Hi guys,
I recently got a Macbook with Lion installed. I'm new to OSX and want to know how to have all icons stay automatically arranged by name. I can do it folder-by-folder but that is too frustrating. Is there an easier way?
![]() | Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years. Thanks, CNET Support |
I recently got a Macbook with Lion installed. I'm new to OSX and want to know how to have all icons stay automatically arranged by name. I can do it folder-by-folder but that is too frustrating. Is there an easier way?
Discussion is locked
in the menu bar, click Finder > Preferences.
In the next window, select the General Tab
Put a check mark in the box marked Hard Disks
Then in the Sidebar Tab
Put a check mark in the box marked Hard Disks
Close the window
Now the HD should appear at the top right of the screen and also in the Sidebar when you open a window.
Right click (Control + Click) on the HD icon at the top right of the screen. Choose Get Info
This will show you how much space you have used and how much you have left
P
then command-J to open Show View Options
Select Arrange by Name
click the Use as defaults button
Files that are dragged from one folder to another, on the same hard drive, are moved and not copied.
And to expand on that a little more, if you hold down the option key while dragging the files, it will change to copy instead of move.
There is no cut and paste like function similar to Windows, and while that's a completely idiotic feature from a design point of view, I have to admit it's darn handy. Just one of the things you have to learn to live without in the Mac world, though I'd say on the whole, it's a very small price to pay.
Hi guys, thanks for the tips. But I have a stupid question... how do you find the installed HD? There's no icon for it on the desktop and it's not listed under Devices. This leads to another question. How do I know how much space I've used on my drive?
By default it's not shown on the desktop. Not entirely sure why, but basically you can just clock on the Mac face icon on the Dock, which is the one that looks like a two tone face with a line running down the middle. That will bring up a Finder window. You can also go to the Finder preferences and on the general tab there's a checkbox for showing Hard Drives on the desktop. That will make it show up on the desktop.