Help me save my computer from myself!

March 11, 2008 8:41 PM

I think I broke my OSX..

I was manually uninstalling an invasive copy-protection application, by hand. This required me to go into the system folders and delete some files; after I did so, I stupidly emptied the trash without double-checking. The trash emptying stopped, notifying me that certain files were in use; only after this did I realize that I had deleted the entire folder, not a single file within the folder.

I can't reinstall, as I left my Leopard disk abroad! This is on OSX 10.5.1, and the folders in question are /System/Library/CFMsupport and /System/Library/Extensions. I have 7 files and one directory in CFM support, and 53 files in the Extensions directory. Is this normal? Could someone check for me?

Thanks!

posted by provolot to computers & internet (10 comments total)

I have OSX 10.5.2, and 1 directory/7 files in CFMsupport, but 276 files and 2 directories in Extensions. You might try simply installing the 10.5.2 update to see if that resolves problems.
posted by Dipsomaniac at 8:54 PM on March 11, 2008

No, that's not normal. You chucked a bunch of stuff you shouldn't have.

$ uname -sr
Darwin 9.2.0
$ ls -1 /System/Library/CFMSupport | wc -l
8
$ ls -1 /System/Library/Extensions | wc -l
273

posted by majick at 8:54 PM on March 11, 2008

Take it to a Genius Bar in an Apple store.
posted by cmiller at 8:55 PM on March 11, 2008

Dipsomaniac,

Yeah, I thought about installing the update, but it seems that the Extensions folder provides kernel extensions that load during the boot process. Seeing as how the update requires a restart of my computer, I'd rather not try my luck..
posted by provolot at 8:56 PM on March 11, 2008

Ouch.
On 10.5.2, I have the same thing you have in CFM Support, but 274 files in Extensions... And they mostly look like original system files, not stuff I installed.

Sounds like it would be a good idea to do a full reinstall. Are you someplace where you really can't borrow an OS X dvd or download a torrent?
posted by OutlawedYeomen at 8:56 PM on March 11, 2008

I unfortunately only have a 10.4.11 system, so I'm not sure how useful this is. I have 8 files and 1 folder in /System/Library/CFMSupport, and 223 items in /System/Library/Extensions. Some of the files in the latter (a dozen or less) are files I know I've installed myself though.

I think you may have lost some stuff from Extensions, unless they have seriously cut down on the number of kernel extensions present in 10.5. Losing them shouldn't stop you from booting, but they may do nasty things.

If you possibly can, I would NOT REBOOT until you can restore the missing kexts from somewhere. I think as long as you keep it running in one continuous session, the missing extensions won't be noticed.

Any chance of making a trip to the Genius Bar at your nearest Apple Store? (Or just go to the store with a thumbdrive and DIY?) I think you can avoid reinstallation by pulling the files from another system running the same version and hardware configuration.
posted by Kadin2048 at 8:57 PM on March 11, 2008

Oh, and my Extension folder only weighs 215 MB. Maybe someone with a cleaner system than mine can zip it and send it to you?
posted by OutlawedYeomen at 9:00 PM on March 11, 2008

I don't have specific technical instructions, but YouSendIt would be a good way for someone to send you the zipped files, per OutlawedYeomen's idea, if your inbox doesn't allow file sizes that large.
posted by limeonaire at 9:09 PM on March 11, 2008

It certainly looks as if I took a large bite out of my system files. I'll try to keep my computer running until this weekend, when I'll have time to go to the Mecca of Apple Stores here in New York. Curiously enough, I don't know anyone who has installed Leopard (yet). Thanks everybody!
posted by provolot at 9:17 PM on March 11, 2008

You can always do an Archive & Install of 10.5 and then re-run the 10.5.2 delta updater. That will return your system to normalacy while preserving installed apps and all user files. (Obviously make a complete backup first.)
posted by nathan_teske at 8:06 AM on March 12, 2008