opening root folder

*I'm trying to access my root folder* No, you're trying to open the root user's folder. You don't own that one, the system does. The question is why? AFAICT, there's nothing in there for you to muck with. If it's to give your normal account admin privileges, follow the steps in http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1278, or give us some idea what's not happening.

What exactly are you trying to do that requires you access hidden system files as the root user? This is basically a big "no no" unless you really know what you're doing which doesn't seem to be the case.

Please provide a more comprehensive explanation of what you want to do and why. Hidden files are hidden for a reason. System files should never be modified.

Being able to access files when logged in as the root user doesn't mean you can then access those files when logged in as a normal admin user. Nor should you have access to files in another user's account even if you are the admin user.

Do you know the name of this file? There's no need to activate the root user to remove such a file. The KB articles you referenced are for fixing a problem with an admin account that has lost its admin status. That's not what you've described.

If this Maya file is hidden then it likely has a name preceded by a period, e.g., .mayafile (mayafile is simply made up by me.) To remove it open the Terminal application in your Utilities folder. You will need to know exactly where this file is located. The "root" directory is not in your user folder. So you need to know the path to this hidden file. Then in the Terminal enter at the prompt:

sudo rm -rf "/path/to/file/.mayafile"

[include quotes

Check that you entered this information correctly then press RETURN. You will be prompted for your admin password, and it will not be echoed.

Now, if you've activated the display of hidden files and found the file in the Finder (you've navigated to it in the Finder, then instead of the above enter at the prompt:

sudo rm -rf
leave a space after -rf - "-rf ". Now drag the file from the Finder's window to the Terminal window. It will appear after the space and with the full path information.

Press RETURN. You will be prompted for your admin password, and it will not be echoed.

Why don't you check in the trial version for an uninstaller. It may be on the disc image you downloaded. If so, then reinstall the trial and then uninstall it. Or you may be able to use an uninstaller that came with the non-trial version or simply install the trial and enter the serial number for the non-trial. Failing all this contact Maya's tech support. Surely you aren't the first use to have the problem, so you may even find a solution on their own support website or FAQ.

Here's a less elegant solution. Download the freeware Easy Find - VersionTracker or MacUpdate. Use it to search for files, including invisible files, that contain "maya" in the name. Search the entire drive. It will list out every one it finds including all invisible files. You can then locate and remove them. You can delete any file from the Easy Find file list if you have permission. If not, then CTRL- or RIGHT-click on the selected file and select Reveal in Finder from the contextual menu. You can then select the file, CTRL- or RIGHT-click on it and select Move to Trash from the contextual menu. If a password is needed you will be prompted.

It sounds to me like maybe what you want is not the "root folder", but rather the root of the file system. Open Terminal and type:

ls -la /

Do you see the file you are looking for?
You don't need root privileges and you don't need to hack the Finder.

This command will show everything that might be installed by 3rd-party apps:

*sudo ls -Al /private/var/root/Library/Preferences*

Then, if there's one named Maya, follow Kappy's steps.