Mac OS X 10.5 Where is the Spaces preferences file?

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Level 2

286 points

Mac OS X 10.5 Where is the Spaces preferences file?

Hello

Anyone knows where the preferences file for Spaces is stored?

I have set-up Spaces just to my liking and want to transpose it to another machine running Mac OS X 10.5.1.

Thank you for the help.

Glossy 15'' MBP C2D 2.6GHz 4GB RAM 160GB 5400 rpm HD, Mac OS X (10.5.1), Apple Mighty Mouse, Apple Wireless Keyboard, 8GB iPhone, Nikon D80, TomTom One

Posted on Dec 18, 2007 10:47 AM

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Answer 1

Niel

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Level 10

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Dec 21, 2010 2:28 PM in response to HK

The Spaces preferences are stored in com.apple.dock.plist, which is in the Library/Preferences/ folder of the item in the Finder's sidebar with the house icon.

(27077)

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Answer 2

HK Author

Level 2

286 points

Dec 21, 2010 2:29 PM in response to Niel

Ah thank you. It says it's in use if I try to copy/ paste it.

Should I boot from the restore discs or from an external drive to be able to make change to my machine's internal drive with that particular file?

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Answer 3

nerowolfe

Level 6

13,090 points

Dec 21, 2010 2:28 PM in response to HK

HK wrote:
Ah thank you. It says it's in use if I try to copy/ paste it.

Should I boot from the restore discs or from an external drive to be able to make change to my machine's internal drive with that particular file?

That should work, using the terminal, but before overwriting it, make a copy - just in case - and put it somewhere handy.
You might also see if you can do this in the Save mode before resorting to the terminal.

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Answer 4

HK Author

Level 2

286 points

Dec 21, 2010 2:29 PM in response to nerowolfe

I wouldn't know how to do this in Terminal 🙂

Agreed on the idea of having a "back-up" of the file.

Could you please walk me through the process with Save Mode and/ or the Terminal?

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Answer 5

Niel

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Dec 21, 2010 2:29 PM in response to HK

Restart the computer with the Shift key held down to put it in safe mode; to copy it with the Terminal, launch the Terminal from the /Applications/Utilities/ folder, enter ditto, type a space, drag the file into the Terminal, and provide ~/Desktop/com.apple.dock.plist as the destination path.

(27078)

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Answer 6

HK Author

Level 2

286 points

Dec 21, 2010 2:29 PM in response to Niel

Thank you very much. That did it.

What is that number at the end of your note: 27078?

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