[How to] Hide the mach_kernel

[R0GUE]

For those who have updated to a new kernel but have noticed that it is still visible from within the Finder, follow this small guide.

Open the terminal and type:
cd /
pico .hidden
mach_kernel
Now press "ctrl+x" then "y" to save.

You'll need to restart the Finder to notice the effects. Either type in the Terminal:
killall Finderor go to the Apple Menu>Force Quit>Finder>Relaunch.

The kernel should now be hidden.

[pαuℓzurrr.]

Thnx for this! now i got a clean harddrive :p

http://img.skitch.com/20080324-q5bqcxtrnr98qxb5euq8iedi3b.jpg

[CyCLoBoT]

Awesome. Looks better now.

[bhast2]

works great thanks
got sick of looking at that file

[Firewalk]

Thank You..

[naquaada]

There are a lot of progs which can change the file attributes, I always use Path Finder for this.

[nfoav8or]

I don't know if this will help someone out there so I'll post it as an add-on here...

I've been trying to get the "Microsoft User Data" folder to be hidden but still there so I get it out of my Documents folder in the Dock. (purely aesthetics for me)

To toggle the invisibility bit of a single file or folder you’ll need Apple's Xcode Tools software, specifically a Unix program called SetFile. It can be found in the /Developer/Tools directory.

Launch Terminal.
/Developer/Tools/SetFile -a V /Users/YourHomeDirectory/Documents/Microsoft\ User\ Data
Remember to change "YourHomeDirectory" to match your system and to not put a "/" at the end of the code as this will only set the contents of the folder to be invisible and not the folder itself.

After pressing Return/Enter, this immediately enables the invisibility bit although the file will not actually turn invisible until the Finder is relaunched... to make it invisible in the Dock you need to restart the dock as well. I use MainMenu (http://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/17111/mainmenu) for this as it allows me to do both very quickly via a few clicks.

To reverse directions with SetFile, you do almost the same thing with the exception it needs to be a lower case v instead of an upper case V. This disables the invisible bit.


This probably is old news but I never bothered to look into the issue until now.. I've always used the ".hidden" method for all my other needs.

[Ianxxx]

I don't know if this will help someone out there so I'll post it as an add-on here...

I've been trying to get the "Microsoft User Data" folder to be hidden but still there so I get it out of my Documents folder in the Dock. (purely aesthetics for me)

To toggle the invisibility bit of a single file or folder you’ll need Apple's Xcode Tools software, specifically a Unix program called SetFile. It can be found in the /Developer/Tools directory.

Launch Terminal.
/Developer/Tools/SetFile -a V /Users/YourHomeDirectory/Documents/Microsoft\ User\ Data
Remember to change "YourHomeDirectory" to match your system and to not put a "/" at the end of the code as this will only set the contents of the folder to be invisible and not the folder itself.

After pressing Return/Enter, this immediately enables the invisibility bit although the file will not actually turn invisible until the Finder is relaunched... to make it invisible in the Dock you need to restart the dock as well. I use MainMenu (http://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/17111/mainmenu) for this as it allows me to do both very quickly via a few clicks.

To reverse directions with SetFile, you do almost the same thing with the exception it needs to be a lower case v instead of an upper case V. This disables the invisible bit.


This probably is old news but I never bothered to look into the issue until now.. I've always used the ".hidden" method for all my other needs.

Wouldn't work unless I used /Developer/usr/bin/SetFile
otherwise great tip thanks

[nfoav8or]

Wouldn't work unless I used /Developer/usr/bin/SetFile
otherwise great tip thanks

weird... the method I posted above works on both my macbook and my hackintosh... the SetFile command's default install location is to where I posted. it depends on how you installed the Xcode Tools. where did you select as the install point.

[cmdshft]

From my experience with SetFile, you don't need to type the full path, it works with just:

setfile -a V /path/here

But yeah, you do need to have Developer Tools installed.

[nfoav8or]

hmm. good to know. That saves a few keystrokes :D

[pαuℓzurrr.]

I've used this program a couple times now, seems to do the job too :)

http://www.altomac.com/hide_folders/

http://www.altomac.com/images/screen_shots/hide_folders_screen_shot.png

[nfoav8or]

I've used this program a couple times now, seems to do the job too :)

http://www.altomac.com/hide_folders/
...


I've tried this as well. Remember though that the problem I was trying to solve was simply hiding the "Microsoft User Data" folder found in the user's Documents folder. The Hide Folders app did "hide" it, but after opening any of the Microsoft Office apps again, it simply re-created another folder in the Documents folder. This is why I've strayed away from using this.

[Ianxxx]

weird... the method I posted above works on both my macbook and my hackintosh... the SetFile command's default install location is to where I posted. it depends on how you installed the Xcode Tools. where did you select as the install point.

I installed to default, in /Developer/Tools are shortcuts/aliases the actual files are installed in /Developer/usr/bin

[nfoav8or]

I stand corrected... but it should work regardless with the Terminal code posted by Hara Taiki. remember the differences with -v and -V (for everyone else)

[Ianxxx]

From my experience with SetFile, you don't need to type the full path, it works with just:

setfile -V /path/here

But yeah, you do need to have Developer Tools installed.

Strange any of the tools in Developer/Tools don't work for me unless i specify path Developer/usr/bin?
they don't work if I just use setFile or /Developer/Tools/setFile

[cmdshft]

Odd, after having a major crash with my system and reinnstalling everything, after installing the Developer Tools, setfile worked once, and no longer seems to be working.

http://i40.tinypic.com/2u6p64o.png

Any reason?

[Ianxxx]

Try like me to specify path /Developer/usr/bin/setFile

[nfoav8or]

I don't understand it either way... both my hackintosh and macbook still work with setfile... both with "/Developer/Tools/setFile" and with just "setFile"

[Imkantus]

I've used this program a couple times now, seems to do the job too :)

http://www.altomac.com/hide_folders/


Be aware of using this!

Using it on /mach_kernel & /boot made my system unbootable... :-/

[OG-Phantom]

Be aware of using this!

Using it on /mach_kernel & /boot made my system unbootable... :-/

Ack! A year old thread, but just to clarify (since it's been revived anyway);

setfile -a V Makes the file invisible
setfile -a v Makes the file visible

The case [upper or lower] of the V is important.

[Imkantus]

I know that myself.

But I didn't want to install the Dev Tools to my netbook - 16GB ain't much enaugh to waste space - the .hidden doesn't work on SL, and I was to lacy to transfer files from my other hack, so I was looking into some non pay-software.
My only intention with that posting was to warn people about using this one....