Finder stuck, can't find all desktop files including HD and eternal drives

Just installed the new Leopard. When I turn the computer on it brings the screen up minus all desktop files. Can't find any icon for Stack. I can access email and Safari (internet) but my Firefox won't work.
I tried putting in the Leoaprd installation disk again but with Finder spinning nothing happens. I can find some new icons in the dock (Downloads, Documents and Time Machine).
I have a backup copy of my files on an external drive but without Finder I can't access them.
Any suggestions?
Max

I'm having the same problem except I have access to everything for 30 seconds, then everything disappears except the new background image. Nothing I click seems to change anything. I've wiped the drive with an archive and install to see if that fixes the issue.

Similar Messages

  • I am running out of memory on my hard drive and need to delete files. How can I see all the files/applications on my hard drive so I can see what is taking up a lot of room?

    I am running out of memory on my hard drive and need to delete files. How can I see all the files/applications on my hard drive so I can see what is taking up a lot of room?
    Thanks!
    David

    Either of these should help.
    http://grandperspectiv.sourceforge.net/
    http://www.whatsizemac.com/
    Or search 'disk size' in the App Store.
    Be carefull with what you delete & have a backup BEFORE you start, you may also want to reboot to try to free any memory that may have been written to disk.

  • HT201250 Once I use time machine to back up my Mac Air, can I delete all my files from HD and still have access to them on TM (external hard disk)?

    New to Time Machine. The HD on my Mac Air is full so I got an external HD and using TM to back up everything.
    Can I erase all files (pictures, docs, etc) from my Mac and still have access to those files through Time Machine?

    That is a bad idea. Time Machine is strictly a backup utility. What you describe will require archiving files, which Time Machine is not designed to accomplish.
    Once you erase files from your MacBook Air, they will eventually be erased from your Time Machine backup. This is by design, as Time Machine will eventually fill your backup volume and will delete old files as required. Depending on when they were first backed up and how long they existed on your MBA before you erase them, they could disappear in as little as one hour.
    Use Carbon Copy Cloner or equivalent "clone" utility and configure it to archive files that do not exist on the source, or simply copy them over manually using the Finder. You can then delete them from your MBA. Bear in mind that once you do that, you no longer have a backup copy. The only copies will exist on the external HD.

  • Finder flashes, can't access trash, desktop files disappeared...

    Running a fairly new iMac with 10.7.4 and came home to find that the finder flashes, I can't access the trash and the files on the desktop disappeared.  Haven't downloaded anything (and my kids also claim not to have).  Suggestions?

    My fault they used to be called "Accounts" now "Users & Groups" in System Preferences.
    Do that but then try this.... it really sounds like Finder prefs got wonky...
    (if you can't do this in normal mode or if you're still in Safe Mode do it in Safe Mode)
    Go to your Finder "Go" menu hold the option key and choose Library. Then go to Preferences folder and trash these files:
    com.apple.finder.plist
    com.apple.sidebarlists.plist
    Then, restart, or log out and in again.
    (You will have to reset a few finder prefs the way you like them.)

  • When I try to install Adobe  Flash Player..now I can not open any desktop file

    Lion...and now Maverick ...very update is a new trouble..
    now with my mouse I can not get any desktop file...and also when I try to empty trash do not do anything.

    Make sure that Firefox is closed and check in the Task manager that there are no hanging plugin-container processes left.

  • My iWeb image names are incompatible with FTP servers and must be renamed but I can't find the images in iWeb. I can upload to a desktop file and change them there but then I would need to download them to a new site in iWeb to publish them.

    my iWeb image names are incompatible with FTP servers and must be renamed but I can't find the images in iWeb. I can upload to a desktop file and change them there but then I would need to download them to a new site in iWeb to publish them. 
    What's the answer?
    Thanks 

    Many thanks to  responded to my question and sorry not to get back sooner.
    Yes, I discovered by this unfortunate experience that the names of photos are a serious issue if the site is to ever go to an FTP server.  Apple should discuss this carefully in their "manual".
    One more question:  I uploaded the website to a folder on my desktop. When I open it, unlike the photos in iWeb, there are folders for each page which have all the photos in them. I went through each folder and changed the names to be FTP compatible. I'm using iWeb SEO Tool which allows one to upload from this local folder to an FTP server but having trouble.
    Is this because there is an imbedment in iWeb that uses the old photo names to link to the actual photos and it can't find them because of the name changes?
    Thanks again for your help ...
    Phil McP

  • I am new to mac. just purchaased it 3 weeks ag along with MS office for mac, i notice that all my outlook email are in this finder folder, can i delete these email files from this location? why are they there anyway?

    I am new to mac. just purchaased it 3 weeks ag along with MS office for mac, i notice that all my outlook email are in this finder folder, can i delete these email files from this location? why are they there anyway?

    Cherry63 wrote:
    I am talking about the icon on the docking row, that's the guy with the smily face. When you click on him it brings up a bunch of files of what I seem to have store/created on my Imac. There are hundreds of emails and some other documents. I tried to delete a few of them when I first got the MS office but it did not like that, it said it have to rebuild oulook. Why cant i delete these files? is this Apple version of Window outlook PST files?
    These file extenssions are listed as
    olk14_message or even or ccontact. I wish I could send a screen print but I dont see that on the key board. Maybe I should have stuck with windows..
    Oh the ...olk14_message's.  Do not delete them behind Outlooks back, i.e., from the finder.  Those are the various messages that you sent, received, or deleted in Outlook.  They are indexed by Outlook so if you delete behind Outlook's back Outlook will get confused trying to access those messages.
    You can delete them however using Outlook itself.  In outlook select a mailbox (Drafts, Sent Items, Deleted Items, etc.) by clicking on the mailbox on the left.  It will show you the messages in that mailbox.  You can now select all or selected items in that mailbox.  The click the Edit menu and select Delete.  You will get a dialog asking if you really want to delete the selections.  Answer "Delete" and the messages will get deleted.
    The olk14_message's you are seeing are the actual messages shown the Outlook mail boxes.  When you actually delete them the way I just described the corresponding olk14_message files will also be deleted.
    Note Outlook's Deleted Items mailbox is where all deleted messages go when you click the Delete tool in the Outlook toolbar.   Thus using the Delete tool from the toolbar does not permanently delete the messages.  So if you been using that for months or years you are going to have a very large Deleted Items mailbox.  And every one of those items in there is going to have a corresponding olk14_message file for that message.
    So if those olk14_message files you are seeing are from the Deleted Items mailbox you can get rid of all those corresponding olk14_message files by selecting all the messages in Deleted Items and using the Edit menu's Delete.
    Alternative ways to the Edit/Delete to do the permanent delete is select (all) the messages to delete and control (right) click to bring up the Outlook contextual menu and select Delete from it.
    Finally if you use the Delete tool in the toolbar for messages selected in the Deleted Items mailbox you will be able to permanently delete those too.  It's an exception since using the tool on the Deleted Items means there's no place to put those messages except to "oblivion".
    So, in summary, using the Delete tool in the toolbar on messages in every mailbox except the Deleted Items mailbox just moves messages to the Deleted Items mailbox.  But using the Delete tool on items in them Deleted Items mailbox permanently deletes the selected items in there.  And only permanently deleting items removes the corresponding actual ...olk14_message files.

  • 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

  • Just installed Lion (10.7.3) , but when i use "find" it can't find any files

    Just installed Lion (10.7.3) , but when i use "find" it can't find any files, comes with with "filename contains" but then when you press enter nothing happens.

    Hi..
    Open System Preferences > Security & Privacy > Firewall
    Make sure the Firewall is turned off. You may need to click the gold lock icon to make changes.
    Using FaceTime behind a firewall
    Apple - Support - FaceTime

  • Mac osx freezes right after start up and all desktop files disappeared and the mouse can't click on anything..help?, Mac osx freezes right after start up and all desktop files disappeared and the mouse can't click on anything..help?

    Mac osx freezes right after start up and all desktop files disappeared and the mouse can't click on anything..help?, Mac osx freezes right after start up and all desktop files disappeared and the mouse can't click on anything..help?

    This is sometimes caused by Bad Blocks on the Hard Drive.
    If 10.7, hold down Command-R at startup, and choose Disk Utility.
    If 10.6 or earlier, boot to the Installer/Utilities DVD, answer only the "what language" question and wait for the MenuBar to be drawn. Choose Disk Utility from the Utilities Menu.
    Select your Hard drive by Make & Model and check the SMART Status (lower right of the right window). Choose "Repair Disk" . This ONLY examines and repairs the Directory area of the drive, but may improve things a bit. If errors cannot be repaired, you may need a stronger tool, or a new drive.

  • I have a external hard drive connected, Finder will not let me search for files in the external hard drive how do i search in a hard drive

    i have a external hard drive connected, Finder will not let me search for files in the external hard drive how do i search in a hard drive

    What are you using to search? You should be able to search any drive in from the Finder. If you're having trouble, try "EasyFind" from the App Store (free). You can search any volumes with it.
    Clinton

  • How to retrieve Pages docs in Finder?   Can't find recent saved Pages documents

    How to retrieve Pages docs in Finder?   Can't find recent saved Pages documents

    Tried that. Dropdown window only offered these options: 'Lock Duplicate, Browse all versions. It did NOT give me the location of the document. I want to go to the document and attach it to an email. I cant find the document on my computer. There is no option to 'save as' under finder window. Only 'save a version'

  • How can I delete all the files in the Adobe CS4 Master Collection from my machine?

    How can I delete all the files in the Adobe CS4 Master Collection from my machine. I have tried Control Panel but it will not do anything, there are no error messages, it is like as if it is ignoring my instruction. Why should it be so difficult to delete programs one does not want. Any ideas please.

    Moved from Cloud forum to Downloading, Installing forum
    Try running the Adobe Cleaner Tool
    http://helpx.adobe.com/creative-suite/kb/cs5-cleaner-tool-installation-problems.html

  • I download a file in the torrent site which is MP4 but unfortunately i tried to delete it but i can not. but all the files that i have is easily to delete only MP4 files i can't delete in the download foldeer please try to help dont know what to do please

    i download a file in the torrent site which is MP4 but unfortunately i tried to delete it but i can not. but all the files that i have is easily to delete only MP4 files i can't delete in the download foldeer please try to help dont know what to do please

    Well you can sync your iPod/iPhone to yur computer or laptop then take the photos off of your iPod like taking photos of of a SD card (from a normal camera) or off of a USB..! Good Luck. plz tick this saying This solved my question if it helps you.

  • Yours sincerely! I just bought a Sony DCR-SD1000 camera only when installing the cd drivers not supported by the operating system Machintosh. I've contacted the seller said the store did not provide for the apple os. How can I move all the files on the ca

    Yours sincerely! I just bought a Sony DCR-SD1000 camera only when installing the cd drivers not supported by the operating system Machintosh. I've contacted the seller said the store did not provide for the apple os. How can I move all the files on the camera the port out is to use a USB data cable to a laptop for my macbookpro can not read the contents of the file and the camera. I also want to use the lens on the camera as a substitute for the embedded camera on my macbookpro, what should I do to replace the embedded camera on macbookpro with sony camera so that the camera could be more variety and can I record when I turned macbookpro . Please help for this so that I can quickly capture the results from sony camera to my macbookpro. Thank you.

    See this page http://macosx.com/forums/networking-compatibility/296947-sony-camcorder-my-mac.h tml - might be some helpful tips there.
    Clinton

Maybe you are looking for

  • Problem with return statement...

    hey guys! i'm new to this forum so don't be angry if i post or do something wrong :) anyway, my problem: i have a litle method that checks if a file exist and if it exist i want it to return true. the real problem is that when a if&else statement che

  • GR related message for a PO in RZ20

    Hi SRM Gurus I am in the process of setting up SRM 5.0 Extended classic. For some reason, the display PO is not visible in ECC5. I have checked RZ20 and the error message states 'PurchOrder x000000001: Indicator for GR used not allowed' Please can so

  • How do i get the home page on the entire screen

    When I open Firefox yahoo (my choice) only fills the center of the screen. How do I get it to expand to the rest of the screen

  • Song name in finder not recognized in iTunes

    I have some tracks from an audio CD that are named (In Finder) Chapter 1, Chapter 2, etc. When I import them to iTunes, though, the name of Chapter is replaced by the name of each chapter as it appeared on the audio CD. Any ideas whatis happening? It

  • Vi for Agilent E4446A HPE4406

    Hi; I am trying to write a Labview vi for a spectrum analyser from Agilent (E4446A), which I have only for a few days. The resources of Agilent didn't help. Is there perhaps someone who could help me? Someone who perhaps used the same who has already