Charles, What do you see in the menu bar (on top) when you start up? Is there an Apple menu, a program name, a File menu, etc.? Or is there nothing up there until you click on one of the icons in the Dock? (Presumably, you're talking about the Dock when you write 'tool bar'?!)
Also, if you want to follow some of Bruce's suggestions but can't get to the Terminal program, boot with your other OS X disk and open the Terminal from there. You'll have to prefix the various filenames Bruce writes with "/Volumes/<nameofproblemdisk>" so as not to be modifying your good boot disk by mistake! (Moreover, it may not a good idea to try to open the other Finder, though I'm just being cautious since I don't know.) If you do boot from another disk, you may not even need to use the Terminal program. Just click on the name of the problem disk in the Sidebar, then find the desired files and directories by following the elements of the pathnames to the right in column view. For instance, you'd find the Finder preferences file by following the path <nameofproblemdisk>->Users-><yourusername>->Library->Preferences->com.apple.finder.plist. Personally, the first thing I'd do would be to move that file out of the Preferences folder and restart with the problem disk to see if the problem persists. - Aaron >To: "G-List" <[email protected]> >Date: Fri, 20 Jan 2006 12:56:22 -0500 >Subject: [G] Lost finder (finder not running) >From: Charles Davis <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > >Beige MT, 400Mc G4, 768M, USB ports, Track Ball >OSX.2.8, all current security updates. >OSx starts, loads 'toolbar' (thats how I can get this far) >Toolbar has icons for "Finder", "Internet Connect", "Safari", "Mail", & >others. The internet Connect & Mail items let me get here. I will be >able to read responses. > >Symptoms - Click on Finder Icon, brings up a message box "Finder Not >Running". >Bringing up anything else, also brings up the 'tool bar'. > >Problem: No Finder, no access to directories, can't back things up to >be able to safely "Nuke & pave". > >Now, I can bring up OSX on another HD, but I need to know what files to >look for and where they are supposed to be, to make a repair effort. > >Chuck Davis >To: "G-List" <[email protected]> >From: Bruce Johnson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Subject: Re: [G] Lost finder (finder not running) >Date: Fri, 20 Jan 2006 13:28:00 -0700 [SNIP] >For example: if you can get to terminal enter the following: > >/Applications/System\ Preferences.app/Contents/MacOS/System\ Preferences > >And hit return, this will start the System Preferences folder. (the >back slashes are critical, they tell the OS that the space is part of >the file path, not a part of the command) > >You can do this for ANY application: > >/Applications/<application name>.app/Contents/MacOS/<application name> > >Will run the program. > >Heck try: > >/System/Library/CoreServices/Finder.app/Contents/MacOS/Finder > >Safari will also let you open Finder windows, but I don't know if >that requires Finder to be functioning: > >file://<directory path>/ will open a finder window to the path. > >If Finder starts all right, then something's blcoking the startup >sequence before it gets to Finder, look in /Library/StartupItems or / >Users/<user>/Library/StartupItems to find things to remove. > >If not it's a systemic issue. > >If it's a user issue go to /Users/<username>/Library/Preferences and >delete com.apple.finder.plist. > >If it's a systemic issue, do an Archive&Reinstall followed by the >10.2.8 upgrade. > >-- >Bruce Johnson -- G-List is sponsored by <http://lowendmac.com/> and... Small Dog Electronics http://www.smalldog.com | Refurbished Drives | -- We have Apple Refurbished Monitors in stock! | & CDRWs on Sale! | Support Low End Mac <http://lowendmac.com/lists/support.html> G-List list info: <http://lowendmac.com/lists/g-list.shtml> --> AOL users, remove "mailto:"; Send list messages to: <mailto:[email protected]> To unsubscribe, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> For digest mode, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subscription questions: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Archive: <http://www.mail-archive.com/g-list%40mail.maclaunch.com/> iPod Accessories for Less at 1-800-iPOD.COM Fast Delivery, Low Price, Good Deal www.1800ipod.com
