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General discussion

Downloading programs for apple

Jul 2, 2005 3:00AM PDT

Stupid question ? Maby but I want to get this right.

So I download a program (any program) onto my iBook G4 running 10.3.9. I'm left with a .dmg file on my desktop...then what? I mean I know how to open it and use the program but what do I do with the .dmg file along with the white lozenge shaped icon that pops up. Do I drag both to a folder and put that folder in the applications folder or what?

Thanks for the input.

Grim

Discussion is locked

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(NT) (NT) What is the name of the file? And from what web site?
Jul 2, 2005 3:05AM PDT
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response to downloads in question
Jul 2, 2005 3:18AM PDT

I have downloaded several that did this but the most recent was VLC Media Player...another that comes to mind was Firefox which I collected all the icons together and placed in the Aps folder the second time around...the first time, I threw away the .dmg file after opening and Firefox ceased to work despite the Firefox icon still sitting in my Dock.
Consequently the question.

Grim

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Odd. They write to just double click on the DMG.
Jul 2, 2005 3:31AM PDT
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cool...
Jul 2, 2005 3:58AM PDT

I assume the white lozenge shape icon is the program (why that particular icon? it's the same one that comes up for my usb portable drive)...my mistake with Firefox was I threw that away with the .dmg file rather than placing it in my ap folder.
The Wimpus link was helpful but it did not mention what to do with the .dmg file. I assume it's disposable once it's been activated.

Thanks Bob.

Grim

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uninstall
Jul 6, 2005 11:13PM PDT

You mentioned uninstalling a program. I'm not well versed in the Mac...yet...but exactly how do you uninstall a programproperly. In Windows, the application might have an uninstall feature, if not, then you go to the control panel and add/install programs. When all else fails you can delete from Windows Explorer, which may leave "orphan" or "*******" files that may be hard to trace (do they exist on the Mac BTW?). For the benefit of the newbies here, what is the best way to delete a program/application? Also, I once downloaded Mozilla and I think it became corrupted so I dragged it to the trash. Icannot clear the trash with that item in there. I have to drag it to the desktop then empty the trash. A message comes up mentioning somethging about "chrome". I run a search in Finder for "chrome" and 6 or more items come up but none affiliated with Mozilla. What gives?

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Uninstall
Jul 7, 2005 5:50AM PDT

Some Mac programs have an uninstaller. If it is there, use it.
If it's not, then you can drag the complete program folder to the trash and empty it. The preference files for that program can also be removed but they take up so little space it is hardly worth looking for them.
Items in the trash that cannot be deleted, cannot be deleted for a reason. A message that says something about chrome is not much to go on. However, reboot and then empty the trash. If the file is locked, unlock it with the Get Info button.


P

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Mac uninstaller
Jul 8, 2005 1:56AM PDT

Some programs come with a seperate uninstall program (you'll see it in the program's folder).

Others have it built in to the installer. During the installation process, you should get a screen where you can select 'easy install' or 'custom install'. If the programmers put in an uninstaller, it will show up on the same pull-down menu as 'easy' and 'custom'.

Generally, if a program uses the drag-and-drop install method, you can just delete that program's folder to uninstall it. Other than preference files, everything is in that one folder. The programs that use an actual installer program may put files in other folders, so if they have an uninstaller, it is best to use that.

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DMG files
Jul 2, 2005 3:59AM PDT

Here's the skinny.
When you download a file (program) it is usually compressed in some way as well as being formatted to ensure that nothing happens to it along the way. The compression is usually designated by the suffix .sit.
Once the file has been decompressed, you are left with the .DMG file which is a disk image file. It will mount on the desktop as the "white lozenge shaped icon" If you have ever put memory card into a card reader while it is attached to the Mac, you will see the same thing. it is a DISK.
Double click it and you will see all the goodies inside it. Let's take Firefox as a case in point. Once you have downloaded and decompressed the .sit file and the .dmg file is mounted on the desktop, double click it. Inside you will find the Firefox application. There used to be a text file that explained how to install firefox. It said, words to this effect, drag the contents of this folder into the applications folder on your hard disk. Do not run Firefox from this location." Unfortunately, that text file is missing from the latest download of Firefox.
So, before you do that, go to the Applications folder and create a new folder and name it Firefox. Now drag the application from the mounted disk image on the desktop into the newly created folder. Once it has moved over there, you can trash the "lozenge" It is no longer required.
Back in the application folder, inside the Firefox folder, drag the icon down into the dock. Remove any other Firefox icon from the dock.
All is now well. Basically what you were actually doing was running the program from the disk image. Like running a program from the CD.

I think you will find everything is ok now.
Here endeth downloading and installing, 101

P

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close to what I had done
Jul 2, 2005 4:13AM PDT

I kinda did what you mention excepting I ended up saving both .dmg and lozenge to a folder in the aps folder...it worked but I was left wondering what was really necessary and what was garbage.

Thanks P

Grim

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(NT) (NT) No Problem
Jul 2, 2005 4:16AM PDT
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Question about organizing items in ap folder
Jul 2, 2005 4:56AM PDT

Just for the sake of tidying things up, can I take all of a certain type of program...lets say I have 6 different games in my ap folder...can I take all these seperate games and coresponding folders, and place them all together in a folder labled "games" and then use the alias icons already placed in my dock or would this reorganization negate the path, thus forcing me to reset all the alias/shortcuts ?

Talking to myself here.LOL. I will just try it and see !!!

Thanks all

Grim

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interesting...tried & didnt work
Jul 2, 2005 5:18AM PDT

I created a folder and labled it "?Games" (I use the option + asterisk symbol...whatever it's real name is) to place the folder at the top of the finder window...then placed the chess game that came with my iBook inside the folder. Threw away the alias from the dock and set a new one...AND...program would'nt work. I drag the program back out and it works.

Whats the deal?

Grim

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strange
Jul 2, 2005 5:42AM PDT

other games that came with the iBook such as marble blast and nanosaur which both are in their seperate folders did work while nested inside of the games folder but chess would not (it's represented by a solitary icon in the aps folder-not its own folder).
I wonder whats so different about the chess program?

Grim

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Folders
Jul 2, 2005 8:06AM PDT

you can safely put all your games inside one folder and the icon in the dock will continue to track the location of the files.
Not sure I understand the reasoning behind the ? on the folder name. I realise it brings it to the top of the finder tree but how about you just drag the folder in the side bar and it will always be within easy reach no matter where you are.
My chess program will open when it is inside another folder, it really does not make any difference where the apps are, as long as you and the system know where to find them.

P

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This is really weird
Jul 3, 2005 1:13AM PDT

The suggestion about the sidebar shortcut is good... to be honest, I never use the sidebar because I simply don't think about it, being a newb to os 10. I used the ? as a bullet to mark the temporary folder I was experimenting with since it dose, in fact, move the folder to the top of the window...

BUT GET THIS !!! The bullet (or whatever it is) was the very reason why the Chess program wouldnt open. I dropped the bullet off the folder name and voila, the chess program works. Replace the bullet ( ''? GAMES") and the folder again stops the chess program from working but does not effect the other programs such as marble blast, etc.

So does anyone know what this bullet symbol (option + asterisk) really is ? I don't know anything about apple script so could it be a programming symbol ?

Grim

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Symbol
Jul 3, 2005 1:39AM PDT

It is not an Applescript symbol.
It could be that the Chess program is looking for a specific folder with no special characters in its name.
Time was, back in the day, that the Apple Launcher program used folders with that symbol to denote those folders used for the various Tabs in the program.
i wouldn't worry too much about it. See what happens when you use the tilde, ~, to move the folder to the top of the list.
The side bar is a quick and easy way to get to those folder that you use the most.

P

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For what it's worth
Jul 3, 2005 1:45AM PDT

Don't know about the bullet and programming, but is is possible you created the alias (shortcut) before you added the bullet?

Also, I ran into problems with putting apps. into other sub-folders. It was back in 10.1 I think, and it may be fixed now, but Software Update would not work for apps. that had been "re-organized". I got into the habit of leaving all the Apple software on top, so I don't know if it's still that way.

I do know that DiskWarrior says it should be in placed in the utilities folder. I have no idea why.

Lampie

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What is that #$!@&!! symbol !
Jul 3, 2005 3:22AM PDT

I tried all the variables...

The tilde moves the folder up to the top and the chess program still opens.

The dock alias works before and after you change the folder name without reseting

The chess program will not work with the bullet placed ANYWHERE in the folder name.

Tried moving the calculator program into the "? Games" file and it does work. Go figure.

I guess it's just a bug in the chess program... weird.

BTW...is that symbol supposed to be a bullet ? lol

Grim

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Symbol
Jul 3, 2005 3:40AM PDT

The symbol is called a bullet.
It's used in the publication world. You see it in lists, resum

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(NT) (NT) I want my chess and bullets too !
Jul 4, 2005 7:58AM PDT
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Where does this download are kept?
Jul 8, 2005 5:00PM PDT

Ok, say if download something from internet, the small screen will appear and show the downloading process. This small screen only pop out during downloading, so if i want to go back to this screen to check what i have download so far, where can i find it? It is not in the finder.

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You are correct!
Jul 8, 2005 10:47PM PDT

It is not in the Finder because it is part of Safari.
You will find it, inside Safari, if you click on Window/Downloads or Option+Apple+L keys.
This is NOT where the downloaded files are stored. Your downloaded files are stored wherever you have chosen to store them using the Preferences in Safari. Safari/Preferences/General Tab. By default, Safari will download files to the desktop.
I find it better to create a folder on the desktop, label it "Downloaded Stuff" and tell Safari to download everything to there.

Hope this answers your question

P

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DMG FILES
Jul 8, 2005 6:07AM PDT

You can either save the DMG file or simply drag it to the trash, select Secure empty trash and reclaim disk space!

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What happens
Jul 8, 2005 6:44AM PDT

if you do not select "Secure Empty Trash"?
If the disk space left full?

P

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I mean
Jul 8, 2005 10:50PM PDT

what happens to your space if you do not select Secure Empty Trash and choose Empty Trash instead.
Does it make any difference?

P

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Secure empty trash or just trash.
Jul 9, 2005 2:06PM PDT

Secure empty trash overwrites zeros and makes the file unrecovereable.
To be ised for files you wish that no one ever recovers from your hard disk. An Important contract, a drasft of your will, or some thing like that.

Just 'empty trash only removes header and closer flags and file can be recovered, as long as another file does not overwrites on it.

The ability to recover the file is THE difference.

A good habit is to just empty the trash normally. So if you accidently remove a file it can be recovered with suitable software.

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i didn't secure empty trash, how can i retrieve my file
Jul 19, 2005 3:14AM PDT

i am running osx 10.3.9 and deleted a file and emptied the trash (not secure) where is my file living because i need it

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Trashed Files
Jul 19, 2005 4:07AM PDT
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(NT) (NT) Make that $79.00, My Bad.!
Jul 19, 2005 4:09AM PDT
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Recovering files
Jul 19, 2005 9:14AM PDT

To recover trashed files I used to use Norton Utilities. I'm not sure if it works with OSX beyond 10.3 though.

It's been a while since I had to recover files with such a utility as I usually can use a back-up. Since I work on a lot of photos, I've made a habit of working on copies or save an altered photo using "save as" to preserve the originals.

If you do a search on Google I'm sure you will find some proggie in the sharewares that won't cost an arm and will help you provided of course you did not write over the trashed file, in which case there is no way you can recover it. Good luck.