Need Help with my iMac!

VQ Power · 04-06-2008, 08:36 PM

I have a iMac which I bought 2 years ago. It has the 2.0 Ghz Intel Core Duo processor. I was surfing the forum when the computer started acting funny. I tried checking my e-mail using Microsoft Entourage, and when I opened it up, it acted like I have never used it before. So I thought I would restart the computer hoping that it would clear up. When it started up again, my desktop background was gone, all my photos were gone, all my music gone, and basically everything went back to the way it did when I first bought it. I found all my stuff, but it's all in files. Even my bookmarks in Firefox were gone! Has anyone ever heard of this? The computer is acting like it just came out of the box. Thanks for any help

elementofhoops · 04-07-2008, 12:54 AM

Go into utilities and run disk utility to check for errors on your hard drive. If it finds any, repair them. If it doesn't and you still have problems, back up all of your data and reimage the machine using the CDs that came with the computer.

Strange problem.... by the way.

VQ Power · 04-07-2008, 08:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elementofhoops

Go into utilities and run disk utility to check for errors on your hard drive. If it finds any, repair them. If it doesn't and you still have problems, back up all of your data and reimage the machine using the CDs that came with the computer.

Strange problem.... by the way.

Thanks! I will try this. Another question, my Firefox keeps quitting by itself. About every 20 secs it shuts down. Whenever I click on it, nothing happens. What could be the problem?

volvo9 · 04-07-2008, 02:33 PM

I don't know mac's but it sounds like in Windows when your profile becomes corrupt and a new one is automatically created.

Nakagaki · 04-07-2008, 02:36 PM

[insert funny MAC joke here]

:)

GL man!

FunkPnut · 04-08-2008, 02:33 AM

Where did you find your files?

Did you find them in another user's home directory folder other than your own?

Its possible your home directory folder was renamed somehow and when OSX started up, it created a new home directory folder with empty preferences, which would explain why everything looks default and your data cannot be seen in the usual places (ex. Music folder or iPhoto).

VQ Power · 04-09-2008, 08:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FunkPnut

Where did you find your files?

Did you find them in another user's home directory folder other than your own?

Its possible your home directory folder was renamed somehow and when OSX started up, it created a new home directory folder with empty preferences, which would explain why everything looks default and your data cannot be seen in the usual places (ex. Music folder or iPhoto).

I found it all in my systems folder. I actually found out the problem. My friend who is a computer geek said that someone has logged into my account and erased all my stuff off the hardrive. I am hoping right now that I can get all my stuff back.

shadedream · 04-09-2008, 10:33 AM

Another thing thats generally a good idea to to when you start having problems is to open Disk Utility and repair permissions on your drive. Incorrect permissions can cause some very odd problems that you generally wouldn't think it would. Usually my first step in troubleshooting a machine with an odd issue.

04-06-2008, 08:36 PM	#1 (permalink)
VQ Power Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: 952 Posts: 659 Josh iTrader: 1 / 100%	Need Help with my iMac! I have a iMac which I bought 2 years ago. It has the 2.0 Ghz Intel Core Duo processor. I was surfing the forum when the computer started acting funny. I tried checking my e-mail using Microsoft Entourage, and when I opened it up, it acted like I have never used it before. So I thought I would restart the computer hoping that it would clear up. When it started up again, my desktop background was gone, all my photos were gone, all my music gone, and basically everything went back to the way it did when I first bought it. I found all my stuff, but it's all in files. Even my bookmarks in Firefox were gone! Has anyone ever heard of this? The computer is acting like it just came out of the box. Thanks for any help

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04-07-2008, 12:54 AM	#2 (permalink)
elementofhoops Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Stow, OH Age: 20 Posts: 166 iTrader: 0 / 0%	Go into utilities and run disk utility to check for errors on your hard drive. If it finds any, repair them. If it doesn't and you still have problems, back up all of your data and reimage the machine using the CDs that came with the computer. Strange problem.... by the way.

04-07-2008, 02:33 PM	#4 (permalink)
volvo9 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: North Attleboro, MA Age: 25 Posts: 2,278 Andrew iTrader: 0 / 0%	I don't know mac's but it sounds like in Windows when your profile becomes corrupt and a new one is automatically created.

04-07-2008, 02:36 PM	#5 (permalink)
Nakagaki Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: City of Angels Age: 24 Posts: 683 MuRDoC iTrader: 0 / 0%	[insert funny MAC joke here] :) GL man!

04-08-2008, 02:33 AM	#6 (permalink)
FunkPnut Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Minneapolis, MN Age: 26 Posts: 263 @ndy iTrader: 1 / 100%	Where did you find your files? Did you find them in another user's home directory folder other than your own? Its possible your home directory folder was renamed somehow and when OSX started up, it created a new home directory folder with empty preferences, which would explain why everything looks default and your data cannot be seen in the usual places (ex. Music folder or iPhoto).

04-09-2008, 10:33 AM	#8 (permalink)
shadedream Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 292 iTrader: 0 / 0%	Another thing thats generally a good idea to to when you start having problems is to open Disk Utility and repair permissions on your drive. Incorrect permissions can cause some very odd problems that you generally wouldn't think it would. Usually my first step in troubleshooting a machine with an odd issue.