The official "How do I do this?" for new Switchers!

[-Josh-]

So, I'm a new mac owner for about a day now, and well, it's amazing. However..there are many questions. i've done some questionable things, just old happens from windows.

So this is the thread for users like me, who have that question but don't know how to answer it. So, Mac veterans, please, assist us.

Thanks.

Speaking of which. I totally just tried dragging my entire applications folder to my desktop...it made am erasing sound and now it's gone? ..****.

 

[-Josh-]

Nevermind, I think I found it. Wow, I scared the hell out of myself. I used Spotlight, and then dragged it onto my dock. That's awesome.

What's the difference between spotlight and finder?

 

[jamesarm97]

Done that before. I think it just deletes it from the Finder Sidebar. You have to go to Macintosh HD and then drag applications folder back to finder sidebar. It does not delete the folder.

 

[-Josh-]

Done that before. I think it just deletes it from the Finder Sidebar. You have to go to Macintosh HD and then drag applications folder back to finder sidebar. It does not delete the folder.

You are awesome! thanks man.

 

[nikhsub1]

What's the difference between spotlight and finder?

Think of the finder as windows explorer (not internet explorer) and spotlight as search.

 

[-Josh-]

Thanks guys - you've made life helpful.
Let's see. I've gone crazy with downloads...wedjets, ect. But, in my download icon on my stacks, if I delete the previously downloaded item, does it remove it from my mac? In windows, you can delete the download file, but keep the downloaded application. How does it work on a mac?, thanks.

Also, how do I delete wedjets?

 

[abijnk]

Thanks guys - you've made life helpful.
Let's see. I've gone crazy with downloads...wedjets, ect. But, in my download icon on my stacks, if I delete the previously downloaded item, does it remove it from my mac? In windows, you can delete the download file, but keep the downloaded application. How does it work on a mac?, thanks.

Yup, same with mac. You can delete the .dmg file without issue.

 

[-Josh-]

Yup, same with mac. You can delete the .dmg file without issue.

Weird.
It seems that when I delete the one for my MSN messenger, it deletes my msn messenger with it?

 

[abijnk]

Weird.
It seems that when I delete the one for my MSN messenger, it deletes my msn messenger with it?

It shouldn't. I downloaded it from the microsoft website real quick to make sure. Just download the .dmg file to your mac, double click it, then, in th box that pops up, drag the big messenger icon to your applications folder. After that you should be able to delete the .dmg no problem.

 

[-Josh-]

It shouldn't. I downloaded it from the microsoft website real quick to make sure. Just download the .dmg file to your mac, double click it, then, in th box that pops up, drag the big messenger icon to your applications folder. After that you should be able to delete the .dmg no problem.

Oh, so I'm suppose to drag the desktop windows messenger icon into my applications folder?

 

[-Josh-]

It shouldn't. I downloaded it from the microsoft website real quick to make sure. Just download the .dmg file to your mac, double click it, then, in th box that pops up, drag the big messenger icon to your applications folder. After that you should be able to delete the .dmg no problem.

Oops..I just deleted coconut battery with the same mistake.
How does downloading work on a Mac?
Do I put everything I download into the accplications folder, then, I can delete it from my downloads???

 

[Jeremy1026]

Also, how do I delete wedjets?

To remove widgets from your dashboard click the "+" in the bottom left, then click the X that appears on the top left of the widget you no longer wish to see on your dashboard. To completely delete them open Finder and goto Macintosh HD->Library->Widgets, then drag the Widget you wish to delete to that trash, if it a Widget that you downloaded it will default save to <User Name>->Library->Widgets, again, drag the one you wish to delete to the trash.

 

[abijnk]

Oh, so I'm suppose to drag the desktop windows messenger icon into my applications folder?

Hm, I'm not sure I am exactly following you here. Take a look at this screenshot. I added arrows to try and illustrate (and yes, they are sucky arrows)

 

[abijnk]

Oops..I just deleted coconut battery with the same mistake.
How does downloading work on a Mac?
Do I put everything I download into the accplications folder, then, I can delete it from my downloads???

That's generally how it works. You download the .dmg file (i usually put it on my desktop out of convenience) then double click the .dmg file. It will pop up a window and either tell you what to do, or it will just show a big icon for the application, in which case it is "supposed" to be understood that you just drag it to the applications folder. After the application is in the applications folder (you can just look in there and see) then it is ok to delete the .dmg file.

I'm sorry if I am just confusing you more

 

[-Josh-]

Okay, I did it, Inside of my application folder it shows Windows messenger, but it has a big circle and an X over it. i go to delete the icons and it says it can not because it is in use? Thanks again.

 

[abijnk]

Okay, I did it, Inside of my application folder it shows Windows messenger, but it has a big circle and an X over it. i go to delete the icons and it says it can not because it is in use? Thanks again.

YOU WIN!!!!!!

Lol, I have absolutely no idea there, sorry