From Dan Finegan:
Hi Dan -
First off, thank you for Low End Mac. Your website is a daily must
read, and I can't begin to tell you what a wonderful resource you have
been for me over the years.
Here's where I am hoping either you or some of your readers can help
me. My son has a G3 Blue and White
running OS X 10.2.8. For some strange reason, the computer won't
let him drag any files or folders. I'm fairly sure it's not a hardware
issue, and here's the reason - if I boot the computer into OS 9,
or if a use an OS X 10.2 CD, it drags like any computer should.
I've even created a new user in OS X and have the same problem.
I've tried swapping mice and keyboards - the problem reoccurs.
I'm guessing that in some previous life someone set some obscure
setting in permissions or something that blocks the Mac's ability and
drag items, but I can't locate it. Anyone have any suggestions about
how I might be able to fix this?
Thanks in advance for your assistance.
Dan
Dan,
I've run into that a couple times myself. In each
instance, rebooting the computer solved the problem. The fact that you
have the problem with a new user indicates something is messed up with
the OS X install. I'd suggest a clean reinstall that archives your
current installation so you can recover users, system additions, and
the like.
Dan
Thanks Dan -
If I do a clean install, will that wipe out all the saved documents,
etc.? My son has his documents scattered all over the drive (!) and is
worried about losing something important.
Thanks again -
Dan
Dan,
You have several options when installing OS X, and you
have to go out of your way to wipe the hard drive before the
installation. Use the "Archive and Install" option, which
"automatically moves existing system files to a folder named Previous
System, then installs Mac OS X again" (Apple).
Dan
Hi Dan -
Thanks for the advice - the "archive and install" option did the
trick, and now the drag function is restored. I really though is was
some deeply hidden option in the OS, so I was barking up the wrong
tree.
Keep up the great website!
Regards -
Dan
Dan,
Glad to hear everything is working now!
Dan
