Troubleshooting the File System

Help! My folder disappeared!

Why can't I throw away this folder?

Why can't I rename my hard drive?

How do I change my hard disk icon?

Why can't I share my syquest drive? CD-ROM? Floptical? etc.?

Help! My folder disappeared!

Try a Find on the missing filenames. In the meantime grab Disk First Aid 7.2 from ftp.support.apple.com which should be able to fix this problem. Click here to download it.

Why can't I throw away this folder?

The folder possibly contains items that are locked or in use and can't be thrown away. Turn off file-sharing (if it's on) and quit all applications. Then try to throw the folder away. If that doesn't work and you're using System 6, hold down the option-key and drag the folder into the trash; or, if you're using System 7, hold down the option key while selecting "Empty Trash" from the special menu. Holding the option key down lets you throw away locked items.

If that doesn't work restart the computer, hold down the option key, and try again. If you still can't throw away the folder, try throwing away the items in the folder (if any) one by one until you find the ones giving you trouble. Remove them from the folder, and then throw the folder away. If you still can't throw the folder away, you've discovered a "Folder from Hell."

Create an empty folder on ANOTHER disk with the same name as the Hell Folder. Then copy the new folder onto the same disk in the same folder as the Hell Folder. Click "Yes" when asked if you want to replace the Hell Folder. Now you should be able to throw the just copied folder away. If that doesn't work, get a copy of John Jeppson's HellFolderFix utility.

Why can't I rename my hard drive?

urn file-sharing off as described above. If the disk you can't rename is not being shared, you need to unlock the drive name. This can be done by Kazu Yanagahira's freeware utility Unlock Folder or by Disk First Aid 7.2.

How do I change my hard disk icon?

In System 7 you change the icon by cutting or copying an icon from somewhere, Getting Info on the hard drive (via the File menu), and pasting the icon into the Get Info box.

If the normal pasting of an icon onto your hard drive fails, you'll need to perform some simple software repairs. You will need a utility capable of changing information bits on files and volumes such as ResEdit or the $10 shareware FileTyper 4.22.

From within one of the above utilities, open your hard drive. Then, turn the "Has Custom Icon" bit on the hard drive OFF. This may be all you need to do so try pasting a new icon again. If this still doesn't work, you need to delete the old icon first. This icon is stored in a file called Icon\r on the root level of your hard disk. (Note that the file may have a different name in some international systems.) Since the Icon\r file is invisible you'll need to turn the Invisible bit of the file off to make the file visible. Then trash it.

Next create an empty folder, Get Info..., on the folder and paste the icon you want for your hard drive in the folder's Get Info box. Make the Icon\r file inside that folder visible and move it to the root level of your hard drive. (You can do this by dragging the file onto the icon of your hard disk.) Now make the file invisible again. Use your utility to turn the "Has Custom Icon" bit ON. Finally restart the computer and rebuild the desktop.

In System 6 you must use the hard drive formatting software to give the hard drive a new icon. You'll be limited to the icons included with the formatter. You may be able to edit the icons included with the formatter using a resource editing tool like ResEdit.

Why can't I share my syquest drive? CD-ROM? Floptical? etc.?

Apple originally planned to treat removables like floppies rather than hard disks for file-sharing. At the requests of beta testers, file-sharing on removables was hacked into System 7.0 at the last minute. However, since file-sharing was originally to be implemented only on fixed drives (non-removable), no means were created for the host Mac to tell other Macs when a new volume went on or off-line.

Therefore, sharing a removable volume requires that the disc or cartridge be inserted and mounted when filesharing is turned on. Turn filesharing off and on with the drive powered up and the cartridge inserted and you should then be able to share the removable.

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Much of the information contained herein has been extracted from Elliotte M. Harold's incredible FAQ lists. We thank and commend him for his invaluable service to the Macintosh world.