Extra, duplicate Applications Folders--which to trash and how?

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Level 2

366 points

Extra, duplicate Applications Folders--which to trash and how?

My understanding of the Applications Folder system was less than stellar. I now understand that there's actually only one folder that "matters" in my Finder Window--the one that appears when I click on the icon "Macintosh HD" in the Device Section. Of course, Applications also appears in the Finder window when I request the following items to show: "Cap's Computer" (under Devices); and, under Places, two more: my "Home Folder" (the little house followed by my name) and "'A' Applications" (the separate Applications icon),

The problem I'm having is a discrepancy between the programs in my main HD Folder and in my Home Folder. Besides taking up space and slowing down things, it leads to curious behavior, such as: 1. the new iTunes (10) downloading to my Mac HD but not to my Home Folder, resulting in icons for both programs depending on which of the 4 folders I click on; 2. Again, depending on which of the 4 Applications icons I access in my Finder, the identical program will sometimes open in the dock where it's already sitting (as I prefer) and at other times will open as a new, heretofore unused but identical program at the far right side of the dock, just to the left of the Stacks dividing line.

In each of the 4 cases the program is followed by a size rather than "Alias" (which I assume is automatic if it's not a duplicate, separate program). So my questions come down to: First, aside from keeping the Applications folder on "Mac HD," is it "safe" to delete/trash the others? All 3, or just 1 or 2? How best determine which is expendable? Second, what's the best way to remove the duplicate or "bad" Apps folders and programs and then replace them with identical aliases? The trash basket appears to require literally days for elimination. I have the X.6 install disc as well as Tech Tools and some other repair discs, should they be fit for the task.

iMac 2.4 GHz Intel, Mac OS X (10.6.4)

Posted on Sep 9, 2010 8:57 AM

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Answer 1

thomas_r.

Level 7

32,031 points

Sep 9, 2010 9:16 AM in response to Cap

First, I would strongly advise getting a book on how to use the Mac OS, as your repeated posts on this topic seem to reveal a very inadequate understanding of how to interact with the files on your computer.

Second, you've posted very unclear questions on this topic repeatedly... if you haven't gotten answers from those topics, it would be helpful to know why and to have a clearer description of what you're seeing and what's not working the way you expect. Re-posting similarly obtuse questions over and over will not get you better assistance.

To try to give you a few answers, you should first double-click on your hard drive. Ignore the sidebar and the title bar and anything else outside the window... what do you see? You should see the following folders:

Applications
Library
System
User Guides And Information
Users

The Applications folder there is the only one you need. Note that Applications folders on the sidebar or Dock or toolbar (under the window's title bar) are just aliases, or "pointers," and not necessarily separate folders.

If you see an Applications folder that you think is a duplicate, first tell us exactly where you see it, and second, select it and choose File -> Get Info, then tell us what it says next to "Where:".

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Answer 2

Sep 9, 2010 9:36 AM in response to Cap

Might have been better sticking with one topic for this; could get confusing with two.
However; The only Applications icon in the finder window sidebar should be an alias to the Applications folder in the Macintosh HD (at least by default). I would suggest you just drag the one in the Places section to the desktop and watch it disappear, then go to Macintosh HD>Applications and drag that folder to replace the one you just removed - that will ensure that the correct one is in Places.

As for the one in the home folder, my new MacBook surprised me by having an Applications folder in the home folder, too; though as it's a new computer it was empty. So I can see how you might have one there, as it appears to have been part of the SL install.

What's intriguing though is how you come to have so many applications in that folder, including duplicates of some of those in the HD Apps folder. Are these Applications at the same standard of update as those in the HD folder? or are they earlier versions?

If they're earlier versions (and I'm guessing they may be), is it possible they've been migrated from a previous installation on that iMac during upgrade?

Whatever the reason they're there, if they're not required, trash them (from the home folder Apps folder) or indeed if there's nothing you actually want in there, trash the whole Applications folder from the Home folder.

The Dock behaviour sounds correct if two different versions of an Application are open, so you shouldn't see it again once you've removed the duplicated apps.

Whatever you do, *DO NOT* remove the Applications folder from Macintosh HD!

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Answer 3

Sep 9, 2010 11:29 AM in response to noondaywitch

As a footnote, if the Trash is taking an innordinate amount of time to empty, check that the option "Empty Trash securely" is not checked in Finder preferences>Advanced.

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Answer 4

Cap Author

Level 2

366 points

Sep 10, 2010 8:52 PM in response to Cap

Thanks. I appreciate your patience and don't mean to be a pest. I've got at least six books on Snow Leopard, beginning with two Dummies books (I was surprised at that number myself) and ending with Pogue's Missing Manual. I realize it would be awkward to ask for a recommendation among all the titles, but I'll read more carefully, decide on just one or two and, if nothing else, come up with sharper, more precisely worded questions. At least I can be assured, by following your suggestion, that I have one Applications folder, no more, no less,

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