[RUNEMASTER]

Ive got this mac laptop or notebook that is running mac OS X.

I found some mac freeware using my pc and then transferred all these apps to a folder in mac i named freebies.

I took each individual app (not archived), and made a folder for it inside this folder named freebies.


Using my pc mindset i tried to install the apps by just clicking open. In only one case did the application actually install.

1. Anyway, I also do not understand what the icons that look like drives represent? These are on the desktop now.

2.I probabbly went about it the wrong way in my installations.

3. now id like to uninstall these applications and maybe install them properly.


4.Is there a general way to install applications using this OS? In pc you just click the .exe file and it installs to a folder called "my programs", but with mac I have no idea. Now I have to unistall all these apps possibly and reinstall. just cause many dont work. All together they where just like 5 apps.little ones.


Guess i just need to know how to properly install/and unisntall apps.

Any help appreciated. if anyone needs a buddy on yahoo let me know.i could use a yahoo mac using buddy. What are those drive looking icons on the destop?

[Big Mac]

1. The icons you're seeing are called disk images. They are like ISOs in the PC world except that they are designed to be treated like regular disks. They come from .dmg files, and they are the preferred format for the distribution of most applications.

2. In order to properly install most applications, you simply open the disk image in question and drag the application icon inside of it to the /Applications folder, one of its subfolders or to some other location that you desire.

3. After you copy the application, you no longer need the disk image. In order to unmount a disk image (or any other disk) you drag it to the trash. You can then trash the file it came from - the .dmg file - or you can store it in case you wish to install a fresh copy of the applicaion in the future.

[rehoot]

I'm not sure if you gave me enough information about the source of the programs that you copied. Were they on an external hard drive or memory stick? Did you download them from the internet?

If the programs were already running on another machine and you copied them across the lan, or from an external hard drive, etc., you could just drag and drop the application icon into the new folder. If you downloaded the files and they have extentions like .dmg, .sit., .zip., .tar, .gz, .tgz, then you have to unzip them first and then copy the programs.

If they are freeware, you can probably find them on the internet and downlaod them (unless you have slow internet connection). If the file has a .tar, .tgz, or .gz extension and it does not open automatically, you can either learn the UNIX commands or download Stuffit Expander (StuffIt Deluxe is your complete compression solution.) -- look for the free version.

The icons on your desk top are links that point to drives. This would include external hard drives, internal hard drives, memory sticks, etc. This is normal. Just leave them there or double click to see what is in them.

If you are really new to Mac and like to tweak the system, you may benefit by speding a few bucks and getting a Mac OS X book from your local book store.

If you post the file extensions for the files in question, you may get a better answer. You may want to go to Finder, then use the menu command Finder/Preferences and look under Advanced and click the option to always show the file extention. An extension of .app is an application that you should be able to run.

[rehoot]

After reading the post by BigMac, it ocurred to me that you probably downloaded .dmg files. If so, you can follow BigMac's suggestions.

The .dmg is a disk image file that will mount as a disk volume and appear to the computer as a new hard drive (or external drive). After you copy the program from that new volume to your Appplications directory, you can click the eject icon (or right-click the disk image icon and choose "eject" ) and then delete the .dmg file.

[TETENAL]

You've run into a common problem. Installing applications on a Mac is overly complicated and confusing while much simpler than on a PC on the other hand. Some applications come with their own installer, others come as .pkg files that are installed with the default Installer application (the one that is in your /Applications/Utilities/ folder). You have no problem with those since that's the same procedure as on the PC.

Most Mac applications however come within disk images and are installed with "drag & drop installation". A disk image is basically a file that represents an exact copy of a disk (CD or harddrive) with it's own filesystem. A disk image can be mounted by double-clicking just like a CD is mounted when inserted or a hard drive is mounted when attached. The mounted disk images are the white drives you see on your desktop. And just like a CD can be ejected a disk image can be unmounted by dragging it to the trash again. Drag & drop installation works like this:

• You double-click the disk image to mount it on the desktop
• You open the mounted white disk image that appears (if it's not done automatically) to see the application that is stored inside.
• Now you drag the application inside into your Applications folder. This will copy ("install") it there. The Applications folder is the recommended folder, but usually you can put it wherever you want to if you wish.
• Now that you have a copy in your Applications folder you can eject the white disk image by dragging it to the Trash.
• And lastly you trash the disk image file since you don't need it any more.

If that sounds confusing, then it's because it is. Apple definitely should improve here.

The advantage of drag & drop installation is that you are under full control. You know what you did and no installer could put crap all over your hard drive. And de-installation is easy too. Just drag the application from the Applications folder to the trash and you're done.

[TETENAL]

Oh man, you guys type twice as fast as I do apparently. Sorry, for the unnecessary reply.

[RUNEMASTER]

Great!.itll take some time for me to have this sink in. Ill get back with the file extensions tomorrow.

In the meantime Ill explore these drive looking icons.

Thanks a ton.

hey if anyone has yahoo messenger, and would like a buddy, my id: rune2402


I wont be a bother.HEhe

[kmkkid]

Originally Posted by RUNEMASTER

Great!.itll take some time for me to have this sink in. Ill get back with the file extensions tomorrow.

In the meantime Ill explore these drive looking icons.

Thanks a ton.

hey if anyone has yahoo messenger, and would like a buddy, my id: rune2402


I wont be a bother.HEhe

If you're new to a mac you may have trouble finding the file extensions, as they are hidden by default I believe.

To make extensions visible : click on the desktop select the "Finder" menubar item, then select preferences. A window will open, select the 'Advanced' icon, then just check off the "show all file extensions" checkbox

[RUNEMASTER]

True jesus loves everyone. And is non-violent.

If anyone would like to trade pc for mac skills I am available. again on yahoo messenger. Ill get back with more questions. Thanks .This is a good thread for mac newbys. I know the pc inside out esp. XP.

[dimmer]

And is non-violent.

You've clearly never gone up against him in "Halo", a game which he thinks he owez.

[RUNEMASTER]

The preponderence of vilolence and sexuality in media here in U.S.A. where I live , I consider to be a campaign to continue the dumbing down of the population.A form of brain-washing if you will that at once condones violence ( hence our reactionary trigger happy acceptance of violence twards others),and at the same time numbs our morality as human beings.

Hence it is ok even welcome to commit all sorts of deprivations. While we may not commit these ourselves, we turn a blind eye to the commital of these deprivations by higher powers.

Until eventually all is consumed even ourselves. a time may come even for many to say no to violence and follow the path of wisdom that is our birthright as humans on this earth. until then carnage and dumbification will be our lot. I too was an addict of games and what-not till i came to the realization that I was feeding the machine of destruction perhaps that is what they mean by repentance. not the repentance of fools.But a change that comes to us and makes us better men and women. No more to follow like ignorant sheep the will of evil and in humanity which breeds contempt and all sorts of cruelty to the world Only to feed the lust of bloated and depraved men who exploit our foolish pursuits to the detriment of all humanity and our world.

Thanks for the info.