Desktop GONE

jordz · jordz #1 (**permalink**)

05-09-2011, 08:15 PM

Not sure if this is the correct place to post this, but I have a Mac OS X 10.4.11

I was just cleaning out the desktop, deleting unnecessary files etc. when I noticed the Preview application wouldn't let me view any files I opened with it...

I thought I might have accidentally deleted the Preview app so I went into the trash to see if I had, I couldn't find anything, so I thought I would restore ALL of my trash to the desktop, to see if the Preview actually had been deleted.. Anyway my computer froze up (as one might expect when attempting to restore some 1500 files and apps from the trash). So, being the smart cookie I am, I turned the computer off (without shutting down), then when I went to turn it back on... EVERYTHING from the desktop was gone! I can't find anything under Spotlight, Finder won't open. All of the apps on the dock work fine... Except I can't get into the Trash or the Finder.

Please, any assistance with this would be very much appreciated. My entire life is on this computer.

Kindest regards,,

jordz · jordz #2 (**permalink**)

05-09-2011, 08:23 PM

Again, not sure if this is the correct place to post this, but I have a Mac OS X 10.4.11

I was just cleaning out the desktop, deleting unnecessary files etc. when I noticed the Preview application wouldn't let me view any files I opened with it...

I thought I might have accidentally deleted the Preview app so I went into the trash to see if I had, I couldn't find anything, so I thought I would restore ALL of my trash to the desktop, to see if the Preview actually had been deleted.. Anyway my computer froze up (as one might expect when attempting to restore some 1500 files and apps from the trash). So, being the smart cookie I am, I turned the computer off (without shutting down), then when I went to turn it back on... EVERYTHING from the desktop was gone! I can't find anything under Spotlight, Finder won't open. All of the apps on the dock work fine... Except I can't get into the Trash or the Finder.

Please, any assistance with this would be very much appreciated. My entire life is on this computer.

toMACsh · toMACsh #3 (**permalink**)

05-09-2011, 09:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jordz

Finder won't open. All of the apps on the dock work fine... Except I can't get into ... the Finder.

Please explain how you can see the Dock without Finder open, or a Desktop, as your title declares.

toMACsh · toMACsh #4 (**permalink**)

05-09-2011, 09:21 PM

Do you know what "cross-posting" is? You've done it, in violation of the forum's rules.

pigoo3 · pigoo3 #5 (**permalink**)

05-09-2011, 09:24 PM

Merged threads...no need to crosspost. Thanks.

jordz · jordz #6 (**permalink**)

05-09-2011, 10:24 PM

tomacsh,

No, I clearly was not aware that "cross-posting" was 'illegal' on this site. Or else I wouldn't have done it.

In response to your other comment, yes my title does say "Desktop gone", which was an abbreviated form of my problem which is that: everything on my desktop is gone. Forgive me for not speaking in perfect sentences, but I am a tad flustered right now. Besides, titles are supposed to be brief.

... If your idea of 'helping someone', is to complain about everything they're doing wrong, then would you mind doing that somewhere else? I'm a new member, and am obviously not familiar with the rules and regulations of this site yet. Give me a break.

jordz · jordz #7 (**permalink**)

05-09-2011, 10:32 PM

If anyone is able to help me with my problem that would be greatly appreciated. I have managed to open Finder, via Spotlight (which is working now). However, Finder has pretty much frozen, and anything I try to do, just responds with the rainbow wheel!

It looks as though EVERYTHING from my Trash is now on the Desktop (in Finder only, not the actual Desktop, that's still empty). Could the reason why Finder is not opening be due to the fact that the Desktop has too much stuff on it? If so, how would I delete everything from the Desktop (again, this is the Desktop items list in Finder, not the actual Desktop).

pigoo3 · pigoo3 #8 (**permalink**)

05-09-2011, 10:35 PM

How full is your hard drive (how many gig's used & how many gigs free)?

If it's VERY full...this could explain things.

- Nick

jordz · jordz #9 (**permalink**)

05-09-2011, 10:37 PM

I'm not sure how to find this out? Do I go to the apple icon and click 'About this mac'?

jordz · jordz #10 (**permalink**)

05-09-2011, 10:39 PM

If I click the apple --> about this mac --> more info --> under contents --> hardware --> memory.. the following things come up

BANK 0/DIMM0:

Size: 512 MB
Type: DDR2 SDRAM
Speed: 667 MHz
Status: OK

BANK 1/DIMM1:

Size: 512 MB
Type: DDR2 SDRAM
Speed: 667 MHz
Status: OK

I am so confused!

pigoo3 · pigoo3 #11 (**permalink**)

05-09-2011, 10:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jordz

I am so confused!

Yes you are!

"Memory" is ram...storage space deals with your hard drive. Single-click on your hard drive icon...then do the 2 key keyboard combination Command + i

In case you don't know...the "command" key is the one with the 4-leaf clover looking symbol on it.

A window will open...and this will give you the hard drive info we're looking for (gigs used & gigs free).

- Nick

vansmith · vansmith #12 (**permalink**)

05-09-2011, 10:45 PM

Since you can't open up Finder, open up System Profiler ( > About This Mac > More Info...) > Hardware > Serial-ATA. What does it say under "Volumes"?

jordz · jordz #13 (**permalink**)

05-09-2011, 10:49 PM

Eekk sorry I am not computer minded at all!

I just tried what you said, except a new window doesn't open... The rainbow wheel just spins for a while then stops spinning, and nothing else happens

pigoo3 · pigoo3 #14 (**permalink**)

05-09-2011, 10:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vansmith

Since you can't open up Finder, open up System Profiler ( > About This Mac > More Info...) > Hardware > Serial-ATA. What does it say under "Volumes"?

Yeah...I wasn't 100% sure what can & can't be done at this point...so great idea!

- Nick

jordz · jordz #15 (**permalink**)

05-09-2011, 10:50 PM

To vansmith:

This is what it says:

Volumes:
232210.:
Capacity: 148.73 GB
Available: 101.17 GB
Writable: Yes
File System: Journaled HFS+
BSD Name: disk0s2
Mount Point: /

pigoo3 #5 (permalink)
Member Since: May 20, 2008 Location: U.S. Posts: 20,289 Mac Specs: 13" MB 2.4ghz, 2gig ram, OS 10.7.4	05-09-2011, 09:24 PM Merged threads...no need to crosspost. Thanks. - Computer slow, too many "beachballs", read this: Beachballs - Computer seems slower than it used to? Read this for some speedup tips: Speedup - Almost full hard drive? Some solutions. Out of Space - Apple Battery Info. Battery
	QUOTE Thanks

pigoo3 #8 (permalink)
Member Since: May 20, 2008 Location: U.S. Posts: 20,289 Mac Specs: 13" MB 2.4ghz, 2gig ram, OS 10.7.4	05-09-2011, 10:35 PM How full is your hard drive (how many gig's used & how many gigs free)? If it's VERY full...this could explain things. - Nick - Computer slow, too many "beachballs", read this: Beachballs - Computer seems slower than it used to? Read this for some speedup tips: Speedup - Almost full hard drive? Some solutions. Out of Space - Apple Battery Info. Battery
	QUOTE Thanks

vansmith #12 (permalink)
Member Since: Oct 19, 2008 Location: Ottawa Posts: 15,289 Mac Specs: 2012 13" MBP (2.5 i5, 8GB)	05-09-2011, 10:45 PM Since you can't open up Finder, open up System Profiler ( > About This Mac > More Info...) > Hardware > Serial-ATA. What does it say under "Volumes"? Important Links: Community Guidelines : Use the reputation system if you've been helped. M-F Blog :: Write for the blog :: M-F IRC Channel - Chats every Sunday at 8PM EST.
	QUOTE Thanks

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jordz #1 (permalink)
Member Since: May 09, 2011 Location: New Zealand Posts: 10	05-09-2011, 08:15 PM Not sure if this is the correct place to post this, but I have a Mac OS X 10.4.11 I was just cleaning out the desktop, deleting unnecessary files etc. when I noticed the Preview application wouldn't let me view any files I opened with it... I thought I might have accidentally deleted the Preview app so I went into the trash to see if I had, I couldn't find anything, so I thought I would restore ALL of my trash to the desktop, to see if the Preview actually had been deleted.. Anyway my computer froze up (as one might expect when attempting to restore some 1500 files and apps from the trash). So, being the smart cookie I am, I turned the computer off (without shutting down), then when I went to turn it back on... EVERYTHING from the desktop was gone! I can't find anything under Spotlight, Finder won't open. All of the apps on the dock work fine... Except I can't get into the Trash or the Finder. Please, any assistance with this would be very much appreciated. My entire life is on this computer. Kindest regards,,
	QUOTE Thanks

jordz #2 (permalink)
Member Since: May 09, 2011 Location: New Zealand Posts: 10	05-09-2011, 08:23 PM Again, not sure if this is the correct place to post this, but I have a Mac OS X 10.4.11 I was just cleaning out the desktop, deleting unnecessary files etc. when I noticed the Preview application wouldn't let me view any files I opened with it... I thought I might have accidentally deleted the Preview app so I went into the trash to see if I had, I couldn't find anything, so I thought I would restore ALL of my trash to the desktop, to see if the Preview actually had been deleted.. Anyway my computer froze up (as one might expect when attempting to restore some 1500 files and apps from the trash). So, being the smart cookie I am, I turned the computer off (without shutting down), then when I went to turn it back on... EVERYTHING from the desktop was gone! I can't find anything under Spotlight, Finder won't open. All of the apps on the dock work fine... Except I can't get into the Trash or the Finder. Please, any assistance with this would be very much appreciated. My entire life is on this computer.
	QUOTE Thanks

toMACsh #4 (permalink)
Member Since: Jul 30, 2009 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 4,801 Mac Specs: Mac Mini Core 2 Duo	05-09-2011, 09:21 PM Do you know what "cross-posting" is? You've done it, in violation of the forum's rules.
	QUOTE Thanks

jordz #6 (permalink)
Member Since: May 09, 2011 Location: New Zealand Posts: 10	05-09-2011, 10:24 PM tomacsh, No, I clearly was not aware that "cross-posting" was 'illegal' on this site. Or else I wouldn't have done it. In response to your other comment, yes my title does say "Desktop gone", which was an abbreviated form of my problem which is that: everything on my desktop is gone. Forgive me for not speaking in perfect sentences, but I am a tad flustered right now. Besides, titles are supposed to be brief. ... If your idea of 'helping someone', is to complain about everything they're doing wrong, then would you mind doing that somewhere else? I'm a new member, and am obviously not familiar with the rules and regulations of this site yet. Give me a break.
	QUOTE Thanks

jordz #7 (permalink)
Member Since: May 09, 2011 Location: New Zealand Posts: 10	05-09-2011, 10:32 PM If anyone is able to help me with my problem that would be greatly appreciated. I have managed to open Finder, via Spotlight (which is working now). However, Finder has pretty much frozen, and anything I try to do, just responds with the rainbow wheel! It looks as though EVERYTHING from my Trash is now on the Desktop (in Finder only, not the actual Desktop, that's still empty). Could the reason why Finder is not opening be due to the fact that the Desktop has too much stuff on it? If so, how would I delete everything from the Desktop (again, this is the Desktop items list in Finder, not the actual Desktop).
	QUOTE Thanks

jordz #9 (permalink)
Member Since: May 09, 2011 Location: New Zealand Posts: 10	05-09-2011, 10:37 PM I'm not sure how to find this out? Do I go to the apple icon and click 'About this mac'?
	QUOTE Thanks

jordz #10 (permalink)
Member Since: May 09, 2011 Location: New Zealand Posts: 10	05-09-2011, 10:39 PM If I click the apple --> about this mac --> more info --> under contents --> hardware --> memory.. the following things come up BANK 0/DIMM0: Size: 512 MB Type: DDR2 SDRAM Speed: 667 MHz Status: OK BANK 1/DIMM1: Size: 512 MB Type: DDR2 SDRAM Speed: 667 MHz Status: OK I am so confused!
	QUOTE Thanks

jordz #13 (permalink)
Member Since: May 09, 2011 Location: New Zealand Posts: 10	05-09-2011, 10:49 PM Eekk sorry I am not computer minded at all! I just tried what you said, except a new window doesn't open... The rainbow wheel just spins for a while then stops spinning, and nothing else happens
	QUOTE Thanks

jordz #15 (permalink)
Member Since: May 09, 2011 Location: New Zealand Posts: 10	05-09-2011, 10:50 PM To vansmith: This is what it says: Volumes: 232210.: Capacity: 148.73 GB Available: 101.17 GB Writable: Yes File System: Journaled HFS+ BSD Name: disk0s2 Mount Point: /
	QUOTE Thanks

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