Disappearing Files on Desktop

Question

Level 1

135 points

Disappearing Files on Desktop

OS 10.13.4

MBP Retina 13" Early 2015

Never used to have this problem. Now, repeatedly, if I try to save a .JPG to the Desktop from a program it shows up for about 1 second on the desktop then just disappears! If I drag it from the Downloads folder to the Desktop the same thing happens.

Used to work just fine. Started happening about 2 weeks ago without any major software upgrade that I can remember (but who knows, given my memory!)
Upgraded just now to OS 10.13.4 with no fix.
Happens repeatedly with JPG files (haven't tried with other file types).
Doesn't happen on my iMac.
Folders and drives on the Desktop behave just fine.
Computer otherwise works just fine.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you very much!

macOS High Sierra (10.13), null

Posted on Apr 7, 2018 10:51 AM

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Answer 1

CharPatton Author

Level 1

135 points

Apr 8, 2018 9:05 AM in response to CT

Thanks much for weighing in!

I'm pretty clueless so don't understand sophisticated computer stuff, but I never intentionally did anything with "Folder Actions", whatever they are (but could I have accidentally done something without realizing it???). But here's what it looks like when I control click my Users>MyName>Desktop folder:

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Answer 2

CharPatton Author

Level 1

135 points

Apr 7, 2018 1:15 PM in response to CT

Here is some more experimental data:

Problem occurs with both .jpeg and .jpg extension.
No gear or SBBOD appear, just a brief appearance of the .jpg file as normal for < 1 second then it disappears.
Problem does NOT occur with .docx and .ooutline files (didn't try any others after these two worked).
Problem does NOT occur with another login (UID) account on the same computer.
Problem does NOT occur when booted into Safe Mode.
Problem occurs, however, when I log back in the normal way after using Safe Mode.

Thank you so much for thinking about and helping with this very weird issue!

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Answer 3

CT

Level 7

24,113 points

Apr 7, 2018 1:16 PM in response to CharPatton

It would be helpful to know if this occurs with other files besides jpg.

Does this occur for a different user, e.g., Guest?

Does this occur after starting up in Safe Mode?

Consider the possibility of a third party software conflict. EtreCheck can be used to investigate what is installed.

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Answer 4

Apr 7, 2018 10:58 AM in response to CharPatton

If you have the Spotlight Preferences : Search Results : Images selected, you can search for your disappearing image to see where they went after disappearing from the Desktop. Below, foo is either the explicit filename, or a partial string comprising the filename.

kind:image +.jpg name:foo

If you get a hit for your missing filename, you can press the command-key in Spotlight to see the path to its new home, or by pressing command+R, a Finder window will appear with the image icon selected.

Just before the file vanishes from the Desktop, do you see any spinning gear just to the left of your right-side, menubar icons? If so, you may have a Folder Action assigned to your Desktop to move images.

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Answer 5

CharPatton Author

Level 1

135 points

Apr 8, 2018 7:29 AM in response to CharPatton

FYI, the problem also occurs with a .png file, ie they disappear from the desktop the way that .jpg and .jpeg files do. But .docx and .ooutline files behave normally, ie stay on the desktop. To quote Alice in Wonderland, "curious and curiouser"!

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Answer 6

CT

Level 7

24,113 points

Apr 8, 2018 7:46 AM in response to CharPatton

You might try ruling out VikingOSX's clever suggestion about "Folder Actions". Control-click on the Desktop folder (in your home folder) and see what it has under "Folder Actions". If there is nothing there, you should consider the possibility of third party software involvement.

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Answer 7

CharPatton Author

Level 1

135 points

Apr 8, 2018 9:36 AM in response to CT

Oh, you are brilliant; thank you very much!!!

So under Services there was a "Folder Actions Setup" folder that had all sorts of stuff in it, including scripts for JEPG and PNG actions. "Enable Folder Actions" was not checked, but there was a check in the "Desktop" box that contained all of these scripts. I unchecked it and nothing happened. So then I did a full restart and lo and behold, there was now nothing in the "Desktop" box (all the previous scripts had vanished) and the problem was solved!!!

Also very interesting, when trying to solve all this I found a folder in Dropbox named Screenshots, and three weeks worth of desktop .jpeg screenshots were squirreled away in there!

So since all this is way above my ability, now I'm wondering if with a Dropbox "upgrade" somehow Dropbox placed these scripts in there to automatically move all .jpeg desktop files to Dropbox>Screenshots???

Regardless, all is good now. Again, thank you so much for your help! Much appreciated.

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Answer 8

CharPatton Author

Level 1

135 points

Apr 11, 2018 7:17 PM in response to CharPatton

So weird, problem has recurred and I DEFINITELY haven't changed anything. Screenshots are back in the Dropbox "Screenshots" folder. But this time "Folder Actions" is empty.

Does Dropbox have some code they are running that automatically does this? It's the only thing I can think of. It's not bad now that I know where to look for it, but kinds freaks me out that some external force is manipulating my computer...

Any thoughts and ideas would be greatly appreciated; I'm really curious about this one.

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