New Mac User with Some Questions

Discussion in 'Mac Basics and Help' started by PerfectJudgment, Aug 6, 2007.

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  1. PerfectJudgment, Aug 6, 2007

    PerfectJudgment macrumors newbie

    Joined:
    Aug 6, 2007
    #1
    I'll be going off to college in a couple of weeks and decided now was the time to make the switch since I would be needing a new laptop. I received my new MacBook last week only two days after I had ordered it from the online Apple store!! I am loving the new operating system and can't wait to get this thing online and see everything it has to offer. (I swear, sometimes I feel like the only one that still has dial-up on their home computer.) Anyway, I had some questions about some weird files that I've found in my "iPhoto Library" folder. The files are:
    iPhoto.ipspot
    iPhotoLock.data
    Library.data
    Library.iPhoto
    Library6.iPhoto
    Thumb32Segment.data
    Thumb64Segment.data
    ThumbJPGSegment.data
    Dir.data
    AlbumData.xml

    The two ".iPhoto" files open up iPhoto and a message pops up saying that the file is unreadable and could not be imported. The ".data" and ".ipspot" files have no default application specified to open the document. And finally the ".xml" file opens up as Big Bang 4-In-A-Row. What are all these files supposed to do and how did they get there? I currently have no photo in my iPhoto library, and the only ones I did have were imported from Photo Booth and subsequently deleted just so I could see what options the iPhoto program offered. Any help would be appreciated.

    P.S.- I typed this message on my MacBook, transferred it to my internet-enabled PC via my brand new iPod nano, and posted it. Why? Because I can. :)
     
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  2. CanadaRAM, Aug 6, 2007

    CanadaRAM macrumors G5

    CanadaRAM

    Joined:
    Oct 11, 2004
    Location:
    On the Left Coast - Victoria BC Canada
    #2
    In general

    Do not go poking around inside of folders, especially the Library and System folders

    Do not rename or move any file or folder that the OS or an application creates automatically. Things will break, badly, if you do.

    To open a program, just click its icon, or the icon in the dock, don't try to deduce the workings of the dozens and hundreds of support files, lobraries, resources, etc.

    The above advice is for 98% of Mac users. If you are in the top 2% of geekdom and really want to learn about the Mac OSX and its Unix underpinnings, get some books, starting with one of David Pogue's "the missing manual" series, and go to it.

    But don't be messing with those files until you understand them.
     
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  3. skybolt, Aug 7, 2007

    skybolt macrumors 6502a

    Joined:
    Feb 20, 2005
    Location:
    Nashville, TN, USA
    #3
    I ablsolutely agree with CanadaRAM! Mucking about in the folders, etc is most assuredly the Windows way, and not the Mac way! You have made the switch, now let it be complete and start doing things the easy way. Let your apps take care of things for you, don't worry about what is "under the hood" so to speak. Forget those files are there!

    Welcome to the wonderful world of Macs! Let us know how we can make your switch easier! I promise, macs are much easier to use than PC's, just don't micro-manage everything -- relax! :p
     
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  4. M@lew, Aug 8, 2007

    M@lew macrumors 68000

    M@lew

    Joined:
    Nov 18, 2006
    Location:
    Melbourne, Australia
    #4
    Do not touch any funny sounding files. You do so, you will stuff your computer up. Also do not rename your User folder. Another heads up that will save you a lot of grief.
     
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  5. hopejr, Aug 8, 2007

    hopejr macrumors 6502

    Joined:
    Nov 10, 2005
    Location:
    New South Wales, Australia
    #5
    I have those files too. They're normal and created by iPhoto.
     
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