CDs, DVDs, disk images won't appear in Sidebar or on Desktop

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Level 1

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CDs, DVDs, disk images won't appear in Sidebar or on Desktop

Hello,

Brand new iMac 2.16, right out of the box.

CDs, DVDs, and Disk Images won't appear on the desktop or in the Sidebar. Nothing is shown over the horizontal gray line at the top of the sidebar, no Macintosh HD, Servers, etc. Disk Images are fully functional, ie Disk Utility recognizes and mounts them just fine.

I checked Mac Help and followed its instructions:

(1) In Finder preferences:Pane:General, all 'Show These Items on the Desktop' boxes are checked.

(2) In Finder preferences:Pane:Sidebar, I checked all boxes under "Show These Items in the Sidebar. BUT these changes are NOT retained. After I close the Preferences, the Sidebar does not change. If I re-open the Sidebar preferences, the relevant boxes are now unchecked, as if I'd never done a thing.

Restarting was the only way to fix the problem. Thereafter, the upper items in the Sidebar (Macintosh HD, external drives, iPod, CDs) sometimes SPONTANEOUSLY disappear. They still show up on the desktop, but tweaking the Sidebar preferences is again ineffective. Restarting is the only solution.

Thank you for your help,
Andy

iMac Intel 2.16, Mac OS X (10.4.7)

Posted on Feb 13, 2007 1:00 PM

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Answer 1

elmac

Level 5

4,252 points

Feb 13, 2007 1:08 PM in response to AndyMoffitt

Hi, first I would close ALL APPs..then Repair disk Permissions (Utilities) Are you using more than 1 account user? it could be only the Admin Account depending on your settings can change certain settings.
Also I think CD's & DVD's only show an Icon when loaded in the Drive....L

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Answer 2

myhighway

Level 5

7,270 points

Feb 13, 2007 3:26 PM in response to AndyMoffitt

Andy,
I realize you're referring to the Finder preferences, but I'm not sure that's enough to check, and think you should also check the "CDs & DVDs" preferences panel of Systems Preferences.

If those selectors are set to "Ignore," then your iMac will do just that, totally ignore the fact that a disc has just been inserted into the optical drive. When you restart, your iMac shows the disc as part of its device detection startup procedure, and my guess is that as soon as you eject that disc, the very next disc that's inserted will then be ignored.

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Answer 3

Jpfresno

Level 4

3,020 points

Feb 13, 2007 3:34 PM in response to AndyMoffitt

Hi Andy, Welcome to Apple's Users Help Users Forums.

1] Everything elmac says is helpful and correct.

2] An upgrade to 10.4.8 with the 10.4.8 Combo from blue apple / Mac OS Updates might fix your hiccup. If you don't want .8 then .7 combo.

3] [OT] For some minor security issues, it is better to surf the internet in a standard account. If you are surfing in an admin account then here is how to switch and maintain prefs.

Set up a new account in System Preferences / Accounts / +
and make it have admin priviledges. Be sure to remember short name and password since you will be asked to "authenticate" when running in your standard account. This new account is often called "test" in these forums.

Once that is done convert your regular account to standard.

Good Luck, JP

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