Sudo Command with installation

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Sudo Command with installation

Hi,

I am trying to install a software called Fullprof suite. Upon downloading, I have to follow the directions listed here:

http://www.ill.eu/sites/fullprof/php/downloads.html

I'm supposed to use the sudo command in terminal, which may lead to data loss. I'm pretty new to this sort of thing, so I would like to confirm that the text I am entering is safe, and only allows installation of the program:

sudo ln -s /Applications/Darwin/openmotif-2.2.3-universal /usr/OpenMotif

I am running on MacBook (2008), 10.5.8.

Any help would be appreciated. I tried running this program on our pc and now that computer doesn't start....

Mac OS X (10.5), 13.3" Aluminum

Posted on Feb 24, 2013 10:01 AM

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Answer 1

Niel

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741,911 points

Feb 24, 2013 10:26 AM in response to Kathy27

Yes to both questions. For maximum security, run the following immediately afterward:

sudo -k

(77522)

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Answer 2

Kathy27 Author

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Feb 24, 2013 10:33 AM in response to Niel

Thanks for the quick reply.

What does that text do?

And why is it necessary for me to use the sudo for installing this software?

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Answer 3

Niel

Level 10

741,911 points

Feb 24, 2013 10:35 AM in response to Kathy27

1. Revokes the permissions the first command granted so that nothing else can take advantage of them.

2. Because it's making changes to system-level folders. This is the same reason why most of Apple's software updates require an administrator password.

(77525)

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Answer 4

Kathy27 Author

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Feb 24, 2013 10:35 AM in response to Kathy27

Also, are there any potential problems that may occur if I use these commands? I really hate doing something that I know so little about.

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Answer 5

Kathy27 Author

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Feb 24, 2013 10:46 AM in response to Niel

Ok, thanks again.

I only need this software for a few days. Is it possible to remove it afterwards? Would I need to type anything into terminal for that?

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Answer 6

Niel

Level 10

741,911 points

Feb 24, 2013 10:49 AM in response to Kathy27

Choose Go to Folder from the Finder's Go menu, provide /usr/ as the path, and throw away the OpenMotif item inside without changing anything else.

(77528)

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Answer 7

Kathy27 Author

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Feb 24, 2013 10:58 AM in response to Niel

Ok, and were there any potential problems that may happen once I use these sudo commands? Any at all?

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Answer 8

Niel

Level 10

741,911 points

Feb 24, 2013 11:02 AM in response to Kathy27

If they're executed properly, no. Copy and paste them.

(77530)

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Answer 9

Kathy27 Author

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Feb 24, 2013 3:47 PM in response to Niel

Ok, when it asks to type in the password, how come I don't see any text appearing when I type it? It's just the same password that you enter whenever the system does updates right?

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