Member Avatar for RRhiannon99

Long story short, instead of having Fonts >> (actual font files) in System, I accidently now have Fonts >> "New Folder" >> (acutal font files) in System. I restarted, and now the desktop shows nothing, and the top title bar shows nothing... any idea how to fix this? Can you start a Mac in Safe Mode? Or in repair mode, or in a Dos-ish mode like you can Windows? Any help you could prove could possibly help me keep my job, and would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you!


:-|

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This problem is exactly the sort of thing described: moving Apple’s system fonts into a nested folder under /System/Library/Fonts can leave the GUI unable to draw menus and the desktop. and were on the right track — you can fix this without a reinstall if you can get Terminal access (Single‑User, Installer disc Terminal, or by mounting the drive from another Mac via FireWire/Target Disk Mode). The safest immediate approach is to copy (not delete) the fonts back into the top-level system fonts folder, verify, then reboot.

Use these commands from a root shell (Single‑User or Terminal on a rescue volume). substitute the actual folder name if it’s not exactly "New Folder":

/sbin/mount -uw /
cd /System/Library/Fonts
ls -la "New Folder"        # inspect contents first
cp -pR "New Folder"/* .
rmdir "New Folder"         # only after you confirm files copied
sync
reboot

Notes and cautions:

  • Copy first (cp) so the originals remain if something goes wrong. Only remove the folder after you confirm the fonts are present and the system boots normally.
  • If the system volume is mounted under /Volumes (when booted from the installer or another Mac), use the equivalent path: /Volumes/YourHD/System/Library/Fonts.
  • Do not leave non-Apple or large collections in /System/Library/Fonts; put custom fonts in /Library/Fonts or ~/Library/Fonts so they don’t break system components.
  • If the GUI still fails after restoring fonts, a Safe Boot (to clear caches) or Archive & Install will rebuild system resources — use those only after the file‑level fixes fail.
  • If you’re not comfortable with Terminal, attach the drive to another Mac (Target Disk Mode) or get a technician to avoid accidental data loss.

This sequence is faster and less destructive than a reinstall and is the usual first step before attempting Archive & Install.

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Member Avatar for yellow

It's possible that you will have to reinstall the OS. But there's definitely stuff to try first.
1) can you out your Mac into firewire mode or boot from another source, such as a laptop?
2) You might be able to start up in Single User Mode (boot holding down Apple-S) and move the fonts back, but this requires that you not be UNIX/command-line shy..

Member Avatar for kaoss1103

I don't know if I'm right but this is what I'd try first to sort it.

"Disk utility" Verify permission and repair permissions or restore the "HD" using an image (name for a snap shot of your HD which will revert your system files back to the way they were the instant that was made). If you haven't made a image then another option might be to [click click cant' think} umm it's like a alternate Reformat of the HD instead of fully wiping every thing out you only reformat and reinstall the system files (no work documents) i think I'd look that up actually.

I also don't think a mac OS X has a safe mode you see its a direct representation of Terminal (like DOS which is a command line user interface) OS X is a graphical user interface (GUI) so you see what your doing, so a mac is straight to the point no bull but windows isn't Win try to hard to be user friendly that why it has safe mode and all that jazz

the best and safest way to sort it is to REFORMAT IT!! it suck an ya might lose your job so I'd suggest you say it has probably contracted a fatal error that had nothing to do with you..


what did you do any way ??? that kinda file should be locked to any one other than the admin...

good luck man

ummm any one else If im wrong could you please correct me... thanks

Member Avatar for yellow

"Disk utility" Verify permission and repair permissions

Repairing permissions won't fix a font issue. The issue isn't incorrect permissions, it's that the fonts were moved from /System/Library/Fonts/ to a subdirectory that shouldn't exist. The simple fix would be to simply move the fonts back up on level to where they should be.

If you haven't made a image then another option might be to [click click cant' think} umm it's like a alternate Reformat of the HD instead of fully wiping every thing out you only reformat and reinstall the system files (no work documents) i think I'd look that up actually.

What you were trying to describe was a Archive & Install. Which would work, but is a bit extreme, IMO, where there's perfectly suitable alternatives to be tried first.

I also don't think a mac OS X has a safe mode you see its a direct representation of Terminal (like DOS which is a command line user interface) OS X is a graphical user interface (GUI) so you see what your doing, so a mac is straight to the point no bull but windows isn't Win try to hard to be user friendly that why it has safe mode and all that jazz

OS X does have a safe mode. If you boot holding down Shift, it will load only those kernel extensions that are needed. However, this has nothing to do with fonts, so won't help.

What you are describing there is Single User Mode. Where you boot directly into a root shell, bypassing the GUI (which is called Aqua, BTW, not "OS X")

it suck an ya might lose your job so I'd suggest you say it has probably contracted a fatal error that had nothing to do with you..

Finally, one should always take responsiblity for one's actions, not try to lie your way out of it.

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