finder flashes, can't access trash, desktop files disappeared...

Since you're working back and forth and can't test things until the next day, if that doesn't solve the issue, try this command in Terminal...

sudo rm -rf ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.systemuiserver.plist

OK, let's just take out all the preferences and see...

enter this command in Terminal

mv ~/Library/Preferences ~/Desktop

Press return.

Restart.

Let us know.

Hmm, this is really turning into a stumper. You tried my suggestion of nuking ALL the caches, using that second command, right? If not, try that now.

Otherwise, just to verify, any other user account works fine, it's just yours that is behaving this way? If that's correct, there's something wonky in your user folder somewhere, which means that reinstalling the system isn't likely to help. Try macjack's suggestion, but if that doesn't work, I'm out of easy suggestions. I would probably start methodically removing things from my user folder, but that's hard to do for someone who has no access to the Finder and who doesn't know how to use the Terminal for such things.

The easiest thing for you to do, if all else fails and nobody else has any ideas, would be to migrate all your data to a new user account. I've never actually had to do that, though, so I don't know what kind of permissions issues you might run into. But the basics are covered here:

http://pondini.org/OSX/Transfer.html

1. Restart Lion and hold down the Command and R keys.
2. On top, in the Menu Bar click the Utilities item then select Terminal.
3. In the Terminal window, type resetpassword and hit Return.
4. The Password reset utility launches, but you’re not going to reset the password. Instead, click on the icon for your Mac’s hard drive at the top. From the drop-down below it, select the user account where you are having issues.
5. At the bottom of the window, you’ll see an area labeled ‘Reset Home Directory Permissions and ACLs’. Click the Reset button there.

The reset process takes a couple of minutes. When it’s done, quit the programs you’ve opened and restart your Mac. Notice that ‘Spotlight’ starts re-indexing immediately.

I'm outta stuff... it's isolated to your User account, we know that.

Yes on Mail, you want to replace the com.apple.mail.plist from the Desktop Preferences folder.*This is a very important file which contains all email account settings and general mail preferences.

And there was no difference when you booted intoSafe Mode?

Hmm.. I would but I realized you never moved it. You got the permissions denied on the command to move your Preferences to the Desktop. I take it back, not sure why Mail is acting up. No last suggestions, I'm sorry I'm all out.

But please follow up on this if you would, I really want to know the final solution.

Thanks for the follow up!

Hello!

I just want to thank everyone on this thread.

I had the same problem described in this thread, with the finder-gone-wild (jumping, popping), and that attacked always at startup, bundled with an empty desktop (no icons).

I was able to solve it by using Onyx, and performing a full "default" clean.

All my other cleaning apps did not help at all MacKeeper, Cleanmymac etc.

Br,

H

I was able to solve it by using Onyx, and performing a full "default" clean.

All my other cleaning apps did not help at all MacKeeper, Cleanmymac etc.

Note that cleaning apps should not be used routinely, and MacKeeper in particular is known to kill a Mac's performance and, when used for "cleaning," can damage the system and even destroy data. You need to uninstall MacKeeper ASAP if it's still installed.

Hello all,

I am having the same problem mentione by the original poster and by fewyearsonapple. Unfortunately since the finder is in the cache loop it will not let me install new programs, and as such, can't install Onyx. I also cannot open folders in finder so I can't just delete my cache folder. Not really sure what else to do besides having someone at an apple store connect to my computer and use their Onyx on my hard drive, don't want to have to do that. Any help is appreciated.

Thanks