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Level 1

11 points

"you don't have permission to see its contents"

Upon realizing that a folder of images was missing from the desktop of my new iMac, I did a Spotlight search and turned up nothing.

I went to the backups in my Time Capsule and downloaded the Desktop Folder for Aug 15, a date which I knew to be when I last saw the aforementioned image folder.

After download was complete, the Desktop Folder appeared with a red dot with white dash, and a message "you don't have permission to see its contents" I entered my password after selecting Get Info, and that still won't allow me to see the contents. How do I resolve this? TIA

27" iMac i7, Mac OS X (10.6.4)

Posted on Aug 31, 2010 6:04 PM

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Pondini

Level 8

38,863 points

Posted on Aug 31, 2010 6:40 PM

NicksGrandad wrote:
Upon realizing that a folder of images was missing from the desktop of my new iMac, I did a Spotlight search and turned up nothing.

I went to the backups in my Time Capsule and downloaded the Desktop Folder for Aug 15

How did you do that? Via the "Star Wars" display? If not, try doing it that way, per #15 in Time Machine - Frequently Asked Questions.

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40 replies

NicksGrandad Author

Level 1

11 points

Sep 1, 2010 10:04 AM in response to Pondini

that disk image can't be opened because it has "no mountable file systems" Bummer

Pondini

Level 8

38,863 points

Sep 1, 2010 10:07 AM in response to NicksGrandad

NicksGrandad wrote:
that disk image can't be opened because it has "no mountable file systems" Bummer

Which one is that?

Try to repair it, per #A5 in Time Machine - Troubleshooting (or use the link in *User Tips* at the top of this forum).

Do you still have access to the old MacBook Pro, and if so, does it still have the data you migrated?

NicksGrandad Author

Level 1

11 points

Sep 1, 2010 10:11 AM in response to Pondini

the iMac 21.5 that has the folder on its desktop is the one without mountable file system. I'll attempt the repair.

The MBP is not available any longer.

Pondini

Level 8

38,863 points

Sep 1, 2010 10:19 AM in response to NicksGrandad

NicksGrandad wrote:
the iMac 21.5 that has the folder on its desktop is the one without mountable file system. I'll attempt the repair.

I'm losing track of all your Macs.

I thought you migrated from a MBP to a new 27" iMac. Correct?

Is one of those 5 sparse bundles from the MBP? If so, isn't that the one you want?

The MBP is not available any longer.

Rats. 😟

NicksGrandad Author

Level 1

11 points

Sep 1, 2010 10:39 AM in response to Pondini

I went from mbp to 21.5 iMac. Then same day installed the 27", no probs there, thank goodness.

A5's procedure to drag and drop the sparsebundle to the disk utility window is in process.

I'd be more than happy to eliminate old sparse bundles, five is excessive for sure.

Pondini

Level 8

38,863 points

Sep 1, 2010 10:44 AM in response to NicksGrandad

NicksGrandad wrote:
I went from mbp to 21.5 iMac. Then same day installed the 27", no probs there, thank goodness.

Ah, ok, I see. Apple should give you a volume discount! 😉

A5's procedure to drag and drop the sparsebundle to the disk utility window is in process.

That may take a while.

NicksGrandad Author

Level 1

11 points

Sep 1, 2010 10:51 AM in response to Pondini

It just stopped verifying and required the repair to begin, giving an est. time of 36 mins.

Pondini

Level 8

38,863 points

Sep 1, 2010 10:56 AM in response to NicksGrandad

NicksGrandad wrote:
It just stopped verifying and required the repair to begin, giving an est. time of 36 mins.

Don't necessarily believe that . . . it will probably increase the estimate as it goes.

NicksGrandad Author

Level 1

11 points

Sep 1, 2010 11:10 AM in response to Pondini

Basically I got a message saying Disk Utility can't repair this disk, I'd better back up what files I could, reformat the disk and restore my backed-up files.

On a positive note, Apple is up over $7 in trading today. -:)

Pondini

Level 8

38,863 points

Sep 1, 2010 11:27 AM in response to NicksGrandad

Ouch.

You'll need to delete that sparse bundle (the message is a generic one; you won't be able to get anything out of it, since OSX can't even mount it.)

Ok, on to Plan B.

Did you migrate from the MBP to both the 21.5 and the 27" iMac? If so, does the 21.5 have the folder you want? If so, you could migrate from it.

NicksGrandad Author

Level 1

11 points

Sep 1, 2010 11:30 AM in response to Pondini

Something tells me deleting a sparsebundle is more involved than dragging to the trash??

I did not migrate the mbp's contents to the 27", only to the 21.5.

Pondini

Level 8

38,863 points

Sep 1, 2010 11:37 AM in response to NicksGrandad

NicksGrandad wrote:
Something tells me deleting a sparsebundle is more involved than dragging to the trash??

Nope. 🙂

I did not migrate the mbp's contents to the 27", only to the 21.5.

Is the folder you want on the 21.5? If so, you may be able to get it from there, one way or another.

NicksGrandad Author

Level 1

11 points

Sep 1, 2010 11:40 AM in response to Pondini

I'm going to give up on that folder if it's alright. It's taken on a life of its own, too much trouble for what it contained. I'll call this answered. And I will now drag the sparsebundle to the trash.

NicksGrandad Author

Level 1

11 points

Sep 1, 2010 11:43 AM in response to NicksGrandad

Who, not so fast there, Tonto! It says can't trash because the item "token" is locked. Dante's innermost circle.

Pondini

Level 8

38,863 points

Sep 1, 2010 11:50 AM in response to NicksGrandad

NicksGrandad wrote:
Who, not so fast there, Tonto! It says can't trash because the item "token" is locked. Dante's innermost circle.

Ah, rats. Select the sparsebundle via the Finder, right-click it, and select +Show Package Contents.+

That will show the token, among other things. Do a +Get Info+ on it; that should show a "Locked" checkbox. Remove the check. If it comes back in a second or two, do the same with the Info.bckup and Info.plist items, then try the token again.

"you don't have permission to see its contents"