redjimmu

Q: Finder will not function, cannot open files - 10.9.5

Hello,

I am a very basic level user and am overwhelmed by all of the info. on the net so I'm hoping someone can point me in the right direction:

 

I use a 2010 macbook pro, 10.9.5.  Since yesterday, I cannot use finder. It keeps freezing and will not display any files. Also, the finder window often 'mosaics' up. My first worry was that it could be virus trouble - I had been using Avast free antivirus which, after checking showed that my mac was not protected any more. So I installed McAfee free 30 day trial of LiveSafe. It ran a check of my computer (and came up with 15 threats which are now quarantined). But the mac is getting worse for freezing. I tried logging in as a different user and everything seemed to work OK, finder included. But that test user doesn't have any files or anything in it so I don't know for sure.

 

My next step was to back up everything on my external hard disk which I generally do about once a month.

 

Now I am thinking to try to reinstall the osx...........is this the right thing to do? And I have some questions regarding this:

1. I have Snow Leopard reinstall disks. Will I be able to install Snow Leopard and then get Mavericks again?

2. Should I completely clear the computer and reinstall. Or is it fine to Reinstall over the existing OSX and then upgrade? I read that you can do this and not lose any data.

3. If I completely wipe everything then reinstall, if the problem is a virus will it be transferred back onto the computer from with the backed up data (external hard disk)

 

Or should I be doing something totally different? I'd be very grateful for some advice. As I have said, there is so much information on the internet that I don't know what info to follow.

 

Many thanks

MacBook Pro, OS X Mavericks (10.9.5), upgraded from snow leopard

Posted on Aug 23, 2016 1:46 AM

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