Some help for a noob please..

Zascar

Hey guys, after years of being a major pc head and a mac hater, I've finally taken the plunge and got a macbook. Any time I've been on one I just have not got what people think are so great and 'easy' about them as since I'm so ised to windows it all seems overly complex to me. Anyway hopefully I'll get used to it all pretty quickly, but I have a few questions so I thought I'd pile them all in here... So...

- I got it from my sister and need to backup all her stuff. I'm finding it difficult to find all her stuff to back it up. Any advice for me? Just her photos and documents mainly. What is the ebst way to find her photos and files and mass move them?

- Also, my new external hard drive, I cannot even write to it, apparently mac's only write to FAT32 and not NTFS. Ggrrrrrrr... I might try burning to DVD, I'll have to give that a go.

- After I have removed all her stuff from the system, Is there a way to basically wipe the machine afresh and start again? (or should I even bother?)

- Installing programs seems to be strange. I downloaded Google Chrome, it run's but seems to dissappear next time I try to find it. What am I doing wrong?

- In Chrome, to "Open new link in Tab" - you have to hold cmd and click the link. Can't you do this without the keyboard?

- I definitely want to get a normal mouse, any recommendations of wireless one either bluetooth or tiny usb? I saw the MagicMouse, looks cool but man its pricy!

- Can anyone tell me about the connection to a monitor/projector. I have a Projector - but its a really basic one - it does not have VGA, I used S-Video with my last laptop - but it also has composite etc. I read mac output is digital, while s-video etc is an analogue signal. Can I get something to make it work?

I'd appreciate any help anyone can give me on these points, sorry I'm sure many are really stupid questions - please bear with me

Thanks

aidan_walsh

Is she moving to another Mac, or just passing it along? If upgrading to another machine, probably the best way would be to use Migration Assistant to copy her user account to the new computer.

You can use Disk Utility to format your disk to FAT32 or HFS if you'll only be using it with the Mac. Blame Microsoft for not opening or licensing NTFS

You can use the supplied system disks to reinstall cleanly if you like, but in many cases simply removing the user account and any applications you don't want should be fine.

Mainly, unless the program comes with a wizard style installer, all you'll need to do to "install" an application is to move it to the Applications folder. You will be able to find most programs there, or in subfolders in there. Removing them is usually as easy as moving it to the Trash.

Are you just running Chrome from the DMG file? If so, the DMGs are like virtual disks, only used for distribution. You generally move the application file to the Applications folder and run it from there.

philiporeilly

Zascar wrote: »

Hey guys, after years of being a major pc head and a mac hater, I've finally taken the plunge and got a macbook. Any time I've been on one I just have not got what people think are so great and 'easy' about them as since I'm so ised to windows it all seems overly complex to me. Anyway hopefully I'll get used to it all pretty quickly, but I have a few questions so I thought I'd pile them all in here... So...

- I got it from my sister and need to backup all her stuff. I'm finding it difficult to find all her stuff to back it up. Any advice for me? Just her photos and documents mainly. What is the ebst way to find her photos and files and mass move them?

The majority of her files and settings can be backed up by copying the HARDDRIVE > USERS > HER NAME folder. That has her desktop, music, photos, etc

- Also, my new external hard drive, I cannot even write to it, apparently mac's only write to FAT32 and not NTFS. Ggrrrrrrr... I might try burning to DVD, I'll have to give that a go.

Macs can write to NTFS using third party driver. http://www.paragon-software.com/home/ntfs-mac/

I'd recommend keeping any portable drive fat32 as it will work with most OS's

- After I have removed all her stuff from the system, Is there a way to basically wipe the machine afresh and start again? (or should I even bother?)
To wipe the machine, startup the computer with the startup disk. Now would be a good time to upgrade to Snow Leopard €29 if not already. Install by inserting disk and following simple on screen instructions.

You could also create a new account on the computer for you and delete hers if you want a clean home folder.

- Installing programs seems to be strange. I downloaded Google Chrome, it run's but seems to dissappear next time I try to find it. What am I doing wrong?

- In Chrome, to "Open new link in Tab" - you have to hold cmd and click the link. Can't you do this without the keyboard?

Installing apps is as easy as dragging them to the Applications Folder. A quick way to launch apps in Snow Leopard is COMMAND+SPACE and then type name of app. Very quick and easy to find.

For app options such as open in new tab, Right click on mouse where available and/or two finger tap on trackpad???

- I definitely want to get a normal mouse, any recommendations of wireless one either bluetooth or tiny usb? I saw the MagicMouse, looks cool but man its pricy!

The older Mighty Mouse is okay and can be picked up cheaply now on eBay

- Can anyone tell me about the connection to a monitor/projector. I have a Projector - but its a really basic one - it does not have VGA, I used S-Video with my last laptop - but it also has composite etc. I read mac output is digital, while s-video etc is an analogue signal. Can I get something to make it work?

Different connections on Macbooks / Macbook Pros. Which video output port do you have or macbook model? You should be able to get exact cable you need as I have many different macbook connections at work

I'd appreciate any help anyone can give me on these points, sorry I'm sure many are really stupid questions - please bear with me

Thanks

Answers above in quote

Zascar

Thanks Guys.

She's going to a netbook so I need to backup to DVD or hard drive etc. I'll see if I can get that other driver thing going, much easer.

I tried dragging the Chrome file on my desktop into the Applciations folder, but it just brings it there as an alias - is this wrong? It stays on my desktop and I cannot get rid of it. Is this the way it works?

I don't actually think I need a reinstall, I'll try to create a new profile. This will essential give me a fresh profile without anything else on it, almost like a reinstall, yes?

It's a Macbook - not sure of the specs exactly - how do I check? It's running OSX 10.5.8 - is this Leopard? If not, is it worth updating? I tried to do a software update but it asks for a password. I tried the one that she used for logging on but it does not work. What's the deal with this, can I reset it etc? Will a new profile sort this?

I think it has Mini DVI, looks like this: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4f/Kobushi-mini-dvi.jpg

Cheers for your help!

Zascar

Oh one more thing I just saw...

It seems to make a backup of her photos on one "iPhotos" file. This will not be compatible with windows I assume. How do I just save the photos in a folder so I can view on a PC?
Thanks

whiterebel

Better off wiping it and completely reinstalling once you have anything you want backed up

philiporeilly

Zascar wrote: »

Oh one more thing I just saw...

It seems to make a backup of her photos on one "iPhotos" file. This will not be compatible with windows I assume. How do I just save the photos in a folder so I can view on a PC?
Thanks

That large iPhoto File is actually a folder and contains all the original photos. You can easily get the photos from a PC if you have that file. Alternatively, open iPhoto and highlight all the photos she wants to keep and FILE > EXPORT (export at original quality)

philiporeilly

Zascar wrote: »

Thanks Guys.

She's going to a netbook so I need to backup to DVD or hard drive etc. I'll see if I can get that other driver thing going, much easer.

I tried dragging the Chrome file on my desktop into the Applciations folder, but it just brings it there as an alias - is this wrong? It stays on my desktop and I cannot get rid of it. Is this the way it works?

A lot of apps on the mac are installed by simply dragging the App to the Applications folder (or elsewhere if needed). Some apps such as chrome even have a shortcut to that folder which you can just thrown the app on top of to install. If you cannot drag the app from the desktop to the Application folder, you could delete and reinstall but having it on the desktop will work (but you have greater risk deleting it by mistake).




I don't actually think I need a reinstall, I'll try to create a new profile. This will essential give me a fresh profile without anything else on it, almost like a reinstall, yes?
Will give you a fresh profile and should be okay.

It's a Macbook - not sure of the specs exactly - how do I check? It's running OSX 10.5.8 - is this Leopard? If not, is it worth updating?

Maybe worth the upgrade and clean install since its a new computer for you. Snow Leopard (10.6) is quicker and worth the €29 upgrade price. A lot of it is 'under the hood' enhancements and very little new eye candy

I tried to do a software update but it asks for a password. I tried the one that she used for logging on but it does not work. What's the deal with this, can I reset it etc? Will a new profile sort this?
Create a new account and ensure it has Administrator rights. Use that login anytime it asks you for password. Maybe clean install with just your login may be better??


I think it has Mini DVI, looks like this: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4f/Kobushi-mini-dvi.jpg

Cheers for your help!

Answers above

Zascar

Cheers for the help guys. Ok A few things I've worked out.

For the projector, I think this is what I need to output to s-video: http://store.apple.com/ie/product/M9267G/A?mco=MTM5MDg0MDc

I will do a clean install when I've finished doing a backup of the old stuff on there. My WD Passport USB drive cannot write to it - i think cause its NTFS - but someone told me about drivers to let it do this so I will give that a go. otherwise I'll burn to DVD which seemed pretty easy. I'm guessing the reinstall is easy, I'll find a guide online I'm sure.

There is one thing I still just cannot do. I downloaded something from rapidshare and like many its split into about 40 separate files. With windows you just highlight all of them and extract, but you cannot do this with a mac. it really frustrates me the lack of 'right click' options with osx. I tried downloading it on my pc, extracted the files and got a mpgk directory, but then I was unable to transfer the directory to a USB drive or burn to cd. I'm guessing it's just that pc's cant deal with mac files. Does anyone know how I can do it on the mac?

Cheers

insinkerator

Zascar wrote: »

There is one thing I still just cannot do. I downloaded something from rapidshare and like many its split into about 40 separate files. With windows you just highlight all of them and extract, but you cannot do this with a mac. it really frustrates me the lack of 'right click' options with osx. I tried downloading it on my pc, extracted the files and got a mpgk directory, but then I was unable to transfer the directory to a USB drive or burn to cd. I'm guessing it's just that pc's cant deal with mac files. Does anyone know how I can do it on the mac?

Cheers

Are the files in .rar?

What i use is the free application unrarx. You extract the first of the series of files, and unrarx does it all for you. Handy little app.

As for the right click, how new is the macbook? If its pretty new, it may have a multitouch support, meaning you can set your right click to be a certain corner of the touch pad, or a double finger tap.

If not, hold down the ctrl key when clicking to get a right click.

alexlyons

FYI, when you dragged chrome into the applications folder, i reckon you dragged something like the bottom one here


when in fact you need to drag the actual file you click to open it into the app's folder. for your convenience, you can then drag any app you want, from the applications folder, into the dock at the bottom. This creates a shortcut that you can just click on to open the app in question. Mac's are different from windows in that you don't have shortcuts on your desktop to open programs or folders, these shortcuts go in the dock. the folders go on the far right of the dock and are called "stacks"

Note: A lot of people that are getting used to mac's often accidentally let go of the mouse when they are dragging an app from the applications folder to the dock. When they let it go, it may end up on the desktop or in a different folder. DO NOT DELETE the app from where you accidentally dropped it, as it has been MOVED to here from the applications folder. You need to drag it back to the applications folder and then try again at bringing it to the dock.

These videos made by apple should help you out

http://www.apple.com/findouthow/mac/

below the video on that page, on the right, it says "browse all video tutorials". all the videos are listed below this, just click the one you want (finder basics for example) and learn I'd suggest going right from the top all the way through, rather than jumping about, as they tend to use stuff you've already learnt.

Regards

J-blk

philiporeilly wrote: »

Macs can write to NTFS using third party driver. http://www.paragon-software.com/home/ntfs-mac/

Paragon's solution is good, but not free. NTFS-3G does the same thing and it completely free (though the guys behind it now also seem to be pushing a commercial version too instead):

http://macntfs-3g.blogspot.com/2009/12/ntfs-3g-for-mac-os-x-20091114.html

philiporeilly wrote: »

I'd recommend keeping any portable drive fat32 as it will work with most OS's

Depends on what the OP wants to write to the drive though... HD mkv files are now > 4GB and so FAT32 is out of the question, unless you compress it into split rar files or something. So NTFS is probably the best option for cross platform use, with no file size limitations...

Zascar

insinkerator wrote: »

Are the files in .rar?

What i use is the free application unrarx. You extract the first of the series of files, and unrarx does it all for you. Handy little app.

As for the right click, how new is the macbook? If its pretty new, it may have a multitouch support, meaning you can set your right click to be a certain corner of the touch pad, or a double finger tap.

If not, hold down the ctrl key when clicking to get a right click.

Thanks I'm pretty sure this was the program that I used but i'll give it another go

Yes my macbook is new and has multi touch so yes I can touch two fingers and click - or use the ctrl - but seriously is it not just easier to have a normal 'right click'?

I don't think I'll need to be transferring any files bigger than 4gb so fat32 will prob do fine, but I want the macbook to be able to write to ntfs for just in case times

insinkerator

Zascar wrote: »

Thanks I'm pretty sure this was the program that I used but i'll give it another go

Yes my macbook is new and has multi touch so yes I can touch two fingers and click - or use the ctrl - but seriously is it not just easier to have a normal 'right click'?

I don't think I'll need to be transferring any files bigger than 4gb so fat32 will prob do fine, but I want the macbook to be able to write to ntfs for just in case times

I used to think that, but now, im so in love with my multi touch pad, that i start pulling my hair out when i have to use a different set up

thecommander

Zascar wrote: »

Yes my macbook is new and has multi touch so yes I can touch two fingers and click - or use the ctrl - but seriously is it not just easier to have a normal 'right click'?

You can set the right hand corner of the trackpad to act as second click.

In the System Prefs>Trackpad. Change the Secondary Click to Bottom Right and tick the checkbox

Zascar

thecommander wrote: »

You can set the right hand corner of the trackpad to act as second click.

In the System Prefs>Trackpad. Change the Secondary Click to Bottom Right and tick the checkbox

Oh ok, so all you have to do is touch the bottom right of the touchpad and the right click menu will appear? Sounds good thanks!