Leopard System Files Visible in Root Drive

[NeXTLoop]

I just got done doing an Erase and Install on my MBP. I noticed that in the root Macintosh HD directory, all the Unix system files and directories are visible, unlike Tiger where they were hidden.

Is that standard? I just want to make sure I don't have a screwed up preference file somewhere.

 

[thefunkymunky]

I just got done doing an Erase and Install on my MBP. I noticed that in the root Macintosh HD directory, all the Unix system files and directories are visible, unlike Tiger where they were hidden.

Is that standard? I just want to make sure I don't have a screwed up preference file somewhere.

Nope. They should be invisible just like Tiger.

 

[NeXTLoop]

Crap. That's what I was afraid of.

 

[patseguin]

I have the same issue on my MBP. I did a clean install on my Mac Pro and the files are hidden like they should be.

 

[thefunkymunky]

Easy to change the flag though. Type this in Terminal.

Hide Invisible Files

defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles -boolean no

sudo killall Finder

Show Invisible Files

defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles -boolean yes

sudo killall Finder

 

[NeXTLoop]

It appears X11 is causing the files to be visible. A number of guys over at Apple Discussion Boards have tried re-installing without X11 and those files are all hidden. Maybe Apple figures that if we're using X11 we're going to want to see all the Unix stuff as well by default.

 

[patseguin]

I didn't install X11 on either install, unless it installs by default. That wouldn't explain why the hidden files show on my MBP and not my Mac Pro.

EDIT: I typed the commands listed above into Terminal and the hidden files are still showing. I tried logging out and in and they still show as well.

 

[thefunkymunky]

EDIT: I typed the commands listed above into Terminal and the hidden files are still showing. I tried logging out and in and they still show as well.

Just been reading that Apple has apparently changed the way the visible and invisible commands work in Leopard. Can't find the correct command at the moment.

 

[ebel3003]

I clean installed WITH X11 on a MacBook Pro and they are hidden like they should be.

 

[treblah]

I have the same issue, clean install with X11 on a MBP.

Luckily this is the only real problem I've run into.

EDIT: Which are also visible under a guest account. Great!

 

[treblah]

From http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=5652274&#5652274

I finally fixed this problem by running:

sudo /Developer/Tools/SetFile -a V /bin
sudo /Developer/Tools/SetFile -a V /cores
sudo /Developer/Tools/SetFile -P -a V /etc
sudo /Developer/Tools/SetFile -a V /mach_kernel
sudo /Developer/Tools/SetFile -a V /private
sudo /Developer/Tools/SetFile -a V /sbin
sudo /Developer/Tools/SetFile -P -a V /tmp
sudo /Developer/Tools/SetFile -a V /usr
sudo /Developer/Tools/SetFile -a V /Volumes
sudo /Developer/Tools/SetFile -P -a V /var

then deleting /Library/Caches/com.apple.LaunchServices* (2 files) and rebooting.

Most of the files/folders became invisible right after running SetFile. The symbolic links (/etc, /tmp and /var) became invisible after the reboot.

Make sure you have the Developer Tools installed and I had 6 com.apple.LaunchServices*.caches so YMMV.

 

[NeXTLoop]

I went ahead and reinstalled Leopard from scratch, following exactly the same steps and options as the first time... including installing X11. This time the files are correctly hidden.

Weird...

 

[ethernet76]

Easy to change the flag though. Type this in Terminal.

Hide Invisible Files

defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles -boolean no

sudo killall Finder

Show Invisible Files

defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles -boolean yes

sudo killall Finder

These commands still worked for me.

However, I did not use sudo for Killall, it it isn't necessary and for some reason doesn't work when you use it in conjunction with Killall.

 

[gravitonmatrix]

Invisible Drive

Anyone know how to make an invisible root drive visible? After updating to 10.5.1 (even reinstalling from 10.5.1 disc image from apple's site) the root hard drive is invisible. I even reinstalled Leopard with Archive and Install and it is still invisible. Also created a new user, to no avail.

I am booted off of the root drive, I can get to all of my files, I am just not able to get to the root level of the drive itself as it is invisible. Switching off the show/hide hard drive doesn't fix it. The only way I can get to the root level of the drive is to fire up OnyX and make all invisible files visible, and then the drive appears on my Desktop. Something is telling the drive to be invisible. Is there a Terminal command to make the drive visible? The drive is simply called "Macintosh HD". Thanks! This one has me stumped.

 

[bbrrii]

Confirmed Solution for the Visible System files...

I finally found a solution... Just rerun the Leopard Installer again.. it will be refreshing ur system files.. This will fix the problem... Post back if u are successful...

 

[txhockey9404]

The whole point was not to have to reinstall.

 

[babyfett]

Anyone know if the terminal code here still works in Leopard. On the Apple boards they're saying it should be defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles OFF. Same thing? Thanks.