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Simon Young · Mar 22, 2004, 05:14 PM

I downloaded a file, only to find it was corrupt. Opening the folder it was in caused the Finder to reset, so I moved the file to the trash. Upon trying to delete it, I got an error (-8036 I think, or -8063....can't remember). I looked in the console, and the log showed that it wasn't a UTF-8 file (is that correct?)

I tried dragging the file back out of the trash, and my Finder quit again. However, no sooner had it quit, and restarted...it quit again! Panicking, I restarted the computer in the hopes that it might sort itself out, but now it seems stuck in this endless loop. Luckily everything else still works, so I can still access those apps that I have in the dock. These include Safari (how I've been able to type this!) and Toast Titanium (so I have the ability to backup data to disc, should I need to wipe the system clean).

How can I fix this problem? Is my data just doomed, or is there a program I can download and run that will allow me to wipe the problematic file? Will an install from my original 10.2 install give me the option of archiving?

pat++ · Mar 22, 2004, 07:04 PM

Boot on Mac OS X CD, and repair the disk with Disk Utility.

Terri · Mar 22, 2004, 09:10 PM

Open up your system prefs and create a new user.

Simon Young · Mar 22, 2004, 11:16 PM

Thanks guys, but I tried both of those ideas. Neither worked - the disc utitlity didn't find any errors, and Sys Prefs refused to open.

Anyway, here's how I got around it:

- used Toast to burn my Mail mailboxes, Safari bookmarks and other prefs to CD
- did an archive and install from disc
- was then able to open sys prefs under the new sys folder
- created a new user (logging in under old name gave same problem, unsurprisingly)
- copied all of my important files to FireWire drive
- rebooted from install disc, performing clean install
- restored all of my prefs from CD
- copied back all my files from FireWire drive

All in record time! Oh, and this time I've set up a small second partition SPECIFICALLY for downloading to. That way, if I ever get another dodgy file, I can just wipe the partiton clean without going through all of this again!