IMac monitor - desktop items disappear/reappear - applications pause

For about a week now, every 2 minutes all of my desktop icons will disappear and then reappear. If I have a folder open, such as the Pictures folder, it will close during this process.
If I am using Firefox or Safari or Photoshop, when the desktop items disappear, so does my mouse's ability to function on the application. I have to click on the application again for the mouse to function on it.
Today I was attempting to burn files to a DVD, but it fails because of this "refreshing" or whatever you call this symptom. Last night my computer did appear to do its weekly backup, (it said it was successful) but I wanted to copy files onto a DVD just in case.
Can someone give me some direction on how to troubleshoot this? In beginner terms? I'd really appreciate it. Thank you.
P.S. The only new things that happened recently that I can think of was that I did a software upgrade (think it was Quicktime...) and downloaded a Wordpress Theme.

Sometimes, starting up in SafeBoot (shift key held after start tone, login window appears
and semi-normal desktop Finder appears; but this is in a reduced function mode) and a
'repair disk permissions' in Disk Utility of the computer's volume on the Mac HD may help.
And after that, or any other minor repairs done in SafeBoot, the computer gets a normal
restart so the rest of the OS will be up and running. If that does not help, there are other
things one may try and do to help it. The matter involves some troubleshooting and a
cause and effect approach is sometimes taken; or on other occasions, a user may try a
long laundry-list of things and hope some issue just goes away; if one or another thing
happens to work. In this instance, learning of a specific issue's cure may not result.
Some items causing a problem, such as those cited above, may be dealt with while
the computer is started up in SafeBoot mode; since extensions and other parts of
such things may be turned off. So, some items like Stuffit can be removed when
they are disabled in SafeBoot. Be sure to run 'repair disk permissions' before and
after software updates, since for some reason this appears to help the system.
Sometimes, just basic system maintenance such as repair disk permissions, running
time/date cron-like routines (see AppleJack download, or OnyX in automation) can
resolve issues that may otherwise involve knowing more about how the system works.
These kinds of tools, free to download and try, can save a bit of trouble; some of that
is preventive in that the routines can be done per schedule to keep the system well.
The bootable installer system disc can be helpful, since there are optional tools in the
Disk Utility on that disc's boot volume; ahead of actually running the Installer itself. A
menu bar appears in the first full Installer window with drop down menus in it, and of
these a few options appear. And in the Disk Utility, chosen from the Installer menu,
there are a variety of tools which can totally obliterate or attempt a repair to the HDD.
An 'archive & install' and then update the resulting new system to the latest version
of OS X including security update, java, quicktime, safari, and other parts would follow;
in some cases, perhaps extreme, this is one way to resolve system software issue.
There are others, but this is among the last but not least. Further study is recommended
before going the A&I plus update the new system folder route; depending on what else
is going on in the system as it exists now. If this archive & install is performed, be sure
the checkbox to save user account info is marked, so the new system will retain this...
In any event...
Good Luck & happy computing!

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Desktop items disappeared after installing Apple OS X security update

I downloaded and installed Apple's new OS X security update (15 Sep 2008) for Power PC that became available via software update feature today.
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Dear BDAqua, Thank you very very much for your advice.
First, I tried the approach of 'safe booting'. The menu items on the top kept flickering and I could not get into either the 'applications' folder or the "users" folder.
Then, I saw your advice to pj3 on another thread about re-running the install disc that came with the computer. I did not have to run all the other steps because re-installing the system with the standard instructions took care of the problem. The hard drive and other desktop files as well as the finder re-appeared.
Thanks again for your kindness.
Cheers!

Desktop Items Disappearing

I just got a new eMac G4. I'm running on the Tiger system. Every time I log out of my system and log back in, all my desktop files/items are gone. So every morning, I run the Disk Utility, "Disk Repair Permissions" and that fixes it and brings back all my files, until the next morning (after I've been logged out for the night). I also have been absolutely unable to save anything or download anything to my desktop. It would seem to me that running the disk repair should fix it once and for all...I shouldn't have to keep doing it?
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Thank you, thankyou.

Melody Oaks,
Does the disappearing desktop happen if you log out during the day, or only after the network backup occurs? Do you know what program is used to perform the backup (i.e., Retrospect, Backup)?
While not a solution, there's a possible workaround: in System Preferences/ Security, check the box for "Require password to wake tis computer from sleep or password" and don't log out at the end of the workday. If you put the computer to sleep at the end of the day, you'll need to set System Preferences/ Energy Saver> Options to check "wake for Ethernet network administrator access". Sleep in OS X versions earlier than Tiger would interfere with the performance of the cron maintenance tasks, so it'd be better to avoid putting the computer to sleep and instead set the screen saver (via System Preferences/ Dashboard & Exposé) to have a hot / activate corner and use that when leaving, with Energy Saver set for system sleep = Never, unchecked put hard drives to sleep, and display sleep set to something like 15 to 30 minutes. The maintenance tasks are handled differently under Tiger, through, so it's a matter of preference whether you use sleep or screen saver to lock the computer when you leave.

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Thanks for the feedback. Moving preference files associated with various applications, such as desktop, out of /Users/username/Library/Preferences/ to the Desktop, logging out and back in, will cause the application to create a new default version. If that fixes the problem, then the original preference file (e.g., com.apple.desktop.plist) was most likely corrupted. Good computing.

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I recently upgraded the hardrive on a Macbook 2008. All was fine after inital boot up. I was attempting to recover lost files and somehow all of the desktop items disappeared. They are only appearing in Finder and I can't drag them to the des

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My desktop photo disappears when I reboot iMac, replaced with Mac default image. please help?

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First, try to delete the Desktop settings file. First, open Finder, select Go menu > Go to Folder, and type ~/Library/Preferences. Then, delete "com.apple.desktop.plist" and "com.apple.systempreferences.plist", and restart your computer. Finally, change the wallpaper and see if it stays after restarting your computer
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I have an iMac (the desktop) I've stupidly left the cable you plug the monitor into the wall with there. What are they called and where can I get a new one?

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HT1338 Application "FINDER"not responding,Desktop files disappeared & " also "Trash" not working svn after relaunching several times.

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Launch the Console application in any of the following ways:
☞ Enter the first few letters of its name into a Spotlight search. Select it in the results (it should be at the top.)
☞ In the Finder, select Go ▹ Utilities from the menu bar, or press the key combination shift-command-U. The application is in the folder that opens.
☞ Open LaunchPad. Click Utilities, then Console in the icon grid.
Step 1
Make sure the title of the Console window is All Messages. If it isn't, select All Messages from the SYSTEM LOG QUERIES menu on the left.
Enter the name of the crashed application or process (Finder) in the Filter text field. Post the messages from the time of the last crash, if any — the text, please, not a screenshot.
When posting a log extract, be selective. In most cases, a few dozen lines are more than enough.
Please do not indiscriminately dump thousands of lines from the log into a message.
Important: Some private information, such as your name, may appear in the log. Edit it out by search-and-replace in a text editor before posting.
Step 2
Still in the Console window, look under User Diagnostic Reports for crash reports related to the process. The report name starts with the name of the crashed process, and ends with ".crash". Select the most recent report and post the entire contents — again, the text, not a screenshot. In the interest of privacy, I suggest that, before posting, you edit out the “Anonymous UUID,” a long string of letters, numbers, and dashes in the header of the report, if it’s present (it may not be.) Please don’t post shutdownStall, spin, or hang logs — they're very long and not helpful.

All desktop items missing, even with 2 monitors!

When I turn my Power Mac G3 on, all my desktop items are missing.. everything. I thought that the monitor setting got changed to "2 monitors" and the desktop items were set to be on the other monitor, so I hooked up a second one, but I'm still missing everithing. You can see the end of some of the desktop items on the edge of the monitor, but I can't grab them or move them. I tried to restart from the OS install CD but I can't see anything to be able to access any of the windows or the top bar. Is there a way of reseting this so I can see again? BTW, when I click on the monitor, I get a beep sound... I guess there is a window open waiting for a command or something. Also, the monitors are working because I'm able to see my wallpaper!

ok! so here is the recap! (and forgive me I don't know the proper names of things!): The main monitor input (motherboard) failed, so I had put in two monitor cards in the 2 out of 3 slots available in the G3. After trying all of you suggestions (zapping the PRAM several times, switching cards, and switching monitors), last night I took both cards out and placed one of them in the slot that was empty before.... that worked! I can see all of my desktop items and menu bar, software, tested everithing, all great...
Now there is one more thing; the computer still thinks there are 2 monitors hooked up. My mouse gets lost (because it goes to the "second" monitor, apparently), and when I go to my Monitor Settings, it shows that I have two monitors connected. The only other thing I can think of is that its still counting the "main" monitor input as one of the active ones, even though there isn't a monitor plugged in there. Now it makes me think that the original problem was that, and when I had 2 monitors conected the computer thought I had 3!
The question now is, is there a way of disabling the "main" monitor input so that the computer wont read it as an active one?
Sorry, I hope this makes a little sense...
and thanks again for your suggestions!
PowerMac G3 Mac OS 9.2.x

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Why do items disappear when moved to the desktop?

Are you perhaps referring to dragging an item out of the Dock and onto the Desktop?
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Disappearance of desktop items

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Welcome To  Discussions jnparrott!
Exactly which model Mac G4 is it?
What is the Processor speed?
What size is the Hard Drive, and how much space is available?
How much RAM is installed, and is it original or added?
Exactly what procedure did you use to upgrade to Panther 10.3.x?
Did you use a Full Retail Version, of the Panther Install CDs?
The discs should look exactly like the images in the above links, and not say Upgrade, CPU Drop-in DVD, or "This software is part of a hardware bundle purchase - not to be sold seperately." on them.
Are you able to startup from the Panther disc 1, to run Disk Repair?
Did you run Repair Permissions before you installed Panther ?
Sorry for all the questions, but without additional info, no one will be able to assist you.
ali b

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Once renamed, the file is then appended with ".jpg" and saved to my desktop.
This has worked flawlessly for nearly a year, and now suddenly when the files are saved to my desktop they "disappear" but only visually.
When I force-quit finder the files then reappear.
This coincides with multiple other visual problems with my imac, such as dock icons being garbled, random lines appearing in Firefox and/or Safari when I view web pages etc. Any help?

Micah D. wrote:
Thanks V.K. I did just as you suggested, even restarted, but problem persists.
I keep very little on my desktop FYI, I drop pics there and use the automator to rename them, then I email them off to clients and file them, leaving nothing on the desktop.
Honestly I think my graphics card is starting to fritz out. These problems persist on both my "main" account and my "safety" account which has nothing installed on it. I think it's a hardware issue.
that's of course a possibility. run apple hardware tests and see if anything comes up. to do that insert the install DVD that originally cam with your computer, reboot and hold "d" at the chime. this will boot you into AHT. run all tests.

Desktop icons disappear. won't stay where i drop them, and disappear if i try to put them in a folder.

Recently noticed several icons on my desktop had disappeared.... found them in applications and documents folder, but they should be living on my desktop and I didn't move them. This keeps happening... I wake up my computer, quite randomly it seems, a file will have disappeared.
At the same time I noticed several files on my desktop had moved themselves all the way to the top of the screen, just the very bottom lip of the file names were visible. Clean Up had no effect on these files.
On top of that, no icon will stay where I drop it. I can pick up and drag the icon, but as soon as I drop it, it flies to some random spot on the screen.
Finally, i can move a desktop file inside any folder. if I try it the file just disappears.
I'm assuming all these problems are related and I'm hoping someone has a suggestion of what I can do to correct it. thanks.

Click on the desktop and check Finder > View > Show view options.
Sort by.. snap to grid will have the files flying around..
Disappearing files in folders no idea except I have always been advised not too have too many items in the desktop folder.. (The desktop is actually a folder, see finder)

Use imac monitor for laptop display?

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christie.cone, Welcome to the discussion area!
Not directly the iMac does NOT have a video input.
However, you might want to take a look at ScreenRecycler.

IMac monitor - desktop items disappear/reappear - applications pause

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