Changed Startup Disk, need info on Finder

Thanks, Niel

I was almost ready to tag this one closed (is that still possible? this place looks different than it used to).

But then I noticed other suspicious behavior:

Double-clicking an existing file sometimes results in launching the app from a different place than my newly-chosen Startup Disk, as evidenced by a duplicate alias appearing in the Dock.

I thought maybe the history of a file might prompt opening from its HD of origin, but some files are newly-downloaded from Safari or Mail. The apps that appear removed from the Startup Dock include Preview, Photoshop, Acrobat for the time being.

Is this even a concern? The aging, ailing former Startup Disk (the internal HD) has long since been successfully backed up (via SuperDuper) to 3 external HDs, one of which is now the new Startup Disk.

Thx.

Bump.

Again, I don't know if it's anything to be concerned about, but if it should be cleaned up, I'd be interested in doing so.

Ran another test. Opened a new document in TextEdit, launched from the Startup Disk, saved it to the desktop, quit TextEdit, double-clicked the file, and TextEdit launched from the internal HD.

Additionally, saving a similar file to the Startup Disk produces the same result.

Trying to bypass old and failing internal HD entirely, but maybe that's not possible?

Or important?

Hey BDAqua, we meet again; you've helped me with a couple issues over the past couple years. Still limping along with an 11-yr old G4 (actually it's never worked better than it does now).

I did do the Reveal path check, but I had already replaced the Dock aliases.

I generally understand the directive, but a couple detail questions (Tiger 10.4.11):

"Trash the following two files in the Macintosh HD > Library > Caches folder:

• com.apple.LaunchServices-0140.csstore
• com.apple.LaunchServices-014nnn.csstore

where nnn is the uid (User ID) number, as listed in the NetInfo database, of the affected account."

Does that mean be sure to trash TWO items including whatever the UID is? Mine's not nnn. Should I trash the second UID as well?

Will my lack of a password (I just hit Return when prompted during SuperDuper backups) create a stall or some other problem while doing this?

Thanx.

OK. I'll be a while teaching myself how to setup a user account and find a way to avoid having to type in a password with every bootup. I know, this is Day One stuff I just never learned. Never had to; I work at home, no other users.

I'll report back in when everything's accomplished.

Or imploded.

Hey BDA

So... I've established an Admin User Account, with password, automatic log-in... all that seems to work.

I did the Safe Boot, Repair Permissions, and then the Reset Launch Services. Rebooted (did a Shut Down, wait, Boot as opposed to Restart), and after a bit of a stall it showed me a Desktop from about 1 week ago, but the changes made in Reset Launch Services seemed to have been installed.

This 1-week-ago thing happened just recently prior to my starting this thread, and was resolved by simply rebooting.

So I did the same thing just now, and after yet another stall, my desktop and Projects all look current again. But the original problem (inability to entirely bypass the old internal HD) returned.

The other weird thing that happened in the "time-warp" incident is that two new folders showed up in the Dock. One was named "Portugu."-something, I forget the other. They had very little in them, named something like "String"-something. They're not there now. This also occurred in the abovementioned incident when the desktop suddenly looked 1 week old.

There aren't any paying Projects to save, but I did make quite few edits in Mail and Address Book that I'd prefer save and/or not to do over again. Also Bookmarks in Safari.

I did not do this try-it-again step:

And would prefer to keep everything I've done before losing them again.

It "feels" like maybe since I reassigned the Startup Disk, I've performed some tasks from the new Startup Disk and also from the old internal HD, and maybe the Reset has "confused" one or the other.

Should I possibly be performing the Reset Launch Services on the internal HD as well as the new Startup Disk?

Thanx.

So should I try the try-it-again step?

In one instance the original problem was solved, but i got a time-warp desktop.

In another instance, I got a current desktop, but the original issue resurfaced.

I'd really like to save my current work and e-mails.

thx

Two accounts have similar but different names. The 2nd account (created at your suggestion for a prior issue) has never been touched or accessed.

The main account, now that I look at it in System Preferences, has the same name and short name, but it seems they always have for years.

Here is where I show my ignorance.

I'm not perfectly clear on what the Finder or Home Directory are.

I read that article three times, and I'm not sure what to look for.

"Before you assume that the home directory contents were actually lost, check the /Users folder to see if the missing home directory is present and simply renamed.

If you determine that the home directory is present but renamed, follow these steps:

1. In the Finder, go to the /Users folder.
2. Locate the new home directory, which bears the users' short name.
3. Add "_new" to the new home directory's name.
4. Rename the old home directory to the user's correct short name.
5. Log out and back in with the affected user account."

Does "Finder > /Users folder" mean the same as Startup Disk > Users? If so -- with the correct current desktop showing -- the two account names are current and what they've always been. I did not change account names when I reassigned the Startup Disk (and that was roughly a week ago too, fwiw).

The current contents are present now, even if they've "disappeared" a couple times, and I sort of understand the concern and focus of the article. But I don't know how to assess it.

I don't know what the Home Directory is or where to find it, or what to look for once I'm there.

The more basic it is the less I understand it.

Well, that makes me feel less dumb, but there's still plenty of dumb left over.

Are there 2 identical ones there???

Identical what?

There are two accounts. The first (501) main account's name and short name are identical. The second, never-touched, account has a name different from the main, and a short name that's different yet.

In any event, the currently logged in User is shown in the House icon as you describe. (The Home icon is yet another item that has no meaning to me, fyi)

So getting back to what I was supposed to be doing...

I shouldn't do anything if the home directory is NOT renamed, correct? It shows the name it's always been for years.

Back where I left off, I think, wondering whether to try Reset Launch Services again and risk losing current desktop.

I guess there is some little setting somewhere that's creating HD confusion?