[schalliol]

On my Mac Pro at home, my wife experiences a problem every now and then where she can't click the items on the desktop. I can't figure out what's going on, but then on my MBP, I don't have a desktop! Thoughts?

[revans]

See this thread: http://forums.macnn.com/90/mac-os-x/...desktop-icons/
No solution, but it sounds like the same problem.

[schalliol]

Good point, that's the issue I have on my Mac Pro. Ugh.

[Hal Itosis]

Does it also happen when Spaces is disabled?

Are any open apps displaying "floating" windoids?

[schalliol]

Good idea, but yes. It still happens. One thing that I find interesting is that I can't drag anything to the desktop, which i assume means that the Finder doesn't view the desktop as a folder.

[Nexus5]

Same for me on my Mac Pro. It happens when Apple Backup is running. When I quit Backup the problem is gone. Strange thing.

nexus5.

[AndrewEWilson]

Same problem here on a G4 running Leopard. Sometimes can't get icons on desktop to respond, and sometimes can't see files placed onto the desktop. The quickest way out of this is to relaunch Finder (Cmd-Alt-Esc then select Finder and click relaunch).

Andrew

[Kevin]

There is a "10.5 buglist" thread in this part of the forum. It's even stickied. A lot of people read it.

http://forums.macnn.com/90/mac-os-x/...bugs-thread/6/

[schalliol]

Originally Posted by Kevin 

There is a "10.5 buglist" thread in this part of the forum. It's even stickied. A lot of people read it.

I'm not sure why you are posting this statement. Are you suggesting that there is something in that thread worth noting on this issue? If so, could you please point to the relevant information? These are terrible large threads, 280 posts, all flat. It's very difficult to have appropriate discussions on a particular bug or problem in there. It's also unclear what's an isolated issue, a "leopard bug," or a bug in some other software.

[gringley]

I get this on my iMac too. Repair permissions resolves it for me. Once I repair I can click. Not quite sure which item unlocked my desktop though?

2008-07-17 08:24:06 -0400: Disk Utility started.

2008-07-17 08:24:18 -0400: Repairing permissions for “Macintosh HD”
2008-07-17 08:24:18 -0400: Reading permissions database.
2008-07-17 08:24:18 -0400: Reading the permissions database can take several minutes.

2008-07-17 08:30:39 -0400: Permissions differ on "private/var/log/secure.log", should be -rw------- , they are -rw-r----- .
2008-07-17 08:30:39 -0400: Group differs on "private/var/root/Library/Preferences/.GlobalPreferences.plist", should be 0, group is 20.
2008-07-17 08:30:39 -0400: Permissions differ on "Applications/Utilities/AirPort Utility.app/Contents/Resources/lanArrow.png", should be -rwxrwxr-x , they are -rw-rw-r-- .
2008-07-17 08:30:39 -0400: Permissions differ on "Applications/Utilities/AirPort Utility.app/Contents/Resources/lanCheck.png", should be -rwxrwxr-x , they are -rw-rw-r-- .
2008-07-17 08:30:39 -0400: Permissions differ on "Applications/Utilities/AirPort Utility.app/Contents/Resources/lanDisabled.png", should be -rwxrwxr-x , they are -rw-rw-r-- .
2008-07-17 08:30:39 -0400: Permissions differ on "Applications/Utilities/AirPort Utility.app/Contents/Resources/wanArrow.png", should be -rwxrwxr-x , they are -rw-rw-r-- .
2008-07-17 08:30:40 -0400: Permissions differ on "Applications/Utilities/AirPort Utility.app/Contents/Resources/wanCheck.png", should be -rwxrwxr-x , they are -rw-rw-r-- .
2008-07-17 08:30:40 -0400: Permissions differ on "Applications/Utilities/AirPort Utility.app/Contents/Resources/wanDisabled.png", should be -rwxrwxr-x , they are -rw-rw-r-- .
2008-07-17 08:30:44 -0400: Group differs on "Library/PreferencePanes", should be 0, group is 80.
2008-07-17 08:30:44 -0400: Permissions differ on "Library/PreferencePanes", should be drwxr-xr-x , they are drwxrwxr-x .
2008-07-17 08:30:55 -0400: User differs on "System/Library/Frameworks/JavaVM.framework/Versions/1.4.2/Home/lib/jvm.cfg", should be 0, user is 95.
2008-07-17 08:30:56 -0400: User differs on "System/Library/Frameworks/JavaVM.framework/Versions/1.4.2/Libraries/classlist", should be 0, user is 95.
2008-07-17 08:31:34 -0400: Group differs on "Library/LaunchAgents", should be 0, group is 80.
2008-07-17 08:31:35 -0400: Group differs on "Library/LaunchAgents/com.hp.launchurlagent.plist", should be 0, group is 80.
2008-07-17 08:31:35 -0400: Group differs on "Library/Application Support/hp/hppa/Plugins/ColorCleaning.plugin/Contents/Resources/da.lproj/HSDColorCleaningTaskController.nib/classes.nib", should be 80, group is 20.
2008-07-17 08:31:35 -0400: Group differs on "Library/Application Support/hp/hppa/Plugins/ColorCleaning.plugin/Contents/Resources/da.lproj/HSDColorCleaningTaskController.nib/info.nib", should be 80, group is 20.
2008-07-17 08:31:35 -0400: Group differs on "Library/Application Support/hp/hppa/Plugins/ColorCleaning.plugin/Contents/Resources/da.lproj/HSDColorCleaningTaskController.nib/objects.nib", should be 80, group is 20.
2008-07-17 08:31:35 -0400: Group differs on "Library/Application Support/hp/hppa/Plugins/ColorCleaning.plugin/Contents/Resources/da.lproj/HSDColorCleaningTaskController.nib", should be 80, group is 20.
2008-07-17 08:31:35 -0400: Group differs on "Library/Application Support/hp/hppa/Plugins/ColorCleaning.plugin/Contents/Resources/da.lproj/Localizable.strings", should be 80, group is 20.
2008-07-17 08:31:35 -0400: Group differs on "Library/Application Support/hp/hppa/Plugins/ColorCleaning.plugin/Contents/Resources/fi.lproj/HSDColorCleaningTaskController.nib/classes.nib", should be 80, group is 20.
2008-07-17 08:31:35 -0400: Group differs on "Library/Application Support/hp/hppa/Plugins/ColorCleaning.plugin/Contents/Resources/fi.lproj/HSDColorCleaningTaskController.nib/info.nib", should be 80, group is 20.
2008-07-17 08:31:35 -0400: Group differs on "Library/Application Support/hp/hppa/Plugins/ColorCleaning.plugin/Contents/Resources/fi.lproj/HSDColorCleaningTaskController.nib/keyedobjects.nib", should be 80, group is 20.
2008-07-17 08:31:35 -0400: Group differs on "Library/Application Support/hp/hppa/Plugins/ColorCleaning.plugin/Contents/Resources/fi.lproj/HSDColorCleaningTaskController.nib/objects.nib", should be 80, group is 20.
2008-07-17 08:31:35 -0400: Group differs on "Library/Application Support/hp/hppa/Plugins/ColorCleaning.plugin/Contents/Resources/fi.lproj/HSDColorCleaningTaskController.nib", should be 80, group is 20.
2008-07-17 08:31:35 -0400: Group differs on "Library/Application Support/hp/hppa/Plugins/ColorCleaning.plugin/Contents/Resources/fi.lproj/Localizable.strings", should be 80, group is 20.
2008-07-17 08:31:35 -0400: Group differs on "Library/Application Support/hp/hppa/Plugins/ColorCleaning.plugin/Contents/Resources/no.lproj/HSDColorCleaningTaskController.nib/classes.nib", should be 80, group is 20.
2008-07-17 08:31:35 -0400: Group differs on "Library/Application Support/hp/hppa/Plugins/ColorCleaning.plugin/Contents/Resources/no.lproj/HSDColorCleaningTaskController.nib/info.nib", should be 80, group is 20.
2008-07-17 08:31:35 -0400: Group differs on "Library/Application Support/hp/hppa/Plugins/ColorCleaning.plugin/Contents/Resources/no.lproj/HSDColorCleaningTaskController.nib/objects.nib", should be 80, group is 20.
2008-07-17 08:31:35 -0400: Group differs on "Library/Application Support/hp/hppa/Plugins/ColorCleaning.plugin/Contents/Resources/no.lproj/HSDColorCleaningTaskController.nib", should be 80, group is 20.
2008-07-17 08:31:35 -0400: Group differs on "Library/Application Support/hp/hppa/Plugins/ColorCleaning.plugin/Contents/Resources/no.lproj/Localizable.strings", should be 80, group is 20.
2008-07-17 08:31:35 -0400: Group differs on "Library/Application Support/hp/hppa/Plugins/ColorCleaning.plugin/Contents/Resources/zh_TW.lproj/HSDColorCleaningTaskController.nib/classes.nib", should be 80, group is 20.
2008-07-17 08:31:35 -0400: Group differs on "Library/Application Support/hp/hppa/Plugins/ColorCleaning.plugin/Contents/Resources/zh_TW.lproj/HSDColorCleaningTaskController.nib/info.nib", should be 80, group is 20.
2008-07-17 08:31:36 -0400: Group differs on "Library/Application Support/hp/hppa/Plugins/ColorCleaning.plugin/Contents/Resources/zh_TW.lproj/HSDColorCleaningTaskController.nib/objects.nib", should be 80, group is 20.
2008-07-17 08:31:36 -0400: Group differs on "Library/Application Support/hp/hppa/Plugins/ColorCleaning.plugin/Contents/Resources/zh_TW.lproj/HSDColorCleaningTaskController.nib", should be 80, group is 20.
2008-07-17 08:31:36 -0400: Group differs on "Library/Application Support/hp/hppa/Plugins/ColorCleaning.plugin/Contents/Resources/zh_TW.lproj/Localizable.strings", should be 80, group is 20.
2008-07-17 08:31:36 -0400: Group differs on "Library/Application Support/hp/hppa/Plugins/ControlPanelLanguage.plugin/Contents/Resources/Info.plist", should be 80, group is 20.
2008-07-17 08:31:36 -0400: Group differs on "Library/Application Support/hp/hppa/Plugins/ControlPanelLanguage.plugin/Contents/Resources/version.plist", should be 80, group is 20.
2008-07-17 08:31:36 -0400: Group differs on "Library/Application Support/hp/hppa/Plugins/PenAlignment.plugin/Contents/Resources/da.lproj/HSDPenAlignmentTaskController.nib/classes.nib", should be 80, group is 20.
2008-07-17 08:31:36 -0400: Group differs on "Library/Application Support/hp/hppa/Plugins/PenAlignment.plugin/Contents/Resources/da.lproj/HSDPenAlignmentTaskController.nib/info.nib", should be 80, group is 20.
2008-07-17 08:31:36 -0400: Group differs on "Library/Application Support/hp/hppa/Plugins/PenAlignment.plugin/Contents/Resources/da.lproj/HSDPenAlignmentTaskController.nib/objects.nib", should be 80, group is 20.
2008-07-17 08:31:36 -0400: Group differs on "Library/Application Support/hp/hppa/Plugins/PenAlignment.plugin/Contents/Resources/da.lproj/HSDPenAlignmentTaskController.nib", should be 80, group is 20.
2008-07-17 08:31:36 -0400: Group differs on "Library/Application Support/hp/hppa/Plugins/PenAlignment.plugin/Contents/Resources/fi.lproj/HSDPenAlignmentTaskController.nib/classes.nib", should be 80, group is 20.
2008-07-17 08:31:36 -0400: Group differs on "Library/Application Support/hp/hppa/Plugins/PenAlignment.plugin/Contents/Resources/fi.lproj/HSDPenAlignmentTaskController.nib/info.nib", should be 80, group is 20.
2008-07-17 08:31:36 -0400: Group differs on "Library/Application Support/hp/hppa/Plugins/PenAlignment.plugin/Contents/Resources/fi.lproj/HSDPenAlignmentTaskController.nib/objects.nib", should be 80, group is 20.
2008-07-17 08:31:36 -0400: Group differs on "Library/Application Support/hp/hppa/Plugins/PenAlignment.plugin/Contents/Resources/fi.lproj/HSDPenAlignmentTaskController.nib", should be 80, group is 20.
2008-07-17 08:31:36 -0400: Group differs on "Library/Application Support/hp/hppa/Plugins/PenAlignment.plugin/Contents/Resources/no.lproj/HSDPenAlignmentTaskController.nib/classes.nib", should be 80, group is 20.
2008-07-17 08:31:36 -0400: Group differs on "Library/Application Support/hp/hppa/Plugins/PenAlignment.plugin/Contents/Resources/no.lproj/HSDPenAlignmentTaskController.nib/info.nib", should be 80, group is 20.
2008-07-17 08:31:36 -0400: Group differs on "Library/Application Support/hp/hppa/Plugins/PenAlignment.plugin/Contents/Resources/no.lproj/HSDPenAlignmentTaskController.nib/objects.nib", should be 80, group is 20.
2008-07-17 08:31:36 -0400: Group differs on "Library/Application Support/hp/hppa/Plugins/PenAlignment.plugin/Contents/Resources/no.lproj/HSDPenAlignmentTaskController.nib", should be 80, group is 20.
2008-07-17 08:31:36 -0400: Group differs on "Library/Application Support/hp/hppa/Plugins/PenAlignment.plugin/Contents/Resources/zh_TW.lproj/HSDPenAlignmentTaskController.nib/classes.nib", should be 80, group is 20.
2008-07-17 08:31:36 -0400: Group differs on "Library/Application Support/hp/hppa/Plugins/PenAlignment.plugin/Contents/Resources/zh_TW.lproj/HSDPenAlignmentTaskController.nib/info.nib", should be 80, group is 20.
2008-07-17 08:31:36 -0400: Group differs on "Library/Application Support/hp/hppa/Plugins/PenAlignment.plugin/Contents/Resources/zh_TW.lproj/HSDPenAlignmentTaskController.nib/objects.nib", should be 80, group is 20.
2008-07-17 08:31:36 -0400: Group differs on "Library/Application Support/hp/hppa/Plugins/PenAlignment.plugin/Contents/Resources/zh_TW.lproj/HSDPenAlignmentTaskController.nib", should be 80, group is 20.
2008-07-17 08:31:36 -0400: Group differs on "Library/Printers/hp/Utilities/HP Printer Utility.app/Contents/Resources/HPPU/2EF2A92335D9658C9103B6A3BBB856DE/26D093AAF8C485C8487B1CFA6D9618E9870CF4BF560A38E897 176D8B785F3892", should be 80, group is 20.
2008-07-17 08:31:36 -0400: Group differs on "Library/Printers/hp/Utilities/HP Printer Utility.app/Contents/Resources/HPPU/2EF2A92335D9658C9103B6A3BBB856DE/26D093AAF8C485C88C4B20CA03C86B3ABAC794600760C2A3", should be 80, group is 20.
2008-07-17 08:31:36 -0400: Group differs on "Library/Printers/hp/Utilities/HP Printer Utility.app/Contents/Resources/HPPU/2EF2A92335D9658C9103B6A3BBB856DE/26D093AAF8C485C8CD971B337F27750DBAC794600760C2A3", should be 80, group is 20.
2008-07-17 08:31:36 -0400: Group differs on "Library/Printers/hp/Utilities/HP Printer Utility.app/Contents/Resources/HPPU/2EF2A92335D9658C9103B6A3BBB856DE/44F4FDAC51118BDA174E3DA993CD82A9", should be 80, group is 20.
2008-07-17 08:31:36 -0400: Group differs on "Library/Printers/hp/Utilities/HP Printer Utility.app/Contents/Resources/HPPU/2EF2A92335D9658C9103B6A3BBB856DE/951CF330AA331AAE7E4B1F20171F565C336DC8D35892B579", should be 80, group is 20.
2008-07-17 08:31:36 -0400: Group differs on "Library/Printers/hp/Utilities/HP Printer Utility.app/Contents/Resources/HPPU/2EF2A92335D9658C9103B6A3BBB856DE/951CF330AA331AAE7E4B1F20171F565C56CAC322AB995310", should be 80, group is 20.
2008-07-17 08:31:37 -0400: Group differs on "private/etc/cups", should be 0, group is 26.
2008-07-17 08:31:43 -0400:
2008-07-17 08:31:43 -0400: Permissions repair complete
2008-07-17 08:31:43 -0400:
2008-07-17 08:31:43 -0400:

[TonElTigre]

Year later, I know. But you can relaunch Finder as one quick, temp fix. The only real solution i've heard is removing iStat Pro from your dashboard/computer. I removed it and so far I am good. But will be keeping an eye on it. It was random, though it happened often. My desktop icons would just stop responding and if I dragged something to the desktop, the icons did not update.