Thanks too.

The preference file usually contains the name of the program.

'Usually', not always --though must actually do.


The Mac maintenance utility, Cocktail, has a function under "Files" to search for corrupted preferences files.
So does Onyx, which is shareware.

jem c.


At 1:20 AM +0200 20/8/11, Žorvaršur Davķšsson wrote:
On 19.08.2011, at 11:53, jem cabanes wrote:


Why not use an application like 'Find Any File'. It will be listed and the applicable ..plist can be deleted from there without entering the ~/Library folder.

Yep, that's what I use to do too. :-)

Ah, but you have to know the name of the preference to do that! Find Any File can't find by itself a preference, corrupted or not --it needs a name or some sort of code.


The preference file usually contains the name of the program. Look at these files for example:

com.apple.activitymonitor.plist
com.apple.iphoto.plist
com.apple.itunes.plist
com.apple.systempreferences.plist

If you want to delete the iPhoto preference file you just open "Find Any File" and drag and drop the preference folder onto the "Find Items"-Field in Find Any File. That will restrict the search to the preference folder only. As next you enter "iphoto" into the search field (= Name contains iphoto). Now click the Find button and in less than 1 second you'll have found the preference file in question. Press Command + Delete and the file is in the Trash from where it can be permanently deleted.


Žorvaršur