Member Avatar for jonathono2000

I have like 200 psd files on my desktop that are about 100 megs and everytime I turn on my computer it just sits there trying to generate the preview for them but it can't and that rainbow wheel just spins and spins. I can run applications that are in my dock but very slowly.

I can't do anything associated with the finder. I can't open new finder windows or anything except open system preference (it is in my dock). I can log in as another user but I can't acces what is on the desktop for the user with screwed up files because it is the administrator account.

Is there something like a safemode in Windows I could use?
I have used terminal to delete files that can't be dragged to the trash before, is there some way I could do this from the other user. Any help would be appreciated.

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  • Latest Post Latest Post by salman123456789

Dani AI

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The symptoms reported by — hundreds of large PSDs on the Desktop and Finder locking with the spinning beachball — are a common result of Finder spending CPU and I/O generating icon previews and metadata for each file. That work can stall the desktop and make Finder windows unresponsive. The final resolution in this thread (temporarily changing the administrator and removing the files) is a straightforward GUI fix and is a good baseline solution.

Additional GUI-first options that are safe and avoid Terminal:

  • Boot in Safe Mode (hold Shift at startup). Safe Mode suppresses login items and many non‑essential extensions; Finder often starts with far less background activity and the Desktop can be cleared.
  • Change the folder view to a lighter mode and turn off icon previews (Finder → View → Show View Options → uncheck “Show icon preview”). List/Column views are much less likely to trigger heavy thumbnail work.
  • Create a temporary administrator account (System Preferences → Accounts), log in to that account and browse to /Users/problemuser/Desktop (Finder → Go → Go to Folder). Files can be moved to a temporary folder or an external disk and then trashed from the admin account. Use File → Get Info → Sharing & Permissions to correct ownership if a GUI permission change is needed.
  • If another Mac is available, use Target Disk Mode to mount the drive and delete files as if it were an external disk.

When a file still resists deletion it may carry special filesystem attributes or be owned by root; those cases usually require booting from recovery media or using command-line repair tools. Backups are essential before attempting invasive fixes. The suggestions from and point to the same safe strategies (temporary admin account and alternate-boot approaches); the third‑party tool suggested by is unnecessary for most situations and should be used only after verification and a backup.

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Member Avatar for John A

I can log in as another user but I can't acces what is on the desktop for the user with screwed up files because it is the administrator account.

What a mess. You said that you could still acess the System Preferences. Well, I would go into the "Accounts" settings, and then you can use that to create another Administrator account which will then be able to access your Desktop folder. And while you're in the Accounts settings, why don't you just take a peek at "Login Items" under your account, and make sure there's nothing there which is bloating it (probably nothing, but just a good thing to check).

Member Avatar for Dave Cowen

Couldn't you use the sudo command in the terminal from another user account to be able to see what is in your administrator account? From there the standard deleting or moving the files to the trash or a new folder on the desktop would be possible. You wouldn't need to create a new administrator account this way.

Joeprogrammer's suggestion of checking your Login Items is a good one. Unless you put all 200 psd files on the desktop at one time without any restarts/boot ups inbetween how are you sure that the psd files are actually causing the problem.

Another possible solution would be to boot up from a backup, external hard disk, Install DVD, etc. None of these should display all of the junk associated with your current account's desktop so no spinning beachball. You could then just go in, select the problem files on the user's account, and move/delete them at will.

Member Avatar for jonathono2000

Couldn't you use the sudo command in the terminal from another user account to be able to see what is in your administrator account? From there the standard deleting or moving the files to the trash or a new folder on the desktop would be possible. You wouldn't need to create a new administrator account this way.

Joeprogrammer's suggestion of checking your Login Items is a good one. Unless you put all 200 psd files on the desktop at one time without any restarts/boot ups inbetween how are you sure that the psd files are actually causing the problem.

Another possible solution would be to boot up from a backup, external hard disk, Install DVD, etc. None of these should display all of the junk associated with your current account's desktop so no spinning beachball. You could then just go in, select the problem files on the user's account, and move/delete them at will.

I was able to change who the admin user was and then I just deleted the files from the other user. Then when I was done I just swithched the authorization back. Was pretty easy actually. Thanks for all the help though.

Member Avatar for salman123456789

You should try this Long Path tool in order to overcome this delete problem

commented: Last post is in 2006, no point replying now. -2
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