I recently replicated a problem experienced by other Mac users who are running OS X 10.5 and use Aperture to manage and edit their photo library. An entry on the Apple Discussion Board describes the essence of the problem:

“I’m seeing a bug in Systems Preferences desktop background selector. I am unable to add a folder to the sidebar because an Aperture Projects folder appears there instead. I can add the folder I want but then I have two identical Aperture folders and my selected folder is not visible.

If I then attempt to add the folder again, I get an error message telling me the folder already exists, when it in fact does not. I deleted the Desktop background preferences and it still does not work. I deleted Aperture and rebooted and it still does not work. Is this a known bug? How do I fix it? Is there any way to delete the Aperture Projects folder from the Prefpanel? Aperture has also wrecked my Screensaver. All I get now is an error message that no pictures are in the selected folder.”

http://tinyurl.com/6r5736

A bug report about this same issue has also been posted on MacRumors.com:

http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=486121

One technique to avoid this system behavior is to delete the Aperture Library file that gets installed by default into the User’s Pictures folder. However, if a user wants to use Aperture in lieu of (or in addition to) iPhoto, then this workaround solution is unsatisfactory. After a bit of experimentation, I came up with a solution that allows me to regain access to my desktop image options while retaining the ability to run Aperture: create the Aperture Library file onto another drive volume or folder outside the User’s Pictures folder.

Once you do so, your selector options in the Desktop & Screen Saver pane will return to normal.

A Mac user contacted me today that he could no longer print documents from Safari. Here is my reply:

1. Check the printer cable to make sure it is connected properly at both ends.

2. Try printing from another application to determine whether the problem is system-wide or isolated to Safari.

3. Check the Print Queue.

Open System Preferences. Select Print & Fax. In the Print & Fax dialog screen, check the entry labeled “Status.” In normal operation with no active print jobs, it should read “Idle, Default.” Click the button labeled, “Open the Print Queue.” Do you see any uncompleted print jobs in the queue? If so, click the Resume icon to resume printing. You may also wish to delete any of the unfinished print jobs by clicking the Delete button.

If clearing old print jobs from the Print Queue doesn’t resolve the problem, proceed to Step #4.

4. Delete the original printer entry by highlighting the queue name and clicking the minus (-) button. Create a new print queue by clicking the plus (+) button. After you click the plus button, you will see the OS X print dialog window. Select the icon at the top labeled Default if it is not already selected. Does your Mac see your printer? Does it also recognize the right printer driver in the “Print Using” selector? If so, then click the Add button to add the printer. Finally, run a print job to see what transpires.