue with my yahoo and aol mail where the mail page won't load at all so I can't change it to desktop nor can I see my mail. I can't figure out how to stop this from happening and it's becoming increasingly frustrating to not be able to view my mail on my computer. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Reload web page(s) and bypass the cache.
* Press and hold Shift and left-click the Reload button.
* Press "Ctrl + F5" or press "Ctrl + Shift + R" (Windows,Linux)
* Press "Cmd + Shift + R" (MAC)
Start Firefox in <u>[[Safe Mode]]</u> to check if one of the extensions is causing the problem (switch to the DEFAULT theme: Firefox (Tools) > Add-ons > Appearance/Themes).
*Don't make any changes on the Safe mode start window.
*https://support.mozilla.com/kb/Safe+Mode
*https://support.mozilla.com/kb/Troubleshooting+extensions+and+themes

Desktop in Trash... HELP!

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for