Still trying to get the hang of owning a Mac Mini. Anyway, if I delete the icon of a program, do all associated folder trees, files, and the like also get deleted? If not, how do I go about deleting related files so that I can free up some disc space?
Most programs on a Mac are self contained. When you delete something from either your documents folder, applications folder, etc, you are deleting the entire program. If you delete it from your dock, you're only deleting the shortcut.
Sometimes (but not often), temp files are stored in libraries, which you can access via the Home directory. The folders are clearly marked and all you have to do is delete them.
But... but Macs are easy to use.
Shouldn't this be obvious and easy to do?
OS X has no registry. When you delete something, it's gone.
Did you know, to make a backup of Mac OS X, all you have to do is copy the whole directory tree to another location?
Then, when you need to restore a backup, you simply copy it back? That's it. No registry mess, no missing keys.
I was able to do an entire backup and restore of my HDD in 20 minutes without a single loss of applications or personal data.
Windows would shit a brick trying the same thing.
I say this as an avid Windows user.
J.
