Finder icon weirdness

Has anyone else experienced these two Finder desktop icon issues:
1) Icons not showing up, replaced by a square dotted outlines, until you do something with them (drag them, or Get Info on them) (most commonly on login)
2) Disk icons showing incorrectly, such as USB drives showing up as generic hard-drive icons
There's also the occasional new file doesn't show up bug, but I think that's old. It's possible the above two are old too, but I didn't start noticing them until Lion. Between these and random icon-rearranging, folder window resizing, view options changing... I feel like I'm doing constant battle with the Finder (reminds me of that scene from Airplane! where the plane is punching Striker).

Example of icon weirdness, bottom two should be Firewire:
Move the lower icon a little and it updates:
Another example one icon is missing:
Move the lower icon a little and the icon appears:
Doesn't do it every time, it's intermittent.

Similar Messages

Strange finder icon in my dock!

I have a strange Finder icon in my dock that looks like it has a glass box over it. I know it definitely is not supposed to look like that. I have tried the following:
- Restarting
- Moving Dock from side to side to bottom
- Changing wallpaper
- Changing magnification settings

Someone posted this problem a couple of years ago. Doesn't seem like anyone had an answer then.
http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=455721
This is really weird.
Regards,
Steve M.
Message was edited by: Steve M.

Colours around finder icon on dock?

I logged in to my Macbook & I found some weird colour "borders" around the finder icon on my dock. Here's how it looks like:
I thought by restarting my Macbook will get rid of it, but it doesn't work. What should I do?
I'm using Macbook Pro 15" OS X Lion.
In advance, thank you for your help.

Try Start up in Safe Mode
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?path=Mac/10.7/en/mh21245.html
Hope it helps.

Finder Icon Issues With Word '08 docx Files

Hi all,
I just picked up and installed a copy of Office 2008 on my brand new MacBook, and I'm already seeing an odd, annoying issue. When I save a docx file in Word '08 that's more than one page long, the preview icon for it comes up weird in Finder: it looks sideways, squat and long like a landscape view, whereas every other kind of file I save (including docx files less than a page long) have normal portrait view preview icons. If I save a file at one page long (which looks normal in Finder) then it goes longer than a page, it immediately converts the Finder icon to landscape view when I save. Even when I go into Word's save preferences and turn off the option to save a picture of the document, it STILL does it.
Any ideas for fixing this, my intrepid friends?
Thanks!

Hi,
I've also been having this problem. I'm not entirely sure, but I think it's got something to do with the page setup/printing defaults. I've spent hours and hours messing and fiddling with settings (I was bored) but I can't figure out a way to fix/get round this.
I know it seems trivial, but it's SOOOOO irritating! Somebody please help!

5 Months later, finder Icon changed

About 5 months ago, I changed my finder icon on my dock. I later changed it again and then back to normal. For some strange reason after I restarted after a adobe cs4 trial install error, it changed back to the icon I changed it to 5 months ago. When I checked the contents of /system/coreservices/dock.app/contents/resources, the finder icon was nowhere to be found. So, I found a backup icon, placed it in the folder, killall'ed my dock, then finder, and none of them worked. I then logged out, didn't work. After a restart, the icon was still the same. The finder.app icon is the correct one, but both when I alt-tab and on the dock, the icon is incorrect. Does anyone know how this is even possible, or have any suggestions. I am quite currious as to why this has happened, and I also want to fix it.

Nope, none at all.
The only thing that comes to mind is that you still had the icon on the hard drive somewhere and somehow it linked to it again even though it was in the wrong place.
You might want to run repairs with the install disk or Disk Warrior or Tech Tool Pro. Usually weird behavior is a sign of something screwy in the directory.

When I login, all of my desktop items are gone, the "Finder" icon is bouncing and a message asking to restore windows is blinking but unresponsive. I can't exit out of it. What do I do? I've tried force quitting, and it doesn't get rid of it.

When I login, all of my desktop items are gone, the "Finder" icon is bouncing and a message asking to restore windows is blinking but unresponsive. I can't exit out of it. What do I do? I've tried force quitting, and it doesn't get rid of this message. When I login to my husband's account, this message does not appear.

Hey sunnyday7!
Here is an article that can help you address this issue:
OS X: How to quit an unresponsive application using Force Quit
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht3411
Additional Information
OS X automatically relaunches the Finder when it is quit. If the Finder is unresponsive, use Force Quit to relaunch it. Select Finder in the Force Quit Window or Dock, then click Relaunch.
Thanks for using the Apple Support Communities. Have a good one!
-Braden

The Finder Icon "jumped" off my dock..how do i get it back?

Hi. I just got my new MacBook earlier today and I was moving some of the dock icons around and somehow the Finder icon "jumped" off the dock and is now no longer selectable. It just sits on the desktop and hovers above all other programs but behind the dock. I can't click on it or move it or even select it using the lassoo, so any ideas what I could try? Or anybody have a clue what happened/has this happened to anyone before?
here's a picture:
It's not like it's something I could've manually removed. I've tried moving the finder before and you can't do it. (this isn't my first OS X mac)
I'm just as baffled as you are.
MacBook 2.0 GHz 13.3" Mac OS X (10.4.7)
iMac G4 17" Mac OS X (10.3.9)

Try trashing this preference file and reboot.
HD > User > Library > Preferences > com.apple.dock.plist
-Bmer
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How Can I Remove the Finder Icon From the Dock?

Hi! Can someone tell me how to remove the Finder icon from the dock? I don't even care if Finder quits. I just want it removed from the dock. I really don't care if I can't get to my files. Please help.

Start by going to your core services, (/system/library/coreservices). You can do this by pressing Shift+Cmd+G and then paste (/system/library/coreservices), without parentheses.
After doing this, find Dock.app, right click, show package contents. This doesn't contain the icons on your dock, just finder and trash.
After that, move all finder services to the desktop, and then erase them from the core services folder. At this point it will prompt you to put in your password, do so.
Next you'll want to open terminal and type 'killall dock' or, you could restart your computer.
This should remove the finder icon from your dock, while still giving you access to it from your desktop.
Hope this helps!
-C

Two finder icons in my dock and other issues

For some reason, in my dock, two finder icons are appearing. The default finder icon, which is not running and has no white indicator under it, and a default application style icon that launches right after login with the label "Finder" which is basically the finder but launches like a third party application?! When I quit the running finder icon, the finder restarts, so this second icon really is running as the finder!
Also: When i click on the trash it no longer opens, when I try to empty the trash from the dock nothing happens, and (this is the best part) when I click and hold on a stack, and select "Show in finder", Entourage launches and tries to compress that folder in an email message. Super bizarre! Like really bizarre.
Please any help would be great before I do something drastic like archive and install.
I have a screenshot of this but can't seem to post it here.

Welcome to Apple Discussions, burbaget.
Create a new account, name it "test" and see how your apps work in that User acct? (That will tell if your problem is systemwide or limited to your User acct.) This account is just for test, do nothing further with it.
Open System Preferences >> Accounts >> "+" make it an admin account.
If the problem is present in the test account also, then it is systemwide. In this case try repairing this with the 10.5.5 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.
If the problem does not appear in the test account try starting in "Safe Mode" (It will take a bit more time to startup because it runs a directory check first).
If that works go to System Preferences >> Accounts >> Login Items and remove them. Boot normally and test. If there are still problems, go to ~(yourHome)/Library/Contextual Menu Items and move whatever is there to the desktop. Then do the same with /Library/Contextual Menu Items. Lastly, try moving /Users/Home)/Library/Fonts to your desktop and restarting.
Log out/in or restart, if that sorts it start putting items back one at a time until you find the culprit.
Let us know.
-mj

Can anyone ID this problem? Finder icon started bouncing, unresponsive, now Safe Mode reboot stops 1/3 in and shuts down iMac. Virus?

This started yesterday. I switch on the computer, go into my User account and the Finder icon was bouncing in the deck while a window flashed on about Restoring Windows though you could never click on it because...it kept flashing. The folders on my desktop disappeared so I went into a secondary user account and opened it to find a virus scan. That user account had no issue with the bouncing Finder icon. I downloaded ClamXav and ran it but that being a rarely used user account, it found nothing infected. I went back in in Safe Mode and was able to see my invisible files but the Finder being unresponsive, I could basically only look at them. Also, I couldn't activate ClamXav after downloading it in that user account. All it did was allow me to see my files.
This morning, while I switched on the computer the Safe Mode came on without me holding down the Shift key. Sadly, it didn't get past the third of the little progress bar before shutting down the computer. This happened trying to open either user accounts. I'm shut out. I'm so shocked this happened. I called the ISP and he said everything was normal at his end, naturally in spite of a lot of freezing and not allowing more than one device on wifi at a time. This is an upgraded Internet service after moving to a new place. Otherwise for the few moments it lights up to show me the two users at log in, nothing is visually wrong.
If this has ever happened to anyone, please enlighten me. I've called a Mac repair shop and expect to bring my iMac in. It's barely two years old. : (

When posting in Apple Communties/Forums/Message Boards.......It would help us to know which iMac model you have, which OS & version you're using, how much RAM, etc. You can have this info displayed on the bottom of every post by completing your system profile and filling in the information asked for.
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***This will help in providing you with the proper and/or correct solutions.***

Finder Icon will not change! Please help!

I have been customizing the look of of my dockbar on my imac by giving all of my apps new ios 7 style icons.
Yesterday I changed my Finder icon with no problem at all by going to:
System→Library→Core Services→(right click 'Dock'→Show Package Contents)→Contents→Resources.
And replacing the two png files (finder.png) and ([email protected]) with my new images. Yesterday I did this all perfectly fine and it changed to my new icon.
However today I found a better finder icon and decided to change it again to this new version. However what ever I try it will not change to this new icon.
I have followed the exact same steps as before, I have replaced my two png files from yesterday with my new ones and I have checked and re-checked that I am naming the files correctly, and that they are the right format etc.
I have even deleted my original icons that I changed it to yesterday and emptied them from the trash but it is still there even after restarting and shutting down and rebooting.
I have also tried going to terminal and typing 'killall Dock', it still returns with the same icon that I changed it to yesterday, even though I have deleted them from my hard drive.
Please help me this is so frustrating and have wasted many many hours on this.
(I am on mavericks btw)

(I am on mavericks btw)
iMac, OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.4)
Then, update your profile/product info. BTW, I have nothing for the icon problem.

I'm using a fresh install on 10.10. why when i click the finder icon in the dock a finder window does not open?

i'm using a fresh install on 10.10. why when i click the finder icon in the dock a finder window does not open?

ok, i forced quit the finder, and now when i click on the finder it opens a visible window... where did this bug come from?

How do I fix a corrupted Finder icon in the Dock

Hello,
My Finder icon has spontaneously corrupted in the Dock. The icon of the Finder.app (in the CoreServices folder) is perfectly fine and its icon the Resources folder of the Dock.app is also perfectly fine.
Yet, the icon of Finder is corrupted in the dock as shown here: http://img802.imageshack.us/img802/2973/dockimage.png and in the picture below
Any ideas, anyone?
My specs are as follows:

Have you tried removing all files containing com.apple.dock from the Preferences folder in your HOME Library folder and in the ByHost subfolder of the Preferences folder, then restarting the Dock (or logout/login)?
(To get to the home Library folder, hold option key down while using the Finder Go menu, select Library. Or use the "Go to Folder...." option and paste in
~/Library/Preferences .)
charlie

Dragging file to Finder-icon in dock doesn't open Finder

Dragging a file from my desktop (e.g. a jpg) to the Finder Icon (so I can archive it in a folder), doesn't open Finder.
The icon in the dock does blink for a second, and then doesn't open FInder, but shows an empty desktop...
What to do?

Bruikbaar wrote:
Thanks Barney,
It works with a window open. I just thought it did also work when there wasn't a window open yet :-)
It used to. I haven't found a hidden preference to turn it back on.

Unable to boot - flashing finder icon with question mark.

Hi all,
I just got a friends old xserv G5 to learn Mac and the server suite on. He gave me the OSX Server install disk (10.5 I believe) with the license keys.
I get the XServe into "Target Disk Mode" by turning it on holding T and plugging my friends Intel Pro MacBook into it VIA FireWire. We install the Server 10.5 to the Server Disk fine, no issues. All options checked. Then upon reboot we shutdown everything and try to boot the server up on it's own and then this is where we get the flashing finder icon problem...
Here's what we've tried:
I think the Firmware is locked because when I try to power on holding power + system identifier button, both rows flash instead of the one, here's what I've done
Tried removing a memory module, booting with command, alt, p + r, no effect.
Clear NVRM by pressing button behind PSU on mainboard of xserve. No effect.
Unplugging and removing battery for minute, to clear. No effect.
I guess what I'm trying to do is clear the firmware lock so I can direct the xserve to select the startup disk by pressing F1 / D as I'm assuming that's what the issue is?
Any thoughts?

I'm not sure about the dl-DVD thing. I'm trying to remember how I installed 10.5 on my G5 boxes (it's been a while) and I know I used the Administrator computer as described in the Getting Started guide, but I don't remember if I imaged the DVD to a firewire drive.
The easiest short-cut for that is to image the DVD onto a firewire drive and attach that to the Xserve and run it as the install media. It's much faster to install this way as well. Use Disk Utility to image the DVD onto an external firewire and then boot holding down the option key - choose the drive and then use the notebook as an "Administrator computer" as described in the guide. The only hold-ups are the IP space issues and make sure you know the Xserve serial number. In theory I think you can also use another computer with the DVD in the drive running in firewire mode but now you're up to three computers instead of 2 plus a firewire drive.
I've never been a fan of the notebook>>Xserve install process even before architecture issues arose. The Xserve has special hardware monitoring capabilities that you would lose when installing booted from a non-Xserve box. I know 10.5 was supposed to install a "global" image that would run on both platforms but I wouldn't trust it even if they said you could.
HTH,
=Tod

Finder icon weirdness

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