Rebuilding the Desktop
The Easy Way / The Good Way

Background

One of the reasons that the Macintosh operating system is so easy to use, is the fact that all file management is performed in the main interface. This means that we may store files, folders, and applications anywhere we want on our systems. We may also move these items, at any time, with a simple drag of the icon. Believe it or not, this is not an option on some other operating systems. We also have the ability to select any document, and by opening that document, automatically open the program that created that document. Imagine if you could move anything in your house, anywhere, at any time, and immediately remember exactly where it is, and push a button to retrieve it, when you need it. If you're like most people, you can easily see that this ability is pretty amazing.

In order to perform this amazing feat of recollection, the Macintosh maintains a database of every item on your system. In fact every volume accessed by your computer (a volume is a storage place, such as your hard drive, a floppy disk, a zip disk, a syquest disk, anything that holds and stores information) has it's very own database for reference. This database, called the desktop file, is invisible, but it does exist on every volume.

The desktop file tracks every addition, deletion, or movement of everything on your volume. Most of it's function is performed at Shut Down, during that short pause between selecting "Shut Down" from the "Special Menu" (or the "Apple Menu", in some cases), and when the machine actually shuts down. With this information in mind, one can see how a sytem crash, or lockup may compromise the health of the desktop file. The other important fact about the desktop file is that it is not self-purging. In other words, it doesn't know how to clean itself up. Therefore, when you move a file, the database doesn't actually delete it's old reference to that file, but it puts a new reference in the new place. So, when it looks for that file, it first goes to it's original location, and then it follows all of it's references until it finds what it's been looking for. Eventually, this can become quite time consuming, and your machine's performance slows down. It also makes the desktop file vulnerable to corruption, which may lead to your computer's inability to find any of it's own information.

It is, therefore, up to us to Rebuild the Desktop regularly.

When

To properly maintain your system, the average user should rebuild the desktop monthly. If your icons begin to look weird, or lose their custom images, you must rebuild. It should also be performed after a major installation (any program which installs anything to your system folder), or after any major crashes (users of online software, beware!). These precautions will not guarantee that you'll avoid system repairs and technical support, but you will be cutting your chances. You'll probably also find that your system seems a bit more responsive after your rebuild, if your desktop database file was becoming corrupted.

How To

Contrary to popular belief, a Desktop Rebuild does not consist of selecting "Clean Up" from the "View" menu. That merely straightens out the icons on your desktop. It also does not mean Optimizing the Hard Drive, one of the options available with utilities like Norton Utilities' Speed Disk (this, by the way is a very common practice of PC users, however it can be very destructive, and is not recommended). When we Rebuild the Desktop, we are adjusting information in an invisible file.

There are a couple of ways to perform this function, the "Easy Way" and the "Good Way".
<back to top>

The Easy Way

The "Easy Way" is Apple's own method. It's simple to perform, and probably better than nothing, but it does an incomplete job, and has the potential to corrupt files in your system folder. For those of you who are squeamish about performing tasks with several steps, this is the method for you, but be forewarned, this method may delay a technical support visit, but you'll see me sooner than if you use the other method.

To perform this method, you simply hold down the option+command (apple/squiggle) keys all the way through the startup of your computer. If you do this properly, your computer will eventually send up a dialog box asking if you're "sure you want to rebuild the desktop?". At this point you say, "of course, you silly computer, why do you think I've been sitting here holding down these keys?", and you hit "OK". Then wait until the machine stops showing you a progress bar, and your desktop will reappear, ready to work.
<back to top>

The Good Way

The "Good Way" is the method prescribed by most technicians, as the best method of avoiding system corruption and providing a perfectly clean desktop database file. This method encompasses several steps, so those of you with a bit of a sense of adventure should use this method. As I said, it's a bit more involved, but it does provide better results than the "Easy Way".

The steps are: (click the apples to view the instructions)

Download TechTool from Micromat's Website or our Shareware Page (you'll only need to do this part the first time)

Create a "Desktop Rebuild Set" (you'll only need to do this part the first time)

Select "Desktop Rebuild Set" in Extensions Manager

Restart Computer

Use TechTool

Select "Use This Set" in Extensions Manager

Restart Computer
<back to top>

 

 

Download TechTool

1. Click to link to the Micromat Website or our Shareware Page, and click the link to the program on the resulting page.
   
2. If you haven't changed your browser's settings, the file will eventually appear on your desktop, and be automatically "unstuffed" by Stuffit Expander (which has probably been installed when your browser was installed. If you need Stuffit Expander, you may download it from our Shareware Page.
   <back to steps>

Create a "Desktop Rebuild Set" - This will need only be done the first time, as setup.
(The following instructions are for those using the MacOS Extensions Manager (installed with the MacOS). For those of you using an alternative startup management program (eg: Conflict Catcher), please refer to your program's instructions for creating sets.)

1. Open the Extensions Manager (Apple Menu - Control Panels - Extensions Manager).
   
   
2. Select the "Duplicate Set..." button, and in the resulting dialog box, enter the title "Use This Set" (no quotes)(this will save your original settings for later use). Hit the "OK" button.
   
   
3. Select "Duplicate Set..." again, and this time, enter the title "Desktop Rebuild Set" (no quotes). Hit the "OK" button.
   
   
4. In the Edit menu, select "All Off".
   
5. Users of MacOS 7.6.1 and below will also perform the following:
   
   • Under Control Panels, turn on "MacOS Easy Open", or "Macintosh Easy Open" (the name varies, depending on your system).
   <back to steps>

Select "Desktop Rebuild Set" in the Extensions Manager

1. Open the Extensions Manager (Apple Menu - Control Panels - Extensions Manager).
   
2. In the "Sets" pulldown menu near the top of the Extensions Manager window, select "Desktop Rebuild Set".
   <back to steps>

Restart Computer

1. Select the "Restart" button at the bottom of the Extensions Manager window.
   <back to steps>

Use TechTool

1. Locate TechTool on your computer.
   
2. Double click the TechTool icon.
   
3. You will be presented with a "splash screen", (this is a freeware program, so it's Micromat's way of advertising). You must click this screen to close it.
   
4. Select "Rebuild" from the main TechTool window. (There are many other options, however they are not integral to our present purposes).
   1. Note: if there is any chance that the rebuild process may be interrupted, select the "Save" button, next to "Rebuild". This will allow you to save your present desktop state. If an interruption occurs, you may use the "Restore" button to reset to the old desktop database.
      
5. After hitting "Rebuild", you will be presented with a window displaying all volumes available on your Macintosh (a volume is anything on which you store data, eg: hard drive, zip disk, syquest disk, floppy disk, CD ROM).
   
6. Select any or all of these items (to select multiples, hold down the shift key as you select). It is advisable to rebuild the desktops on all volumes, on a regular basis.
   
7. Select the "Save Info Comments" box, if you have entered comments in the "Get Info" windows of any of your files (if you don't know what this means, it probably does not pertain to you).
   
8. Hit the "Select" button at the bottom of the TechTool window.
   
9. You will be warned that all programs will be closed, select "Proceed".
   
10. The computer will clear the desktop and then display a rebuild status bar. Those machines using OS 8 and above will experience a restart of their computer, prior to the rebuild status bar's appearance. This is expected, and normal.
    
11. DO NOT INTERRUPT THE REBUILD PROCESS, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES!!!
    
12. When the status bar clears, your desktop rebuild is completed, however, your machine will not yet work correctly. Continue the steps.
    <back to steps>

Select "Use This Set" in Extensions Manager

1. Open the Extensions Manager, again. You'll find that this time, you don't have any arrows in your Apple Menu. This is because we've disabled them, temporarily, for the rebuild. To get to the Extensions Manager, you'll have to open the Control Panels folder from the Apple Menu, and then open the Extensions Manager.
   
2. Select "Use This Set" from the pulldown menu at the top of the Extensions Manager window. This is the set you created in part 1 of the "Create a Desktop Rebuild Set" step. It includes all of the extensions and control panels which were in use before you began this process.
   <back to steps>

Restart Computer

1. Select the "Restart" button at the bottom of the Extensions Manager window.
2. After your machine completes the restart process,
   You're Done!!!
   <back to top>