Dumb question....

Discussion in 'MacBook Pro' started by SurferMan, Jun 14, 2010.

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  1. SurferMan, Jun 14, 2010

    SurferMan macrumors 65816

    Joined:
    May 14, 2010
    Location:
    South FL
    #1
    On the right hand side of my desktop when I download a program it seems to put an icon or doc on the right hand side. Like right now I have a skype dmg file I can't delete as it says Skype is in use, then right above that is a seperate skype icon that even if I drag to dock it still stays on the right hand side (like a copy), then I downloaded open office again and it put the install icon there (like when you open and you drag your program to teh applications folder) etc. Sometimes I can delete stuff, sometimes I can't. And sometimes when I download stuff it doesn't show on the side of the screen, only certain things seem to.
     
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  2. spinnerlys, Jun 14, 2010

    spinnerlys Guest

    spinnerlys

    Joined:
    Sep 7, 2008
    Location:
    forlod bygningen
    #2
    Applications mostly are packed into so called disk images (.dmg) files, but they also come packed into .zip files, and Open "safe files" after downloading is selected, then .dmg files get mounted (icon in Sidebar and icon on Desktop, if you set the Finder Preferences to do so) and .zip files get extracted to the folder you specified in Safari (or your other browser) to save the downloaded files to.

    Safari Preferences
    [​IMG]

    Finder Preferences
    [​IMG] [​IMG]

    After the .dmg file is mounted, you drag the application from that mounted volume into your Applications folder and eject (unmount) the disk image again and maybe even delete the downloaded .dmg file.
    Then you start the application from the Applications folder.

    If the disk image contains an installer, just run that, and after the installation, eject the disk image and delete the .dmg file if you want.


    With .zip files and the extracted folders it's kinda the same way. Drag the application to the Applications folder or run the installer, and after that, delete (or not) the .zip file and the extracted folder.

    The Dock is only a shortcut to applications or folders and files, so anything you drag on it, will stay where it was dragged from.


    Also have a look at the following links, as the information presented there might be helpful in your future endeavours into Mac OS X and could clear up initial confusion and may even prevent harm to your system or your files.




    Mac OS X Basics


    Switch 101 - guide with articles made by Apple on how to accustom yourself, after you switched to Mac OS X from Windows​


    Mac 101 - How to get started with Mac OS X​


    Find out how - tutorial videos made by Apple on how to do certain thing in Mac OS X​


    Pro tips - tips made available by Apple for easier ways of doing certain tasks​


    Mac OS X Keyboard Shortcuts - Learn about common Mac OS X keyboard shortcuts.​


    Mac OS X Beginner's Guide by MacRumors - learn about software, media players, shortcuts and some useful tips, tricks and hints​


    Mac Guides - tutorials, product guides and more​


    MRoogle - a very effective tool to search these fora using Google and made available by edesignuk, introductory threads: 1, 2 and 3​
     
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