Desktop folder on a different partition?

Nixholas

Registered
I was wanting to be able to have files on my second partion show up on the desktop (not aliases, the actual files) like os 9 and before can.

I tried creating a folder on my second partition and naming it "Desktop". Then I put some files into the folder to see if they'd show up on the desktop, and I wasn't surprised to see that they didn't show up. So then I wanted to delete the folder I had created, and it gives me this error:

"You cannot delete the Desktop. The system requires an item by this name in this location."

so logically, I decided to try renaming the folder prior to deleting it, and I got this message:

"You cannot rename the Desktop. The system requires an item by this name in this location."

So this leads me to belive that I was on to something with my original idea, but it doesn't really work. I haven't tried restarting the computer yet, which is my next step.

BTW, I also tried to delete the folder from the console using the "sudo rm ./Desktop" command, but appearently "rm" won't remove directories. So another question is, what command removes folders? Also, I used the "ls" command in the partition's directory, and it showed "Desktop DB" and "Desktop DF" fliles which pushes me further toward the conclusion that there should be an ability to have files in secondary partitions on the desktop.

Does anyone have any experience with getting files from a secondary partition to show up on the desktop?

The reason I want this capability is that I have a Beige G3, so my primary partition has to be under 8 gigs. I have a 20 gig HD in the machine, and I'd prefer to download my files into the larger (non system) partition, but I do like having my new downloads show up on my Desktop. It's a delema...

Thanks in advance,
Nicholas Feigen

P.S. in case it's important, I'm running OS X 10.1.5 on a Beige G3 with 256megs o' ram, and a 20 gig ATA HD.
 
The Desktop folder on Mac OS X works differently than that in Mac OS 9. Under Mac OS X each user has their own Desktop which is not shared with other users.

Though not exactly what you want there is a way to "fool" Mac OS X into using a shared desktop folder for a single volume. From the Terminal type this:

cd ~
mv Desktop/* "/Desktop Folder/"
mv Desktop old-desktop
ln -s "/Desktop Folder" Desktop


Log out and then log back in and you will see the same items from your Mac OS 9 desktop on your Mac OS X desktop (but only for your startup volume).

This is not something I would recommend. It would be better to simply make aliases to each desired "Desktop Folder" and put them on your personal Desktop in Mac OS X. For non-startup volumes you can make aliases from the Finder in the usual manner. For the boot volume you can make the appropriate alias (symbolic link actually) from the Terminal like so:

cd ~
ln -s "/Desktop Folder" "Desktop/Desktop (Mac OS 9)"

 
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