Scott F.

Q: Utilities folder - strange behavior

I'm running 10.9.2. When I try to do anything in the Utlities folder within the Applications folder I'm asked for my password for my Mac. Even for simply creating a new folder. Also, after creating a new folder to put all of my 3rd party maintenance apps in it, when I tried to drag the apps into it the OS created 'copies' of the apps instead of moving them. Anyone have an idea what's going on? I've never seen this before.

MacBook Pro, OS X Mavericks (10.9), 8GB RAM

Posted on Mar 16, 2014 4:03 PM

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Q: Utilities folder - strange behavior

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  • by etresoft,

    etresoft etresoft Mar 16, 2014 4:21 PM in response to Scott F.
    Level 7 (29,380 points)
    Mac OS X
    Mar 16, 2014 4:21 PM in response to Scott F.

    That is a system folder so try running Repair Permissions from Disk Utility.

  • by Linc Davis,

    Linc Davis Linc Davis Mar 16, 2014 6:18 PM in response to Scott F.
    Level 10 (208,037 points)
    Applications
    Mar 16, 2014 6:18 PM in response to Scott F.

    Anyone have an idea what's going on?

     

    Nothing. It's normal. The Utilities folder is intended to be used only by Apple for built-in applications. You can put other things in there if you want, but you'll be prompted for your password to confirm.

     

    By the way, there are no third-party maintenance apps that are in any way useful.

  • by Scott F.,

    Scott F. Scott F. Mar 16, 2014 6:31 PM in response to Linc Davis
    Level 2 (155 points)
    Mar 16, 2014 6:31 PM in response to Linc Davis

    Thanks Linc. This must be new because I don't remember this need for the password before. Anyway, that's really not the big issue ...what I need to know is why can't I 'move' an app that's in there into a subfolder I created inside Utilities? As I mentioned, it's copying instead of moving.

     

    There aren't 'any' 3rd party maintenance apps that are useful? Really? Well, I use AppCleaner and I like it. I'm also using Disk Inventory X. Sometimes I'll use Onyx. Perhaps you know your way around terminal so you don't need these tools, but I use them and find them useful. There are others I might be forgetting as well.

     

    Thanks.

  • by Linc Davis,

    Linc Davis Linc Davis Mar 16, 2014 6:35 PM in response to Scott F.
    Level 10 (208,037 points)
    Applications
    Mar 16, 2014 6:35 PM in response to Scott F.

    Again, your system is behaving as designed. Drag the extra copies to the Trash.

     

    How to maintain a Mac

     

    1. Make redundant backups, keeping at least one off site at all times. One backup is not enough. Don’t back up your backups; all should be made directly from the original data. Don’t rely completely on any single backup method, such as Time Machine. If you get an indication that a backup has failed, don't ignore it.

       

    2. Keep your software up to date. In the App Store or Software Update preference pane (depending on the OS version), you can configure automatic notifications of updates to OS X and other Mac App Store products. Some third-party applications from other sources have a similar feature, if you don’t mind letting them phone home. Otherwise you have to check yourself on a regular basis.

     

    Keeping up to date is especially important for complex software that modifies the operating system, such as device drivers. Before installing any Apple update, you must check that all such modifications that you use are compatible. Incompatibility with third-party software is by far the most common cause of trouble with system updates.

       

    3. Don't install crapware, such as “themes,” "haxies," “add-ons,” “toolbars,” “enhancers," “optimizers,” “accelerators,” "boosters," “extenders,” “cleaners,” "doctors," "tune-ups," “defragmenters,” “firewalls,” "barriers," “guardians,” “defenders,” “protectors,” most “plugins,” commercial "virus scanners,” "disk tools," or "utilities." With very few exceptions, such stuff is useless or worse than useless. Above all, avoid any software that purports to change the look and feel of the user interface.

      

    It's not much of an exaggeration to say that the whole "utility" software industry for the Mac is a fraud on consumers. The most extreme examples are the "CleanMyMac" and “MacKeeper” scams, but there are many others.

       

    As a rule, the only software you should install is that which directly enables you to do the things you use a computer for, and doesn't change the way other software works.

      

    Safari extensions, and perhaps the equivalent for other web browsers, are a partial exception to the above rule. Most are safe, and they're easy to get rid of if they don't work. Some may cause the browser to crash or otherwise malfunction.  Some are malicious. Use with caution, and install only well-known extensions from relatively trustworthy sources, such as the Safari Extensions Gallery.

      

    Never install any third-party software unless you know how to uninstall it. Otherwise you may create problems that are very hard to solve. Do not rely on "utilities" such as "AppCleaner" and the like that purport to remove software.

    4. Don't install bad, conflicting, or unnecessary fonts. Whenever you install new fonts, use the validation feature of the built-in Font Book application to make sure the fonts aren't defective and don't conflict with each other or with others that you already have. See the built-in help and this support article for instructions. Deactivate or remove fonts that you don't really need to speed up application launching.

     

    5. Avoid malware. Malware is malicious software that circulates on the Internet. This kind of attack on OS X was once so rare that it was hardly a concern, but malware is now increasingly common, and increasingly dangerous.

      

    There is some built-in protection against downloading malware, but you can’t rely on it — the attackers are always at least one day ahead of the defense. You can’t rely on third-party protection either. What you can rely on is common-sense awareness — not paranoia, which only makes you more vulnerable.

     

    Never install software from an untrustworthy or unknown source. If in doubt, do some research. Any website that prompts you to install a “codec” or “plugin” that comes from the same site, or an unknown site, is untrustworthy. Software with a corporate brand, such as Adobe Flash Player, must come directly from the developer's website. No intermediary is acceptable, and don’t trust links unless you know how to parse them. Any file that is automatically downloaded from the web, without your having requested it, should go straight into the Trash. A web page that tells you that your computer has a “virus,” or that anything else is wrong with it, is a scam.

     

    In OS X 10.7.5 or later, downloaded applications and Installer packages that have not been digitally signed by a developer registered with Apple are blocked from loading by default. The block can be overridden, but think carefully before you do so.

     

    Because of recurring security issues in Java, it’s best to disable it in your web browsers, if it’s installed. Few websites have Java content nowadays, so you won’t be missing much. This action is mandatory if you’re running any version of OS X older than 10.6.8 with the latest Java update. Note: Java has nothing to do with JavaScript, despite the similar names. Don't install Java unless you're sure you need it. Most people don't.

     

    6. Don't fill up your boot volume. A common mistake is adding more and more large files to your home folder until you start to get warnings that you're out of space, which may be followed in short order by a boot failure. This is more prone to happen on the newer Macs that come with an internal SSD instead of the traditional hard drive. The drive can be very nearly full before you become aware of the problem.

       

    While it's not true that you should or must keep any particular percentage of space free, you should monitor your storage use and make sure you're not in immediate danger of using it up. According to Apple documentation, you need at least 9 GB of free space on the startup volume for normal operation.

      

    If storage space is running low, use a tool such as OmniDiskSweeper to explore the volume and find out what's taking up the most space. Move seldom-used large files to secondary storage.

      

    7. Relax, don’t do it. Besides the above, no routine maintenance is necessary or beneficial for the vast majority of users; specifically not “cleaning caches,” “zapping the PRAM,” "resetting the SMC," “rebuilding the directory,” "defragmenting the drive," “running periodic scripts,” “dumping logs,” "deleting temp files," “scanning for viruses,” "purging memory," "checking for bad blocks," "testing the hardware," or “repairing permissions.” Such measures are either completely pointless or are useful only for solving problems, not for prevention.

      

    To use a Mac effectively, you have to free yourself from the Windows mindset that every computer needs regular downtime maintenance such as "defragging" and "registry cleaning." Those concepts do not apply to the Mac platform. A computing device should not be a focus of your attention. It should be an almost invisible tool by means of which you communicate, work, and play. If you want a machine that is always whining for your attention like a neurotic dog, use a PC.

      

    The very height of futility is running an expensive third-party application called “Disk Warrior” when nothing is wrong, or even when something is wrong and you have backups, which you must have. Disk Warrior is a data-salvage tool, not a maintenance tool, and you will never need it if your backups are adequate. Don’t waste money on it or anything like it.

  • by Scott F.,

    Scott F. Scott F. Mar 16, 2014 6:47 PM in response to Linc Davis
    Level 2 (155 points)
    Mar 16, 2014 6:47 PM in response to Linc Davis

    Thanks Linc. May I ask you what the source is of this list?

     

    It's a little funny that whoever wrote this says that none of these apps are necessary or helpful and then writes:

     

    If storage space is running low, use a tool such as OmniDiskSweeper to explore the volume and find out what's taking up the most space. Move seldom-used large files to secondary storage.

  • by Linc Davis,

    Linc Davis Linc Davis Mar 16, 2014 7:17 PM in response to Scott F.
    Level 10 (208,037 points)
    Applications
    Mar 16, 2014 7:17 PM in response to Scott F.

    May I ask you what the source is of this list?

     

    I am. If I quote someone else's work, I do so with attribution.

     

    It's a little funny that whoever wrote this says that none of these apps are necessary or helpful

     

    Not really, because I didn't say that, and ODS is one of the few exceptions I alluded to.

  • by Scott F.,

    Scott F. Scott F. Mar 16, 2014 7:22 PM in response to Linc Davis
    Level 2 (155 points)
    Mar 16, 2014 7:22 PM in response to Linc Davis

    You wrote:

    By the way, there are no third-party maintenance apps that are in any way useful.

     

    OnmiDisk Sweeper is a third party app.

     

    What I got from your list is that there's no need to do any regulgar maintenance on a Mac. This is the first time I've ever heard this. So, forgive me if I'm curious.

  • by Linc Davis,

    Linc Davis Linc Davis Mar 16, 2014 7:33 PM in response to Scott F.
    Level 10 (208,037 points)
    Applications
    Mar 16, 2014 7:33 PM in response to Scott F.

    OnmiDisk Sweeper is a third party app.

     

    It's a diagnostic app that is occasionally useful. It's not needed for routine maintenance.

     

    This is the first time I've ever heard this.

     

    Never too late.

  • by thomas_r.,

    thomas_r. thomas_r. Mar 17, 2014 3:11 AM in response to Scott F.
    Level 7 (30,944 points)
    Mac OS X
    Mar 17, 2014 3:11 AM in response to Scott F.

    What I got from your list is that there's no need to do any regulgar maintenance on a Mac. This is the first time I've ever heard this. So, forgive me if I'm curious.

     

    That is correct. The OS maintains itself, unlike that other inferior OS that requires people to buy third-party software to do the job.

     

    For additional info, and a corroborating viewpoint, see The myth of the dirty Mac.

  • by Scott F.,

    Scott F. Scott F. Mar 17, 2014 6:12 AM in response to thomas_r.
    Level 2 (155 points)
    Mar 17, 2014 6:12 AM in response to thomas_r.

    Just to play devil's advocate ... if the OS maintains itself why is it that very often a Mac's performance will slow down over time and that by doing a clean reinstall of the OS and reinstalling one's apps will result in better performance?

     

    I'll read the article, thanks.

     

    Another question. When I routinely run "Verify Disk" within Disk Utility I've noticed something that seems to have changed since I upgraded to Mavericks....

     

    When I select the physical HD "SAMSUNG HN-M101MBB Media" I get the final result I'm used to seeing (in green):

    "The volume Recovery HD appears to be OK".

     

    But when I select the partition "Macintosh HD" I don't get that green OK message like I used to. What I get is:

    Checking file system

    Checking Journaled HFS Plus volume.

    Checking extents overflow file.

    Checking multi-linked files.

    Checking catalog hierarchy

     

    But now final message that things are OK, or that there are problems. Seems strange to me.

     

    Thanks.


  • by thomas_r.,

    thomas_r. thomas_r. Mar 17, 2014 6:23 AM in response to Scott F.
    Level 7 (30,944 points)
    Mac OS X
    Mar 17, 2014 6:23 AM in response to Scott F.

    Just to play devil's advocate ... if the OS maintains itself why is it that very often a Mac's performance will slow down over time and that by doing a clean reinstall of the OS and reinstalling one's apps will result in better performance?

     

    There is no such trend. Anyone observing such behavior has something wrong with their machine. This could be due to some junk third-party software that is being installed, and that degrades the performance over time. (One common cause of such behavior is, ironically, the very "cleaning" software that professes to speed your machine up.) It could also be due to something like a slowly failing hard drive generating sporadic errors and corruption, slowly, over time. Or it could be something else entirely, these are just two common examples.

     

    On a properly-functioning machine, such a performance drop will not happen.

     

    Another question. When I routinely run "Verify Disk" within Disk Utility I've noticed something that seems to have changed since I upgraded to Mavericks....

     

    If you're never seeing the message that the disk is OK or damaged, the verification process has not completed or has gone badly wrong. If it's taking a really long time, or if the process is completing without ever showing that message, this is not a good thing.

     

    You should be aware that "live" verification (ie, running a "Verify Disk" on the hard drive containing the currently-running system) is notoriously unreliable. It could say everything is okay when it isn't, or vice versa. It's basically a waste of time. Don't bother. Instead, hold command-R at startup to enter recovery mode, and run Disk Utility from there. And even then, don't bother with a verify... just do a repair, unless you specifically want to verify and will not want a repair done if problems are found.

     

    Also, note that on a modern drive, if it needs repairing, there's good chance that means it's failing physically and will need to be replaced.

  • by Scott F.,

    Scott F. Scott F. Mar 17, 2014 6:30 AM in response to thomas_r.
    Level 2 (155 points)
    Mar 17, 2014 6:30 AM in response to thomas_r.

    Thanks Thomas. I didn't know that a "live" verification wasn't accurate. Good to know! But like I mentioned, I get the "OK" message when I run it on the actual physical drive (by selecting Samsung ....). It's only when I select the partition below it (Macintosh HD) that it doesn't appear to complete.

  • by thomas_r.,

    thomas_r. thomas_r. Mar 17, 2014 10:52 AM in response to Scott F.
    Level 7 (30,944 points)
    Mac OS X
    Mar 17, 2014 10:52 AM in response to Scott F.

    I get the "OK" message when I run it on the actual physical drive (by selecting Samsung ....). It's only when I select the partition below it (Macintosh HD) that it doesn't appear to complete.

     

    Those are actually two different things. The first item, called Samsung[...], is the actual hard drive. Checking that simply checks the partition maps and whatnot - the overall structure of the drive itself.

     

    The item called Macintosh HD is the "volume." This is what most people think of as the "hard drive," since this is what shows up on the desktop. This is what typically would need to be checked for corruption, and if the verify isn't able to complete here, there's a serious problem. Restart in recovery mode and try repairing that volume.

     

    By the way, it's important that you have good backups in these circumstances. Your hard drive may be failing, and if it isn't, it could be badly corrupt in such a way that it will cause data loss. Even trying to repair is dangerous if you don't have backups.

  • by Scott F.,Solvedanswer

    Scott F. Scott F. Mar 19, 2014 7:59 PM in response to thomas_r.
    Level 2 (155 points)
    Mar 19, 2014 7:59 PM in response to thomas_r.

    Running Disk Utility in Recovery Mode enabled me to verify the HD. All is fine. Thanks.