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xd123

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Sep 20, 2010
6
0
I deleted all plists, and i can't open Photobooth, and other applications, also when i download something i can't open it, because the icons and the desktop dissapear..What to do now? :(:(:(:(
 
I deleted all plists, and i can't open Photobooth, and other applications, also when i download something i can't open it, because the icons and the desktop dissapear..What to do now? :(:(:(:(

WTF did you do that for?
Go to your Time Machine backup and restore them.

If you don't have a Time Machine backup, then you just learned two things: 1. Don't mess around with things you don't understand. 2. Have a backup for your computer.
 
the Mac should create new plists upon reboot.

have you tried rebooting ?

I didn't try to reboot, but how can i reboot?:rolleyes:

WTF did you do that for?
Go to your Time Machine backup and restore them.

If you don't have a Time Machine backup, then you just learned two things: 1. Don't mess around with things you don't understand. 2. Have a backup for your computer.
I just wanted to make my computer clean and with more memory...
 
I didn't try to reboot, but how can i reboot?:rolleyes:

1s1ohh.png


Or hold down the power button for more than five seconds to shut the Mac off, then press it again to start it.

I just wanted to make my computer clean and with more memory...

.plist files take up KBs, not MBs or GBs, thus deleting them will not really restore HDD storage capacity, unless you have only few MBs left, which in itself is not recommended due to risk of damaging the HDD. It is recommended to leave 10 to 20 % of the HDD capacity unused, e.g. 20 to 40 GB out of a 200GB HDD should be free.


Btw, you can edit your posts via the
edit.gif
button, or multi-quote posts via the
multiquote_off.gif
button, as sequential posts are "against" the rules.



PS: HDD storage capacity is not referred to as "memory", as "memory" is used to refer to RAM.
Difference between ROM, RAM, and storage capacity?
 
I just wanted to make my computer clean and with more memory...

this user tip contains useful information and links:

Your Mac needs adequate hard drive space to operate normally. How full can a drive be before it's too full? There is no hard and fast rule that says “X” amount or “%” of free drive space is needed. A low amount of RAM requires more drive space for Virtual Memory’s swap files.

Problems from insufficient RAM and free hard disk space are discussed in this link
http://www.thexlab.com/faqs/lackofram.html

Here’s some general guidelines for minimum hard drive free space:
1. As a general rule, your available space should be 5GB as an absolute minimum as it generally requires that much free space to perform an Archive and Install of Mac OS X and still preserve some free space for VM swap files.
2. Some say that your hard drive should have at least 5% of it's capacity available for use. Still others say 10% to 15%. If you routinely process complex graphics and videos, even more space is required.

Look at these links about freeing up more space.

Where did my disk space go?
http://www.macfixitforums.com/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=Forum38&Number=770243
Download & use WhatSize described in this link or Disk Inventory X @ http://www.derlien.com/

Freeing space on your Mac OS X startup disk
http://www.thexlab.com/faqs/freeingspace.html

Amazing Disappearing Drive Space
http://www.pinkmutant.com/articles/TigerMisc.html

Increase HD Free Space
http://macosx.com/forums/howto-faqs/275191-how-easily-increase-hd-free-space-laptop.html

How to free up my disk space http://www.macmaps.com/diskfull.html

btw, usually folks refer to memory when they talk about RAM. i reckon you meant hard drive space, correct ?
 
1s1ohh.png


Or hold down the power button for more than five seconds to shut the Mac off, then press it again to start it.



.plist files take up KBs, not MBs or GBs, thus deleting them will not really restore HDD storage capacity, unless you have only few MBs left, which in itself is not recommended due to risk of damaging the HDD. It is recommended to leave 10 to 20 % of the HDD capacity unused, e.g. 20 to 40 GB out of a 200GB HDD should be free.


Btw, you can edit your posts via the
edit.gif
button, or multi-quote posts via the
multiquote_off.gif
button, as sequential posts are "against" the rules.



PS: HDD storage capacity is not referred to as "memory", as "memory" is used to refer to RAM.
Difference between ROM, RAM, and storage capacity?
I try to reboot, and still the same
 
I try to reboot, and still the same

What Mac OS X version do you have? If it is Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard, you can just reinstall Mac OS X, no data will be deleted and the .plist files belonging to Mac OS X and its components should be restored. The .plist files belonging to other applications might get recreated then, but if not, a reinstallation of those applications has to be done.
 
It makes no sense deleting all preferences because its like 50mb more space = not a lot for that much trouble
 
I just wanted to make my computer clean and with more memory...
.plist files take up KBs, not MBs or GBs, thus deleting them will not really restore HDD storage capacity,
That. The only way to get more memory is to install it.

the Mac should create new plists upon reboot.
Well, sorta. A few anyway.
What Mac OS X version do you have? If it is Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard, you can just reinstall Mac OS X, no data will be deleted and the .plist files belonging to Mac OS X and its components should be restored. The .plist files belonging to other applications might get recreated then, but if not, a reinstallation of those applications has to be done.
Not necessarily. Some may be recreated just by firing up the associated application. That's how it would work if everything is normal.
 
Not necessarily. Some may be recreated just by firing up the associated application. That's how it would work if everything is normal.

That's why I used the word "might". But if all .plist files are deleted, however which way was used, then the system is frelled up I guess, thus even a simple start of an application will not work, something the OP experiences. :)

OP; how did you delete the .plist files? Via search or did you go in the respective folders?
 
That's why I used the word "might". But if all .plist files are deleted, however which way was used, then the system is frelled up I guess, thus even a simple start of an application will not work, something the OP experiences. :)

OP; how did you delete the .plist files? Via search or did you go in the respective folders?

Via search
 
That. The only way to get more memory is to install it.


Well, sorta. A few anyway.

Not necessarily. Some may be recreated just by firing up the associated application. That's how it would work if everything is normal.

I am with Mac os 10.4.11, and i don't know where is the Reinstalling CD
 
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