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From: nebel@wam.umd.edu (Chris D. Nebel)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac
Subject: Re: My machine is possessed - Folder from Hell
Message-ID: <1990Feb7.192555.1127@wam.umd.edu>
Date: 7 Feb 90 19:25:55 GMT
References: <5642@blake.acs.washington.edu>
Sender: usenet@wam.umd.edu (USENET Posting)
Reply-To: nebel@wam.umd.edu (Chris D. Nebel)
Organization: University of Maryland at College Park
Lines: 36

In article <5642@blake.acs.washington.edu> Russell Owen writes:
>Ways to get rid of undeletable folders
   (or undeletable files -- also a possibility!)
>
>1) reboot
>2) reboot with no INITs
>3) rebuild the desktop file (hold down command and option while you boot)
>4) ran Apple's Disk1stAid and any other diagnostic software you have
>5) look for viruses (I recommend Disinfectant, I think 1.6 is the latest vers.)
>6) replace the system software (copy over new System, Finder, etc. files,
>   and then run the installer)
>7) run ResEdit, select the folder, and use the Clear command (suggested by
>   somebody on the net whose name I've lost when I posted with this problem)
>8) back up all the data (except the undeletable folder),
>   initialize the drive using your hard disk management software,
>   while you're at it, run a disk check and bad-block-zeroing utility
>     if you have one-- LaCie's SilverLining is good,
>   and then restore the data
>9) it's hard to imagine (8) failing, but if you get this far, all I can
>   think of is to reformat your drive, ignore the problem, or replace
>   the drive.
>
>Russell Owen
>owen@phast.phys.washington.edu
>owen@uwaphast.bitnet

This list sounds real good, except that I'd move #7 (using ResEdit) up to
just before #5 (checking for viruses).  Also, be warned that the method
described of replacing your System software will trash any fonts or DAs
you have installed in the System file.  However, I believe that this
method is also necessary, since, if you have a corrupted System file, I'm
not sure that the Installer is smart enough to figure that out.


Chris Nebel
nebel@wam.umd.edu