Folders randomly deleting themselves

I’ve had folders go missing on two different laptops--both on 10.4.x. The most recent missing folder was on my MacBook Pro. I clicked on my desktop icon on the left sidebar of the Finder window and got an error message stating that the folder was missing. I searched for files I knew were inside but to no avail. Both times this happened the folders were in the sidebar. I rebooted my computer and I was able to click on the desktop icon and was able to get to the desktop but all the files were gone.
The last time this happened it was to a work folder inside my documents folder. And before you ask YES I’m sure I didn’t delete it.
Any ideas?
MBP 1.83 GHz Core Duo Mac OS X (10.4.7) + Mac Mini, PB 1.67 GHz

Just a little more info. When I search for a specific file I know should be there it will show up in the search with the correct file path at the bottom. But if I control-click and say open enclosing folder it will open a blank window.

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I'm syncing to iCloud. I've experienced the bug where iCloud will turn itself off in settings and it will appear that you've lost all of your contacts until you turn it back on, but this is different. Several times a week for the last 3 weeks or so I'll receive an iMessage from someone who is a contact and regularly messages me, and their message will show up as coming from a phone number.

The songs that I bought first with my iPod touch (4th generation) have randomly deleted themselves. How can I fix this?

I first got my iPod about two years ago and recently when I got an iPhone 5s, I noticed that some of my songs have been deleted, randomly. I looked under my purchased songs and there is no trace that I previously bought these songs. Another problem that I am dealing with is that some of my songs are being cut off. The song will start out fine, a few days later it will be cut off, and a few days after that the song will be cut off even more! I went through iTunes to see if I would be able to rebuy the songs (ludacris, I know), but each song is labeled as purchased. Are there anyways that I can fix these problems?!

Do you have any Restrictions set that would prevent those songs from being listed under purchased? Go to Settings>General>Restrictions and check/change.
Otherwise contact iTunes.
Apple - Support - iTunes - Contact Us
For skiping:
Try:
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Reset iOS device: Hold down the On/Off button and the Home button at the same time for at
least ten seconds, until the Apple logo appears.
- Unsync all music and resync
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Go to Settings > General > Reset and tap Reset All Settings.
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I have an Intel based PC with XP Pro. I have had the same problem as the rest of you for 5 years. I have e-mailed Apple 3 times sans response. I searched the Internet for solutions. I have done what several of the suggest but still the problem persists. I had almost 13000 titles of music and old radio shows. Some I uploaded from personal CD's. Some were downloaded via an online music service. I can play a piece one day and the next that line has an exclamation point in front of it. I have lost entire works by one artist due to this problem. I am fed up with reloading the music and losing it. iTunes either has no answer or does not care. I asked about any limitations on the database manger, no answer. I asked about database limitations, no answer. I saw a post two years ago from a husband wife team that had 18,000 titles and had now lost many of them.
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xXbega2550Xx wrote:
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It's a fine point, but do you mean:
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OK, that helps, now we know your environment.
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Justin
Verizon FiOS TV, Internet, and phone
QIP6416-P1, IMG 1.7.1, Build 09.97
Keller, TX 76248

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I forgot to mention that when I look at the playlist that has been tranferred to the iPhone all the ones that won't play and are greyed out have a sync symbol next to the check mark.

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file://localhost/Users/Username/.Trash/iTunes Media/Movies/Movie Title/Movie Title.m4v
But that file location is your System Trash - you seem to have a problem with the permissions on your Trashes, either in your system Trash or the hidden Trash bin on your external drive.
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APPLICATIONS DELETING THEMSELVES IN FRONT OF MY EYES

I am an idiot. Strap in folks. If you only want the problem, not how I got there, skip to paragraph 3.
I've been teaching myself html, php, css, etc... and I got in over my head when I tried to get safari to open a .php file saved locally (works fine when opened from server). I looked up why this was happening and I found people saying I needed to enable php and Apache. I did the steps to enable it but Safari would still only open a .php file as html code. This is no longer on my list of worries but is relevant to my problem.
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Did this begin, and I'm sure it did, when I was so foolishly deleting directories by copying and pasting directions on forums on how to delete mysql?
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I luckily have time machine so everything is backed up. Is it possible to just do a full restore of everything to a point in the day before I started all the myslq nonsense? If that is possible, would that change back all the terminal directories I may have deleted as well, or does TM not back those up? I'm clueless on what to do next. I don't just want to drag back the deleted apps one at a time, I want to get all of my mistakes off.
Help! Let me know if I need to include anything, if there is a terminal history I can somehow put in here or something.
THANK YOU!

drummer914 wrote:
I tried to get safari to open a .php file saved locally (works fine when opened from server).
PHP can only be run from a server.
I looked up why this was happening and I found people saying I needed to enable php and Apache.
Correct.
I did the steps to enable it but Safari would still only open a .php file as html code.
The only way to run PHP in Safari is through the address bar.
I was also learning at the time about myslq
mysql
Well, I should have realized deleting things using terminal was extremely risky. I did it anyway, looking through more forums, learning about directories I needed to delete and how to delete them.
Which forums are those? Most of that information on the internet is out of date at best and often flat out wrong. In the future, it would be best to ask here on Apple Discussions.
Did this begin, and I'm sure it did, when I was so foolishly deleting directories by copying and pasting directions on forums on how to delete mysql?
No doubt. Don't feel too bad. I don't know of anyone who has used ever used UNIX and didn't delete their home directories at some point - or worse.
I don't just want to drag back the deleted apps one at a time, I want to get all of my mistakes off.
You can always boot from your install disk, use Disk Utility to erase your startup drive, then reinstall a factory-fresh OS. I do that every couple of years, when I get a new computer, or on a major OS upgrade. It helps to clean out a lot of junk.

My iPod just randomly deleted all my music, but I no longer have the computer where I synced it to. Can I still get my purchased tracks if I download iTunes on another computer?

My iPod just randomly deleted all my music, but I no longer have the computer where I synced it to. Can I still get my purchased tracks if I download iTunes on another computer?

If for some reason you failed to maintain a backup copy of your computer ( not good), then you can redownlaod some itunes content in some countries:
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x0SiN0x:
Welcome to Apple Discussions..
My first suggestion is to Repair Disk. Here's how:
Insert Installer disk and Restart, holding down the "C" key.
Go to Installer menu (Panther and earlier) or Utilities menu (Tiger) and launch Disk Utility.
Select your HDD (manufacturer ID) in the left panel.
Select First Aid in the Main panel.
(Check S.M.A.R.T Status of HDD at the bottom of right panel, and report)
Click Repair Disk on the bottom right.
If DU reports disk does not need repairs quit DU and restart.
If DU reports errors Repair again and again until DU reports disk is repaired.
If DU reports errors it cannot repair you will need to use a utility like Tech Tool Pro or Disk Warrior
Please post back and let me know how that goes.
Here are a few links that may help you to identify the issues:
Resolving Disk, Permission, and Cache Corruption
Tuning Mac OS X Performance
Mac OS X System Maintenance
Please don't hesitate to post back should you have further questions or comments, or with update.
Good luck.
cornelius

Folders randomly deleting themselves

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