Something is corrupting the files on my hard disk. It is starting in the folder Macintosh HD and working its way alphabetically through each folder changing the applications so they appear as generic documents. When you try to open them you get the message "the document 'some document' could not be opened because the application that created it could not be found" even though it is an application. The icons for these apps and any documents created by them have changed to single blank page icons. i have found a method that lets me open the application - if i try to open the application from Word as a text file and leave that file open I can then open the application as normal. It has not effected all the files on my system but is going through alphabetically - currently it is upto 'a' only. Please can you tell me what is causing this and how to resolve the issue thanx.

Have you tried rebuilding the desktop file? AppleCare KB Article 10182 tells you how.

I have tried rebuilding the desktop but it has no effect at all. Do u have any other advice?

Run Disk First Aid until it no longer finds problems, or can't fix anything else. At that point, buy DiskWarrior and run that until you have a clean bill of health. p

Hi moggs98. http://www.cit.cornell.edu/helpdesk/mac/macos/rebuilddesktop.html Take care, Linda

Startup command desktop rebuild does not delete the old desktop and build a completely new one. Many ways to do so: TechTool Lite, a free download. Any utility that reveals invisible files; move Desktop DB, Desktop DF, and, for good measure, DesktopPrinters DB to Trash, by hand if necessary, and Restart. After which, you can empty the trash. "Trash Desktop" is also free. File Buddy is not, but it does many, many useful things. TechTool Lite is also *the* utility for PRAM zaps - whenever any kind of connection setting acts up. Good luck!

If rebuilding the desktop once or twice hasn't fixed the problem, there *is* something else at work here. p