What are .ds_store files and can they be removed?

Just wondering but why would you want to remove them?

Oh Ok. Don't know if it'll help myself. I'm assuming you've searched for help on disk permission errors too?

Oh right. I never knew the bold bit;

DS_Store files are automatically created by Mac OSX Finder in browsed directories. These files contain information about system configuration. If you upload them along with other files, the files can be misused to obtain information about your computer. For more information, see Apple security updates.

Probably the easiest way is to use Onyx.

If you show invisibles you can see ds_store in each folder.

Open Terminal.app (it's in /Applications/Utilities) and copy & paste this command at the prompt...

sudo chflags nohidden

Press return.

The reverse is

sudo chflags hidden

I just looked in OnyX and it doesn't seem to include ds_Store but here's an app from one of our developers that should help clear up your permissions issue.

http://www.dicas.com/Porta_Aberta/FixACL_d.zip

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.DS_Store

You can remove them but they will re-create.