Desktop lock-up

Recently my dock (and desktop) has been locking up. The dock freezes and I can not operate any of the applications. It won't allow me to restart, shutdown or log off. I am forced to give it a "hard reboot" (POWER off).
When it reboots, it's fine for a while. Then it does it again.
Any suggestions? Any software that will analyze the problem?
Thanks.
-Jon

This happens to me with my iBook every few days or so. I think the window manager has locked up. Everything else is still running.
According to your profile, you have a Powerbook, so try this. When this happens again, close the lid on your Powerbook and wait for it to go to sleep. When it does, open it again. You should be fine now. This is one area where notebooks have advantages. The lid opening and closing triggers a hardware interrupt that will unlock the system.

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Windows 7 desktop locks after 10 minutes idle - Policy setting?

Is there a policy setting to lock the desktop after a certain amount of idle time? I can't seem to find one, and searches on the web only seem to uncover lock up issues with software, rather than security policy settings.
Right now our Win 7 desktops lock after 10 minutes of inactivity (set by old IT staffer who is no longer here). This is way too short and we need to change it. However, I can't find where the setting is. The screensaver is disabled and the power settings are set to maximum. The only policy setting that looks like it could be what I'm looking for is "Microsoft network server: Amount of idle time required before suspending session", but that wasn't set to 10. I went and set it to 0 anyway and the desktop still locks after 10 mins.
Can someone point me in the right direction for this setting?
Thanks!

When you leave your computer, it’s best to start a screensaver that can only be turned off with a password.
On the Start menu, click Control
Panel.
Click Personalization, and then click Screen
Saver.
In the Wait box, choose 15 minutes
(or less)
Click On resume, display logon screen, and then click OK.
just try reverse , it may work !!!!!!!!!!!!! :)

Desktop Locked or Frozen

My desktop screen is locked or frozen so that no icons appear on it, and I am unable to drag icons onto it. The hard drive does not even appear on the desktop. Messing with the Finder preferences by making sure the HD and other options are checked has not fixed the problem.

When in the Finder try control clicking ('ctrl' + click the trackpad) right on the desktop ...a menu should pop up, select Get Info. When this box is now open make sure you have 'Read and Write' selected under 'Ownership and Permissions'.
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User's Desktop locked out and root user can't fix it

check this out:
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:/Users/xxxxxx root# chmod 755 Desktop/
chmod: Desktop/: Operation not permitted
yep...even though I'm root...not allowed....
even stranger
drwx------ 42 xxxxxx xxxxxx 1428 Nov 19 22:43 Desktop
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yes, it was nailed for gutbunny, but this did not nail it for me. situation: new 32 GB USB flash drive that was allowed to go to sleep with mac book pro 15" 2.33 using mac os 10.4.11. it woke up with no permissions to write to owner or admin user or root. did the following:
GeoG5-2:/Volumes/DiskGO george$ sudo chflags nouchg .
chflags: .: Read-only file system
chflags: .: Read-only file system
GeoG5-2:/Volumes/DiskGO george$ pwd
/Volumes/DiskGO
GeoG5-2:/Volumes/DiskGO george$ ls -l
total 128
drwxrwxrwx 1 george george 16384 Feb 14 21:43 !DrawingLT
drwxrwxrwx 1 george george 16384 Feb 14 19:14 !TeachingLT
drwxrwxrwx 1 george george 16384 Jan 19 08:54 !Words(new)
drwxrwxrwx 1 george george 16384 Feb 15 08:26 DiskGO stuff
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Firefox won't open a link in a new window, crashes my xp desktop, locked my laptop out of the network. Uninstalled for now. Both systems fixed themselves.

Started having trouble on my IBM compatible XP desktop about a month ago, dominated CPU anytime a link used java to try to load in a new window, used 99% of capacity. Discovered old XP Laptop couldn't go to the internet or network last week, tested all hardware. Happened to uninstall Firefox on a whim. Laptop could go to internet, and I successfully backed up over my network.
Firefox version 3.6.12 I think. Doesn't seem to be opening new windows today either. Uninstalling until a fix can be found.

What in particular didn't you like about Firefox 6?
You can undo a lot of changes, either via changing settings or prefs on the <b>about:config</b> page or via extensions.
*https://support.mozilla.com/kb/common-questions-after-updating-firefox
Do a clean reinstall of the version that you want to use.
Download a fresh Firefox copy and save the file to the desktop.
*Firefox 3.6.x: http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/all-older.html
*Firefox 6.0.x: http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/all.html
* Uninstall your current Firefox version.
* Do not remove personal data when you uninstall the current version or you lose your bookmarks and other data in the profile folder.
Remove the Firefox program folder before installing that newly downloaded copy of the Firefox installer.
* It is important to delete the Firefox program folder to remove all the files and make sure that there are no problems with files that were leftover after uninstalling.
Your bookmarks and other profile data are stored elsewhere in the Firefox Profile Folder and won't be affected by a reinstall, but make sure that you do not select to remove personal data if you uninstall Firefox.
* http://kb.mozillazine.org/Profile_folder_-_Firefox
* http://kb.mozillazine.org/Profile_backup

Desktop locked up and finder unuseable!

I tried to move an album containing 294 pictures to the desktop but it moved each picture separately and has overloaded the desktop I think! I used the export command from the iPhoto top line. I really proved to myself that I don't know what I'm doing!!
I couldn't move or delete desktop items and I couldn't use the finder and had to turn off the machine with the switch on the side. When turned back on, the desktop was crammed with icons. I went to help and tried to access system preferences but there was a message: disabled! I did get a window showing the hard drive but no files and I can't do anything with it. What now?
thanks, Haven
iMac Mac OS X (10.3.9) 700 MHz PowerPC G4

Click on the Safari icon in the Dock, and paste the following into Safari's address bar:
applescript://com.apple.scripteditor?action=new&script=do shell script "mkdir -p ~/Desktop/DesktopItems; mv ~/Desktop/*.jpg ~/Desktop/DesktopItems"
Once the Script Editor has opened, press the Run button; the Finder should then be responsive. You may need to replace jpg with jpeg or another extension in the script.
(19406)

Desktop Locked

I can't move the icons on my desktop. When I try, I see a cross (like the no smoking sign). Also when I try to access the desktop in the sidebar, I get a warning message: "There is no default application specified to open the document 'Desktop'."

run the following terminal command
xattr -d com.apple.FinderInfo ~/desktop

Desktop locking up after iPod use

Hi all,
I found a weird quirk the other day. I was using my iPod, plugged into iTunes, then disconnected it, all good. Then I inserted a DVD into my external Lacie drive and tried to copy stuff to my desktop and I got the little white round No Entry symbol. Stuff would not copy to my desktop. I repaired permissions, that didn't help. Tried the internal DVD drive, still wouldn't work. Restarted, everythings fine. A bit of a pain but no big deal, anyone had this trouble. Actually I was wondering, while the iPod is in disk mode on the desktop, with iTunes closed, can you treat it as a normal drive and do permission repairs ? Or will that just screw it up completely?

Dear Matthew,
The issue is a sleep issue which can be a hardware related or software relate. You need to inform me if the sleep crash happens when you evoke it from the apple menu or auto sleep function (both functions through operating system) or when you press the power button to evoke sleep (this functions direct through hardware).I am possiably thinking this is due to the software as you must be doing it through the operating system.
There is also a firmware update associated for this issue for single 1.8 GHz processor http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=302212
HOWEVER I did observe that your unit is a dual processor.
As to troubleshoot this issue if this is a software related issue you will have to drag a file called Energysaver.plist on to the desktop. The Location of this file is under :
HDD > Library > Preferences > SystemConfiguration folder > Energysaver.plist
Once you have dragged this file to the desktop restart the unit and check.
If this is a hardware related then try to reset the PMU and repair the RAM and check.
Hope this information is helpful.
Good Day !
Ravi Dimri.

Locked Desktop - HELP!

My desktop seems to be locked of somekind, I can't drag images from Safari on to my desktop. When I am deleting something from my desktop, Finder asks me to authenticate the action. Any help woulb be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance!

Check if you have the desktop lock , click in folder desktop and see the lock box .
Check the permission in the folder : youraccount/Desktop .
Should be read and write for your account .

Constant stream of lock ups with Lion 10.7.2

At my wits end since upgrading to Lion (10.7.2). I get a constant stream of application lock ups (beach ball) on every app I try: Firefox (8.0.1) , intermitent connectivity to Internet (although I know my connection is good); App Store unable to connect; iTune unable to connect to store; Parallels Desktop locks up; Outlook (Office Mac 2011) locks up, Time Machine locks up, and more not mentioned. None of these seem to occur at the same time; it's more like the app that decides to not work is random. Firefox is good but App Store will not connect; iTunes is good, but Firefox will not connect.
Each time I'm forced to restart or shutdown only to have similar, but not the same, errors after I log back on. The errors (lock ups) started right after the upgrade and have gotten progressively worse as the days/weeks go by. At the point now where the PC is completely unreliable. It's a crap shoot to find out what is working and what is not.
I've tried about everything mentioned in the forums -- verified/fixed permissions, used Mac OS install DVD to verify/fix HDD issues; no help.
Prior to upgrade, I had zero issues running SL -- all of this started with Lion.

simon57 wrote:
In any case, shouldn't Software Update recognise what I am running and what is needed to update it successfully?
To a point. It will inform you of a system update, as with Lion 10.7.2 for example, but that is not the combo update. I set my Systum Updates to install manually, if I see an OS update, I always go to
http://support.apple.com/downloads/
And choose the Combo update whice is always a little bigger, but a cumulative install as mentioned. Always appears to be more stable.
Cheers

Centro HotSync with Palm V6.2.2 Locks up at DATE BOOK - no calendar records on Palm Desk Top

First let me say that I hate the new version 6.2.2 Palm Desktop and the ongoing problems I have doing a hotsync. Today, I had to restart my computer as I "uninstalled" a non related program from my computer. When I restarted my computer and opened my Palm Desktop, all the calendar data was gone. Since my Centro was recently hotsync'd, I hooked it up and tried to perform a sync. The device and the desktop "locked up" at the DATE BOOK function. I found another Forum post where a tech support individual said to "download Pimlico DbFixit Trial version" which I did and ran. It indicated a problem as: Calendar DB-PDat: Both Description and Note are blank - usually a corrupted record. Rec=1508 Date= 1/11/09. I also went into the Palm Desktop and in the "Applications" section found "DATE BOOK" and UN CHECKED it. Running a hotsync again allowed me to update everything EXCEPT the calendar.
HOW DO I FIX THIS AND GET THE CALENDAR BACK ON MY DESK TOP?
Post relates to: Centro (Verizon)
This question was solved.
View Solution.

Find the calendar events that Dbfixit found and delete them. Or buy the paid version and it should repair them. Also try hitting the menu button while in Dbfixit (bottom right hand button) Then clicking on Delete/remove all Calendar blobs.
Post relates to: None

Locked folder unable to unlock

hello, so i burned a dvd with .mov and .dv files from imovie, and the burn folder stays in my desktop locked. when trying to unlock it gives me a error message... the option is not active and although i have the permissions when trying to change them the error message shows up
i just want to delete it- how can i do it?

Look at these links.
You can't empty the Trash or move a file to the Trash in Mac OS X
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=106272
Solving Trash Problems
http://www.thexlab.com/faqs/trash.html
How To Fix Stubborn Trash and Why it Won't Delete
http://www.osxfaq.com/Tutorials/LearningCenter/HowTo/Trash/index.ws
Download Trash It! v3.6.1 from:
http://www.nonamescriptware.com/?page_id=5
Download DropNuke from:
http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/12664
 Cheers, Tom

Palm Desktop Private Memos cause crash

I have been using a password on some of the Memos on the Palm Desktop (v4.2.0).
Recently when I try to open a Private Memo by typing in a password,
the password entry field shows vertical slots ie " IIIII " instead of the normal bullet dots.
Then when I press OK, the Palm Desktop locks up, need to shut it down with CAltDel.
The private memo records on the Palm TX works OK, it's just the Desktop that has the problem.
I tried repair, I tried reinstall.
I also sync the same TX with a second PC at work, and it works OK, so I assume there is some incompatibility or corruption with first PC?
Is this a known problem with a quick fix? before I go through the registry and strip out all Palm references and reinstall fresh.
(Hint - This for me is a sure fire solution when all else fails. ie it got an iPod talking to iTunes again after months of trying everything else).
Thanks.
Post relates to:

Anytime you sync to more then one PC you have the potential for data corruption. From you statement it appears that the device is syncing to the second PC without problems. I think I would uninstall the Palm Desktop on the PC with a problem and then sync your data back to this PC with a fresh install of the Palm DT. Here are the steps for a clean uninstall and reinstall.
You should first make a copy of your data to have just in case something
happens. You can find your data files by going to C:\Program Files\Palm or
Palm One. Highlight your Palm Desktop username and right click and copy.
Then go to your PC desktop, right click on a blank spot and select paste.
If this is the first time you are installing Palm desktop and encountering a problem, skip the previous step.
For Palm desktop 6.2, look in the following location for the folders and files, my documents, PalmOS desktop. You will find the username folder in this location.
Now you want to uninstall Palm Desktop and remove everything that has to do
with Palm Desktop from your computer. Like the above folder, delete the Palm folder. Once this is done, you will need to delete some registry keys
from your PC Operating System registry.
Word of warning, going here and deleting the wrong thing can cause your PC
to not start up, crashing and deletion of programs and data. If you feel
you are unsure of yourself, see if you have a friend that can help you or a
PC technician that you can pay to help you. This will show them everything
they need to delete. To retain your current Registry settings, we need to do a backup of the Registry.
On the PC, go to start and run type "regedit" without quotes
Highlight MY COMPUTER, go to File --> export. Should pop up with a Save As
box. Current location is fine should be in My Documents or you can change to a location you will remember. In the file name box, type "Regbackup[todaysdate]" i.e. Regbackup07072008. Next, the hard part.
The easiest way to make sure your working with the correct key, highlight the key i.e. palm quick install, and press delete on your keyboard. It will ask you, are
you sure. Say yes. Do the same thing for all keys below.
If you make a mistake, stop what you are doing. And call a PC technician.
BUT do not turn off your computer.
The reg keys are as follows (Note: some of theses reg keys will not be here
but if they are delete them)
* HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\U.S. Robotics\Palm Quick Install
* HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\U.S. Robotics\PalmOne File Transfer
* HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\U.S. Robotics\Pilot Desktop
* HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Palm
* HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Palm, Inc.
* HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\PalmDesktopAutorun
* HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\palmOne
* HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\PalmSource
* HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\PalmSource or anything else that says palm
Next reboot your computer
Then reinstall your Palm desktop from the CD and do a hotsync. If it asks
you for a username and you synced your device before, put in 'test" if you
did not sync before you create a hotsync name.
Message Edited by Terabyte on 05-06-2009 03:04 PM

Flashing Album Art on Desktop

I have just encountered a perplexing problem. In another application (PhotoStudio) today I was examining various keyboard shortcuts. iTunes was open. Apparently, one of those shortcuts enables an iTunes feature that searches for the current track and floats any associated album artwork on the desktop. It goes away only when iTunes has been quit.
But even when it's not open, the desktop (Finder?) continues to look for artwork. The desktop area where the artwork would be places flashes very briefly -- maybe .25 second -- every 5 seconds.
Any suggestions?

Thank you for your response, but the issue is not so simple. Album art is embeded for sure. I've edited all the tags properly. I do know smth about it, believe me)) And the album art IS displayed, BUT only if I open Music+Videos or Nokia Music apps and within these apps, not on the desktop. But I want the album art to be displayed ALSO on the desktop (+lock screen, if possible) while music is playing in backgroud mode. It is just the issue of design, and I wonder if I could somehow contact developers to fix this. I think, this would only popularize Windows Phone and would make the desktop more bright and dinamic.
To make it clear I attach two screenshots.
You can see the same track playing. Album art is displayed in Music+Videos app
BUT it is not displayed on the desktop (only artist name on the grey backgroud; I've circled it red)
So I want album art to be displayed on the desktop TOO. Is it clear now?
Thanks in advance
Attachments:
wp_ss_20130109_0001.png ‏293 KB
wp_ss_20130109_0002+.png ‏580 KB

My Presario SR1222NX locks up

My Presario desktop locks up about twice a week. The screen freezes, and I get faint beige vertical stripes on it. In other cases, when I power my screen on I get a message that reads "self test, check your PC and signal cable, monitor is working.
In both cases the only solution is to power down my PC and restart, which is frustrating. How do I avoid this problem? I have a Presario SR1222NX desktop and a Compaq FS7555 monitor.

Hi Frank
Check out this thread:
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=2172398&tstart=45
for a very wide ranging discussion of this issue, which caused me a lot of heartache, but which I haven't seen for a while now (fingers crossed)

Desktop lock-up

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