Help! Everthing on the Desktop Disappeared

I ran the Java & Security updates tonight, upon the reboot, everything on the desktop disappeared. I can only see them by browsing the hard drive.

I ran disk verify in disk utility and everything came back... weird!

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    I was trying to make an alias of "SAFARI" icon to have on the desktop & in the dock as well, I managed to make the safari icon appear on the desktop, but when I wanted to switch from firefox to safari it wouldn't open / start safari, so OK, no big deal, I moved it the trash, ( by rt. click,>move to trash>click ) the horror starts here, everything on the desktop disappeared into the trash !!!!! ......
      So I have tried to "drag & drop", "alias", "copy", "duplicate" to get things back out of the trash, but every attempt is met with a message "the desktop con not be changed",   and whatever I try to bring anything out of the trash window, it gets a "minus - sign" added to it when it crosses over the edge of the trash window, and of course it jumps right back into the trash when the mouse button is released.
    I think (barely) I will need the do a "clean install", or a "restore" from the install DVD to restore / get the desktop back.
    And while the only thing on the desktop now is the HDD icon, clicking it open does not show the desktop in the Lf. column of the window where it should be, or any OS X folders when clicking on anything, but the OS is is running for this post and yahoo, etc., and there is a upward facing arrow next to the "network" name in the left column, that doesn't go away, like after installing some software, this is weird !!
    Any solid ideas welcomed, and Thanks for reading my driveling post,  .....  wayne146  .........
    this is happening on my back-up machine, a G4 400mhz PCI, OS X TIGER 10.4.11 & 9.2.2 in classic ( all the 9.2.2 stuff does still show in the hdd when clicked )
    I am having bigger troubles with my QS 800 dp, so I need this one to stay online, Please help !!!

    to safari it wouldn't open / start safari, so OK, no big deal, I moved it the trash, ( by rt. click,>move to trash>click ) the horror starts here, everything on the desktop disappeared into the trash !!!!!
    I am confused by what you did.
    open / start safari
    What did you do?  This looks like a terminal command.
    Or, did you click on the safari icon then right click on the safari icon then click on open? 
    I do not understand how you that moving to the trash would be helpful.
    I suspect disk corruptions.
    I run disk utility verify the file system on your starup disk.  See below.
    verify & repair your startup drive
    To verify & repair you file system on the startup drive, you will need to run disk utility from you installation DVD.
    This article  will tell you how to get to disk utility.  Once in a disk utility, you can go and attempt to recover the disk.
    http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1417
    To repair your startup drive, you will need to run disk utility from your startup DVD.
    Mac OS X 10.4: About the utilities available on the Mac OS X 10.4 Install DVD
    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2055
    How to run disk utility from your startup DVD.
    Insert your  startup DVD  into your reader.  Power down your machine.  Hold down to the c key.  Power on your machine.  This will bootup your startup DVD.
    This will bring you to a panel asking you for your language.  Pick your language.
    You you come to the Install Mac OS panel.  Do not install.
    Click on Utilities menu item.  This will give you a pulldown list of utilities.
    Click on the disk utility.
    You are now in disk utility.  Pick your disk.  Click on repair it should be on the lower right of the panel.
    Once the repair completes successfully, you should update your permissions.
    Verify a disk
    As an alternative, you can verify that the filesystem on the disk is correct. You will not be able to repair the file system.
    I suggest that you use disk utility to verify that your startup disk is OK.  Macintosh-HD -> Applications -> Utilities -> Disk Utility  Start up disk utility.  On the left pane view, you will see a list of all your disks.   click on your startup disk.  Click on the First Aid  Tab.  Click on verify.   Hopefully your disk will verify.  If not, you have to boot from your installation DVD and run Disk First Aid from there to attempt to repair your file-system.

  • Can't see files on the desktop...

    Since upgrading to Leopard, really weird things are happening.
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    If I go to Macintosh HD > Desktop, they're there!
    If I create a new user, the problem goes away, so I re build how I want my dock, and apps preferences to work. Then, all of a sudden, the same thing happens again.
    When I upgraded, I chose to keep my previous profiles, and upgrade, but after a while of recreating users, I decided to backup all info on an external drive, and do a lean install.
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    I guess something is getting corrupted in my user profile, but what?
    And why after working OK for a while, does it happen again?
    Initially, i put it down to Office 2004 not being intel compatible, and when it happened with Firefox, a conflict between those two.
    Now I've uninstalled both, and it still causes the same ball ache of a problem!
    Even with a new user.
    The only common trait is my name. I don't believe that the name of an innocent Welshman could cause this....
    Any help?
    Gwion E Llwyd

    I had this problem for a while when downloading files. They would appear in my desktop folder but not on my desktop. Then one day, for no reason, the problem fixed itself. I have no idea what was happening or why. I tried to discuss it in these forums but got no workable solutions (which included the ubiquitous "why not try completely re-installing your system?" suggestions).
    I hope it just "goes away" for you as it did for me.

  • DESKTOP DISAPPEARS using Control-Click

    When I Control-Click any item on the desktop (to try and get contextual menu), or any item in any open desktop pane, all the icons on the desktop disappear and reappear a few seconds later - like a desktop relaunch. Maybe I changed some settings but I don't think so. Thought it might be FruitMenu app but have tried uninstalling that to fix this with no success. Have rebuilt the disk using DiskWarrior3.0.3 and have done permissions repairs several times. No success.

    Hi, I'm answering my own post here as i couldn;t remove it. But for anyone looking for the answer, i found it, thanks to francine on another post:
    I went into "/Users/yourname/Library/Contextual Menu Items" and into "/Library/Contextual Menu Items". I archived the contents of each, dropped the archives onto the desktop (in case I wanted them again) and trashed the copntents of those 2 folders. Restarted and everythign wokred great getting the contextual nmenus up again on Finder items using Control-Click. I then replaced the appropriate archive into the "/Library/Contextual Menu Items", unarchived it (hoping to find the culprit item) and trashed the archive, restarted and again all worked fine again. I then repeated the process with the "/Users/yourname/Library/Contextual Menu Items" folder and again restarted and again everything worked fine! So found no culprits and the contextual menus work as they always did before the problem.
    Hope this helps. PaulWR.

  • Finder disappeared, all folders on desktop disappeared

    I have had problems with turning my iMac off. Now all folders on the desktop disappeared, and Finder tells me that it can' t open. 
    Anyone have a clue what to do?

    Now, boot normally and see if the problem continues. If so, boot into safe mode, create a new admin user account, log into it, and see if the issue persists.

  • Desktop disappears when applications are opened

    I spent part of this afternoon assigning rules for moving emails to folders in Apple Mail (ver 2.0.7). After restarting, now the desktop disappears everytime I open an application, and I must go back to the dock to move between applications, since only one application's window appears at a time on the desktop (though it is possible to have two windows from the same application open--for example, two pdf files with Adobe Acrobat.)
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    Everything was working fine before I spent the day trying to clean up my huge INBOX on Apple mail.
    I have already deleted com.apple.finder.plist, and was thinking of trying to reset the PRAM.
    Thanks in advance.

    I did not notice that I was in full scree mode. Yes that the issue, out of full screen it works like before.
    Thanks a lot for the hint.

  • Lost all files and folders on the desktop and also in time machine

    All files and folders on the desktop disappeared, I checked time machine and even there are no longer present, even going back months.
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    After update osx yosemite 10.10.1

  • My desktop disappeared. When the computer starts, it opens in finder. Also, it acts like something is running. The spinning circle is spinning, will stop for a minute then starts again. What is wrong? Help please.

    My Mac g5 starts and goes to finder. The desktop has disappeared. Also the circle keeps spinning. It will stop for a minute, then start again. It acts like something is running. I have restarted multiple times. Can anyone help please? Thank you.

    Spinning Beach Ball
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  • I've lost all the files that were on the desktop.  All the folders  are still there with subfolders but the files have all disappeared.  Someone please help!

    It's been over a month since I accessed my files for work. (microsoft office, photos, videos) Today when I came in to work I realized that all the files on my desktop had disappeared. (it's just the desktop) I didn't do anything with my computer.  I didn't use my computer for almost the entire month.    I don't know where they are or what happened.  I really need these files back ASAP..... help please! 

    Unless the files were dumped in the Trash unintentionally, your files are still on your computer, somewhere. It's pretty easy to put files or folders in places without knowing it, but there is a good technique to find your data.'
    Think over a file or folder whose name is familiar. Then, press Cmd-Space at the same time, which brings up Spotlight - the easiest way to locate files, folders, history, and much more. If you end up with a blank the first time, try again until you have a hit. If you have a hit, note the location of the files/folder; it's likely that all of your lost documents are in the same place.
    Post if you have success, or need more help!

  • Everything on my desktop disappeared. i tried using the finder to locate specific files and they are missing. Help!

    i'm using a macbook pro retina, 2.4 GHz Intel Core i7, 8GB. operating OSX Yosemite 10.10.1
    everything on my desktop disappeared. i've managed to make my HD reappear on my desktop but my files etc are nowhere to be found. i tried using the finder to locate specific files and they are missing. Help! I foolishly filled up my desktop with piles of screen grabs and folders - no doubt that was the cause... what do i do, aside from punish myself for being so stupid?

    Could you have logged into another account?
    If you go to System Preferences>Users and Accounts what accounts are listed?
    To show users at login go to the Login Options of chanck the box that says show list of users.
    If they they are gone and you can't find them then restore them from a backup

  • In trying to transfer iWeb pages (not uploaded) to another computer I went into the library and transferred the domain onto the desktop. Disaster! On opening iWeb all previous (uploaded) sites have disappeared. Help!

    In trying to transfer iWeb pages (not uploaded) to another computer I went into the Library and transferred the domain onto the desktop. Disaster! On opening iWeb all previous (uploaded) sites have disappeared. On opening the domain all I can recover is the many component parts, and when unzipped the code. Help! Mike

    Code in a domain file - really?  That is not possible because the domain.sites file does not contain any html or css code at all - the domain file is your iWeb data file and you won't see any code until you publish your website.
    If you can see html code, then you have the wrong file and it is a published version of your site which iWeb can do nothing with - iWeb has no import facility so cannot open any html files.
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  • A folder on my desktop disappeared and is not the trash, HELP

    A folder on my desktop disappeared and is not in the trash, PLEASE HELP

    I tried that and found one of the documents but it says it has been damaged or motified

  • No system disk appears on the desktop. Help please.

    No system disk appears on the desktop.
    Here all external drives.
    I rebootedholding the shift key.
    I have checked the Finder / Preferences / General is selected to show the hard drives, also in Finder / Preferences / Sidebar is selected.
    I have opened the Disk Utility application and if you see the system disk, I have told you to check and tells me that the disk has no problems.
    Otherwise the iMac works perfectly, but Safari, which is all I have used since the problem besides Disk Utility sometimes gets stuck, and has trouble reconnecting.
    Help, please.
    Greetings from Valencia, Spain

    Hello Jan:
    Thanks for the reply.
    I do not know how important it is, well, I've always been there and now I do not know because it is not, simply so I have direct access to everything on my iMac.
    Suddenly disappeared, which means that something is wrong with the computer.
    No, the sidebar does not appear.
    Thanks for the reply. Greetings from Valencia, Spain

  • TextArea and TextInput on mobile device the text disappears and works fine on desktop

    I'm developing a mobile app with a view that contains 1 Text Area, 1 Text Input and a group of 3 buttons. The app runs well in Desktop mode ( Run & Debug ), but when run in an android device ( Sony Tablet S) when the view is loaded,  the text (text property set at design or runtime)  "flashes" and disappear, if I change the device orientation of the tablet (phisically) the text draws correctly and don't disappear, even if you return to the original orientation. Also, if I pop-up a message (SkinnablePopUpContainer) in the same view, the text appears, and when I close the pop-up the text disappears again.
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                                  import mx.events.FlexEvent;
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  • Creative Cloud Installer gets half way through downloading the desktop app then just disappears, without downloading, why is that?

    Creative Cloud Installer gets half way through downloading the desktop app then just disappears, without downloading, why is that?
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    Please read, and reply back here with information https://forums.adobe.com/thread/1499014
    -try some steps such as changing browsers and turning off your firewall
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    http://myleniumerrors.com/installation-and-licensing-problems/creative-cloud-error-codes-w ip/
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    http://helpx.adobe.com/x-productkb/global/service-ccm.html

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