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Cleaning my Macbook Pro

  • 18-07-2011 7:22pm
    #1
    nicknackgtb
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 493 ✭✭


    Hi Guys,

    Just looking to know what is the best way to clean up my pro, I have alot of pictures on it and various programs but is there any hidden things that are just filling up on my mac that i dont need?

    It has become a little slower in the last while so just wondering if there is a best way of cleaning it up? Like Defraging on windows!

    Cheers
    P


Comments

  • #2
    Liameter
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 898 ✭✭✭Liameter


    Defragging is considered unnecessary. (I've personally never done it.)
    Make sure your Hard drive has at least 20% free space.
    Make a backup copy of any vital data before you mess with it.
    Clear everything off the "desktop". There should never be more than 10 files there.
    Check what applications are loading at start-up. Some may not be necessary.
    Offload any applications that you don't use.
    Download, install and run "Applejack".

    Oh, and don't be tempted to use any "clean up" software. It will end in tears.


  • #3
    Third Eye
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 122 ✭✭Third Eye


    If you have a lot of apps you should get xslimmer to trim their file size down. I saved around 500mb with it's default setting yesterday.


  • #4
    RGDATA!
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,324 ✭✭✭RGDATA!


    Liameter wrote: »
    Clear everything off the "desktop". There should never be more than 10 files there.

    why is that exactly, what happens when you put the 11th icon on the desktop?


  • #5
    Sad Professor
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Arts Moderators, Entertainment Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 22,693 CMod ✭✭✭✭Sad Professor


    RGDATA! wrote: »
    Liameter wrote: »
    Clear everything off the "desktop". There should never be more than 10 files there.

    why is that exactly, what happens when you put the 11th icon on the desktop?
    The world ends. :pac:

    Seriously though, nothing happens. I've never had less than 20 icons on the desktop.


  • #6
    Liameter
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 898 ✭✭✭Liameter


    OSX slows down as the desktop fills up.

    Third Eye wrote: »
    I saved around 500mb with it's default setting yesterday.

    500 millibits is nothing.


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  • #7
    RGDATA!
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,324 ✭✭✭RGDATA!


    Liameter wrote: »
    OSX slows down as the desktop fills up.


    500 millibits is nothing.

    have used macs for over a decade and i've never noticed that, and I've often had tons of stuff on desktop. i do notice a slightly longer startup time the more that's on there.
    since i posted earlier i researched it and there is something to what you're saying - the thinking behind keeping the desktop relatively uncluttered is that every folder on the desktop is like having a new folder open in finder, so it is using ram, albeit a fairly insignificant chunk.
    at the same time if you have plenty of RAM i doubt that cleaning your desktop would give you a significant boost in performance, apart from shaving a few seconds off your startup time.
    just my 2c


  • #8
    Liameter
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 898 ✭✭✭Liameter


    I've used Macs for over two decades. They are a darn site faster than they were when the Mac Plus was king. Never the less, it's a matter of what you get used to. I've had mine slow to a crawl when the "Desktop" has been really full. But I am an untidy sod! ;)


  • #9
    opinion guy
    Closed Accounts Posts: 11,001 ✭✭✭✭opinion guy


    RGDATA! wrote: »
    why is that exactly, what happens when you put the 11th icon on the desktop?

    Yeah i was wondering this too. I as a matter of routine have more files on my desktop than it can actually spread out so they all end up piled on top each other. Nothing has exploded yet. Touch wood.


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