Finder does not appear

On startup of my admin account, no finder appears. The dock appears and I can launch apps, which creates a menu bar at the top and run for a few seconds, then quit automatically. The Apple menu is inaccessible during this short period of activity, and when I click and hold on the Finder icon in the dock, I sometimes get "Open" as an option, but no response to selecting it.
I have a second account that starts up fine and the finder appears there.
I've fixed permissions, verified the disk, to no avail. Some suggest that the finder.plist be trashed, but I cannot find that plist anywhere in my library, which is really strange. I know trashed prefs are trypically re-written as needed, but could this be part of the problem, and if so, how can I fix it?
Any other ideas? The current system is 10.4.8...if I have to, can I reinstall Tiger 10.4.0 from DVD without causing problems? Thanks for advice...
Power Mac G4 Quicksilver   Mac OS X (10.4.8)  

Since it works fine in your other account the problem is in some file associated with your regular account, rather than with the system itself. Several things to try:
1. Startup and hold down the Shift key as soon as you hear the chime; this will boot into safe mode which will take longer than a regular start. The system will repair the disk, turn off all third party startup items and some Apple ones, and clean font caches. If the Finder then runs, and is still running after a regular start you're home free. If it runs in safe mode but not after a regular start then there is most likely a bad item in your Account/Login Items. Disable all of them in safe boot and add one at a time.
2. If your Finder doesn't run even in safe mode then the problem is some other badness in your home account. Try moving the entire /Users/yourname/Library/Preferences folder out of the ~/Library (but don't trash it) and then try to login. A new Preferences folder should be created if the Finder runs. If it still doesn't run you can try renaming the home Library folder to OldLibrary, then login. A new home Library folder with everything at default should be created if the Finder runs. You can then carefully move items you really need from the original Library and Prefs folders into your new Library and Prefs folders.
If even the Library trick doesn't work there are a few files outside your home folder that have to do the user. Let us know.
Francine
Francine
Schwieder

Similar Messages

  • Finder does not appear in All Desktops

    Suppose that you have set up multiple Desktops from Mission Control.
    From the Dock, I choose Finder > Options > (Assign To) All Desktops. This is so that varius open windows on the Desktops will appear on All Desktops. However, this setting does not survive a restart. That is, after a restart, an open window on one Desktop will not appear on another Desktop.
    I have tried to delete the file ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.finder.plist. But, the All Desktops setting still does not survive a restart.
    How can I overcome this issue?

    This calls for an Applescript or formal application

  • My menu bar does not appear at the top of my homepage on a brand new 27" iMac only when i pull up an app. this does not allow me to shut down my mac when all apps are closed nor does it all me to use finder. any help would be awesome

    My menu bar does not appear at the top of my homepage on a brand new 27" iMac only when i pull up an app. this does not allow me to shut down my mac when all apps are closed nor does it all me to use finder. any help would be awesome

    Press the escape (esc) key to exit full-screen mode.

  • I have my first mac. the music folder does not appear in favourites from the finder menu so i cant transfer my itunes library

    I have my first mac. I want to transfer my iTunes library from my pc but the music folder does not appear in favourites when I select finder.

    Choose Home from the Finder's Go menu.
    (117823)

  • Drive does not appear in finder

    My Time Machine drive is connected but the drive itself does not appear in the device list in finder. I can set Time Machine preferences in Time Machine software but I cannot access the drive through Finder.

    Thought I'd post a couple of screenshots to help - a pic is worth.....
    This is the System Preferences > CD/DVD Pane which no longer appears on Macs without an optical drive (this is from my MBP with a Superdrive):
    This is the iPhoto Preferences window (within iPhoto):
    But, none of that applies to external optical drives because they will never show - the preferences you set will show the media, but not the drive. My external optical drive is brand new from OWC and it does not show. However, it works like a charm.
    As for your RAID setup - as I said, i can't help there because I have never used it.

  • Finder & Dock do not work - Mac Hard Drive does not appear on Desktop

    Until yesterday, my powerbook was working properly.
    This morning, I wanted to use it and I had the following problems after login.
    1/ My Mac Hard drive does not appear on my dekstop
    2/ My dock appears but no icon works when I click on them. So, I can't open finder. I have no response.
    3/ Furthermore, my top bar (with clock, login name, Airport icon...) appears but it is frozed.
    I try several solutions as :
    - rebooting in safe mode,
    - rebooting, with in the same time, hold different keys (option, apple, p & R)...
    As of today, no solution works.
    Thanks for your help.

    A.CHAMP wrote:
    Nota: if i used my daugther login (she is not admin), I have the same issues.
    Ok, that's good enough. You may be able to repair this with the 10.5.8 Combo Update This is a fuller install, as opposed to an incremental "delta" update so it should overwrite any files that are damaged or missing. It does not matter if you have applied it before.
    Remember to Verify Disk before update and repair permissions after update from /Applications/Utilities/Disk Utility.
    EDIT:
    I have around 5 Go space left on my Mac
    Also, your getting very low on disk space. Try to copy some of the data off to other media. *Do it before you try applying the combo, you'll need the space.*
    -mj
    Message was edited by: macjack
    Message was edited by: macjack

  • Macintosh HD does not appear in left Finder window under Devices

    When I open Finder, Macintosh HD does not appear in the left panel under Devices--only my external hard drive is listed. I am also using a third-party file management program called Forklift, and when I use that program to look at my files, Macintosh HD properly appear under Devices, along with my external hard drive.

    Under Finder Preferences, do you have both Hard Disks and External Hard disks checked on?
    doug

  • HT201272 I have accidentally deleted an Audiobook from my iPad. It was purchased from iTunes (not Audible - though it is an Audible product). It does not appear in the list of previous purchases. How do I 'find' it to re-download it?

    I have accidentally deleted an Audiobook purchased from iTunes. (Purchased from iTunes, not Audible, but it is an Audible product). It does not appear anywhere on a lost of previously purchased items.  How can I 'find' it and re-download it? Thanks!

    Sorry, but audiobooks cannot be downloaded more than once without charge, so if you don't have a viable backup, you may be out of luck. You can, however, contact the iTunes Store, explain the situation, and see if they can make an exception for you.
    http://www.apple.com/support/itunes/contact/
    Regards.

  • Video download from SD card 2 iPad 2 interrupted, file corrupted.  Cannot find file to delete.  Does not appear in Photos, or is not visible using Windows File Manager.  Consumed 2.5G of space!  Can anyone help

    Video download from SD card to iPad 2 interrupted,  corrupted.  Cannot find file to delete.  Does not appear in Photos, or is not visible using Windows File Manager.  Consumed 2.5G of space!  Can anyone help?

    Video download from SD card to iPad 2 interrupted,  corrupted.  Cannot find file to delete.  Does not appear in Photos, or is not visible using Windows File Manager.  Consumed 2.5G of space!  Can anyone help?

  • Nano does not appear in ITunes or Finder; unable to re-set device

    Suddenly my 2nd gen nano does not appear in ITunes or Finder. I looked up support articles and it says to try re-setting the Nano, but I'm unable to do that -- I press the center and menu buttons; have also tried the menu and play buttons but the apple logo never appears. I've had problems with the menu button "sticking" before, so perhaps that's why...Nevertheless, how else do I fix this issue?? I've been unable to sync or transfer my recent purchases, so this is frustrating....

    - however once i reached the crutial stage of
    actually switching the 'terminal services' from
    disabled to manual, I get an error message on my
    computer "Error 5: Access denied" and nothing on the
    site gives any indication of what to do in such an
    eventuality.
    Do you have an administrator account on your computer? If you are not logged in as administrator, do so before attempting to change the to manual. However, I myself am having the same problems with my own ipod..

  • The "Logout" button does not appear my Sakai sessions. I have to mouse over the blank area to find the link to logout. The Logout button does appear in Safari. Firefox version 10.0. Mac OS 10.7.2

    The "Logout" button does not appear my Sakai sessions. I have to mouse over the blank area to find the link to logout. The Logout button does appear in Safari. Firefox version 10.0. Mac OS 10.7.2

    To make sure that all required media is in the library contain the project you need to "Consolidate media"  see:  http://help.apple.com/imovie/mac/10.0/#mov882dee351
    You can then copy the library to your laptop with the Finder and open it with the same version of iMovie.  The last phrase is important since Apple has made changes in the project format several times even between minor updates of iMovie 10.  Earlier versions may not be able to read the library and later versions (not possible in this case) may cause the project to be updated so that it is no longer readable by the desktop version.   iMovie on the laptop will not at first find the copied library - you will have either to double click on it or File - Open library - Other and navigate to its location.
    Geoff.

  • The download icon from my Adobe Illustrator CS2 disk does not appear on my laptop.  Where can I find it? How can I download the program?

    When I load my Adobe Illustrator CS2 disk onto my recently reconfigured laptop, the icon to download and install the program does not appear.  I have tried opening it through a Finder window, but haven't had any success.  How can I download this program to my computer?

    Is there a way to export my movie timeline (as in the organisation of my
    clips, not just the movie)  to a external hard drive. I thought publish
    would help but I'm unsure and the export button under file doesn't light
    up. I'm using Elements 11 and I'm trying to save it to a hard drive so I
    can unistall the program, upgrade my operating system and reinstall.
    Message was edited by: Christopher Hewett
    On Tue, Dec 30, 2014 at 12:14 PM, Barbara B. <[email protected]>

  • The device does not appear in the application find my iphone

    The device does not appear in the application find my iphone. Because of this I can not lock my ipod 5

    Try
    iCloud.com from a computer
          Select the Find My iPhone green circle
               Top center select All Devices
    Note is it shows here you can remove it from here too.
    If it's not there it's linked to a different Apple ID

  • When I import my photos from my iPhone 4S into iPhoto the location does not appear.  I have to open the info button on the photo click "photo place" then "find on map" and then the location appears.  How to I get the location to appear automatically?

    When I import my photos from my iPhone 4S into iPhoto the location does not appear.  I have to open the info button on the photo click "photo place" then "find on map" and then the location appears. How to I get the location to appear automatically when I import my photos from my iPhone?

    in your iPhoto preferences is look up location set to "automaticaly"?
    LN

  • TS3147 I seem to have lost fax capability with Snow Leopard. Does not appear in Print as before. Cant find fax in system Preferences. No drivers for fax found Bob Wines.

    I seem to have lost fax capability with Snow Leopard.
    Does not appear in Print as before. Cant find fax in System Preferences. No drivers for fax found.
    Initially said it was downloading software but no longer does this. Fax test works on HP site.
    Using HPC410aHP Photosmart Premium
    Any help would be appreciated.
    Bob Wines.

    Thanks for your detailled description of the faxmodem installation!
    I've tried this with Mac OS X v10.8 Mountain Lion and it works fine.
    I've to type "cupsctl WebInterface=yes" in terminal to see the interface.
    Does anybody know, if send faxes are saved somewhere?

Maybe you are looking for