WHERE ARE "DESKTOP" AND "DOCK" SETTINGS STORED?

Question

WHERE ARE "DESKTOP" AND "DOCK" SETTINGS STORED?

I want to backup my desktop and dock settings. Where are they stored so that I can do this?

Thx.
Mike

iBook G4, Mac OS X (10.5.1)

Posted on Nov 30, 2007 5:28 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Nov 30, 2007 9:48 PM in response to Michael Altshuler

The dock preferences are stored in ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.dock.plist. There is also a file in the same folder called com.apple.dock.db.

I am not sure what you mean by the desktop. Do you mean the desktop image or do you mean the settings for the icons on the desktop?

Reply

Answer 2

Dec 1, 2007 8:27 AM in response to Michael Altshuler

If you are backing up your home folder, you are also backing up your user prefs all of which are stored in "Your User Name"/Library/Preferences. There are several other "Preferences" folders that contain "global" prefs, namely /Library/Preferences and /System/Library/Preferences.

One potential "trap" though... corrupted prefs files are often the cause of anomalous system behavour so saved prefs should be copied back into new folders with caution.

Reply

Answer 3

Dec 1, 2007 5:06 AM in response to Matthew Smith

I think I mean both.

Where I'm coming from is having just been burned for not effectively saving some important data, I'm trying to cover all my bases going forward so that I am protected in the event of needing to restore stuff that may get lost.

At the moment I'm daily backing up my "Home" folder (to preserve my documents, Entourage data and "Personal Data"). I just want to be sure that I'm also covered for my desktop icons/pix and dock preferences.

I appreciate you taking an interest.
Mike

Reply

Answer 4

Dec 1, 2007 12:54 PM in response to David DeCristoforo

Thx, David.

I appreciate both your help and Matthew's.

Mike

Reply

Answer 5

Dec 1, 2007 4:41 PM in response to David DeCristoforo

If you look in System Preferences you will find what you need and more.

Frank

Reply