Apple Event: May 7th at 7 am PT

Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

Level 1

30 points

AACK! DISASTER!! WHAT DID I DO!?

More importantly, how do I Un-Do it!

I was working on the Mac, had my Finder open and I must have clicked on the Mac HD icon w/o realizing it and dragged it off the viewer window. I released the mouse, saw the puff of smoke, had to figure out what I'd done. Anyway, the HD icon was gone.

I kinda freaked, but just clicked on the icon on my desktop, made an alias and dragged it into the first column of the view window.

I had to restart my Mac for something else, and when I did it came up as completely new. My desktop files are all still there--I need to go in and see if my programs are, but when I open Mail, it acts as a first-time use. My settings for internet access have all disappeared, bookmarks, desktop pics, dock reverted to original etc. I had to go into one of the other user accounts to be able to get online to post here.

So, anyone know what I did and how I undo it?

Thanks

Jeri

iMac, Mac OS X (10.4.2), 1 GB RAM; 5G ipod

Posted on Jun 16, 2006 3:17 AM

34 replies

Jun 16, 2006 7:28 PM in response to Jeri Hurd

I had this problem once. Some app renamed my home folder and my account disappeared when I restarted. Your old files should still be on your Mac - probably inside the Users folder but invisble.

Jun 16, 2006 7:59 PM in response to Jeri Hurd

Try the suggestion in the kbase document I linked. If it's just a duplicate home folder that will clear it up, but if you've managed to put the actual hard drive icon (not an alias or dock shortcut) inside another directory, that can be nasty to clean up.

Jeri Hurd Author

Level 1

30 points

Jun 16, 2006 8:17 PM in response to Barbara Brundage

kbase document link? I can't seem to find that. Sorry!

And I did just make an alias and insert it, so (I hope, I hope!) this may be an easy fix?)

Jeri

Jun 16, 2006 8:23 PM in response to Jeri Hurd

Sorry, I meant in my first post. This:

http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=107854

Jeri Hurd Author

Level 1

30 points

Jun 16, 2006 8:23 PM in response to Jeri Hurd

Barbara-- Is this the kbase link?

If you determine that the home directory is present but renamed, follow these steps:
In the Finder, go to the /Users folder.
Locate the new home directory, which bears the users' short name.
Add "_new" to the new home directory's name.
Rename the old home directory to the user's correct short name.
Log out and back in with the affected user account.

I looked, but the only directories are the usual ones: "Jeri Hurd," the one I uase as admin, and two others. Not sure what they mean by "user's short name"?

Anyway, if I added _"new" to that, there wouldn't be anything to rename.

I'm very confused! (grin) So much for thinking I was so mac-savvy!

jeri

Jeri Hurd Author

Level 1

30 points

Jun 16, 2006 10:19 PM in response to Jeri Hurd

Hi Barbara--

Now that I'm out of mac-panic mode, I'm wondering if this isn't such a huge disaster after all. All my files are there, I can do a sync with my .Mac to reinstate 95% of the bookmarks and the Address Book. While I lost my Internet Access info, it seems to be pulling it off one of the other user accounts, so really, everything is working OK. Or am I missing some horrible problem that's going to show up down the road?

Important NOTE TO SELF: Fix disk icon problems in Finder!! : )

Jeri

Jun 17, 2006 6:44 AM in response to Jeri Hurd

I wish you could show me exactly what you see in the sidebar of a finder window. The possible problem is if you put your hard drive inside a folder, because there are only a couple of things that can cause you to lose the connection to your files in a way that disk warrior doesn't at least see as a problem, and you say it's not the most usual one.

Try this, if you don't mind: take a screenshot (command shift4 and drag across the area you want to show (the left pane of the window, at least). Then open the screenshot and use Preview to save it as a JPEG. If you don't have any web space of your own available, upload it to pixentral.com (no charge, no registration). At pixentral, once you see your image online, copy the URL from your browser's address bar and paste it into a message here.

Jeri Hurd Author

Level 1

30 points

Jun 17, 2006 7:38 PM in response to Barbara Brundage

Hi Barbara--
OK, took the screenshot and put it in the Public folder of my iDisk (member name: jerihurd)

Jeri

Jun 17, 2006 7:47 PM in response to Jeri Hurd

Hi, Jeri. You seem to have set up a password for your public folder--I've tried connecting from both the menubar and the URL and WebDav wants a password. Pixentral is sometimes simpler, or you could just create a ,mac homepage with it.

dadof3

Level 4

1,675 points

Jun 17, 2006 9:38 PM in response to Jeri Hurd

Try a spotlight search for the name of your hard drive.
As Barbara had suggested, maybe it was dropped in some folder.
If spotlight finds it then you can drag it to the desktop.

Good luck

Jeri Hurd Author

Level 1

30 points

Jun 17, 2006 9:44 PM in response to dadof3

Oops! Sorry--I don't remember doing that! Must be from before. Will go in and change it when I get home from work this afternoon. Will also make a photo page with it.

Jeri

Jeri Hurd Author

Level 1

30 points

Jun 18, 2006 9:50 AM in response to Jeri Hurd

Barbara--

OK, took the password off my iDisk public folder. You should be able to access it from the Go/iDisk/other member's' public folder list in your Finder. LOL--like I'm telling you how to do it! Geesh!

Jeri

Jun 18, 2006 10:03 AM in response to Jeri Hurd

Thanks, Jeri. Nothing odd, there, but I would try dadof3's suggestion for a spotlight search to be sure your Hard drive is not inside something else. That's the only thing I can think of, outside of renaming your home folder, that would cause all those links to break without disk warrior or hardware test seeing a problem.

Jeri Hurd Author

Level 1

30 points

Jun 18, 2006 6:30 PM in response to Barbara Brundage

Hi Barbara--

Tried the Spotlight search--just turned up the one HD. Very weird. Y'know, since everything seems to be working fine, and I had LUCKILY synced with.Mac 2 days before, so was able to get back all my bookmarks, address book, etc, I'll just write this up as bizarre and hope all stays well.

Thanks HEAPS for your help. Much appreciated!

Jeri

Jun 18, 2006 6:35 PM in response to Jeri Hurd

Well, you would only see one HD. The problem would be if the only HD had somehow gotten inside something else. Anyway, if it's working now, I guess that's all that matters.

AACK! DISASTER!! WHAT DID I DO!?