.DS_Store

Question

.DS_Store

What is .DS_Store? I'm trying to burn a disk of my Photo Library (or the folders in the Photo Library). Returns error that the disk cannot be burned because .DS_Store cannot be read. I don't see a file named .DS_Store in the paths in the error message. The paths indicated are the lowest folder that holds the jpg/pix.

Suggestions?

imac G5, ibook G4, Mac OS X (10.4.3)

Posted on May 7, 2006 1:33 PM

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Answer 1

ds store

Level 7

30,855 points

May 7, 2006 1:40 PM in response to rick wintomac

You called? just kidding.

DS Store is where the directly information is stored.

It's invisible with the "." so people don't delete it.

Open Disk Utility and repair permissions, that should take care of it.

Also search Apple main page for Onyx and run all the "Automation" and reboot, should do you wonders. Sort of a nuclear cocktail approach.

good luck.

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Answer 2

hyphen

Level 6

15,505 points

May 7, 2006 4:20 PM in response to rick wintomac

Rick

Could you possibly post the path(s) that was indicated in the error message?

ds store

An iPhoto library resides inside a "home" directory. Repairing permissions has no effect.

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Answer 3

ds store

Level 7

30,855 points

May 7, 2006 5:03 PM in response to hyphen

An iPhoto library resides inside a "home" directory. Repairing permissions has no effect.

Seems your right, very unfortunate.

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Answer 4

Dr. Smoke

Level 9

56,586 points

May 7, 2006 5:02 PM in response to rick wintomac

Hi, rick.

.DS_Store files contain data used by Finder to display the folder window, such as View Options, icon positions, and window position.

Here's how to sort out your problem with a corrupted .DS_Store file somewhere in your iPhoto Library.

1. Download and install the shareware application Cocktail. Be sure to use the latest, Tiger-specific version.

2. Launch Cocktail.

3. Click Files in the Cocktail toolbar.

4. Click the DS Store tab.

5. Decide if you want to delete the .DS_Store file:

(a) Only at the root level of a specific volume or folder.

(b) At both the root level of a single volume or folder and all subfolders therein.

If (a), do not select the "Search subfolders" checkbox in the DS Store tab. If (b), select the "Search subfolders" checkbox in the DS Store tab.

Selecting "Search subfolders" in the DS Store tab will remove the .DS_Store files within subfolders of the volume or folder you select in the next step, resetting the View Options of the selected volume or folder — and all subfolders therein — to default View Options.

In your specific case, I would select my Home > Library > Pictures folder and select "Search subfolders" in the following steps.

6. Click Chose.

7. In the resulting window navigate-to and select the affected volume, or folder. For example, you might want to select your Home folder.

8. Click Choose.

9. Click Delete in the resulting confirmation dialog.

Cocktail will delete the .DS_Store file in the volume or folder you selected in step 6, and all subfolders therein if you selected "Search subfolders" in step 5.

That should do it.

As FYI, it's unusual for .DS_Store files to become corrupted. You might want to run a general check of your hard drive by performing at least Steps 1-3 of the procedure specified in my "Resolving Disk, Permission, and Cache Corruption" FAQ just to assure there aren't "other troublemakers" afoot. 😉

Good luck!

😉 Dr. Smoke
Author: Troubleshooting Mac® OS X

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Answer 5

May 7, 2006 5:00 PM in response to ds store

Ran the repair disk permissions but get the same message about the DS_store.

Disk utility returned the following for the repair:

Repairing permissions for “IMAC HD”
Determining correct file permissions.
User differs on ./Applications, should be 0, owner is 501
Permissions differ on ./Applications, should be drwxrwxr-x , they are drwxr-xr-x
Owner and group corrected on ./Applications
Permissions corrected on ./Applications
User differs on ./Library/Application Support, should be 0, owner is 501
Permissions differ on ./Library/Application Support, should be drwxrwxr-x , they are drwxr-xr-x
Owner and group corrected on ./Library/Application Support
Permissions corrected on ./Library/Application Support
User differs on ./Library, should be 0, owner is 501
Permissions differ on ./Library, should be drwxrwxr-t , they are drwxr-xr-x
Owner and group corrected on ./Library
Permissions corrected on ./Library
User differs on ./System/Library/Extensions, should be 0, owner is 501
Group differs on ./System/Library/Extensions, should be 0, group is 80
Owner and group corrected on ./System/Library/Extensions
Permissions corrected on ./System/Library/Extensions
User differs on ./System/Library, should be 0, owner is 501
Group differs on ./System/Library, should be 0, group is 80
Owner and group corrected on ./System/Library
Permissions corrected on ./System/Library
User differs on ./System, should be 0, owner is 501
Group differs on ./System, should be 0, group is 80
Owner and group corrected on ./System
Permissions corrected on ./System
Group differs on ./private/etc/authorization, should be 80, group is 0
Owner and group corrected on ./private/etc/authorization
Permissions corrected on ./private/etc/authorization
Permissions differ on ./private/var/log/secure.log, should be -rw------- , they are -rw-r-----
Owner and group corrected on ./private/var/log/secure.log
Permissions corrected on ./private/var/log/secure.log

Permissions repair complete
User differs on ., should be 0, owner is 501
Permissions differ on ., should be drwxrwxr-t , they are drwxr-xr-x
Owner and group corrected on .
Permissions corrected on .
The privileges have been verified or repaired on the selected volume

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Answer 6

May 7, 2006 5:03 PM in response to hyphen

Here's the error message:

/user/desktop/pictures/iphoto library/2003/09/02/.DS_store cannot be read

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Answer 7

ds store

Level 7

30,855 points

May 7, 2006 5:06 PM in response to rick wintomac

Yep, Repairing Permissions doesn't work on Home files. But deleting the .DS_Store files in Cocktail or OnyX should do the trick.

They are rebuilt from the files themselves which should correct the permissions issue.

Learn a new thing everyday. 🙂

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Answer 8

Dr. Smoke

Level 9

56,586 points

May 7, 2006 5:09 PM in response to ds store

ds store wrote:

"Perhaps you like to explain how Repairing Permissions wouldn't work in this case?"

Repair Permissions relies on the settings specified in the /Library/Receipts directory. No receipt, no repairs. Only files specified within receipt bundles have their permissions repaired by Repair Permissions. This means:

• contents of user's Home folders;
• applications installed by other than the Mac OS X Installer;

do not have their permissions repaired by Repair Permissions. See also "About Disk Utility's Repair Disk Permissions feature."

Good luck!

😉 Dr. Smoke
Author: Troubleshooting Mac® OS X

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Answer 9

hyphen

Level 6

15,505 points

May 8, 2006 8:54 AM in response to ds store

But deleting the .DS_Store files in Cocktail or OnyX should do the trick.

Indeed

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