My Genie/Djinn is still stil missing - Part II

[RHPConsult]

Some of you may remember that I reported several weeks ago that My Genie (effect) was no longer functioning.

That remains the case, even with my recent update to 10.2.6.

I got some good advice from my TS thread - - turn off Tinker Tool, trash the Dock's prefs, tselect only the Scale Effect, etc. - - but the only thing that really "worked" was to set-up a New User and see if he/she/it had a Genie.

I did.

He/she/it does have a Genie. Right there, zipping things back to the Dock from the Yellow Gum Drop.

Okay what do I do next?

Being, tah dum, The Administrator of this here OS X installation, with all the Rights, Responsibilities, and Privileges appertaining thereto, how do I make me a New User who then replaces me as Administrator? And what will I have to reset (except the Internet Settings) should I choose to do so. Anything obscure or complicated?

Is there a shortcut somewhere? Are there hidden dangers in this process? What should I know about it that I don't know enough even to ask this distinguished assemblage?

All this for just a gimmick!

[RHPConsult]

Bump!

[kps]

Did you try trashing the dock preferences?

/Users/user_name/Library/Preferences/com.apple.dock.plist

[RHPConsult]

Yup.

First attempt at a solution, as I noted in the puzzled post . . .

QUOTE

I got some good advice from my TS thread - - turn off Tinker Tool, trash the Dock's prefs, tselect only the Scale Effect, etc. - - but the only thing that really "worked" was to set-up a New User and see if he/she/it had a Genie.

What I hope to hear are any cautions/reassurances about "replacing myself" with the "New User" set-up.

Is it a non-event or are there potential problems, i.e. are there settings other than internet connection items that I should be careful to record . . . analogous to older OS' 3-d party control panel settings . . . before "deleting myself" in favor of New User?

I'm only guessing, but I assume that since I know my own administrator password,  nothing is lost by changing "my identity" through replacing same via New User. Does that make  sense?

That's really the only question now.

[kps]

I've never done this, so take it FWIW, but I would suggest not deleting the 'original' user...atleast for the time being.

Create your new user, enable auto login for it, transfer over any files you need, setup preferences, etc.

There is the issue of file ownership that'll crop up. The original user will not have access to the new user's home directory with the exception of the Public/DropBox. You could use the finder to transfer your files here and then login as the new user and transfer them to their respective folders. You will also need to change ownership of the files in some cases...maybe in all cases.

[RHPConsult]

Harv and I were doing a little "research" on this, this morning.

I created a 3d non-person-new-user. Then, I identified the previous new user as another "Administrator" and booted up in that Administrator's ID. Then, I trashed the new 3d non-person-new-user to see just where the newly created Deleted Users Folder would be located and if the .dmg file for the deleted "person" was there. . . as promised (by Pogue)

It was, and when mounted and opened, sure enough there were all the files of the "departed" neatly arranged inside . . . "gone" but not forgotten!

I'll have to study your advice to be sure I understand what the naming of files means, and what to move, if I go further with this 'cause at the present I'm not sure of all the implications.

I thinkI'm getting closer, however. And, it is instructional, to be sure!

Thanks Karl and Harv.

Much ado about very little, but my curiosity is up and running (aboout 4700 rpm)

[kps]

Right...if you create a user and then delete that user the home directory of the deleted user reverts to the Admin...the original admin...user ID 501...

But what will happen when you delete the original admin? To who will that directory be assigned to...that is the question.

[RHPConsult]

Wait! Wait!

I gotta a bit more to follow this.

Much appreciated.

DP

[kps]

Dick, before you go creating and deleting users and possibly having to delve into the mysteries of netinfo manager...rename your current user's Library and log out and back in. Rename it something like Library.old, when you login again, the system will create a new fresh Library. This, in itself, may bring back the magic Genie. Now you can start adding back some of the content from Library.old....just be careful you don't bottle up the Genie again. You may also trash the new Library and rename Library.old back to Library if things don't work out as planned.

[RHPConsult]

These sound like instructions I can, in my limited understanding, follow successfully.

At my stage fo comprehennsion, a Primer is far better for me than an encyclopedic Maintenance Manual  Always keep in mind, most everthing under X's hood at this point is a mystery to me

Thanks.

I'll let you know.