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.dmg ....I'm a super noob, sorry

WhySoSerious

WhySoSerious

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Jun 30, 2007
1,460
97
Dallas, TX
Ok, please go easy on me, but i need help and i'm having zero luck on google finding what teaches me this. I come from Windows and this is my FIRST Mac!

I do not understand a .dmg file, how to install it and more importantly, how to use it.

I have a .dmg file on my desktop (Transmission...for torrents). Now, I'm assuming i just drag it to my Applicaiton folder to "install" it, right? From there, i'm lost!

How do i even open it? How do i use it now? and what the heck do all you mac users mean by "mount"/"unmount"?

omg....i'm sorry for sounding like an idiot, but I am learning as i go with this great computer!

Thanks
 
.dmg is OS X's built in Disk Image format. Whenever you download one, just double click on it and it will 'mount' the image. From there, you can access whatever files are in the .dmg. Some files can be simply dragged where-ever you wish them to and they will be installed. Others come with .pkg files which require an actual installation.
 
A DMG is a disc image. All you need to do is double click on it and it will "mount the disc"

Lets say you want to install Firefox. You double click on the "fireFox.dmg" (may not be call exactly that), now you will have a disc on your desktop. opening this will show the contents. Like the application, or installer, and any documentation that comes along with it.

damn beatin' to it
 
box33 said:
Ok, please go easy on me, but i need help and i'm having zero luck on google finding what teaches me this. I come from Windows and this is my FIRST Mac!

I do not understand a .dmg file, how to install it and more importantly, how to use it.

I have a .dmg file on my desktop (Transmission...for torrents). Now, I'm assuming i just drag it to my Applicaiton folder to "install" it, right? From there, i'm lost!

How do i even open it? How do i use it now? and what the heck do all you mac users mean by "mount"/"unmount"?

omg....i'm sorry for sounding like an idiot, but I am learning as i go with this great computer!

Thanks
Click to expand...

The .dmg file is a disk image file. Double click it and it will "mount" a disk (just like plugging in a HD) to your desktop. Inside of that will be the app or an installer for the app that you want. If it is just the app, drag the icon to your apps folder and it will be installed. If it is an installer, run it and the app will be installed. After you have the app installed (either way), "unmount" (eject/remove) the disk. You can then delete the .dmg file.
 
When you move your apps to the Application folder, then you go there to open them.

But remember that you can also keep the in your Dock. So it is recommended to have your most used apps in the Dock.

Also, try using Spotlight to open apps. This way you'll never need to go to the Applications folder.

Mount and Unmount refers to ejecting the "temporary drive" that appears when you open the .dmg file. Once you move your App icon to the Applications folder it is safe to eject it.
 
Doubleclick it. It is a disk image file.

It will mount a disk image that contains a file. Usually, the dmg holds an application that you will then drag into your application folder.
 
THANK YOU!

I'm sure you get a ton of these noob questions, but i want to let you know that this new MBP user appreciates the kind support these forums bring.

Looking back, my question was surely noobish, but you all provided clear answers, thus allowing me to further understand the OS X system. Piece of cake!

Thanks again!
 
Roco said:
But remember that you can also keep the in your Dock. So it is recommended to have your most used apps in the Dock.
Click to expand...

Ok... stupid question.... to add to my dock, just drag the application to my dock and it will "copy" it to my dock (i.e. doesn't move it out of the original application folder location).
 
Vuzie said:
Ok... stupid question.... to add to my dock, just drag the application to my dock and it will "copy" it to my dock (i.e. doesn't move it out of the original application folder location).
Click to expand...

Nope, it's not done like that.

First open the application, and it would appear in your dock, then right-click the app and select "Keep in Dock". So now on it would always be there.:) You can also move them from place int he Dock.
 
Roco said:
Nope, it's not done like that.

First open the application, and it would appear in your dock, then right-click the app and select "Keep in Dock". So now on it would always be there.:) You can also move them from place int he Dock.
Click to expand...

Um, or just "drag it to the dock" and you get the exact same thing.
 
Roco said:
When you move your apps to the Application folder, then you go there to open them.

But remember that you can also keep the in your Dock. So it is recommended to have your most used apps in the Dock.

Also, try using Spotlight to open apps. This way you'll never need to go to the Applications folder.

Mount and Unmount refers to ejecting the "temporary drive" that appears when you open the .dmg file. Once you move your App icon to the Applications folder it is safe to eject it.
Click to expand...

You're not offering very clear advice, Roco. Anything in the dock is a symbolic link/alias/shortcut (whatever your terminology) but nothing exists in the dock itself.

So you never store an application in the dock. It's somewhere else in the file system (usually /Applications/).

As far as accessing your apps folder, try draging your apps folder to your dock; Now you have a quick access to all apps by right clicking the icon. I find it about as easy as searching with spotlight... But it's not how you launch your apps, its about how you use them. ;)
 
Roco said:
Nope, it's not done like that.

First open the application, and it would appear in your dock, then right-click the app and select "Keep in Dock". So now on it would always be there.:) You can also move them from place int he Dock.
Click to expand...
It's done both ways.


Also one might add that if he installs "quicksilver" to launch say iphoto all he needs to do is press ctrl-space and start typing ip and it will fill in iphoto as that is the only application which fits, press enter and it runs.

More convenient than shift-command-A for applications folder or spotlight.

Finally when dragging the application icon to applications you don't need to have two windows, just drag it from the window which contains the icon to applications in the left side panel.


Removing applications should be as simple as draging them to the trashcan, thought some config files and such might stay in the computer then.

Unmounting is done by either pressing the eject icon for the volume you want to unmount or just drag its icon to the trashcan.
 
another way to access the applications folder is to hold command, and click any icon in your dock that belongs in the applications folder, i.e safari, mail, etc...

is there a shortcut to eject a mounted image without having to drag it to the recycle bin?
 
If the dmg is on your desktop and you've clicked it, does that mean it is installed somewhere else on the Mac and it is now OK to delete the DMG from the desktop? :rolleyes:
 
MacHiavelli said:
If the dmg is on your desktop and you've clicked it, does that mean it is installed somewhere else on the Mac and it is now OK to delete the DMG from the desktop? :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

You have to install the file from the DMG (unless it is a .pkg file which will be obvious since it'll look like an installer). Drag the file to where you want it, usually Applications so all your apps are kept in one place.

After that, press CMD(Apple) + E to eject the DMG and you can delete the file if you want too.
 
Kilamite said:
You have to install the file from the DMG (unless it is a .pkg file which will be obvious since it'll look like an installer). Drag the file to where you want it, usually Applications so all your apps are kept in one place.

After that, press CMD(Apple) + E to eject the DMG and you can delete the file if you want too.
Click to expand...


Many thanks. Waiting to buy a MBP with Leopard.... so this is useful to know.

Cheers :D
 
MacHiavelli said:
If the dmg is on your desktop and you've clicked it, does that mean it is installed somewhere else on the Mac and it is now OK to delete the DMG from the desktop? :rolleyes:
Click to expand...
No that only means that you have mounted/opened the disk image.
 
MacHiavelli said:
If the dmg is on your desktop and you've clicked it, does that mean it is installed somewhere else on the Mac and it is now OK to delete the DMG from the desktop? :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

The best analogy of a dmg I can think of is to consider it a CD. By double clicking the DMG you are mounting it, equivalent of putting a CD in the computer. You can run the apps off the CD (usually) but it'll be gone when you eject it, so you copy it to your Applications folder.

1. Download dmg file.
2. Double click dmg to mount it.
3. Open new volume on the desktop.
4. Copy app to Applications or run the pkg installer.
5. Eject the volume.
6. Trash the dmg.
 
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