Strange folders in my user/library/preferences directory

Hey all.
I'm running a dual 2.0 GHz G4 at work. Every now and then I have to clean my preferences directory of these annoying empty folders. Their unusual feature is that they are all named with secondary characters such as πˆ˚ and the like.
Does anyone have any idea why they are being generated? I just trashed them all and restarted, and none has been generated yet.
Thanks in advance

They are being created by Adobe Photoshop CS2. You might check on the Adobe Discussions forum to see if there is a fix. I give you the URL, but I can't get the Adobe Photoshop forum to load right now. Their servers are even less reliable than Apple's....
Francine
Francine
Schwieder

Similar Messages

After Effects warning: Could not create the file '/Users/Library/Preferences/Adobe/After Effects/13.0/dummy

I have just downloaded the trial After Effects CC. I'm running Mavericks 10.9.4 on my Macbook Pro.
When I try to launch After Effects, this message appears:
"After Effects warning: Could not create the file '/Users/Library/Preferences/Adobe/After Effects/13.0/dummy'"
I have followed the advice from other posts on this issue regarding resetting all of the permissions in the Adobe folder in my library to read and write , but it doesn't change anything. I still get the same message when I try to launch the program. Moreover, there is no After Effects folder in my Adobe folder, even though it's clearly in my Applications folder.
I also uninstalled After Effects and tried to reinstall it, but to no avail.
I sure would like to give it a try, as I was planning on purchasing it, but this is just one more issue in a long irritating line of issues that have arisen since trying to download it from CC.
Any help is much appreciated.
Thanks.

I am having this problem and this response does not make sense. I made the "Preferences" ,"Adobe" & "After Effects" folder along with the 10.0,11.0,13.0,13.2 folders all read/write. Can't seem to find an answer.

Error (-48) When Backing up /Users/~/Library/Preferences

I recently just tried to do a fresh from scratch Time Machine backup of one of my computers on a new hard drive I bought. However, I noticed that Time Machine would repeated stall out at around 12GB backed up and have to restart the backup from scratch.
From analyzing the console messages and logs, I noticed that Time Machine was having trouble backing up my /Users/~/Library/Preferences ("~" being a placeholder for the name of the account) folder. Specifically, any preference files or directories that were stored there that were not with the .plist extension generated Error (-48) messages in the console. Following those messages the backupd service (i.e., Time Machine) would SegFault and then crash (Console output is below).
The backup completes fine on its own if I exclude the Preferences folders for my user account. However, if I try to include it I get the same old results. Obviously, I have a lot of preference files (like MS Office) that I would like to back up so I am trying to find out (1) what a Error -48 actually menas and (2) what the problem with these preference files is and (3) is there anyway to get Time Machine to not freak out when it tries to copy them over.
Any help would be appreciated.
Sample Console Output:
9/11/08 2:33:02 AM
/System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[4965] Error: (-48) copying /Users/~/Library/Preferences/Macromedia to /Volumes/Backup of Comp/Backups.backupdb/Comp/2008-09-11-023136.inProgress/2568C5C9-05BA-4D68-82A7 -685E0EFFC02D/Hard Drive/Users/~/Library/Preferences
9/11/08 2:33:21 AM
/System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[4965] Error: (-48) copying /Users/~/Library/Preferences/Microsoft to /Volumes/Backup of Comp/Backups.backupdb/Comp/2008-09-11-023136.inProgress/2568C5C9-05BA-4D68-82A7 -685E0EFFC02D/Hard Drive/Users/~/Library/Preferences
9/11/08 2:33:22 AM
/System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[4965] Error: (-48) copying /Users/~/Library/Preferences/OfficeSync Prefs to /Volumes/Backup of Comp/Backups.backupdb/Comp/2008-09-11-023136.inProgress/2568C5C9-05BA-4D68-82A7 -685E0EFFC02D/Hard Drive/Users/~/Library/Preferences
9/11/08 2:33:22 AM
/System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[4965] Error: (-48) copying /Users/~/Library/Preferences/QuickTime Preferences to /Volumes/Backup of Comp/Backups.backupdb/Comp/2008-09-11-023136.inProgress/2568C5C9-05BA-4D68-82A7 -685E0EFFC02D/Hard Drive/Users/~/Library/Preferences
9/11/08 2:33:22 AM
/System/Library/CoreServices/backupd[4965] Error: (-48) copying /Users/~/Library/Preferences/Shockwave to /Volumes/Backup of Comp/Backups.backupdb/Comp/2008-09-11-023136.inProgress/2568C5C9-05BA-4D68-82A7 -685E0EFFC02D/Hard Drive/Users/~/Library/Preferences
9/11/08 2:33:35 AM
com.apple.launchd[1] (com.apple.backupd[4965]) Exited abnormally: Segmentation fault

From MacErrors.h (included with Xcode Tools:
dupFNErr = -48, /*duplicate filename (rename)*/
Use TM to restore everything except the Preferences folder, then manually copy it over.

Odd Folders and Files in Library/Preferences

I seem to have a number of folders or files in my library/preferences folder with names like the following
ÒX†ê◊8øˇﬁ††~a|êŸlè¿ö(
or
Ò0ê◊8øˇﬁ¿†~a|êŸlê~u∞ø
or
ÒÄê◊8øˇﬁ††~a|êŸlè¿ö(
etc.
Anyone know what this is all about?
Thanks
IMAC 24, IMAC 17. MINI, Apple TV Mac OS X (10.4.9) 2 GIG

Adobe or Epson TWAIN. It seems to be when you use any Adobe software (Photoshop etc). According to http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=4386699 they are harmless & can be deleted once you've quit the Adobe software.
Plenty of threads on the issue:
http://discussions.apple.com/search.jspa?search=Go&q=strange+folders
See http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=3222754&#3222754 for possible solution.
Steve

User/library/preferences (junk?)

In my preference file I have found all kinds of strange folders:
For example:
»@ê}]Løˇ› †{·|ê}_|ê{˛0øˇ›pßá#0
or
¿ê}]Løˇﬁ
Also, found files called "unix executable files" lots of them-- for example
cf#rJfGd
Are these junk? Can I trash them" Suggestions would be appreciated.
Dan

If you're really curious about what they are, you can try to open them in TextEdit and see if you can infer anything from the contents. You might notice some common theme and figure out what caused the corruption (if that's what it is).

Strange, unreadable columns in username/library/preferences folder....?

Hi, I recently was asked to go into this folder, my username/library/preferences, and found a myriad of empty folders with nothing in them. The font beside each folder was completely foreign looking, with symbols unrecognizable....
is my computer corrupted by something?
what should i do? remove them all? or do they have some relation to files, programs....etc..
wildlife

Hi.
I think I know what it is, and it's probably harmless.
Check this out.
Good Luck.

Weird files in the User/Library/Preferences folder

Yesterday I noticed that my Preferences folder contains some very weird files. Actually, they're empty folders. I'd like to know if they are supposed to be there. If not, how did they get there and what should I do with them?
All in all there are about 20 folders and they are all empty.
Here are a few examples of the names of the folders:
˝Äê}]Løˇ€††{·|ê}_|è¿úL
0 0ê)i®øˇ€††'Ò|ê)kÿè¿úLø
Õvpê}]Løˇ€††{·|ê}_|è¿úL
Ωyê}]Løˇ€††{·|ê}_|è¿úL
Thanks for looking!
MacBook Pro Mac OS X (10.4.6) 2 GHz

Some versions of Photoshop have been known to create such things. Don't remember under what conditions, I think I saw someone say their strange folders appeared when using Photoshop with a either an Epson scanner or printer. At any rate you can toss them without doing any harm.
Francine
Francine
Schwieder

TM and User/Library/Preferences

I did a seemingly harmless auto-update of a Mac Ripper application yesterday that then trashed the working one and demanded payment to use the new version. I would like to go back.
I've never used TM before but just curious if it's a full exact/bootable clone using "Restore System from Backup " in 10.6.6?
Some of my software licenses are user/machine specific etc. and I would hate to have to re-do every one of them. Is everything restored completely intact?

Thanks - most of this I've already been through although wasn't sure about items in the user Library being restored or not...as you even mentioned +"some things are not backed up"+. The "some things" are exactly what I was concerned about.
I did the restore process - booting from a SL Original Upgrade disk - chose my date of desired go back - let it run - but got a very bad result. Now the Mac boots to the gray Apple screen and has a spinning wheel of death - never to stop no matter how long it's left to try.
Tried Disk Utility repairs on the internal, from the booted SL Install disk to no avail.
I did a Carbon Copy Clone backup before running TM. But it is a backup of the trashed preferences (and who knows what else got trashed?). I also have a Super Duper backup from a month ago (I've relocated to the East Coast in the meantime so have almost nothing new on the computer since). This backup is before everything got messed up so it's a good option, combined with the CCC clone I can run Chronosync and extract the differences/new items I need.
I've had a dedicated 1TB drive for years sitting on my Mini running TM since the day I got it. *The one time I actually needed it - TM failed me.* Luckily, my redundancy with CCC and Super Duper are going to pay off. TM is a good concept - but if it doesn't work there's no point in having it. I'll erase the TM drive and use it for scheduled Chronosync backups instead. And keep my CCC and SD redundancy close at hand.
Message was edited by: igirl1

After Effects warning: Could not create the file '/Users/USER/Library/Preferences/Adobe/After Effects/13.0/dummy'.

Attempting to launch AE and keep getting this message. Any suggestions?

I am having this problem and this response does not make sense. I made the "Preferences" ,"Adobe" & "After Effects" folder along with the 10.0,11.0,13.0,13.2 folders all read/write. Can't seem to find an answer.

No spotlight pref file in any library/preferences folder

I have been following these threads on and off for many weeks... trying t0 avoid a complete OS install. There is no "com.apple.spotlight.plist" file in either the root library/preferences or the user/library/preferences directory... I have trashed (and emptied) the com.apple.finder.plist files and restarted but there are no spotlight prefs being created.
Help would be greatly appreciated.
NewfieWood

Move the file to the desktop first. While these files will be recreated as needed, they may contain important information for some programs.
(59971)

Strange folders in my Preferences

Hi All,
Since I got this iMac a few weeks ago I've been seeing several wierdly named folders appearing in my Users/Library/Preferences folder. It seems like the number of them grows each time I use the Mac. When I click on them nothing happens, that is they either don't open or there is nothing in them. I've checked in the Library/Preferences and System/Library/Preferences folders and there are none of these in either of them. Here are a few examples of the names:
{’ê◊8øˇ‘ê†~
{ﬁ0ê◊8øˇ‘ê†~
|0ê◊8øˇ‘ê†~
Does anyone know what these are?
Thanks.
Rick

Hi Steve,
The thread got removed. It seems Apple has revised the Terms of Use and the Moderators & Hosts have been busy removing and editing posts. Anything that could be construed as "offensive" is a no no.
New Discussions Use Agreement
Also, no more posting about the point system. Some folks were more obvious about fishing for points, "Hey, give me a star!" They have even removed what I have posted before; "To assist others who in the future may conduct a search on this topic, please mark as Helpful or Solved any of the above posts that were useful in resolving your issue.

Main HD libray/system folders & User library/system folders

I think this is quite an advanced question, so I hope I can get some serious help on this:
Since I am the only User on my lappy I've come to conclusion that the often mirrored HD/User libs are a waste of disc space. Can anyone recommend a good way, or software application (if any,) to create a main libs set where most of the folders are, albeit either on HD/ or /User/...?

Though the folders and even some of the files may have the same name, quite frequently the contents of those files are quite different and the applications that reference them expect to find both versions...
As an example, looking at
/Library/Preferences/com.apple.iMovie.plist
and
/Users/~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.iMovie.plist
The first file has one entry: the default location for themes.
The second has 46 group entries (with several subentries) and has all the user specific preferences.
Trying to combine them would require doing it on a file by file basis-adding the settings exclusive in one to the other-and hoping nothing gets screwed in the process.

Where are Mail folders in [User]/Library?

I get (but hate) Apple's striving for minimalism, but am I correct that it's now impossible to access Mail folders in the [User]/Library?
There must be a solution.

Here's the answer:
This solved my question by stuartj257 on Dec 8, 2012 11:35 AM
The On My Mac mailboxes are stored at "~/Library/Mail/V2/Mailboxes/". The Library folder is hidden since OS X Lion, so use the Finder's "Go To Folder" menu in the "Go" menu and enter that address.
See the answer in context

Forcing User Sound Preferences

I'm getting my lab of 1st generation Intel iMacs ready for online oral language exams. It's mostly going well, but I'm having trouble forcing sound preferences so that a user can plug in a USB headset, power on, log in, and NOT have to open the Sound pane in System Preferences. I'd like the input and output device to default to the USB headset, and I'd like to set standard input and output volume settings.
As it is, as often as not, when a student logs in, even though the USB headset is already attached, sound input and output default to the built-in microphone and speakers, and volume is not consistent.
It appears that the relevant settings are spread across several plist files, some local and some in home directories. I've tried putting standard copies of com.apple.finder.plist and com.apple.systempreferences.plist in user ∼/Library/Preferences/ folders, with only limited success.
Any suggestions?

Unfortunately, not all accounts are local and kept in System Preferences>Accounts. So far the only way I've been able to flush accounts was to delete their respective User folders.
I've done some more searching and I've seen my question asked before but never answered.

How to move .plist files from /Library/Preferences

Hi,
We are trialing using software called Deep Freeze to take a snap shot of the OS that is restored upon reboot thus removing the majority of configuration changes and thus reducing the amount of support calls.
When setting up the software you have the option to create a "Thaw Space" that users can modify at will and the changes will persist over the reboot. Upon creating this space you are able to "map" certain directories such as Documents, Desktop and Library to the Thaw Space.
Initially we did not move the Library folder over so that all changes to wallpapers/screensaves/dock/finder toolbar etc. were restored upon reboot, which ultimately is what we wanted to do from the beginning. This however produced a number of problems of data not being retained over the reboot when we needed it to:
- iCal data
- application specific settings (eg. toolbar settings in neooffice)
- sorting email in apple mail by a field (eg. receive date)
etc. And are continually finding new problems.
So in the end we simply set the entire Library to be mapped to the Thaw Space, however this sets us back to square one in that the users can still change the dock, screensaver, wallpaper etc.
It is my understanding that the files are stored in .plist files in <user>/Library/Preferences. I tried moving individual .plist files out of the Thaw Space and then creating alias files pointing to them, however these were simply deleted and replaced on reboot.
So my question is how would I go about moving a .plist file out of /Library/Preferences
Cheers

It would seem to me that the problem lies with the Deep Freeze software. Changing system files in system directories is not a good idea. Why not contact Deep Freeze and have them fix their software rather than possibly mucking up your own OS.
I would also recommend that you either update your profile or your OS. 10.5.1 had some bugs that were fixed over the years. It's always good to have the latest OS installed.

Strange folders in my user/library/preferences directory

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for