Latest OS X nightmare

Question

Okay, i'm really trying to keep an open mind about OSX here, but i'm on the verge of going back to OS9. (and I've only found one thing i can't do in OS9 that i can do in OSX, and that's play h264).
Anyway, the problem now is that some files aren't showing up on the OSX desktop. I save a text file, and.... nothing. Then i save a .html file, and it shows up. Then i save something else, and.... an hour later, nada. W-T-F ?? I never had that happen in OS9, or in MS Windows, as far as i can recall.
However, if i go to the Open menu of any app, the files do show up even though they are not visible on the desktop.
The next day, after shutting off the computer, i startup and.... voila! There they are on the desktop. WTH??

Answer 1

A utility interface tool, such as OnyX from Titanium Software, can be used
to help the system work better and clear caches, among other things; it is
a free or donationware download and will help keep up on OS X system
maintenance, to include preventative upkeep to things not usually noticed.
• Titanium Software - OnyX: http://www.titanium.free.fr/pgs/english/apps.html
While a new system installation (archive & install, then update) can help fix
some issues in OS X, a bigger problem could be from too many files on the
drive or inadequate viable free space for the system to run well. In either case
your hard disk drive would require sufficient unused capacity to withstand an
installation of a new system (not a complete from-scratch) on the drive.
If basic maintenance and repairs to the system and drive don't seem to do
much, the larger matter may be to reinstall the software on to the computer
after totally erasing and reformatting the hard disk drive. An archive to an
externally enclosed boot-capable hard disk drive via a clone utility, can be
a good backup; and the computer could be restored from there.
Carbon Copy Cloner by Bombich Software is a good choice (donationware)
to use to make a backup clone that can also boot the computer from a
suitable external hard disk drive enclosure; and this process be used to get
to the bottom of otherwise odd and harder to diagnose or repair issues. For
each of my Macs, I have a good base clone on a FireWire boot-capable drive.
{With a clone/copy of the complete computer contents, saved to an external
hard disk drive suitable for sustaining a boot-capable OS X version, you can
then use the clone and external drive for tech repair and major restorations.
The computer's own drive could then be totally low-level 'secure erased' by
having the Disk Utility overwrite the hard drive's content with at least one pass
of Zeros. Any files at that level would be zeroed-out and a new reformat over
that, would keep any corruption or file damage from being an issue on a fully
new reinstall or a clone-back of the original system & files from an archive.}
• Carbon Copy Cloner: http://www.bombich.com/software/ccc.html
While care and upkeep can keep an OS X system running well for years,
without a re-install, the odds of having an older hard disk drive fail and
the loss of work files and personal data increases over time; so to have
and use a backup method with adequate tools & utilities is recommended.
Then, more than one restore plan could be available to you, worst case.
In any event, have fun.
Good luck & happy computing!