I was doing some tests in iMovie and exported my file to my desktop. When the proceedure was over I found out that I had not exported my 5min movie to my desktop but rather the 5400 file image sequance to my desktop. My desktop is now choked, it takes nearly an hour to boot up (as opposed to a minute) and any attempt to get in there and delete these files crashed my finder. HELP SOME ONE PLEASE!!!!
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Oh God Help (getting rid of 5400 images on desktop)
- Thread starter dustmunkey84
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Code:
cd ~/Desktop
mkdir i_promise_to_read_carefully_next_time
mv *.jpg i_promise_to_read_carefully_next_time/Problem solved.
And having lots of files on your desktop shouldn't affect boot times, only the amount of time it takes for the Finder to render your desktop...
If you can't log in at all, you can try logging in via the console -- just enter '>console' as your username into loginwindow.
Once you're logged in to your account, the commands I gave above will:
1) Change to your Desktop folder.
2) Make a new directory (admittedly, one that's named in a little bit of a teasing manner
)
3) Move all files ending in ".jpg" to the new directory.
Obviously, you can change those commands as required (such as if they're PNG files...)
1) Change to your Desktop folder.
2) Make a new directory (admittedly, one that's named in a little bit of a teasing manner
)3) Move all files ending in ".jpg" to the new directory.
Obviously, you can change those commands as required (such as if they're PNG files...)
If the situation is bad enough that you can't get to a console session from the login window, you can do this in Single User Mode.
Hold down command-S when you hear the startup chime.
You can release these keys when the screen turns black with white text scrolling by.
Eventually, the text will stop scrolling and you will be looking at a command prompt.
The first commands you are going to type before doing anything else are:
fsck -y This will run a filesystem check on the boot volume, and fix any errors. Always a good idea when starting up a single-user-mode session
mount -uw / This will unmount the root filesystem (your startup volume), and remount it with read/write ability. You are making changes, so you need the write ability.
Next, cd into you Desktop folder.
cd /Users/<short user name>/Desktop replace <short user name> with your short user name; the abbreviated name that you use to log in or confirm admin access when present with a security dialog. If you don't know your short user name, just cd /Users/ and then type ls. You should see your short name listed there. Find it, and then type cd <short user name>/Desktop. Don't include the angle brackets.
Now you can use the commands mentioned above to move those files.
mkdir i_promise_to_read_carefully_next_time
mv *.jpg i_promise_to_read_carefully_next_time/
When you are finished, reboot the machine with this command:
shutdown -r now
Hold down command-S when you hear the startup chime.
You can release these keys when the screen turns black with white text scrolling by.
Eventually, the text will stop scrolling and you will be looking at a command prompt.
The first commands you are going to type before doing anything else are:
fsck -y This will run a filesystem check on the boot volume, and fix any errors. Always a good idea when starting up a single-user-mode session
mount -uw / This will unmount the root filesystem (your startup volume), and remount it with read/write ability. You are making changes, so you need the write ability.
Next, cd into you Desktop folder.
cd /Users/<short user name>/Desktop replace <short user name> with your short user name; the abbreviated name that you use to log in or confirm admin access when present with a security dialog. If you don't know your short user name, just cd /Users/ and then type ls. You should see your short name listed there. Find it, and then type cd <short user name>/Desktop. Don't include the angle brackets.
Now you can use the commands mentioned above to move those files.
mkdir i_promise_to_read_carefully_next_time
mv *.jpg i_promise_to_read_carefully_next_time/
When you are finished, reboot the machine with this command:
shutdown -r now
I just tried this i got into consol did fsck -y
and mount -uw then my computer got really loud. (do i have to worrie about this?)
but "cd into your desktop folder" confuses me
What is cd?
I cannot find <short user name> do i type cd/users/ or just users.
You are going to have to literally spell out what i have to type beacuse I have never done this
this pisses me off so much i dont have words for it.
and mount -uw then my computer got really loud. (do i have to worrie about this?)
but "cd into your desktop folder" confuses me
What is cd?
I cannot find <short user name> do i type cd/users/ or just users.
You are going to have to literally spell out what i have to type beacuse I have never done this
this pisses me off so much i dont have words for it.
also for where the "*.jpg" am i replacing the star with the file name? will I have to do this all 5000 times?
cd is a command, it is short for "Change Directory". Your short name is the name of your home folder. Let's assume it's "munkey" It would be EXACTLY like this (pay attention to caps and spaces), do not forget to hit enter after each line, before you start typing the next one
fsck -y
mount -uw
cd /Users/munkey/Desktop
mkdir stash
mv *.jpg /Users/munkey/Desktop/stash
Oh, and disable the "list of users" and automatic login. Both of them are not only security risks, but they make it impossible to get to the console on a normal boot. (or the root account, if it is enabled). So, if you know what your home folder is called, just subsitute that for "munkey".
ok i think i got it thanks J the Ninja but I still cant find my home folder name
my login comes up as Dustin Rosemark (below it says admin) then it asks for password.
Anyone help me on how to get this "home folder" or "short username" information?
my login comes up as Dustin Rosemark (below it says admin) then it asks for password.
Anyone help me on how to get this "home folder" or "short username" information?
Wait... are you already logged in via the GUI? I thought you couldn't log in at all...
Ok, just do this. Bring the system back up Single-User, and after your do mount and fsck, type this:
ls /Users
You should see your own home folder. You know, the one that has your documents and downloads and pictures and that sort of junk in it? THAT is your home folder, just use whatever it's name is. (In all likelihood, it's probably your first name, or whatever name you have most people call you)
The syntax is always the command, followed by a space, followed by the arguments, in this case the directory you want to list. The list command is "ls", the directory is /Users, so...
ls /Users
A star basically means 'anything', so this command selects any file with its name ending in .jpg and moves it into the stash folder
mv *.jpg /Users/munkey/Desktop/stash
I feel like an idiot in the presance of geniuses. so i thought i might of ogtten it right I followed ninja's commands i did
/users/dustinrosemark/desktop and console said (this is a directory that means i got it right?)
then i typed
mkdir stash
then i typed
mv *.qtif/users/dustinrosemark/desktop/stash
i got this response
mv [-f | -i | -m] [-v] source taget
mv [-f | -i | -m] [-v] source directory
i figured i fixed it then went back to the GUI and the files were still there.
2 questions
1. Where did i screw up?
2. Should i be concerned that my computer gets really loud and the fan is rip roaring?
Thank you so much for you help
/users/dustinrosemark/desktop and console said (this is a directory that means i got it right?)
then i typed
mkdir stash
then i typed
mv *.qtif/users/dustinrosemark/desktop/stash
i got this response
mv [-f | -i | -m] [-v] source taget
mv [-f | -i | -m] [-v] source directory
i figured i fixed it then went back to the GUI and the files were still there.
2 questions
1. Where did i screw up?
2. Should i be concerned that my computer gets really loud and the fan is rip roaring?
Thank you so much for you help
I think you just missed the space between *qtif and /users/...
but I might be wrong, I'm no expert in this either but I do have a little experience.
As for the fan noise, I wouldn't worry, my MP does that for a while as it starts up, and when in target disk mode. Over cooling is better than overheating!
Edit:
Actually, if you've used 'cd' to change into your desktop, you don't need the /users/... just use the folder name on its own.
mv *qtif folder
That's all you need
Glad to hear it!
You can use QuickTime to change all those images into a movie btw, file > Open image sequence. Not sure if its a pro feature or not though. Might be quicker than re-exporting it again.