[ale] debugging a Mac snafu

[Drifter]

Thanks for the reply.

Finally got a to burn a DVD backup of ~/Library by doing as you suggested:
copying the directory to the Desktop and then backing up that copy. Almost 
certainly the underlying problem was that some app was locking up a 
configuration file.

As to reading system logs, yes I can get to them via console (or terminal) 
but reading them is a bit of a headache. For my purposes, VI just gets in 
the way and using the command "syslog -d <path/asl> displays the syslog 
easily.

Sean

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

On Monday, June 04, 2012 03:37:20 pm Passauer, Billy wrote:
> Hi Sean,
> 
> With regard to trying to burn a DVD of the Library folder -- are you
> trying to burn /Library or ~/Library ?  If the latter, temporary/cache
> files are getting created/deleted from this directory.  Lots of
> programs use this directory to store/update preferences.  Maybe do as
> previously suggested and create an iso first and then burn the iso. 
> Or make a duplicate of the directory, and burn the duplicate?
> 
> You should be able to read the system logs via the Console application,
> which is located in /Applications/Utilities
> 
> As far as getting the "GUI file manager" (Finder?) to display the
> contents of /var - if you open the "Go" menu and choose "Go to
> Folder...", you should then be able to enter /var
> 
>  ... Billy ...
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: ale-bounces at ale.org [mailto:ale-bounces at ale.org] On Behalf Of
> Drifter Sent: Monday, June 04, 2012 2:23 PM
> To: ale at ale.org
> Subject: [ale] debugging a Mac snafu
> 
> I still haven't solved the problem of why I cannot burn the Library
> directory to a DVD.  It complains of an (unknown) file not found.
> 
> BUT, I have discovered a way to read the syslogs without too much
> trouble -- and without dealing with VI just to read a system file.
> 
> on a Mac terminal:
> 
> syslog -d /private/var/log/asl
> 
> Now if someone could tell me how to get the GUI file manager to display
> the contents of  /var, I would be grateful.
> 
> Sean
> 
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