Filed under: Software
QuickBooks users be cautious of recent update
Update: The "update" at the root of this issue HAS NOT been issued by Intuit (see the posts in this thread), the recommended course of action for all QuickBooks 2006 and 2007 users is to run the terminal command as detailed at the bottom of this post. This will turn off all automatic updates and prevent whatever this is from installing on your system. Furthermore, at this point in time, I tend to agree with Tangrams, the user who first reported this issue in both the Apple and Intuit forums, that the best course of action for QuickBooks for Mac users is to not launch the program at all until this mess is sorted out. At the risk of spreading unnecessary FUD (fear, uncertainty, doubt),
This information comes courtesy of reader Kelly, who also sent us a link to an Apple Support Thread about the issue. It appears that in the latest automatic QuickBooks update, the updater is coming up with a "not enough free space" message (regardless if enough free space actually exists - and keep in mind, this appears to be a 100K update), if the user then clicks "OK" - the result is that any documents, files or folders that were stored on the desktop are then deleted - and as of right now, no simple recovery method appears to exist.
This is what one user submitted to the Apple Support Thread:
This thread was the only place I was able to find reports of the problem - but with the number of different users commenting, on both Intel and PPC machines, Tiger and Leopard, I felt more inclined to err on the side of caution and post this warning. The issue has been confirmed by users in the comments, additionally, here is a link to a thread on Intuit's site that is dedicated to the issue.
If this has already happened to you and you aren't running Time Machine, short of using a program like Data Rescue II or File Salvage 6.1, there do not appear to be any clear cut solutions. It looks like the updater is deleting all files from the desktop, as user-generated Spotlight searches are not turning up the content.
Just another reminder for all OS X users - whether you use QuickBooks or not - it is NOT a good idea to store files or folders, especially if they are important, on the desktop! Update: I say this because of how system resources are allocated due to windowserver and icon memory usage. It can slow things down tremendously and lead to a less stable system. /Update Use your Home folder or Documents folder instead. If you really want easy Desktop access, consider creating an alias, as this will at least be non-destructive in the event of some sort of problem. Additionally, Leopard users can use the Stacks function on the Dock, and Tiger owners can drag a folder to the dock for easy access as well. Programs like QuickSilver and Overflow can also make it easy to access frequently used documents and folders.
Update: In the comments, Tom Mulhall posted this suggestion for a workaround that I think will be useful for QuickBooks users:
Update 2: Tom has posted two more workarounds. Instead of locking the desktop folder, this turns off the auto-update function in QuickBooks:
Thanks Tom!
...I took them into the genius bar at apple on 59th st, nyc. They see the issue is intuit's quickbooks auto updater. this is a serious issue that may require data recovery or a quick resolution from intuit who is obviously not yet aware of the issue.
Genuis bar says, when you see, "YOUR HARD DRIVE DOES NOT HAVE A ENOUGH HARD DRIVE SPACE", DO NOT HIT OK!!! YOU SHOULD FORCE QUIT QUICKBOOKS.....
If this has already happened to you and you aren't running Time Machine, short of using a program like Data Rescue II or File Salvage 6.1, there do not appear to be any clear cut solutions. It looks like the updater is deleting all files from the desktop, as user-generated Spotlight searches are not turning up the content.
Just another reminder for all OS X users - whether you use QuickBooks or not - it is NOT a good idea to store files or folders, especially if they are important, on the desktop! Update: I say this because of how system resources are allocated due to windowserver and icon memory usage. It can slow things down tremendously and lead to a less stable system. /Update Use your Home folder or Documents folder instead. If you really want easy Desktop access, consider creating an alias, as this will at least be non-destructive in the event of some sort of problem. Additionally, Leopard users can use the Stacks function on the Dock, and Tiger owners can drag a folder to the dock for easy access as well. Programs like QuickSilver and Overflow can also make it easy to access frequently used documents and folders.
Update: In the comments, Tom Mulhall posted this suggestion for a workaround that I think will be useful for QuickBooks users:
Before launching Q'Books, simply Get Info on the Desktop folder and
LOCK the folder. Launch Q'Books and dismiss the bogus messages. You
can then safely unlock the desktop folder for normal use (whick will
be required for other functioning of the system). You can then use
and safely quit Q'Books . Just be sure to relock your Desktop prior
to relaunching each time.
Update 2: Tom has posted two more workarounds. Instead of locking the desktop folder, this turns off the auto-update function in QuickBooks:
Fix #2 (with credit to "tangrams"); for the more savy users---
Type in terminal:
defaults write com.intuit.QuickBooks2006 QBCheckForUpdatesKey NO
Then hit Return
Then Quit Terminal
(Editor's note: for QuickBooks 2007 users, replace QuickBooks2007 in the above query - while most of the reports I've read seem to revolve around 2006, 2007 seems to have its own update/internet related issues as well.)
OR Fix #3 (used here late Sunday night)
Open the file com.intuit.QuickBooks2006.plist in Users/~your user/Library/Preferences and with Property Editor set the flag for QBCheckForUpdatesKey to Boolean "No"
save and quit Property Editor
Thanks Tom!
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Glenn said 3:55PM on 12-17-2007
Why would the writer of this article say it is NOT a good idea to store your important files on the desktop. I've been selling Apple Computers for years and have never heard of this. The desktop is just a folder. Like any other really. Anyone have ANY idea what he talking about?
Thank you in advance.
Reply
Ondroo said 11:52PM on 12-16-2007
If you're selling Apple computers, then you would know that when you store folders on the desktop it slows the computer down... from macfixit;
"Unfortunately -- aside from the effect of disarray it creates -- keeping dozens or hundreds of files on the Desktop can significantly degrade performance. Not necessarily because the system is sluggish with regard to rendering the icons on the desktop and storing them in memory persistently (which may be true in some cases), but more likely because keeping an excessive number of items on the Desktop can cause the windowserver process to generate reams of logfiles, which obviously draws resources away from other system tasks."
Simon Arch said 4:04AM on 12-17-2007
"keeping an excessive number of items on the Desktop can cause the windowserver process to generate reams of logfiles"
oldtimer mode
This was never a problem back in the old days when the GUI wasn't just a pretty face covering up a command line.
Dang kids! Git off m'lawn!
/oldtimer mode
Seriously though, I've not been one to keep a lot of crap on my desktop, but I've usually got half a dozen files and folders there and I don't notice any appreciable slowdowns. If you're like my friend Mike however and you've got approximately three or four hundred files scattered willy-nilly across your desktop, you WILL have problems. Poor guy's got a duallie G5 and wonders why it crawls. I try to tell him, but will he listen?
BARTH said 11:03PM on 12-19-2007
Did you read the comments here. Yes, it may be a folder, but it's a folder that is disappearing with little or no chance of recovery. I wish I would have found this resource two days ago. I am without a number of files and reloading every piece of software known to man. This has been, and still is a pain in my butt. I lost my desktop twice. Apple support has had no clue. I'm lucky to have found a guy at the store who gave me the heads up. I still needed a clean install due to the permissions nightmare. And I mean nightmare. Glenn, the desktop is no place for files with Intuit near by. I've been a Mac guy for 25 years and never lost a file other then a drive failure.
Kurt said 11:57PM on 12-16-2007
"Just another reminder for all OS X users - whether you use QuickBooks or not - it is NOT a good idea to store files or folders, especially if they are important, on the desktop!"
OK, this is ridiculous advice. The Desktop is JUST ANOTHER FOLDER. Why is it not a good idea to store files or folders on the desktop?
Reply
Christina Warren said 11:25PM on 12-16-2007
Because of how OS X allocates memory for each icon displayed on the desktop, it can take up more system memory than you may be willing to allocate. Additionally, having lots of files on the desktop causes the windowserver processes to generate a ton of log files, taking away even more system resources - for just stuff that's on the desktop. Additionally, it can just be too easy for someone to accidentally erase somethign that is on the desktop. Is it always a bad idea? If you know what you are doing and are OK with the increased system/memory usage, no -- but in general, aliases or stacks or dock shortcuts are just a better idea.
innermindmedia.com said 11:25PM on 12-16-2007
Cause each icon on your desktop is handled as a " window " and it really slows down your computer ... Unlike a FOLDER that's closed and " out of focus " till you open it, your desktop is always running, that doesn't really relate to this post .. but still valid
Scott said 11:31PM on 12-16-2007
I second what Kurt said above. The Desktop is not just another folder, it is another folder INSIDE the Home folder, which is exactly where you advise to keep important files. This quickbooks problem sounds nasty, but the general advice of not using the Desktop folder is simply wrong.
Kurt said 11:57PM on 12-16-2007
Do you have any documentation that backs up the claim that memory utilization for icons on the desktop is different than any other finder window? 'Cause I've just spent the last 20 minutes looking and haven't found anything that hints that a cluttered desktop wastes system resources.
Mike said 11:56PM on 12-16-2007
Not to sound bad but the OS using more memory on desktop items and even remotely affecting anyone but the most horrifically cluttered users sounds like a problem from the mid 90s. Items on the desktop using memory, big deal. Oh the horrors.. the icons have stolen my ram. Granted more system resources are consumed by clustered desktops. 99.99% of people will never notice.
The desktop is intended by design to be used as an analog to well... a desktop. You put what you're currently working on it. When you're done, MAYBE you file it away. There's simply no reason to NOT store important documents on it.
John Montgomery said 11:30PM on 12-16-2007
Yep -- this actually happened to me today without realizing it. And I'm running Quick Books 2006 -- not even 2007. 2006 has no updates.
I'm really happy with this. It also seemed to totally mess up permissions and such....I still can't write to the desktop.
Reply
Tom said 11:27PM on 12-16-2007
I discovered this problem and have been troubleshooting iot since then. It not only deletes the files, but actually deletes the entire "Desktop" folder itself (the content size is removed from the hard drive). It is fully repeatable and can be reproduced easily. I have a good backup that I could grab my Desktop folder from for testing. Reported to Intuit tonight and will followup more, as we are also QuickBooks Beta testers.
This is happening with our version 2006 Pro for Mac, on Sys 10.4.11
If you need an immediate workaround to be able to use your QuickBooks, we have found one and tested it fully:
Before launching Q'Books, simply Get Info on the Desktop folder and LOCK the folder. Launch Q'Books and dismiss the bogus messages. You can then safely unlock the desktop folder for normal use (whick will be required for other functioning of the system). You can then use and safely quit Q'Books . Just be sure to relock your Desktop prior to relaunching each time.
And I thought it was me......
Tom Mulhall
Macintosh Systems Solutions
Key West
Reply
Ian Vacin said 9:05PM on 12-17-2007
Dear QuickBooks Pro for Mac users,
We apologize for any problems that may have occurred related to today's QuickBooks Pro for Mac 2006 and 2007 product update activity. As you may know, we resolved the update issue this morning and understand some of you have been affected. We have launched the following site to share information and are committed to working with any customers affected on a one-on-one basis. As a reminder, if you think you may have been affected we request that you share your contact info with us so we can assist you right away.
http://support.quickbooks.intuit.com/support/Search.aspx?kbID=1009249&sg=SG_QuickBooksProforMac2007&mod=12-17-2007+9:34:42
Sincerely,
Ian Vacin
Offering Leader of Intuit's Mac Financial Software
jon said 6:50PM on 12-31-2007
Thanks for the note. Is there hope for the 2008 quickbooks pro for mac to be released soon? Will it fix this problem? I called Intuit twice and they said that they have no comment on either the release of the new version or the fix for this folder-delete problem.
Thanks. jon
Josh said 11:37PM on 12-16-2007
Agreed with what Kurt says above. The only reason files on desktop might be advised against is because it can get cluttered and visually disorienting. But it's not any more or less "safe" than putting the files in ~/Documents; it's just another folder in the user's home directory.
Pity that Intuit's screwed this up and their update is causing data loss... but it's got nothing to do with files being on the user's Desktop. It could just as easily been their Music folder, their Pictures folder, or their entire Home folder.
Reply
Christina Warren said 11:42PM on 12-16-2007
I understand what you are saying, but I still think using the desktop as a collecting area for various documents or folders (not aliases, but actual folders), especially if they are important - is not the best idea. If having a cluttered desktop can lead to system instability (and it can - it might not for everyone, but it can, and I've seen it happen, especially on older Macs), I personally don't want to store important documents there. Lots of system "cleaning" utilities also automatically clear files off the desktop by trashing them (and again, if you are careful and paying attention, this might not affect you - but that's not the case for every user).
Kelly said 11:39PM on 12-16-2007
I'M STARTING A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT. PLEASE EMAIL ME AT:
vacilandoproductions@yahoo.com
if you would like to be added to the list.
Kelly
Reply
Josh said 11:46PM on 12-16-2007
Remember to LOCK the Desktop folder before each and every launch of Quickbooks? Or else risk having it and all of its contents deleted from underneath you?
Yikes.
And this is happening in both QuickBooks 2006 and 2007?
Intuit better fix this, and fast.
Reply
Christina Warren said 12:02AM on 12-17-2007
@Kurt
This is something I've heard about for at least 5 years (and it might have existed before that, that was just when I started using it as a personal practice).
I didn't do an Apple technical documentation search (though I 'm sure it exists), but here are two more recent articles from reputable sources I found pretty quickly:
http://www.macfixit.com/article.php?story=2007051510154393 -- From May '07
http://www.macworld.com/article/55418-2/2007/02/clutter1.html -- From February '07
Reply
Kurt said 12:14AM on 12-17-2007
Thanks, Christina. I found the macfixit article but it was way too vague. The macworld one eluded me. Appreciate the tip and it'll likely cause me to change my behavior.
(Sorry for the "ridiculous advice" snark earlier - it just seemed wrong, somehow, that the folder in which you store files would have that much of an impact on system performance. I really think Apple's done it wrong if this is in fact what's happening, as you - and the articles - suggest. Next time I'll try to validate before criticizing.)