I have just installed Leopard after a traumatic few hours, had to delete Tiger and Install Leopard to enable it to work - dont ask why, I went through the long period of installing and was successful I got the green tick at the end but it would not come on only a blue screen is all I got, I could not get the disc to eject so I then rang the help line, waited 15 mins and was advised to uninstall tiger completly and reinstall Leopard, which I did. It installed much quicker that the first time. I now want to put a few programmes back. I knew I did it the first time around but dont think I did it correctly. I am not quite familiar with installing new programmes, as I am new to Mac, I was a PC lover and knew it inside out. My question is when I install I get the message that it is an application and do I want to go ahead, I answered yes and all went well, am I now suppose to do something with the said programme i.e Scrabble, it appears on the left underneath my Hard Disc, below is the applications folder, do I now slide them into this folder? and that is that. The programme works when I click on it as it is still on my desk top. Can you please explain to me how they work, as I dont want to duplicate the programs and end up in mess.
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Installing in Leopard
- Thread starter mobutler
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I think I know what you're talking about, and it's a bit weird at first for PC people to get, but you'll get used to it. Essentially, the program is packaged in a disk image, which is a single file that mounts like it's a removable disk drive. It contains the program (or an installer and whatnot). When you get a program in a disk image (a .dmg file) you open it (mount it), copy the application to the Applications folder on your hard drive, and then eject the disk image and delete the .dmg file.
This gets a bit confusing sometimes though, as it's possible for a software-writer to add a little screen that comes up when you mount the disk image that displays the software's license and allows you to agree or disagree to its terms before it mounts. THIS IS NOT AN INSTALLER, it's just a EULA screen. From there you still have to copy the application to your hard drive, eject the disk image, and delete the .dmg file.
Furthermore, some disk images DO have actual installer packages that you have to run, which will handle the installation process for you. Usually this is done because the app needs to put things in places other than /Applications.
The most important thing to remember is that the thing that you have on your desktop underneath the hard drive icon isn't the program, it's just a disk image. It's a delivery mechanism, intended to be temporary. Whether you copy the application itself to /Applications or run an installer from it, that disk image is not meant to be permanent.
Hope that helped (and wasn't too confusing).
This gets a bit confusing sometimes though, as it's possible for a software-writer to add a little screen that comes up when you mount the disk image that displays the software's license and allows you to agree or disagree to its terms before it mounts. THIS IS NOT AN INSTALLER, it's just a EULA screen. From there you still have to copy the application to your hard drive, eject the disk image, and delete the .dmg file.
Furthermore, some disk images DO have actual installer packages that you have to run, which will handle the installation process for you. Usually this is done because the app needs to put things in places other than /Applications.
The most important thing to remember is that the thing that you have on your desktop underneath the hard drive icon isn't the program, it's just a disk image. It's a delivery mechanism, intended to be temporary. Whether you copy the application itself to /Applications or run an installer from it, that disk image is not meant to be permanent.
Hope that helped (and wasn't too confusing).
::inhales::
While many users may have different personal experiences, the consensus seems to be that the upgrade is the worst option in terms of potential post install conflicts.
If you have a large amount of files and do not want to lose your user settings/preferences, you can do an archive and install. This will preserve your files/settings while replacing your old system files with those of Leopard. When you are done installing, you will be left with a "previous system" folder that contains a backup of the old system files. Once you are sure everything is working and made it over you can delete that folder to free up space.
If you have the time/external storage to back everything up, you can do an erase and install. This option is the most reliable in terms of post-install conflicts as there is nothing to conflict. If you do this option, I recommend making a list of everything you need to back up and any settings which you will need to re-enter (e.g. Internet settings, user accounts). Many of apple's programs will allow you to export your settings (Addressbook will let you export your contacts, Safari will let you export your bookmarks, etc). There are many who feel this type of install is not necessary since archive and install is safe and does not require you to reinstall everything/reconfigure your computer.
That being said, I originally did an archive and install and everything went well. However I had been having wi-fi problems in Tiger on my MBP and they transfered over to Leopard. Since I did not have that many files, I decided to do an erase and install this time around to be 100% that there would be no further problems. Everything seems to be running properly.
No matter which install option you do, make sure to see which of your applications will need to be updated to work with Leopard, and which currently do not work (e.g. Cocktail, Techtools). Also remember to immediately use software update to fix any bugs currently patched in Leopard.
Good luck
EDIT: Even though the archive and install/upgrade should preserve your files/settings, it never hurts to back up in case something goes wrong
While many users may have different personal experiences, the consensus seems to be that the upgrade is the worst option in terms of potential post install conflicts.
If you have a large amount of files and do not want to lose your user settings/preferences, you can do an archive and install. This will preserve your files/settings while replacing your old system files with those of Leopard. When you are done installing, you will be left with a "previous system" folder that contains a backup of the old system files. Once you are sure everything is working and made it over you can delete that folder to free up space.
If you have the time/external storage to back everything up, you can do an erase and install. This option is the most reliable in terms of post-install conflicts as there is nothing to conflict. If you do this option, I recommend making a list of everything you need to back up and any settings which you will need to re-enter (e.g. Internet settings, user accounts). Many of apple's programs will allow you to export your settings (Addressbook will let you export your contacts, Safari will let you export your bookmarks, etc). There are many who feel this type of install is not necessary since archive and install is safe and does not require you to reinstall everything/reconfigure your computer.
That being said, I originally did an archive and install and everything went well. However I had been having wi-fi problems in Tiger on my MBP and they transfered over to Leopard. Since I did not have that many files, I decided to do an erase and install this time around to be 100% that there would be no further problems. Everything seems to be running properly.
No matter which install option you do, make sure to see which of your applications will need to be updated to work with Leopard, and which currently do not work (e.g. Cocktail, Techtools). Also remember to immediately use software update to fix any bugs currently patched in Leopard.
Good luck
EDIT: Even though the archive and install/upgrade should preserve your files/settings, it never hurts to back up in case something goes wrong
I installed leopard on my Macbook Pro, bit of a nightmare but soon sorted using target disk mode with my old Powerbook to delete the rogue APE files. Then problems with DivX too! Same procedure to change the folder title.
Other that those two, mine was fine.
To the OP, I remember first playing with my desktop about 4 or more years ago and it being full up with the .dmg files and un mounted disk images. It is a little odd to begin with like killmoms (!) said. The install procedure form mac is a cinch generally! Drag and drop. Its just a shame some apps leave pointless folders around to annoy you.
My mac convert friend isn't too computer literate (Bless her) and keeps running apps from the disk image, which confuses her after having a mac for like a year and a half!
Other that those two, mine was fine.
To the OP, I remember first playing with my desktop about 4 or more years ago and it being full up with the .dmg files and un mounted disk images. It is a little odd to begin with like killmoms (!) said. The install procedure form mac is a cinch generally! Drag and drop. Its just a shame some apps leave pointless folders around to annoy you.
My mac convert friend isn't too computer literate (Bless her) and keeps running apps from the disk image, which confuses her after having a mac for like a year and a half!