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    Unknown files and folders on HD

    Discussion in 'Apple and Mac OS X' started by M@lew, Feb 11, 2007.

  1. M@lew

    M@lew Notebook Evangelist

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    On my Mac Harddrive (as in the main folder with Apps/Library/System/Users etc.) a few files and folders have appeared and I'm not sure what they are.

    There are two documents called ~fo-connect-little and ~server-lettle and 3 unknown folders called etc, tmp and var.

    I would like to know what these files/folders are and what they do. Also would it be safe to just send them to the trash or would they just come back?

    Thanks in advance.
     
    M@lew, Feb 11, 2007
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  2. Wooky

    Wooky Notebook Evangelist

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    in Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader voice:
    NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!

    /etc, /tmp and /var are fundamental folders in any UNIX system. /etc holds the config files, /tmp some temp files as you might guess, and /var usually holds logs and such. While OS X diverges a lot from a typical UNIX system specially when graphic apps are concerned, the foundation is still used for the most basic services (the OS itself, if we are speaking in a strict sense). Deleting them is a sure way to have a pressing need to reinstall OS X. If you feel courageous enough, you might try; I'd like to know if an admin account (not root) can actually do it. Be warned, it will trash your system.
    As for the ~ files, they are most probably backup or temp files leftovers. I don't recognize them. You might look at them with cat or less in a terminal and see the contents; TextEdit should do if you don't fancy the command-line much.
     
    Wooky, Feb 11, 2007
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  3. M@lew

    M@lew Notebook Evangelist

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    Ah....I think i'll just leave everything where it is then just to be safe. Thanks for the info.
     
    M@lew, Feb 11, 2007
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  4. M@lew

    M@lew Notebook Evangelist

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    Is there any way to re-hide them since they're meant to be hidden?
     
    M@lew, Feb 12, 2007
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