Help! Have I Installed Mac OS X Twice??

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Level 1

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Help! Have I Installed Mac OS X Twice??

Hi, I've just migrated from Windows and am a beginner with Mac.

Yesterday when I was configuring my new MacBook Air, somehow I thought that I need to install some software from the 2CDs in the package. It was half way through the long installation process that I realized what I was installing was the Mac OS X system!!! But at that time, I can't stop it no more 😟

My question is: now since I've installed the Mac system again, do I have it twice on my HD?

What I see is that while the original space on my HD is around 74GB, now I only have 54GB. But I know that the Mac system doesn't take so much space.

If I do have twice the system on my HD, how can I uninstall one?

Sorry if the question sounds stupid, but I'm really so new to Mac and am still learning my way! Thank you in advance for all your replies!

MacBook Air

Posted on Jul 5, 2008 2:02 AM

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Answer 1

Kappy

Level 10

362,023 points

Jul 5, 2008 2:20 AM in response to gemibebe

There is only one way to install OS X twice and that's doing an Archive and Install. However, that would not take up 20 GBs of space - at most perhaps 9 GBs.

If you did do an Archive and Install then you will find a folder at the root directory of the hard drive named Previous System Folders. Inside it will be the archived old version of OS. If no such folder exists then it's impossible to know what you did. You cannot simply upgrade or perform an Archive and Install accidentally. In either case the installer will require further input.

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Answer 2

gemibebe Author

Level 1

0 points

Jul 5, 2008 3:34 AM in response to Kappy

Hi Kappy, thank you very much for your reply.

I don't think I have done any archive, etc. With my level, all I did was to follow the instruction of configuring my macbook, then I input the CDs, and double clicked on the Mac OS X, then it started the installation process which took a real long time.

Currently I only have 54GB out of 74GB. Therefore I doubt if I have twice the system on my HD. How can I know which programs have taken so much space? I also have no idea how to uninstall programs on Mac, am still reading all the manual, etc. I'm just astonished that with my brand new MacBook Air, already 20GB has been taken and no idea what has been so big.

Since I just got the MacBook, is it easier for me simply to erase and restore the Mac to its factory status?

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Answer 3

Kappy

Level 10

362,023 points

Jul 5, 2008 12:48 PM in response to gemibebe

I don't think you have any problem. If all is working OK then simply enjoy. Your computer came with an 80 GB drive which has a formatted capacity of about 74.5 GBs. The pre-installed software including the operating system takes up about 18 GBs which should leave you with around 56 GBs of free space. Some of the pre-bundled software are demos or trial versions - iWorks, Office 2008, and Quickbooks. If you do not plan to use the trials software (the trials typically work for 30 days) then you can remove them to regain space on your disk drive. If you haven't used any of them then simply drag the application icon or the folder icon to the Trash then empty the Trash.

Uninstalling Software: The Basics

Most OS X applications are completely self-contained "packages" that can be uninstalled by simply dragging the application to the Trash. Most applications create preference files which are stored in the /Home/Library/Preferences/ folder. Although they do nothing once you delete the associated application, they do take up some disk space. If you want you can located them in the above location and delete them, too.

Some applications may install an uninstaller program that can be used to remove the application. In some cases the uninstaller may be part of the application's installer, and is invoked by clicking on a Customize button that will appear during the install process.

Some applications may install components in the /Home/Library/Applications Support/ folder. You can also check there to see if the application has created a folder. You can also delete the folder that's in the Applications Support folder. Again, they don't do anything but take up disk space once the application is trashed.

Some applications may install a startupitem or a Log In item. Startupitems are usually installed in the /Library/StartupItems/ folder and less often in the /Home/Library/StartupItems/ folder. Log In Items are set in the Accounts preferences. Open System Preferences, click on the Accounts icon, then click on the LogIn Items tab. Locate the item in the list for the application you want to remove and click on the "-" button to delete it from the list.

If an application installs any other files the best way to track them down is to do a Finder search using the application name or the developer name as the search term.

There are also several shareware utilities that can uninstall applications:

AppZapper
CleanApp
Yank
SuperPop
Uninstaller
Spring Cleaning

Look for them at VersionTracker or MacUpdate.

For more information visit The XLab FAQs and read the FAQ on removing software.

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