I renamed user folder by accident...

i renamed user folder by accident then all my desk,preferences, firefox signets have disapeared.....
But i can see there is still a folder called "desk" which is my good old desk so someone can tell me if there is a solution to recover everything by renaming something or anyhing plz ?

Open the desk folder and see if that's it; if so, put it in the Users folder with its original name. If not, choose Go to Folder from the Finder's Go menu, provide /Users/ as the path, and check the folders there. If it's not there, search your computer for a file which is located in the good folder, select it, choose Get Info from the Apple menu, and check its path.
(83111)

Similar Messages

Dragged user folder by accident

Okay, so yesterday I was listening to a book on CD on my MacBook and just messing around with programs and things. So, on the folder of my user I accidentally grabbed the house and dragged it onto the desktop. When I noticed that I did that, I just dragged it back in, thinking it was a shortcut or something.
After a while I clicked on my entorauge (email) and it was empty. I looked around on my computer, and stuff like the password for my internet and other things were all gone. I restarted the computer and everything was set to the default. Thankfully, all my stuff was still on my computer when I searched for it on finder--but none of my music was in my iTunes, none of my movies were in the movies folder, none of my email were in my entorauge (there was no movies, music, or pictures folder in finder, actually). All of my things were in a folder labeled with my user and it had my desktop, pictures, music, movies, settings, etc, in it, just the way my original user folder used to be. It's like I dragged my entire user folder somewhere else and now it's back to it's default.
Is there any way to fix it to the way it was before? How do you make the folder back into the main user folder?
I would really appreciate anyone who could help.

See if this helps.
Mac OS X 10.3, 10.4 or later: Return to default desktop, apparent "loss" of home directory
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=107854
Mort

Problems after changing user folder name

Hi everybody,
My pc had a problem with the HHD so I needed to send it back to the repair centre. During the reparation the company created a user called 'user'.
Since I had a backup that had to restore data in C:\Users\Andrea I changed the user's name as in this guide http:// superuser.com/questions/495290/how-to-rename-user-folder-in-windows-8 (I followed the step: 'I have
already logged into that account' since that was my situation.)
Now when opening Windows Update (only the desktop version, while the metro version works fine) I got this error
http:// postimg.org/image/6c6konbhh/
I hope someone has an idea of what's happening.
Thanks in advance.
P.S. Sorry for the links but I couldn't post links or pictures because the forum says that I am not verified.

Create new user account with administrative privilege and try Windows Update.
If same issue, follow the steps to solve.
Start > Control Panel > System and Security > Administrative tools > Services
Stop the Background Intelligent Transferring Service, Cryptographic Service and Windows Update service.
then goto C:\Windows rename the Software Distribution folder as Software Distribution.OLD
Reboot the PC.
Now you can try Windows Update.

User account missing files and preferences?? Not from renaming home folder

Hi all,
After some strange behaviour in Apple Color, upon rebooting, my user account has returned to default. I had many items on the desktop and various subfolders in the documents folder. All pictures. Music. All are now gone. Desktop and dock have been reset to default.
The user folder still exists but everything I had in there is gone.
Another user may have been created called "root" containing only
/Library
/Documents/Color Documents...etc
I am aware of the problem with changing the short name or renaming the home folder (after sifting through this forum) and it is definitely not this problem.
Maybe its somehow related but I definitely did not rename any of these things myself. And there is no duplicated user account with all my files in it.
Any help or ideas would be greatly appreciated.
Cheers
Nate
ps. Is it possible to restore the system to an earlier time like in Windows?
I've read somewhere that a Previous System folder exists and it might be possible with Disk Utility but I can't find this folder anywhere.
Message was edited by: stoney23

Hi there,
Thanks for the reply. I've managed to restore most of my important stuff using a file recovery software so I'm at peace with the loss of only a few files now. I'll just have to start rebuilding my dock and preferences again now which is not the end of the world.
After a bit of thinking about it I'm 95% sure this is what happened.
Color tried to save an image file with the same name as the folder I had made storing all my Color project saves. The folder was called Post. I'm not quite sure how its possible but it managed to overwrite the folder with the new image file. Now there is a Color image file (with no extension) there called Post and no folder.
Then I tried to save the Color project and of course it told me the project directory was missing and it will create a new one. I'm guessing this is when Color bulldozed through my user account to create the folder Color Documents where it DIDN'T save the file anyway
Leaving me with a default user account deleting everything that was 'added' to the account previously.
It also created another user account called 'root' in which there is also only a Color Library/preferences and documents folder
Is that normal that things like that can just happen?
I guess from here I will just try and finish my project and afterwards do a re-install of the OS just to be sure - checking the Archive and Install option this time
Unless you have any other ideas from what I've told you.
Thanks again for replying
Nate

Help! Accidently renamed user-myself, everything changed!

Here's what happened.
I didn't like the way my name was as a user, it was all small letters bunched together. So I thought I could change the way it looked by capitalizing my first and last name with a space in between. Simple to do but, when I started up again everything was as if I restored everything. Everything was different.
I tried looking up Mac help, some of the suggestions seemed simple enough but no help. Was able to find my original desktop, but iTunes is not the same, my library is missing. The dock did not have my apps there. AOL is different, so are other browers.
Did I do something unusual or is it fixable with a little know how?
Any help will be appreciated.
iBook SE Graphite Firewire Mac OS X (10.3.9) Airport Card / 320 MB RAM Airport Express

Once the NetInfo Manager has opened, click the padlock and type in your administrator password. Click on the users item in the top level of the tree below, and then locate your account's short name in the list. From here, click in the window at the bottom and then scroll down to the row with home on the left. Double-click on the text to the right of home and it will become editable. Change the part of this property after the last / to the name you gave your user folder in the Finder, quit the NetInfo Manager, and then choose Log Out from the Apple menu. Log back in; if you didn't delete your old data and the procedure was successfully completed, you will have the contents of your home folder back.
(12919)

10.6.2 - cant rename a user folder restored from Time Machine

click a brand new user folder created on a 10.6.2 desktop then hit enter on keyboard = filename highlites
click a user folder restored from a Time Machine backup then hit enter on keyboard = filename does not highlite (allows itself to be opened however). This folder can be duplicated but not moved to another "normal" user folder (gets permissions error)

I figured I would contribute to the community as I have the resolution this time - tried Terminal xattr -d command but this didnt seem to work very well
What did work was to download MacPilot:
http://www.koingosw.com/products/macpilot.php
And use its Files and Folders / Wipe Access Control List data function.
Simple to use and this worked.
I found that to delete a file, I had to put it into a folder, no big deal, and in fact this did work as well.

Can't see anything in external drive after renaming a folder

Hi all,
I can't see anything on my external drive after renaming a folder. I have the drive set up as a Windows drive with access through the volumes folder (I had to transfer large amount of files from a PC and have it be readable on my MacBook Air); I read a FAQ to set it up a few months ago and it has been working fine since then. I saw the same issue come up with a PC HD on a PC, but the solution was for a PC. I don't see anything else like that in the support community (or if it's there, then I'm not searching for it the right way). There is no partition on the drive and it still shows as having the same amount of data written on the drive as before the accident.
Many thanks in advance!
anj

If you upgrade the your router, it would be the firmware that will be upgraded. For more information regarding upgrading the firmware, try this link.
For your external drive, you might need to map the drive again with a different name.
Hope this helps.

I Renamed Home Folder and lost all settings, jpgs, mp3s, photos etc. HELP!

First off, have a MacBook, 2.4GHz Intel Core Duo w/4GBs of RAM OS 10.5.8
I followed what I thought were proper procedures to change the name of the Home Folder from "macbook" to "rocki"
I followed the instructions at Mac OS X v10.6 and earlier: How to change user account name or home directory name
For Mac OS X 10.5 or later
1. Enable the root user.
2. Log in as root.
3. Navigate to the /Users folder.
4. Select the Home folder with the short name you want to change, and rename it just like you would rename any folder. Keep in mind that the shortname must be all lowercase, with no spaces, and only contain letters.
At this point I skipped steps 5 & 6 Since I already had a user named the name I wanted "Rocki" I thought I didn't need to do this. So went onto Steps 7-9, and NO everything was NOT there.
5. Use the Accounts pane in System Preferences to create a new user with the Account name or Short Name that you used in the previous step.
6. Click OK when "A folder in the Users folder already has the name 'account name'. Would you like to use that folder as the Home folder for this user account?" Note: This will correct the ownership of all files in the Home folder, and avoid permissions issues with the contents.
7. Choose Log Out from the Apple menu.
8. Log in as the newly created user. You should be able to access all of your original files (on the desktop, in Documents, and in the other folders of this Home).
9. After verifying that your data is as expected, you can delete the original user account via the Accounts pane of System Preferences. At this point I skipped step 10 b/c nothing was there as usual.
10. Disable the root user.
All my data and settings were not there. So I went back logged in as Root, navigated to the Users folder, and saw that there were two folders, one said "macbook" even though I previously just named it and there was also another folder named "rocki" there. Seeing two folders and wanting to return back to normal I deleted that "rocki" folder, I had just created, and logged back out of root and logged back into the only user I had, which was also named "rocki" which is the admin and the user that had all my files and settings originally before I tried to change the name of the home folder. And no change, everything is gone and missing.
To clarify, originally, I had a home folder named MacBook and a user named Rocki. Everything was cool and worked great! But I wanted to change that home folder name to match the user name. Whoops!
What can I do to go back to normal?!?!?!!?!? Please help me!! I'm so screwed. If I can't go back to normal, how do I find all the missing files and what not?!?
Thanks so much in advance!

Apparent 'Loss' of Home Folder:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=107854

Mess in Users folder - please help!!

Hey
My name is Fabrice, and the name of the man who previously owned the computer (PB G4, os X version 10.11 was called Pankaj. I tried to rename the admin (the one with a little house icon, I guess it's called the root?) in the "users" folder from Pankaj to Fabrice because it was annoying me (especially when I connect to other networks and people look for Fabrice but only find Pankaj). To do so I clicked on the name near the little house icon in Mac/users/ and renamed it, but there was already a blue folder in /users/ with Fabrice, so to avoid conflict I renamed the house folder with "Fabrice Familyname". When I restarted the computer, all my preferences were gone, the dock prefs and the wallpaper alike, there was nothing on the desktop, etc. Nothing had been deleted but when I went to mac/users/ there was now three "users": the house icon was still called "Pankaj" (22gb), and there were two blue folders :the "Fabrice" folder (3gb) and the "Fabrice Familyname" (blue) folder (330mb). I found some of my preferences that were missing, for example all the firefox preferences that I really need back, in the "Fabrice Familyname" folder. In the Users section of System Preferences, though, there is just "Fabrice" - no other choice.
So, okay, I did something I shouldnt have. Now I can't even connect to my own house's wireless internet connection because god knows where I have the codes written down, and they're among the misplaced prefs.
1)-Why are some of my personal files in the "Fabrice Familyname" folder?
2)-How can I go back to my previous settings, and just know where they are? It just seems strange that some personal files are in the 300 mb folder while the other one is 3 gb.
I really need to have my Firefox preferences back, of all things, but it seemed when I replaced the Firefox folder in the Application Support folder that had firefox default settings with the one with my personal settings, that after restarting the folder was a default one again.
And how about my wireless internet codes?
I feel like it's going to be a real headache solving this, so if anyone could help it would be wonderful! Maybe I just need to backup the "Fabrice" folder that's 3gb and then delete it?
Waiting for a reply I think I'll go back everything up on CDs, the whole 30 gigs... lots of fun ahead, but I'm just too afraid if I moved the users folder with default settings to the trash it would do something bad.
Please help me if you know what I did stupid and how to undo!

Hi Fabrice!
See if the info in one, or more, of the Articles linked to below, helps.
Return to Default Desktop, Apparent "Loss" of Home Directory
My home folder and desktop are different than before
Recover from renaming your Home folder, authored by Dr Smoke
ali b

Displayed Name of main Users folder is not correct.

My current Users folder is displaying as Public yet the target is E:\Users even though no such directory is visible. I have shown hidden files. If I type e:\Users into explorer it directs me to the Public folder. If I try to create a folder called users
in the same E:\ directory it wants to merge with Public. If I try to create a folder named Public it allows this leaving two identical files in the drive without the same content. I have looked around in the registry and everything appears to be correct in
profilelist. I am also unable to rename the folder using rename command as elevated user. I assume this is a corruption but cannot seem to find any other guide or resource to troubleshoot this. Please help. I am at a loss.

Every folder can be configured to use a different static name whatsoever the real name is, even if renamed. This setting is defined in desktop.ini, present inside the folder. Therefore, go to the Public folder, look for desktop.ini (or even inf). If it
is present, rename it/backup and delete the contents inside the file. Then refresh the view and check. If that fails, restart the PC and then check.
Balaji Kundalam

User folder

Hi,
I have mistakenly renamed my user folder. The system has then created a new one, and for some reason my old user folder lies within the new one.
My question is, can I just open two windows and then rename the new, and drag the old into it´s right place, changing it´s name back to the original...?
I have the panther OS
- Hans

Hi Hans, and Welcome to Discussions!
One or more of these pages should help!
Recover from renaming your Home folder
Mac OS X 10.3: Return to Default Desktop, Apparent "Loss" of Home Directory
Mac OS X 10.3 Help: My home folder and desktop are different than before
Good Luck!
ali b

User folder resets

I accidentally changed the name on my home folder. Of course, now all my files are under an alias. But the strange thing is that can get anything back into my home folder. Every time I shut down or restart , the system resets everything on the OS, like it's brand new. I also get a new user folder with an additional number, ie: Larry, then Larry 1, then Larry 2.
My data is safe now on an external drive, but I can't get the OS to reset and save my info.
If this has happened to you, please help.

Welcome To  Discussions lawolfberg!
You cannot just return the data to the Home account. There is a method to recover from this issue.
The info in one or more of the articles linked to below, should be helpful.
Return to Default Desktop, Apparent "Loss" of Home Directory
My home folder and desktop are different than before
Recover from renaming your Home folder, authored by Dr Smoke
ali b

[SOLVED] Renaming Desktop folder in XFCE, where to change the path?

I'd like to rename the folder Desktop to Czech equivalent Plocha, but of course when I do it, it prevents xfcedesktop from loading it's content to actual desktop (so I have empty desktop than, or only with Trash bin). I'd say I have to change the path from /home/behemot/Desktop to /home/behemot/Plocha somewhere. The question is, where should I do it? :-)
Last edited by Behemot (2011-06-28 18:04:10)

Generate the file with the command:
xdg-user-dirs-update
And change the paths manually. Mine file is adapted to spanish names:
# This file is written by xdg-user-dirs-update
# If you want to change or add directories, just edit the line you're
# interested in. All local changes will be retained on the next run
# Format is XDG_xxx_DIR="$HOME/yyy", where yyy is a shell-escaped
# homedir-relative path, or XDG_xxx_DIR="/yyy", where /yyy is an
# absolute path. No other format is supported.
XDG_DESKTOP_DIR="$HOME/Desktop"
XDG_DOWNLOAD_DIR="$HOME/Descargas"
XDG_TEMPLATES_DIR="$HOME/Plantillas"
XDG_PUBLICSHARE_DIR="$HOME/Público"
XDG_DOCUMENTS_DIR="$HOME/Documentos"
XDG_MUSIC_DIR="$HOME/Música"
XDG_PICTURES_DIR="$HOME/Imágenes"
XDG_VIDEOS_DIR="$HOME/Vídeos"
Ok.

Copying over "users" folder from Mac OS 10.3.8

Hello,
I am doing an upgrade from a G4 with 10.3.9 to G5 with Mac OS 10.4.8
Can I simply copy over the users folder from 10.3.9?
I have a feeling this will not work....?
Better to do it with Migration assistant, or just grab specific things I need, such as pluggins I installed for my audio applications such as Protools & Logic Audio...

Scott:
Here's an alternative from Niel:Copying Over an Account to a different Volume
Copying an Account directly by dragging or by cloning will not change the NetInfo information needed for the Account to be properly recognized.
To properly set up NetInfo
*Go to Apple Menu > System Preferences > Accounts
*Click on padlock and authenticate
*Click on plus sign under Login Options to add a new account.
*Set up an account and check box to allow user to administer.
*Log out of current account and log in to new Admin account
*Connect computer (Host) to computer with account to be transferred (Target) via Firewire ports.
*Start Target computer and hold down “T” key immediately after chime to mount HDD on Host computer desktop via Firewire Target Disk Mode
* Drag Home folder from Target Disk to Users Folder on Host and rename it. (If you get an error message about permissions when doing the copy, click button to Authenticate and enter your password; alternatively, you can turn permissions off for the source disk in the Get Info window.)
*Switch names between copied Folder and Home Folder (with house icon) by putting 2 after Home Folder name, and naming newly copied Folder with account name (original home folder name).
*To see that copied folder is owned by the account that is logged in select folder and Get Info (Command + i), then go to Ownership & Permissions.
*Log out of account by going to the Apple Menu and selecting Log out Account Name (Command + Shift + Q)
*Log back in to account.
*If the account was successfully copied, you may uncheck Allow User to Administer option in Apple Menu/System Preferences/Accounts if you choose.
with thanks to Niel
Good luck.
cornelius

Dropbox won't start after moving location of user folder

Hi all
I have a mid 2011 iMac running latest version of Mavericks.
I recently purchased an external thunderbolt SSD and cloned my boot HD to it, excluding the user folders as these are too big for the SSD and will remain on the internal HDD, and made it the start disk. Then, once booted with the SSD, I went into users settings and mapped my user to the user folder location on the internal HDD. I then rebooted.
After the reboot everything is working just fine with the exception of Dropbox which first asks for my Mac user account password and then returns the following error and closes the app:
Couldn't start Dropbox
This is usually because of permissions error. Errors can also be caused by your home folder being stored on a network share.
I've searched everywhere for a solution and can't find one. Most solutions I see involve going into the preferences in the Dropbox application and clicking the button to repair permissions, but I can't get to that because the application just quits.
If I reboot using the internal HDD again I can get the application to load just fine.
Anyone know how to fix this?
Thanks
Steve

I've just had this. The dropbox preferences are in a hidden directory (.dropbox) in your home folder. Delete that and it should start up as it would with a clean install.
To do this:
Open terminal
run 'sudo rm -r .dropbox'
enter your password
That *should* sort it. I'd renamed my home directory and this messed it up, before I did the steps above I created an alias to my new location that matched to old name, I'm not sure if this is needed but worth a try if the above doesn't sort it..

I renamed user folder by accident...

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