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TICKET ARCHIVE -> Applications can't get to their data

biscotte - Feb 24, 2007 - 5:39 pm

Hi!

Since yesterday, after I did something (I'm not too sure what) and even though nothing was erased from my iMac Intel, all applications behave as if they are opening for the first time.

iCal is empty, Mail is empty, iTunes is empty, iPhoto is empty etc. etc.

I know my data is still all there but the App doesn't get to it. For example, if I go to Home>Library>caches>Metadata>iCal, I can see hundreds of icalevents. And a Get Info gives me each title and each due date.

Please help me! I don't dare make new entries or anything else in fear it's gonna affect the data already there. I'm completely paralyzed.

There must be a relatively simple solution to that problem (I hope) since everything is there. I have another iMac (G4) with almost the same data (I got my Intel iMac December 28 and all data was then transfered to it from the G4). I don't understand... both computers have the same data at the same places but the Intel apps can't find it. I hope one of you can solve this.

Thank you so much!


biscotte

earthsaver - Feb 25, 2007 - 12:21 am

The caches folder is not where your permanent data is stored. What about in ~/Library/Calendars for iCal and /Mail for Mail? Got stuff there? How about in /Preferences? Have you lost any of them?

- Ben

biscotte - Feb 25, 2007 - 9:20 am

Hi Ben!

Thank you for your help!

In my Home/Library folder, there is no Calendars folder but there is a Mail folder.
In the Home/Library/Preferences folder, I see a com.apple.ical.plist file and a com.apple.mail.plist file, but when I open either of these 2 apps, I get greeted with a welcome window as if I were using this application for the very first time.

I must also underline the fact that on my G4 iMac, I can't find a Calendars folder in the Home/Library folder either, but iCal (and Mail) works perfectly on that computer. I don't understand!

I hope this can help you find a solution to my BIG problem.

Thanks again, Ben! I'll be checking my email (on the G4 of course!) for a new reply from you!

Talk to you soon.


biscotte

earthsaver - Feb 25, 2007 - 9:27 am

Anything in the Mail folder? Seems to me your data has been lost. Are you sure you didn't delete anything?, or move it elsewhere? If you can't find missing stuff in the Trash or elsewhere, you might be left with the need to rerun the Migration Assistant (in Utilities) and transfer your data again. Other than that, I have no ideas, and I'm happy to reopen your question to other techs if you wish.

biscotte - Feb 25, 2007 - 11:16 am

Hi Ben,

I'm pretty sure that this will help you, now. Thinking back, I remember that a few minutes before all my problems started, I added a size (11GB) to the name of my Applications folder ( Applications (11GB)). Seeing weird things happening shortly after, I immediately reverted to the original name (Applications). But that did not help. All my apps couldn't get to their data and their preferences anymore.

On the other hand, I want to confirm to you that nothing was erased or put to the Trash.
The Mail folder in Home/Library seems to have everything. It contains 20 folders including my ISP addresses and my Mailboxes folder in which all my .mbox files are. It's just that the app doesn't get to them, somehow. And that seems to be true of every single application on the computer. The Home/Library/Preferences folder contains 366 files. They're there! And they're not empty.

I did not empty the Trash either. It contains almost nothing and I know exactly what these files are.

You mentioned Migration Assistant. Can you tell me a little more it?

If a solution can't be found, I was thinking I could redo the Firewire transfer I did from my G4 to the Intel when I first got it. But then, I would lose everything since December 28 ( when I got the Intel) and I would need help in doing this again since my Intel is not new and empty anymore.

As you can see, I'm not very computer savvy and I really appreciate your help.
Hope you can go on finding ways to help me.

Thanks again, Ben.

Looking forward to hearing from you soon.


biscotte

earthsaver - Feb 25, 2007 - 11:22 am

That is helpful. A change in the Applications folder name shouldn't even be allowed by the Finder, but for some reason it is. You should immediately open Disk Utility, select your hard disk, and Repair Disk Permissions. This will hopefully fix the issue.

Migration Assistant is the application/service that you originally would have used to do the data transfer over FireWire.

biscotte - Feb 25, 2007 - 11:55 am

Hi Ben!

Thanks for your prompt reply.

I did run Disk Utility/Repair Disk Permissions. I was full of hope when I saw that the only permissions it repaired was Library/Preferences.

But unfortunately, everything is still the same. All my prefs are there but the apps don't know about it. If I have to, in the end, I will use Migration assistant. I understand it will not affect the content of my G4 but what will it do to my Intel... will it replace everything in there? This is scary!

If I'm not abusing, I would feel better if you could tell me what files and folders will be changed or replaced on the Intel, using Migration Assistant.

Maybe, also, before reverting to that, I would like to see if someone else has an idea, if you think that appropriate.

Again, Ben, I appreciate everything you're doing and look forward to hear from you.

Sincerely,


biscotte

earthsaver - Feb 25, 2007 - 1:33 pm

I haven't used Migration Assistant before, so I can't help you understand what it will do exactly, especially when used with a computer that already has some of your data already. So, I'll reopen your question for that shortly.

First, however, I want you to try downloading and reinstalling the 10.4.8 combo update and see if that fixes the issue. Be sure to repair permissions afterward.

Another thing you can try is to rename your Applications folder, create a new folder called Applications, move everything from the old folder to the new one, and delete the old one. Be sure to repair permissions after this.

One final attempt would be to try repairing the hard disk, in case something perhaps in the volume structure or file catalog has become corrupt. You can Verify Disk in Disk Utility now. If it needs repair, restart from your Mac OS X Install DVD and run Disk Utility and Repair Disk from there.

On the subject of corruption, if some preference has died due to the folder name changes, you might want to test them using Preferential Treatment.

biscotte - Feb 25, 2007 - 2:14 pm

Getting my hands on the 10.4.8 combo update is gonna be a time consuming feat, Ben. My access to internet is only through a 28 800 bps modem! I live in the country and this is unfortunately the best I can do. I'm gonna have to ask a friend from the city to download it for me on a DVD and snail mail it to me.
As you see, it's not very practical and would be used as a last, last resort.

I did rename my Applications folder, the way you asked me to. I repaired the permissions... doesn't work.

I verified the disk with Disk Utility... everything is ok!

I'm gonna try working with Preferential Treatment and keep you posted.
You must be beginning to find that you have embarqued on a real saga!

Thank you for your patience... I should be back shortly. Preferential Treatment just finished downloading. I should be back soon!


biscotte

earthsaver - Feb 25, 2007 - 2:47 pm

When you say you renamed your Applications folder the way I asked you to, you in the process moved the contents of the folder to a new folder? Please confirm. After doing so, the best thing is probably to restart.

biscotte - Feb 25, 2007 - 2:56 pm

That's what I did. I believe I first moved the Applications folder from my Home folder to the desktop. I then created a new folder inside my Home folder which I named Applications. I took all the apps from the old folder on my desktop to the new one in my Home folder and move the old (empty) Applications folder to the Trash. I did NOT empty the Trash. Is that OK?


biscotte

earthsaver - Feb 25, 2007 - 3:03 pm

Whoa! The Applications folder in your Home folder?!?! At the very least, the applications that came with your computer and any Apple applications you've added should be in an Applications folder at the root of your hard disk; not in Home. Perchance did you move the Applications folder from Macintosh HD to Home? That's a big no-no.

You're welcome to put most third-party apps in /Home/Applications, however they're usually best off in Macintosh HD/Applications. Make sure you have the latter folder setup and try moving everything there. Log out or restart. Repair permissions.

biscotte - Feb 25, 2007 - 3:15 pm

That has always been my setup, Ben. But now, I think I understand that Apple applications should be at the root of my hard disk. Third party apps could be in the Home folder. But, may I ask, if there are 3 users on my computer, will all the mail be together, or be split into each Home folder?

Should I now put the Applications folder at the root of the disk. Could that be the problem?

earthsaver - Feb 25, 2007 - 3:26 pm

Yes! You need the main applications at the root. Mail only gets saved on a per user basis, that is, in each user's Library. Same with most preferences. Only preferences and support files relevant to all users appear in the main Library.

biscotte - Feb 25, 2007 - 4:14 pm

I have moved my Applications folder at the root of my internal Hard Drive. I have repaired the permissions, but, alas, everything is still the way it was.

Do I have to tell you that I'll never again move things around in my computer nor rename a folder, unless it's a folder I created myself.

So, for now, Migration Assistant seems to be the only way out unless someone comes up with a miracle! I still find it very frustrating to know that 166 preference files are there and I can't read them and that my Mailboxes folder is filled with all my emails but Mail can't see them.

Can you tell me how to keep this ticket alive for this eventual miracle maker?
Also, as you know, I have a few questions about Migration Assistant.

And on top of that, I have to leave the internet for a few hours at least. You seem to be in a different time zone than mine. Here, it is now past 4 PM. I have to go out for dinner. If it's not too late (it might be for you), I'll write again later tonight. If not, I'll certainly be in touch tomorrow.

I want to thank you very much for all the help you gave me so generously, Ben. I can say I learned quite a few things today, thanks to you.

Talk to you again later.


biscotte

earthsaver - Feb 25, 2007 - 4:22 pm

I'm in your timezone. macosx.com is maintained in Central Time. I'm reopening your question for another tech to tackle. Hope it works out.

biscotte - Feb 26, 2007 - 1:40 pm

Thank you for your time, earthsaver. I learned quite a few things, thanks to you, even though my problem is still total.

Does anybody else have a suggestion for me please?

I thank you in advance.


biscotte