>On Wednesday, January 14, 2004, at 01:52  PM, Robert Covington wrote:
>
>>
>>On Wednesday, January 14, 2004, at 01:19  PM, Ted Spencer wrote:
>>
>>>In a very characteristic lapse, I had my program automatically 
>>>create a file on the desktop (OS 9.2.1) whose name included the 
>>>results of TIME$, with its colons. Things have gone from bad to 
>>>worse ever >> since:
>>>
>>>-> All "Open" dialogs in all applications show no possibilities 
>>>(other than a grayed-out trash) when navigated to the desktop, not 
>>>even the drive on which the desktop lives, so navigating back away 
>>>from the desktop is no longer possible.
>>>
>>>-> Where did the file with the colons in it go?
>>
>>Sounds like you did a colon blow of a file name...that's an illegal 
>>character, because it specifies pathnames.
>
>Of course...
>>
>>You need to whack that file.
>
>Of course...
>>
>>If you can remember the filename, try running an FB program that 
>>assumes that the file is there and does a rename of it to something 
>>generic? (ResEdit a help?)
>
>ResEdit acts like all other apps: navigating to the desktop produces 
>the blank window with the grayed-out trash and nowt else. It's 
>necessary to quit resedit (or any other) and open it with an 
>already-existing file to be able to do anything.
>
>Since the time was part of the file name, I neglected to make note 
>of the second at which these sins occurred. In fact, it was in the 
>midst of a long calibration cycle, and I know the time to within an 
>hour or so. Lots of room for trial and error.
>
>Why didn't Staz prevent me from doing that? It's the compiler's fault.
>>
>>Amazing problem you have come up with. 5 Stars. :)
>
>Thank you.
>
>The OS9 CD won't even allow me to do a clean install because of 
>something it found wrong with some finder file. Splendid.
>
>I trashed all the finder files in the system folder except "Finder". 
>Maybe I should trash that?

Have you tried the DiskWarrier route? I should think it would 
recognize a problem and attempt to correct it.

Short of that, what about a desktop rebuild?

  e-e
  =J= a  y
   "