I was cleaning up my hard drive today and found these mysterious files:
The three files, Us, Use, and User are empty. I did not create them. The Users arrow file is my regular OS X Users file, but the icon is the same icon for my Microsoft Mouse Preference Pane. I did not update my Microsoft Mouse software recently. Anyone have a clue how these happened? This kind of stuff always raises the malware paranoia index in me.
Called them files--meant folders.
It just so happened I needed to clone my hard drive today, so I went ahead and cloned and the new cloned copy had the correct icon for the Users folder. I didn't include the other three folders in the cloning. I cloned to a hard drive in another G4 which was hooked up in Firewire Target Disk mode. The other G4 uses a Logitech mouse while my original G4 uses the Microsoft mouse. New cloned copy boots up fine in the other G4 with the correct icon.
I then came back here and noted that cwsmith suggested on my image file:
"• Repair permissions?
• Conflict beteween Logitech and Microsoft drivers?
• Gremlins?"
I repaired permissions on the original hard drive but that didn't change anything.
I updated the Logitech Control Center to the most recent version, restarted, and the Users file now has the correct Icon. I'll not bother updating the Microsoft file. If it ain't broke...
Went ahead and updated the cloned copy's Logitech file.
Funny thing is, I originally trashed the three strange folders, then realized I should take a Grab picture first to use in my post, so I took them out of the trash, took the Grab picture, made my thread here, but then, I didn't put the folders back in the trash again. I just left them sitting there as you see them. I then updated the Logitech, restarted with success as stated above, then attempted to trash the three folders again, but this time, it required my administrator password to put them in the trash which it didn't require previously (before the update). Finder Get Info now says I have read and write permissions on the folders, but administrator only has read permissions. Don't know what the permissions were on the three folders before the update. I go ahead and enter my password and the folders are moved to the trash. Trash empties with no problem.
Anyway, problem solved. Thanks! Not likely a case of malware then? I did not install any new pointer software lately. I've always had both the Logitech and Microsoft software installed with no previous problems. Why now all of a sudden?