When I try to click and drag items to the desktop, I receive the following error: You can't open the application "Desktop" because it may be damaged or incomplete.

I am not able to edit my desktop, I receive the following error: You can’t open the application “Desktop” because it may be damaged or incomplete.
Also, I cannot rearrange folders, add folders, or move things out of my trash back to the desktop.

Try using another account and see if the problem persists.
Try booting into the Safe Mode and see if the problem persists.
Starting Up in the Safe Mode
What is Safe Mode

Similar Messages

  • When i try to open the iPhoto app, i getting a message "you can't open the application because it is not supported on this type of mac"

    when i try to open the iPhoto app, i getting a message "you can't open the application because it is not supported on this type of mac"

    To re-install iPhoto
    1. Put the iPhoto.app in the trash (Drag it from your Applications Folder to the trash)
    2. Download it from the App Store to reinstall It's on your Purchases List* there.
    For older versions that have been installed from Disk you'll need these additional steps:
    2a: On 10.5:  Go to HD/Library/Receipts and remove any pkg file there with iPhoto in the name.
    2b: On 10.6: Those receipts may be found as follows:  In the Finder use the Go menu and select Go To Folder. In the resulting window type
    /var/db/receipts/
    2c: on 10.7 or later they're at
    /private/var/db/receipts
    A Finder Window will open at that location and you can remove the iPhoto pkg files.
    3. Re-install.
    If you purchased an iLife Disk, then iPhoto is on it.
    If iPhoto was installed on your Mac when you go it then it’s on the System Restore disks that came with your Mac. Insert the first one and opt to ‘Install Bundled Applications Only.
    *Sometimes iPhoto is not visible on the Purchases List. it may be hidden. See this article for details on how to unhide it.
    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4928
    One question often asked: Will I lose my Photos if I reinstall?
    iPhoto the application and the iPhoto Library are two different parts of the iPhoto programme. So, reinstalling the app should not affect the Library. BUT you should always have a back up before doing this kind of work. Always.

  • I just downloaded ilife every things working fine except, when i try to open iPhoto it said ''You can't open the application iPhoto because it may be damaged or incomplete. i tried to re-download it but my password didn't work for some reason. HELPPPP!!!

    i just downloaded ilife every things working fine except, when i try to open iPhoto it said ''You can't open the application iPhoto because it may be damaged or incomplete. i tried to re-download it but my password didn't work for some reason. HELPPPP!!!

    Make a temporary, backup copy (if you don't already have a backup copy) of the library and apply the two fixes below in order as needed:
    Fix #1
    Launch iPhoto with the Command+Option keys held down and rebuild the library.
    Select the options identified in the screenshot. 
    Fix #2
    Using iPhoto Library Manager  to Rebuild Your iPhoto Library
    Download iPhoto Library Manager and launch.
    Click on the Add Library button, navigate to your Home/Pictures folder and select your iPhoto Library folder.
    Now that the library is listed in the left hand pane of iPLM, click on your library and go to the File ➙ Rebuild Library menu option
    In the next  window name the new library and select the location you want it to be placed.
    Click on the Create button.
    Note: This creates a new library based on the LIbraryData.xml file in the library and will recover Events, Albums, keywords, titles and comments but not books, calendars or slideshows. The original library will be left untouched for further attempts at fixing the problem or in case the rebuilt library is not satisfactory.
    Happy New Year

  • When trying to open iphoto I get the error message "You can't open the application iPhoto because it may be damaged or incomplete." How do I fix this and get my photo's back?

    When trying to open iphoto I get the error message "You can't open the application iPhoto because it may be damaged or incomplete." How do I fix this and get my photo's back?

    To re-install iPhoto
    1. Put the iPhoto.app in the trash (Drag it from your Applications Folder to the trash)
    2a: On 10.5:  Go to HD/Library/Receipts and remove any pkg file there with iPhoto in the name.
    2b: On 10.6: Those receipts may be found as follows:  In the Finder use the Go menu and select Go To Folder. In the resulting window type
    /var/db/receipts/
    2c: on 10.7 they're at
    /private/var/db/receipts
    A Finder Window will open at that location and you can remove the iPhoto pkg files.
    3. Re-install.
    If you purchased an iLife Disk, then iPhoto is on it.
    If iPhoto was installed on your Mac when you go it then it’s on the System Restore disks that came with your Mac. Insert the first one and opt to ‘Install Bundled Applications Only.
    If you purchased it on the App Store you can find it in your Purchases List.

  • I recently downloaded a program ScanFont 5, When I try to open the installer I get the following message: "You can't open the application "(null)" because it may be damaged or incomplete. Is there any way I can get the installer to open anyway?

    I recently downloaded a program ScanFont 5, When I try to open the installer I get the following message: "You can't open the application "(null)" because it may be damaged or incomplete. Is there any way I can get the installer to open anyway?

    The message means just what it says. Remove the damaged copy and try downloading it again.
    Edit: Looking at FontLab's page, there's two issues going on.
    1) It's a PowerPC app and will not run on any version of OS X newer than Snow Leopard, 10.6.x.
    2) The "workaround" they offer is to purchase the Windows version and then run it in the the open source Wine, Windows emulator.

  • Does anyone know how I can retrieve this.  Somehow my cat moved ITunes to the middle of the desktop and I now get this message and cannot open it. You can't open the application iPhoto because it may be damaged or incomplete.

    Does anyone know how I can solve this.  My cat managed to move iphoto tab to the middle of the screen and now I cannot open it and get this message.
    You cannot open the application iphoto because it may be damaged or incomplete
    Any help appreciated

    You need a more technically saavy cat, for a start.
    To re-install iPhoto
    1. Put the iPhoto.app in the trash (Drag it from your Applications Folder to the trash)
    2a: On 10.5:  Go to HD/Library/Receipts and remove any pkg file there with iPhoto in the name.
    2b: On 10.6: Those receipts may be found as follows:  In the Finder use the Go menu and select Go To Folder. In the resulting window type
    /var/db/receipts/
    2c: on 10.7 or later they're at
    /private/var/db/receipts
    A Finder Window will open at that location and you can remove the iPhoto pkg files.
    3. Re-install.
    If you purchased an iLife Disk, then iPhoto is on it.
    If iPhoto was installed on your Mac when you go it then it’s on the System Restore disks that came with your Mac. Insert the first one and opt to ‘Install Bundled Applications Only.
    If you purchased it on the App Store or have a Recent Mac you can find it in your Purchases List.

  • When i am trying to open my i photo it saysYou can't open the application iPhoto because it may be damaged or incomplete. dont know why any one can help me i have i mac 21.5" bought it last year feb

    You can't open the application iPhoto because it may be damaged or incomplete.

    To re-install iPhoto
    1. Put the iPhoto.app in the trash (Drag it from your Applications Folder to the trash)
    2a: On 10.5:  Go to HD/Library/Receipts and remove any pkg file there with iPhoto in the name.
    2b: On 10.6: Those receipts may be found as follows:  In the Finder use the Go menu and select Go To Folder. In the resulting window type
    /var/db/receipts/
    2c: on 10.7 they're at
    /private/var/db/receipts
    A Finder Window will open at that location and you can remove the iPhoto pkg files.
    3. Re-install.
    If you purchased an iLife Disk, then iPhoto is on it.
    If iPhoto was installed on your Mac when you go it then it’s on the System Restore disks that came with your Mac. Insert the first one and opt to ‘Install Bundled Applications Only.
    If you purchased it on the App Store you can find it in your Purchases List.

  • I accidentally deleted some drivers from my macbook air and now i can not access app store and system preferences as it says the following message (You can't open the application System Preferences because it may be damaged or incomplete)

    i accidentally deleted some drivers from my macbook air and now i can not access app store and system preferences as it says the following message (You can't open the application System Preferences because it may be damaged or incomplete)

    Repair the Hard Drive and Permissions - Lion/Mountain Lion
    Boot to the Recovery HD:
    Restart the computer and after the chime press and hold down the COMMAND and R keys until the menu screen appears. Alternatively, restart the computer and after the chime press and hold down the OPTION key until the boot manager screen appears. Select the Recovery HD and click on the downward pointing arrow button.
    Repair
    When the recovery menu appears select Disk Utility. After DU loads select your hard drive entry (mfgr.'s ID and drive size) from the the left side list.  In the DU status area you will see an entry for the S.M.A.R.T. status of the hard drive.  If it does not say "Verified" then the hard drive is failing or failed. (SMART status is not reported on external Firewire or USB drives.) If the drive is "Verified" then select your OS X volume from the list on the left (sub-entry below the drive entry,) click on the First Aid tab, then click on the Repair Disk button. If DU reports any errors that have been fixed, then re-run Repair Disk until no errors are reported. If no errors are reported then click on the Repair Permissions button. When the process is completed, then quit DU and return to the main menu. Select Restart from the Apple menu.

  • IPhoto has somehow uninstalled itself, or I've done something wrong. If  try to open iPhoto, it gives me this message: "You can't open the application "iPhoto" because it may be damaged or incomplete. I have an iMac OS X. How do I reinstall iPhoto please

    iPhoto has somehow uninstalled itself, or I've done something wrong. If I try to open iPhoto, it gives me this message: "You can't open the application "iPhoto" because it may be damaged or incomplete". I have an iMac OS X. How do I reinstall iPhoto please?

    What is your iPhoto version and how did you install it originally?
    If it came with a new mac and Lion or Mt. Lion installed, you can delete iPhoto from the Applications folder (don't empty the Trash) and download it again from the "Purchased" tab of the App Store.
    If you have bought the iLife CD, reinstall iPhoto from the installation media, after deleting it from the Application folder.
    Or if your Mac came with an older MacOS X, but iLIfe preinstalled, use the system Install CDs,  see Terence Devlin's post here:  Re: My iPhoto isn't working. Error message says "you can't open the app "iPhoto" because it may be damaged or incomplete.
    Regards
    Léonie
    P.S: This may not only be a problem of a broken iPhoto. What did you do, directly before this happened? Did you run a program, that will clean the Mac to save space, like "Clean My Mac" or "Mac Keeper"? These little helpers can be risky and overdo it and remove too much. Then it might be safer to reinstall your system, because other essential files might be missing now.

  • I have the version of iPhoto that comes with my OS when I purchased my MacBook, but now I can't open it, because it says this, "You can't open the application "iPhoto" because it may be damaged or incomplete. Please help I have tons of family photos.

    I have the version of iPhoto that comes with my OS when I purchased my MacBook, but now I can't open it, because it says this, "You can’t open the application “iPhoto” because it may be damaged or incomplete. Please help I have tons of family photos.

    1 - the iPhoto application is an application and does not hole your photos - your photos are in the iPhoto library an dour normal daily backup will back them up so your photos are safe
    2 - what exactly does the error message say? You probably need to reinstall the iPhoto application form the original source
    3 - note that no version of iPhoto comes with any OS - iPhoto comes with all new Macs but not with any OS and most OS versions can run many different versions of iPhoto
    LN

  • HT1338 Why am I getting a message "You can't open the application iPhoto because it may be damaged or incomplete" - v11, purchased and installed before Lion upgrade

    I get the message "You can't open the application iPhoto because it may be damaged or incomplete." This is a currently support iPhoto'11. Purchased and installed prior to OS X Lion upgrade. Was working, and now it is not. What might have happened? I saw  that Apple updated iPhoto in the App Store, but that is not where I purchased this. I tried Software Update, but it said all the software was up to date.
    Suggestions?

    GrandmaGG wrote:
    I get the message "You can't open the application iPhoto because it may be damaged or incomplete." This is a currently support iPhoto'11. Purchased and installed prior to OS X Lion upgrade. Was working, and now it is not. What might have happened? I saw  that Apple updated iPhoto in the App Store, but that is not where I purchased this. I tried Software Update, but it said all the software was up to date.
    Suggestions?
    Do you have iLife '11 Discs or did you download it from the App Store?

  • I installed a new hard drive and trying to reinstall FCP2 and on the install disc i get the following message - "You can't open the application FC Studio.mpkg because power PC applications are no longer supported"

    I installed a new hard drive and trying to reinstall FCP2 and on the install disc i get the following message - "You can't open the application FC Studio.mpkg because power PC applications are no longer supported"

    Because you are running lion.. FCS 6 is a Power PC app and Lion doesn't support Power PC anymore.. So you can't install it.. Three options..
    1. Revert back to Snow Leopard.
    2. Purchase FCP X... 
    if you can't stand FCP X
    3. Call apple directly, 1800-MYAPPLE and ask to purachse FCS 3 for $999... (its FCP 7)
    I just got FCS 3 today through apple phone sales..

  • When iclicked on the iphoto icon it said "you can't open the application iPhoto because it may be damaged or incomplete" what should i do

    lattly wen i have attempeted to open the iphoto app and it says "you can't open the application iPhoto because it may be damaged or incomplete" i have no idea what to do
    what should i do

    Will iPhoto launch if you hold down the option key during launch and select Create New from the selections available?

  • I'm receiving a message whenever I try to open iPhoto. " can't open application "iPhoto" because it may be damaged or incomplete. Anybody had this issue  before?

    i'm receiving a message whenever I try to open iPhoto. " can't open application "iPhoto" because it may be damaged or incomplete. Anybody had this issue  before?

    Have you looked at the previous discussions listed on the right side of this page under the heading "More Like This"? Ones with a green checkmark are solved.
    next, post in the iPhotos for Mac forum

  • I just bought a macbook pro today and when I try to open iPhoto, it tells me "You can't open the application iPhoto because it may be damaged or incomplete."

    I just bought a MacBook Pro today and when I try to open iPhoto, it tells me "You can't open the application on iPhoto because it may be damaged or incomplete."  Please assist me.

    Pat Di Paolo wrote:
    Im sorry to say this did not work for me.
                     Pat
    Why did you mark your post as solved?
    You will be better off posting in either the Lion or the iPhoto forum areas as this area is for Macbook Pro issues.  You are having software issues.

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