iMac Desktop Icons and more =) Please help...

[she's krissy]

Hi all, im new to the Mac world, and I am happy I switched!!! =) ::round of applause"

I have a few questions...

1.) We cleaned the computer so it was like new for me. Whenever I download a new application the ICON DRIVE stays on my desktop, its ugly...why is it there? I've never seen it on anyone elses mac desktop? If I try to get rid of it - the computer acts as if its a disk and if i drag it to the garbage it says "could not eject" i dont understand...

2.) When I restart my computer all my icons I put in the Tray...don't appear firefox has somehow learned to stay there, but everytime I click it on....it opens a box just like it did when I first downloaded the file and there goes that stupid icon on the drive icon on the desktop again

3.) firefox spell checks for you...on a PC you can right click and choose the right words, why can't I on my mac?

4.) new question!
Why do I have the internet? lol I turned my mac on and it was connected to an internet source. My Laptops have no wi-fi available here in the basement, and the community I live in doesnt have much wi-fi anywho so I am sure there arent any signals....but my computer hooks up to a network called 802.11G and it is usually pretty strong....except when trying to use limewire...

5.) limewire does not work on my imac when i try to connect, my mysterious net connection goes blank.

thank you guys =)

Thank you kindly =)))

 

[Big-TDI-Guy]

It sounds like you're not installing the programs you've downloaded. When you download (for example) firefox - it mounts a "drive" on your desktop so you can see and use the file. But if you want it INSTALLED, you need to copy that application (by click and dragging) from the "Mounted" drive into your hard drives "Applications" folder. (Macintosh HD / Applications) That should do it.

It sounds like the mounted "drives" you're seeing that are ugly are the files you downloaded and mounted - and you can't eject them, because you're running these applications FROM them.

When you restart - the drive is no longer mounted, and the link in your dock TO that application, is no longer valid (because it's not mounted)

Once you drag the application to your "Applications" folder - and link THAT to the dock - it should always be there.

Welcome to Apple, by the way!

Oops, I forgot.
First - for some silly reason, Apples OSX dosen't enable right-clicking by default. You need to open "System Preferences / Control Panel" and open "Keyboard and Mouse" to enable "right-clicking". (on laptops with one-button, you can hold Control while clicking to accomplish this - or activate the "Two Finger" tapping on the touch pad to right-click.) If on a desktop and using the pill-shaped mighty-mouse - you activate the right click in the preference panel I just told you.

Now: Spell check
Depends on what version of Mac OSX you're running.(OSX is the operating system we're on now - We have Tiger and Leopard - which is akin to Windows XP vs Windows Vista) The past few operating systems in Apple have been "X" and the variances between Tiger and Leopard have been 10.4 and the current is Leopard at 10.5. (just to clarify the whole OSX thing - why that same name covers the other versions) Anyhow, Tiger (10.4) DOES have spell check, and you either highlight and right-click the text, or just right-click. (I've forgotten already!) In Leopard (10.5) it automatically spell checks just about everywhere you type - from the internet, to word processing, to emails and notes on your desktop. And right-clicking will access all the options.

Okay - one more thing (again) - if you're not sure what Version OS you have - click on the Apple button on the top left of your screen. It will say what version operating system you're running. If it says Mac OS X 10.4 or 10.5 everything I told you should hold true. If it's older, I can't help you, but many others can. Below on that "About this Mac" screen it will state the processor / memory and startup disc. Clicking "More Info..." will show you even more about the computer (down to every device inside it) - So when requesting help in the future - telling us what you have for a Mac, and what version operating system you have - will be beneficial to everyone in answering your questions.

Cheers.

 

[she's krissy]

Okay - one more thing (again) - if you're not sure what Version OS you have - click on the Apple button on the top left of your screen. It will say what version operating system you're running. If it says Mac OS X 10.4 or 10.5 everything I told you should hold true. If it's older, I can't help you, but many others can. Below on that "About this Mac" screen it will state the processor / memory and startup disc. Clicking "More Info..." will show you even more about the computer (down to every device inside it) - So when requesting help in the future - telling us what you have for a Mac, and what version operating system you have - will be beneficial to everyone in answering your questions.

Cheers.

hi =) it says Mac OS X 10.4.10!

 

[IgnatiusTheKing]

Like Big-TDI-Guy said, if you drag the Firefox icon from the drive window to the Applications folder, it will get installed and then you can unmount that Firefox "drive" by selecting it and clicking command-E or restarting.

To add Firefox to the Dock, drag the icon from the Applications folder to the Dock and it should stay there forever (or until you decide to get rid of it). Same goes for any other app you've downloaded.

No idea about your Internet question. Sounds like you are "accidentally" poaching someone else's connection.

 

[Big-TDI-Guy]

For some reason I didn't see question # 5. My mind is failing me these days.

I know Comcast up here in NH will severely throttle-back your bandwidth if they detect any "torrents or file sharing" programs running. It's a fairly recent change, and I hate it, because it's killing my ichat video and audio chats - because they "look the same" to Comcast. But it doesn't stop my internet entirely.

Where that WOULD be an issue, would be on some large-scale / professional networks, and maybe even some internet providers. I know some college campuses are locking out entirely - any PCs that show any file-sharing activity. And a few businesses do this as well. (a cover thy own @$$ for the establishment - because RIAA is kinda aggressive these days)

Change of topic - I see you have a 24" imac - so that is a year old at the OLDEST. (if it is Metal and Black - it's brandy new) I have the 24" white iMac. So you seem to have fairly decent hardware, you should have no problems running things and playing around for a good while.

To OP (Original Poster) This PM ended up being more reverent to this post than I thought, so I'm pasting it into this- hope you don't mind.

I don't understand the underlying mechanics in Apples operating system. But I "Think" it is something like this. You download a program, and "expand" it (usually) - it's almost an invisible process. Once double clicked on and "expanded" it gets mounted to the RAM memory, and appears on your desktop as a "Mounted Drive" (usually a white looking drive icon). So rather than installing on your hard drive right away - it's in the electronic memory that can be erased the second you shut down or restart your computer. (permanently) Now - the "compressed" file is still on your hard drive, and double-clicking on it will repeat the process over again. I think the purpose of this - is in case you have a bad program that would crash your computer. (for whatever the reason) So if your computer does in fact crash, that application gets wiped out the second you start - so it will not crash your computer the next time. Now - if you like this application, and bad things do NOT happen - dragging it out of the "Mounted Drive" on your desktop and into your "Applications" folder - WILL install it on the hard drive as a program. But by that time, you've tested it out, and it should be safe to use. After it has a "permanent home" on your hard drive - you can then link that to a shortcut, or do your dock. It should work every time you click it from then on. Now - to rewind - the reason you couldn't "Eject" or "Trash" that mounted drive - is like pulling a carpet out from underneath a person who is standing on it. If you're running the application FROM the mounted drive - OSX will not let you "pull the plug" until that application is closed and no longer in use. Once you move the application to your hard drive (or exit it completely) - OSX should THEN allow you to "Unmount / Trash / Eject" that drive.

I'm a nerd, and sorry for the confusing posts. Good luck, and glad to be of some (hopefully any) help.

 

[she's krissy]

thank you! TDI i figured out the ugly drives =) lol now my desktop can be pretty!!! lol im such a girl i know lol

i want to download music! i still have no idea why I have an internet connection lol but it is probably holding out on limewire because its P2P

 

[suneohair]

I am assuming you know that downloading music from limewire is illegal right?

 

[Big-TDI-Guy]

I've got nothing better to do today than post, I mine as well add one more thing.

Be careful with that "phantom" free network - there is no such thing as a free meal, and if it's a private network you're using - it's likely very insecure. So I wouldn't be purchasing anything online, or logging into any bank accounts to check balances on that connection. Because open networks can easily be eavesdropped on. You also could be causing an unsuspecting owner of that network (if it's a private one) troubles. Though, most people seem to be smartening up a lot with their WIFI these days.

And yes, downloading music is bad. You should either A: stop doing it (the right thing), or B, stop talking about it (the CYOA thing). Because the RIAA is meaner than a dog $@*&&ing tacks.