Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Finder and Desktop disappeared!

S

scottsemafx

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Mar 30, 2006
3
0
I am running a G3 with only 512 Ram... maybe that's what's going on...
But this machine was running great until I got an upgrade to software- and I think it's SAFARI... But now, the system boots up normally, until it gets to the point where the finder bar should appear, along with my DRIVE and folder icons.

No go.

The Dock works- I can start Safari. Then it usually craps out. I can go into preferences...
I can open my address book, etc.

So how can I get into the hard drive? How can I get the Finder to reappear?

Any help is appreciated.

(I'm writing this with my trusty Titanium 12inch, "Frodo")

Scott
 
Could you possibly get into System Preferences and create a new user account? Then, you might be able to log into that account and salvage some files. :)
 
How can I recover?

IJ, I don't know how to boot into single mode. Please share.
I checked out those links about similar problems. The only difference for me is- I'm running 10.3.9 on a (turquoise) G3. Not Tiger.
Can I even RUN Tiger on an old G3? I don't think so. There isn't even a DVD player on this thing. I'm just trying to use it for email and iSync'ing my addresses and calendar...

Anyway, I'm still stuck. Can't get to the hard drive.. can't use Safari, after it craps. The FINDER Icon is still on the Dock, but it won't DO anything.

Thanks for the feedback. Now what do I do?

Ciao. Scott
 
Do what mad jew suggested. Make a new user account and see if it does the same problems.

It's most likely that preference files are corrupt in your Home folder.
 
Pathfinder

Hey Democrat... that's a great suggestion... but as Lilstewart says, right now I don't think I can keep Safari open long enough to get there... it usually craps out in less than 10 seconds (or second mouse click, whichever comes first!).

I think I'll need to boot from the disk and do a re-install. I wonder how much I'll lose? It's only a waste of time. I don't really have anything on this G3 that I'm afraid of losing... just the applications that took so long to load (and mail setups and preferences...sigh).

I greatly appreciate everyone's help! I love networking- and this is a tangible use of the power of helping others. Thank you.

The ultimate solution is to just stop trying to make this G3 work... and get something new (which is my goal, once the $$$ tree sprouts come June).

Last question... what is the key(s) I need to press when rebooting, to get to some alternate "mode"? Maybe I can see the hard drive then?

Ciao. Scott
 
scottsemafx said:
IJ, I don't know how to boot into single mode. Please share.
I checked out those links about similar problems. The only difference for me is- I'm running 10.3.9 on a (turquoise) G3. Not Tiger.
Can I even RUN Tiger on an old G3? I don't think so. There isn't even a DVD player on this thing. I'm just trying to use it for email and iSync'ing my addresses and calendar...

Anyway, I'm still stuck. Can't get to the hard drive.. can't use Safari, after it craps. The FINDER Icon is still on the Dock, but it won't DO anything.

Thanks for the feedback. Now what do I do?

Ciao. Scott
Click to expand...

Restart and hold down cmd-s until you see the black screen. From there you can check and potentially repair a damaged hard drive by typing:

fsck -f [return]

at the prompt (include the space)

then

reboot [return]

when the process is completed.

Please, try this at the very least before thinking about reinstalling.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back