Mac OS X: How to Replace the Alias "Desktop (Mac OS 9)"
If the alias "Desktop (Mac OS 9)" is deleted when Mac OS 9 and Mac OS X are installed on the same disk, the alias cannot be recreated in the Finder. Use the method described here.
Products Affected
Mac OS X 10.0
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Symptom
Solution
This issue is resolved in Mac OS X 10.2 or later, as described below. For versions 10.0 to 10.1.5, follow these steps to recreate the alias:
You should see the "Desktop (Mac OS 9)" alias on the desktop.
To avoid the need to use this alias, you should move any items from your Mac OS 9 desktop either to your Mac OS X Documents folder, or to a more appropriate folder on the Mac OS 9 disk. Locations within your Mac OS X Home directory provide you with organization and enhanced privacy when in a multi-user environment.
Background information
When you install Mac OS X v 10.0 to 10.1.5, it creates a symbolic link on the Mac OS X desktop named "Desktop (Mac OS 9)." This symbolic link is functionally similar to an alias, providing access to the Mac OS 9 Desktop Folder. If Mac OS 9 is installed on the same disk or disk partition as Mac OS X, this link is the only way to access the Mac OS 9 Desktop Folder. If the link is deleted in this scenario, you can only recreate it by using the Terminal application.
In Mac OS X 10.2, a symbolic link to the Mac OS 9 Desktop Folder called "Desktop (Mac OS 9)" is automatically created at startup if there are items on the Mac OS 9 Desktop. If there are no items on the Mac OS 9 Desktop, then the link is automatically removed the next time the computer restarts. This symbolic link is created at the root of the Mac OS X volume, and its permissions are set so that it cannot be deleted in normal use. If it is deleted, it will be recreated after the next restart.
- 1. You cannot recreate the "Desktop (Mac OS 9)" alias after deletion.
2. You cannot access the Mac OS 9 Desktop Folder.
Solution
This issue is resolved in Mac OS X 10.2 or later, as described below. For versions 10.0 to 10.1.5, follow these steps to recreate the alias:
- 1. Open the Terminal application (located at /Applications/Utilities/).
2. Type: ln -s /"Desktop Folder" ~/Desktop/"Desktop (Mac OS 9)"
3. Press Return.
4. Click on the desktop.
You should see the "Desktop (Mac OS 9)" alias on the desktop.
To avoid the need to use this alias, you should move any items from your Mac OS 9 desktop either to your Mac OS X Documents folder, or to a more appropriate folder on the Mac OS 9 disk. Locations within your Mac OS X Home directory provide you with organization and enhanced privacy when in a multi-user environment.
Background information
When you install Mac OS X v 10.0 to 10.1.5, it creates a symbolic link on the Mac OS X desktop named "Desktop (Mac OS 9)." This symbolic link is functionally similar to an alias, providing access to the Mac OS 9 Desktop Folder. If Mac OS 9 is installed on the same disk or disk partition as Mac OS X, this link is the only way to access the Mac OS 9 Desktop Folder. If the link is deleted in this scenario, you can only recreate it by using the Terminal application.
In Mac OS X 10.2, a symbolic link to the Mac OS 9 Desktop Folder called "Desktop (Mac OS 9)" is automatically created at startup if there are items on the Mac OS 9 Desktop. If there are no items on the Mac OS 9 Desktop, then the link is automatically removed the next time the computer restarts. This symbolic link is created at the root of the Mac OS X volume, and its permissions are set so that it cannot be deleted in normal use. If it is deleted, it will be recreated after the next restart.
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