I really feel the need to clarify one issue about Desktop files...
Please Read so that I do not burn in hell. And I repeat myself throughout,
so don't think I'm losing it.
For reference, here is a short hierarchy of folders/files we are/have been
discussing regarding Jan's issue with 'TheVolumeSettings' folder.
Also, I am not recommending that you do anything to rebuild your Desktop
files that is not Apple recommended. (Their method does NOT reMake the
Desktop, it reBuilds it... sometimes it's helpful (needed) to entirely trash
and reMake it.) And, by the way, this is documented in The Macintosh Bible.
StartupDisk:
Desktop DB (invisible file) <-- trash these to rebuild THE Desktop
Desktop DF (invisible file) <-- trash these to rebuild THE Desktop
TheVolumeSettings: (invisible folder)
Desktop DB (invisible file) (may or may not be there)
Desktop DF (invisible file) (may or may not be there)
OtherDisk:
Desktop DB (invisible file)
Desktop DF (invisible file)
TheVolumeSettings: (invisible folder)
Desktop DB (invisible file) (may or may not be there)
Desktop DF (invisible file) (may or may not be there)
Paul Berkowitz <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> said, on 3/2/01 3:51 AM:
<snip>
> When I did this on my own
> machine, I found two invisible files there, both Desktop files which are
> important System files. I didn't want to have you delete those by accident
> in case that made you lose important data or screwed your system, without
> testing first.
When Paul says "I found two invisible files there, both Desktop files..." he
was referring to invisible files INSIDE TheVolumeSettings folder. This means
that he has likely had file sharing active at some point .
I referenced the Desktop DB/DF files that are at the root level of every
drive ... these are "THE" desktop files. The ones that you rebuild when you
rebuild "THE Desktop" on that drive.
If there are files in TheVolumeSettings folder called Desktop DB and Desktop
DF, then THESE files are the temporary Desktop files used for/during File
Sharing. (Turn file sharing on, mount a drive, and you will see folders
called "Trash" and "Desktop" along with what else is "visibly" there...these
show the items 'on the desktop' and 'in the trash' of the remote mounted
volume. They show the literal icons on the 'desktop' of the mounted
volume...they are not "THE Desktop" file for that volume.)
These will NOT rebuild "THE Desktop" if deleted, nor will they cause harm if
deleted. They are subsets of "THE Desktop" of the mounted volume, containing
shared items.
I meant to imply that I rebuild "THE Desktop" on my system by trashing the
*Root Level* Desktop DB and Desktop DF invisible files. Trashing the (if
any) same-named files inside TheVolumeSettings folder will NOT do this
(repeating for clarity and concern.)
> Or, there might even be other files in there that you might
> need which I wouldn't know about. (In fact, according to Gary, trashing
> those desktop files is how he rebuilds the desktop so it would have been
> OK,, as long as you knew what you were doing.) So to delete just some extra
> download files, which you didn't appear to think you had, while NOT
> deleting important system files, might have taken a lot of time and effort
> to test and to code, partly flying blind.
<snip>
> Did File Buddy show you the two Desktop files? if yes, did you delete them?
> If Gary is correct, and I'm sure he is, that would mean that the next time
> you restart your computer, you will see the progress window telling you that
> the desktop is being rebuilt. Don't be alarmed. It will be OK after all.
So... given what I said, the last few sentences in Paul's reply above are
slightly inaccurate. If one removes the (if any) Desktop DB and Desktop DF
files INSIDE the folder 'TheVolumeSettings' then there would be NO desktop
rebuild at startup.
If one removed the invisible Desktop DB / DF files at the *root* of any
given mounted disk, then you would see that disk's desktop rebuilt at
startup.
Again, 'TheVolumeSettings' folder has no disaster-if-deleted files in it
when File Sharing is not in use. One should not schtoop with that folder
while using File Sharing, of course.
I am not, by the way, saying Paul was incorrect, just that I might not have
been clear previously and I do not want a crashed system on my conscience
(unless it's mine, of course.)
I should also add this caveat: I use OS 8.1 (and am proud of it ;), so
everything I am saying applies to that OS and downward to my earliest
running system (6.0.8...still cooking!) But I don't know of any major
changes in the conventions in subsequent OS versions...excepting OS X's *nix
partitions, but ... duh.
My conscience is clear.
Gary
P.S.
> I think I'd better take a break from trying to help people here. I don't
> really need this.
Paul, don't leave us! (Or stop helping us!)
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