Q: New files do not appear in Finder after SMB connection
Connecting to a Windows Server 2003 share via SMB has an undesirable side effect: after the SMB connection is established, all newly created files saved to the local hard drive do not appear in Finder or in application’s open dialog box. Details follow…
Using SMB because after I upgraded a bunch of Mac Pros to Lion 10.7.4 (from 10.6.8 using Apple's latest 10.7.4 installer) these Macs can no longer connect to Windows Server 2003 shares via AFP. I tried the advice given in OS X Lion: Connecting to legacy AFP services (http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4700), but it does not fix the problem.
I can connect using SMB, but that causes an unacceptable side effect: after connecting via SMB the Macs' file system no longer displays newly created files. To repeat: If I go to (for example) TextEdit and save a newly-created file to the Desktop or to a folder, that file does not appear in the Finder or in an application’s Open dialog box.
These newly created files can be found by searching by name or using All My Files. If I click on the file in the list of found files and nudge its icon a tiny bit, the vanished file will suddenly appear in the Finder. Sometimes on Desktop when a file is made to appear by nudging only the file’s name will appear. Its icon will be transparent.
I can clear this problem by restarting. All vanished files will become visible. Then everything works normally until the Windows 2003 Server is accessed using SMB. Then the problem returns for all files created after that.
My temporary solution is to use muCommander to access the Windows Server via SMB. muCommander does not trigger the problem.
Mac Pro, Mac OS X (10.7.4)
Posted on Jun 3, 2012 3:22 PM