A question about icons on an iCloud Drive. Can you help me, please?

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Level 1

12 points

A question about icons on an iCloud Drive. Can you help me, please?

Hello 🙂

I have a British degree in physics and I'm a bit of a computer guru when it comes to both Microsoft and Linux software. I was asked recently, by an elderly real-life friend (who owns an Apple iMac - 18.3) if I could help him but, sadly, I couldn't. He had watched videos at links posted in a Usenet forum and those videos somehow ended up on his iCloud Drive - showing as a clapper-board icons. This is what they looked like:-

On my advice, he has erased his hard drive and then reinstalled macOS. He has now updated to macOS Ventura. He cannot reproduce that phenomena now, even when he clicks on the very same links in the Usenet group. The Usenet group is 'rec.photo.digital' and the video posts were made by 'Savageduck'.

Can anyone here help me to understand what may have happened previously?

Thanks if you can.

Posted on Nov 6, 2022 10:57 AM

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Answer 1

Nov 8, 2022 11:49 AM in response to SunnyRio

Hi SunnyRio,

Is he attempting to remove the videos from iCloud Drive? If so, for help with removing content using the iCloud website and the steps below found in the article here: Delete shared files or folders in iCloud Drive on iCloud.com

"Delete shared files or folders in iCloud Drive on iCloud.com

In iCloud Drive on iCloud.com, select the file or folder you want to delete.
Click in the iCloud Drive toolbar and confirm you want to delete the file or folder.
One of the following happens:

If you’re the owner: The file or folder is removed from the devices of everyone you shared it with. You can recover deleted files on iCloud.com.
If you’re a participant who can change shared files: Deleting a file or folder from within a shared folder deletes it from everyone’s devices. Deleting a shared folder removes it from your devices, but doesn’t remove it from the owner’s or other participants’ devices. You can access the file or folder again by clicking the original link that the owner shared, unless the owner stopped sharing the file or folder."

You can also find helpful information here: Permanently remove deleted files on iCloud.com

It's possible there was a Shared Library option previously enabled. If so, the section "Delete photos or videos from your Shared Library" from the article here can also assist. View your iCloud Shared Photo Library on iCloud.com

Work with folders and files in iCloud Drive may also provide some information to help. If there's a different issue present, can you clarify what he's looking to accomplish?

Cheers.

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Answer 2

SunnyRio Author

Level 1

12 points

Nov 10, 2022 8:47 AM in response to OrigamiFan1

Thank you so much for your comments, 'OrigamiFan1'

Much thought has gone in to what may have happened, but as the phenomena is no longer reproducible it seems that it is impossible to determine the cause. Your thought about the Shared Library was interesting, but as far as can be remembered, there was never any sharing between the two people involved.

Thank you for the links which you provided. Everything has been read with interest. All 'surplus' data in my friend's iCloud Drive has now been successfully deleted.

Thank you.

SR

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Answer 3

SunnyRio Author

Level 1

12 points

Nov 11, 2022 3:38 AM in response to Chris_C1

Thanks, Chris_C1

I wonder if you can help. My elderly friend used to read and post here, trying his best to help less knowledgeable people. He somehow, though not deliberately, fell foul of "The Hosts" and was banned from 'Signing In' to the ASC forums with his true Apple ID. He has tried, many times, to contact those controlling matters at communityaccounts@apple.com as directed here but has never received a response. He has even asked good friends to try to elicit a response from someone at that email address, but no friend has ever received a response either.

He was advised by Apple Support, by telephone, to simply re-invent himself under a new Apple ID and then continue as if nothing had happened. He knows this can be done but feels that it poses a security risk. Is there any way you can persuade those in charge of the forums to give my friend another opportunity to post under his original User Name by accessing the groups using his proper Apple ID?

Thanks if you can.

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