Question Mark - "The item cannot be found" at top of folders

When I open any of my desktop folders and my HD, there is a question mark at the top right-hand side. When I click on it, a message saying "The item cannot be found". Any ideas as to what might be causing this?
Ohhhh, please don't tell me my HD needs replacing and I'll have to wait a MONTH for my Mac to come back home...
Thanks!

These threads might be helpful:
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=1529275&#1529275
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=3093153&#3093153
15" MacBook Pro 2.16 GHz (Core 2 Duo) Mac OS X (10.4.8) , Mac Mini 1.66 GHz Mac OS X (10.4.8)

Similar Messages

All My Files cannot be opened because the item cannot be found

This just started this morning, before updating from 10.8.2 to 10.8.3: When I click on "All my Files" in the Finder sidebar, I get a little "poof", and nothing appears in the file list area. All other items in the sidebar work OK. If I choose Go > All My Files, I get this message: "The operation can’t be completed because the item can’t be found." This happens in my account, my wife's account, and the Guest User. It worked yesterday!
It gets worse. After clicking "All my Files" from the sidebar, Finder takes over my MacBook Pro! Switching to another desktop immediately returns to the Finder desktop with focus set to Finder. All I can do is "Force Quite Finder", and then things return to normal.
I have tried a few things I found online: clearing out the plist via Terminal: "
cd /Users/***/Library/Preferences ; rm /Users/***/Library/Preferences/com.apple.sidebarlists.plist /Users/***/Library/Preferences/com.apple.finder.plist ; killall Finder (where *** is my username)"
", making Spotlight re-index, hard-booting, soft-booting, medium-booting, staring at the screen with a mean look on my face, but alas, nothing seems to work.
Any suggestions? I miss "All my Files"

Back up all data.
Boot into Recovery by holding down the key combination command-R at the startup chime. Release the keys when you see a gray screen with a spinning dial.
Note: You need an always-on Ethernet or Wi-Fi connection to the Internet to use Recovery. It won’t work with USB or PPPoE modems, or with proxy servers, or with networks that require a certificate for authentication.
When the OS X Utilities screen appears, follow the prompts to reinstall the OS. You don't need to erase the boot volume, and you won't need your backup unless something goes wrong. If your Mac was upgraded from an older version of OS X, you’ll need the Apple ID and password you used to upgrade, so make a note of those before you begin.

The photo "IMG_5310.JPG" could not be opened, because the original item cannot be found.

Each time I open iPhoto or plug in a device and iPhoto automatically opens, the following message appears five times, looking for photos I assume I deleted, perhaps the wrong way.
The photo “IMG_5310.JPG” could not be opened, because the original item cannot be found.
I've searched the computer for the images, but they seem to be permanently deleted. How do I "reset" iPhoto from looking for these photos and remove this "Alert"?
Sincerely,
Mark T

mark, you are asking about iPhoto on your Mac, right? This is the iPhoto on IOS devices forum - iPads, iPhones, etc. Next time please post your question in the iLIfe iPhoto forum; you will get more help there.
But to your question. This error message usually occurs, when original image files are missing from your iPhoto library. iPhoto keeps the original images and the edited versions, and when the originals are removed from the iPhoto Library by deleting them from the Finder, then the photos can no longer be edited, exported, printed.
Does iPhoot open correctly, after the alert appears? Can you work with it, after the alert finishes? Then delete the corresponding edited versions of the missing originals from your iPhoto library. The versions probably will be marked by an exclamation point, when you browse your photos.
To prevent this from happening again, open the iPhoto "Preferences" > "Advaced" panel and make sure the option "Importing: Copy items to the iPhoto LIbrary" is enabled. Otherwise original files may be stored outside your iPhoto library and you can accidentally delete them and loose valuable photos.
Regards
Léonie

Item cannot be found in the collection corresponding to the requested name or ordinal.

Hi,
I am using Dreamweavers User Authentication tool, and all seems to be working except when I press the 'Submit' button I get the following error;
ADODB.Fields error '800a0cc1'
Item cannot be found in the collection corresponding to the requested name or ordinal.
/coding/test_login.asp, line 35
As far as I can tell the user login works, as I can assess the restricted page, if I manually type in the URL.
My code is listed below;
<%@LANGUAGE="VBSCRIPT" CODEPAGE="65001"%>

<%
' *** Validate request to log in to this site.
MM_LoginAction = Request.ServerVariables("URL")
If Request.QueryString <> "" Then MM_LoginAction = MM_LoginAction + "?" + Server.HTMLEncode(Request.QueryString)
MM_valUsername = CStr(Request.Form("usercode"))
If MM_valUsername <> "" Then
Dim MM_fldUserAuthorization
Dim MM_redirectLoginSuccess
Dim MM_redirectLoginFailed
Dim MM_loginSQL
Dim MM_rsUser
Dim MM_rsUser_cmd
MM_fldUserAuthorization = """group"""
MM_redirectLoginSuccess = "yes.asp"
MM_redirectLoginFailed = "no_access.asp"
MM_loginSQL = "SELECT usercode, epros_password"
If MM_fldUserAuthorization <> "" Then MM_loginSQL = MM_loginSQL & "," & MM_fldUserAuthorization
MM_loginSQL = MM_loginSQL & " FROM DBA.[user] WHERE usercode = ? AND epros_password = ?"
Set MM_rsUser_cmd = Server.CreateObject ("ADODB.Command")
MM_rsUser_cmd.ActiveConnection = MM_Conn_PSCRM_Demo_STRING
MM_rsUser_cmd.CommandText = MM_loginSQL
MM_rsUser_cmd.Parameters.Append MM_rsUser_cmd.CreateParameter("param1", 200, 1, 255, MM_valUsername) ' adVarChar
MM_rsUser_cmd.Parameters.Append MM_rsUser_cmd.CreateParameter("param2", 200, 1, 255, Request.Form("password")) ' adVarChar
MM_rsUser_cmd.Prepared = true
Set MM_rsUser = MM_rsUser_cmd.Execute
If Not MM_rsUser.EOF Or Not MM_rsUser.BOF Then
    ' username and password match - this is a valid user
    Session("MM_Username") = MM_valUsername
    If (MM_fldUserAuthorization <> "") Then
      Session("MM_UserAuthorization") = CStr(MM_rsUser.Fields.Item(MM_fldUserAuthorization).Value)
    Else
      Session("MM_UserAuthorization") = ""
    End If
    if CStr(Request.QueryString("accessdenied")) <> "" And true Then
      MM_redirectLoginSuccess = Request.QueryString("accessdenied")
    End If
    MM_rsUser.Close
    Response.Redirect(MM_redirectLoginSuccess)
End If
MM_rsUser.Close
Response.Redirect(MM_redirectLoginFailed)
End If
%>
<!doctype html>
<html>
<head>
<meta charset="utf-8">
<title>Untitled Document</title>
</head>
<body>
<form action="<%=MM_LoginAction%>" method="POST" name="logon">
<input name="usercode" type="text"><br>
<input name="password" type="text">
<input type="submit" name="Submit" id="Submit" value="Submit">
</form>
</body>
</html>
Any help greatly accepted.

There are several workarounds you could use. I would start by setting the local variable back to the actual column name
MM_fldUserAuthorization = "group"
and then modify the reserved word directly SQL. See if this works:
If MM_fldUserAuthorization <> "" Then MM_loginSQL = MM_loginSQL & "," & """MM_fldUserAuthorization"""
If that line doesn't work, then you might need to concatenate the quotes around the variable, or try a combination of single/double quotes.
Also be warned that once you modify DW's generated code, you probably will not be able to maintain the code in DW server behavior wizard. You'll need to maintain by hand.
Good luck.

Iphoto wont open,keep getting Alert:The photo IMG_3515.jpg could not be opened,because the original item cannot be found. It opened fine two days ago. Any suggestions? iPhoto 9.3.2

iphoto wont open,keep getting Alert:The photo IMG_3515.jpg could not be opened,because the original item cannot be found. It opened fine two days ago. Any suggestions? iPhoto 9.3.2

No changes were made. I saw in one of the threads where someone said to repair the database(which didn't work) or Rebuild the database(which did work). Thanks to one all for the support.
WP

Photo could not be opened, because the original item cannot be found

I've drawn a blank. This error message gets touched on in places, but I cannot find a direct answer.
I have never used iPhoto.
After installing and without changing any settings, I got to import folder.
I select my photos folder and begin to import all my photos.
Every single photo of the 3500+ pops up the error:
"The photo "xxx.jpg" could not be opened, because the original item cannot be found"
And I have to press Cancel (and then it imports it anyway) for each of the 3500+ photos.
What is going on?
I need to employ a chimp to press Cancel thousands of times...
I have not imported, deleted, moved or done anything. Apart from install iPhoto and then IMPORT.
TIA

Welcome to the Apple Discussions.
Try this
To create and populate a new library:
Note this will give you a working library with the same Events and pictures as before, however, you will lose your albums, keywords, modified versions, books, calendars etc.
In the iPhoto Preferences -> Events Uncheck the box at 'Imported Items from the Finder'
Move the iPhoto Library to the desktop
Launch iPhoto. It will ask if you wish to create a new Library. Say Yes.
Go into the iPhoto Library (Right Click -> Show Package Contents) on your desktop and find the Originals folder. From the Originals folder drag the individual Event Folders to the iPhoto Window and it will recreate them in the new library.
When you're sure all is well you can delete the iPhoto Library on your desktop.
In the future, in addition to your usual back up routine, you might like to make a copy of the library6.iPhoto file whenever you have made changes to the library as protection against database corruption.
Regards
TD

I am trying to download photos from my camera to iphoto on my mac book (which I have done many times before). This time I am getting an alert that saysThe photo "IMG_5965.JPG" could not be opened, because the original item cannot be found. Help?

I am trying to download photos from my camera to iphoto on my mac book (which I have done many times before). This time I am getting an alert that saysThe photo “IMG_5965.JPG” could not be opened, because the original item cannot be found. How can I fix this?

There is a fair likelihood of an explanation of this symptom
in another ASC discussion thread; see the reply by léonie:
https://discussions.apple.com/message/20165563#20165563
You may have to research any newer possibilities in trouble-
shooting or resolving issues by use of iPhoto Support page.
Since I don't use iPhoto as a primary editor or storage, the
details on the topic aren't so good. I prefer ToyViewer editor.
•iPhoto Support
•iPhoto Video Tutorials
Hopefully the error is easily corrected.
Good luck & happy computing!

Re: how do I solve this alert-The photo "evaluation.jpeg" could not be opened, because the original item cannot be found.

Re: how do I solve this alert-The photo “evaluation.jpeg” could not be opened, because the original item cannot be found. How do I get rid of the alert so that every time I open iphoto or sync my iphone it will not come up anymore.
Thanks

The issue is with iPhoto. When it opens it is looking for a photo that either no longer exists or is misplaced. I would post I the iPhoto forum where those experts are.

How do I solve this alert-The photo "evaluation.jpeg" could not be opened, because the original item cannot be found.

it happened when I did an update on the iphoto
how do I solve this
alert-The photo “evaluation.jpeg” could not be opened, because the original item cannot be found.

The issue is with iPhoto. When it opens it is looking for a photo that either no longer exists or is misplaced. I would post I the iPhoto forum where those experts are.

Iphoto update "The photo "X" could not be opened, because the original item cannot be found."

Updating iphoto and get the Alert "The photo “X” could not be opened, because the original item cannot be found." Which is because I have archived thousands of photos offline. I can't go through the entire list one by one hitting the "cancel" button, but iPhoto apparently won't update unless this is done. Is there a way to skip this step? I can't run iPhoto at all with the alert live.
Mac OS X 10.9.2

Do you have a referenced library (The iPhoto advanced preference to "copy imported items to the iPhoto library" has been unchecked) which is strongly NOT recommended.
If so then your only choice is to restore the originals back to the exact path they had when you imported them or to rebuild your library using iPhoto Library Manager - http://www.fatcatsoftware.com/iplm/ - without them
LN

Help - photo could not be opened, because the original item cannot be found

I keep getting the following error message for about 10 different photos: "The photo “IMG_0123.JPG” could not be opened, because the original item cannot be found." It prompts to cancel or find these photos every time I open iPhoto. Is there any way I can stop this. I don't know if I still have the photos and, at this point, I don't care. I just want it to stop. Thanks in advance for any advice.

Option 1
Back Up and try rebuild the library: hold down the command and option (or alt) keys while launching iPhoto. Use the resulting dialogue to rebuild. Choose to Repair Database. If that doesn't help, then try again, this time using Rebuild Database.
If that fails:
Option 2
Download iPhoto Library Manager and use its rebuild function. This will create a new library based on data in the albumdata.xml file. Not everything will be brought over - no slideshows, books or calendars, for instance - but it should get all your albums and keywords back.
Because this process creates an entirely new library and leaves your old one untouched, it is non-destructive, and if you're not happy with the results you can simply return to your old one.
Regards
TD

"The photo "EGY_7895.jpg" could not be opened, because the original item cannot be found"

I'm getting the following message when I click on any photo in my most recent import: "The photo “xxx.jpg” could not be opened, because the original item cannot be found". The thumbnails are in iphoto but it dosen't seems to reconize the files when I try to go in to edit. I have iphoto version 8.1.2. Help please.

Are you running a Managed or a Referenced Library?
A Managed Library, is the default setting, and iPhoto copies files into the iPhoto Library when Importing. The files are then stored in the Library package
A Referenced Library is when iPhoto is NOT copying the files into the iPhoto Library when importing because you made a change at iPhoto -> Preferences -> Advanced. (You unchecked the option to copy files into the Library on import) The files are then stored where ever you put them and not in the Library package. In this scenario you are responsible for the File Management.
It sounds like this batch of photos were imported as Referenced.
Regards
TD

HT5129 The photo "claire-66.jpg" could not be opened, because the original item cannot be found.

because of the mobile me switch i can not use my iphoto. i had some albums in my mobile me web gallery and one of them i had deleted the original files so it will not allow me to use my iphoto because it keeps giving me this error message and i can't get rid of it.
"The photo “claire-66.jpg” could not be opened, because the original item cannot be found."
I don't have the original photo anymore so i can not link it to it.

So, your iPhoto Library is now corrupted.
Download iPhoto Library Manager and use its rebuild function. This will create a new library based on data in the albumdata.xml file. Not everything will be brought over - no slideshows, books or calendars, for instance - but it should get all your albums and keywords back.
Because this process creates an entirely new library and leaves your old one untouched, it is non-destructive, and if you're not happy with the results you can simply return to your old one.

When exporting NEF files to JPEGs, LR says the files 'cannot be found'. What do I do? I have not moved or altered the originals.

I'm attempting to create a slideshow for our 8th Grade Open House tonight and the files, which I shot in raw format, are not exporting properly into JPEGs via the Export button in Library. Every time I try, Lightroom says the files cannot be found. I've heard that many people have had issues with this because they have moved or altered the original files? As far as I know, I have not renamed and changed anything. Does it help to know that I first imported these raw photos from my camera reader onto an external hard drive? ...and yes, my external hard drive is plugged into my computer...

ssprengel wrote:
And if you go to Develop, and make your filmstrip thumbnails a little taller to make sure all the badges are shown, does a missing indicator show up, there? Can you Export from Develop?
If you click on the Photos that Failed to Export collection at the top right does the photo it highlight have a missing indicator?
If you do a test export with just one photo, to your internal drive, does it work?
I adjusted the height of the thumbnails. Still no exclamation points or question marks as noted here.
Also, as to your second question, unfortunately no as noted here.
And as to your last question, I have tried several times to export them to my desktop (which would be on my internal drive, not external). I've even gone so far as to put a copy folder of my original NEF files onto my desktop (7 gb worth) to see if that would help me export...it didn't.

Radio Button Selection gives "The page cannot be found" Error

I have a Radio Button that has 4 chooses, one of the choices has Javascript to ask a Prompt and uncheck it depending on the user response.
When I select the one that has the prompt, it works as expected with the question, however when I click the Submit button on the page to fire my database trigger it fails with "The page cannot be found".
All the other choices, once picked update the datasbase ok.
Any idea's from anyone why I'm getting this error?
script type="text/javascript">
function yesno(msg,item)
if ($x(item).name = 'PF' && $x(item).checked)
confDel= confirm(msg);
if (confDel != true)
{$x(item).checked = false;}
</script>

Preethi,
When I click on submit button ,iam getting " The page cannot be found" error.
When you run the page and click on its submit button, you get the error. Being careful to distinguish problems you get at design time vs. those you get at runtime is extremely important when you ask others for help here.
I looked at the application. In your problem description, you gave absolutely no information that explains what you are doing on this page. Whatever it is, the problem is that you are creating HTML items on the page with names like
name="f60"
Then when you POST the page, you get an error. That's because those "fxx" items are limited to the range "f01" .. "f50".
Scott

Question Mark - "The item cannot be found" at top of folders

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