Random unresponsive desktop items since 10.5.7

I've noticed since 10.5.7 every now a then the desktop items become completely un-clickable / un-dragable, Finder still works perfectly, the problem is only with the desktop items and folders.
A quick 'killall Finder' command fixes the problem in Terminal.
Anyone notice this?

I have had the problems for months. Ever since I upgraded from 10.4 to 10.5. I don't recall when that was now or exactly which version, but people have been reporting this ever since 10.5 came out it looks like (by the dates).
Not only is the desktop frozen, but every now & then every icon on the desktop gets rearranged and jammed all to the right side.
When fronzen, I find that all I have to do is click the Mac OS icon in the dock which opens a window, then I minimize that window (yellow dot button), and Finder re-activates.
Moderately annoying until all icons get rearranged (then its a major aggravation even if there's not much to rearrange).
Seems like plenty of people have it, and no real determination as to cause or fix.
-- gw

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Are you trying to search for it, or navigating via the Finder? (It's a system file, so won't show up with the default search.)
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Hey sunnyday7!
Here is an article that can help you address this issue:
OS X: How to quit an unresponsive application using Force Quit
http://support.apple.com/kb/ht3411
Additional Information
OS X automatically relaunches the Finder when it is quit. If the Finder is unresponsive, use Force Quit to relaunch it. Select Finder in the Force Quit Window or Dock, then click Relaunch.
Thanks for using the Apple Support Communities. Have a good one!
-Braden

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!

Finder not responding/desktop items not visible

Help!! Two nights ago the power flickered off and back on while I was using my Mac; I was playing a trial version of a game downloaded from Big Fish Games (large file) when the power went off. There was a huge storm coming through, so as soon as the power came back on (and the mac) I forced shut down.
since then at startup I cannot get finder to work or my desktop items to display. I can access most programs that are in my dock (iPhoto, Safari, Pages, etc) but not some (such as Photoshop Elements).
I've safe booted, but no change.
All possible solutions I've read about online require accessing the applications folder. I'm far from Mac savvy, and the only way I know of getting to my apps folder is through Finder; since it's hung up I can't get there. Also all references I've seen to run Terminal also start through the finder.
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To have used a utility such as AppZapper to remove the newer QuickTime version
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When one knows where the exact parts reside in the system, reverting to an older
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Like many users I keep a number of items on my desktop.
I have done this for more than 20 years.
I arrange my desktop items very precisely to where I want them.
Since upgrading to lion, every time I restart the system all the
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This is almost enough reason to go back to Snow Leopard. The frustration
and aggravation this causes is to much.
I am using a mid 2007 20 inch aluminum iMac.
It is embarassing as a user to have to constantly search across the internet to find answers
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Back in the OS 9 days there was a little utility that took a snapshot of your desktop items
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Maybe someone out there knows what the problem is and can offer a fix.
Shame on Apple.

Most likely a mucked up .DS_Store file in the Desktop folder. Do a search for .DS_Store AND baltwo in these communities and see my suggested solutions.

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Performance tip: Keep the Desktop clutter-free (empty, if possible)
Mac OS X's Desktop is the de facto location for downloaded files, and for many users, in-progress works that will either be organized later or deleted altogether. The desktop can also be gluttonous, however, becoming a catch-all for files that linger indefinitely.
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More here:
http://www.obbygobby.com/?p=18
and here:
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When the issue hits, they all get located as vertical rows on the right side of the screen, unsorted in relation to their custom relative position before the issue.
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Hi ApMaX
According to wikipedia the .DS_Store files on Mac OS X contain the metadata for icon position and view settings. If the file permissions for the Desktop .DS_Store file were incorrect then one could assume that the icon position and view settings aren't being saved.
First let us check the permissions on the .DS_Store file for the Desktop we can do this by running the following command in Terminal (located in the Utilities folder)
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replacing <<UserName>> with the short name of your user account (name as viewed in the finder sidebar)
On my system I get the following permissions readout
-rw-------@
Further info on .DS_Store files: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.DS_Store
If your permissions differ then we will look at correcting them.
J.C
Message was edited by: J.C

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Setting desktop item size back to 100% fixes the window.
Attachments:
skype_setup2.png ‏135 KB

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Random unresponsive desktop items since 10.5.7

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