zoktoberfest
Level 1 (13 points)
Desktops

Q: Upgrading RAM...what will happen to my cluttered Desktop?

Re; early 2009 iMac 10.10.5  (2) x 2Gb RAM modules pre-upgrade.

When I go through the procedure of swapping out my old for RAM modules for additional and larger new RAM modules, what will happen to my busy Desktop, if anything?

It is my understanding that the file links you drag onto the Desktop are stored in RAM.

When I pull out the current RAM modules, will everything that appears now be lost, or be made much less accessible?

Accessibility is the whole point for having them out there.

Am I worrying for no reason, or should I be saving those much used file, video and image links somewhere? 

Posted on Apr 16, 2016 12:32 PM

by Old Toad,Apple recommended
Old Toad Old Toad
Level 10 (140,898 points)
Photos for Mac
A:

Nothing will happen.  The Finder window contents are not stored in the volatile RAM but in preference and database files so they are permanent, subject to your changing what's on the Desktop at any time.

 

OTsig.png

Posted on Apr 16, 2016 4:20 PM

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Q: Upgrading RAM...what will happen to my cluttered Desktop?

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  • by Old Toad,Apple recommended

    Old Toad Old Toad Apr 16, 2016 4:20 PM in response to zoktoberfest
    Level 10 (140,898 points)
    Photos for Mac
    Apr 16, 2016 4:20 PM in response to zoktoberfest

    Nothing will happen.  The Finder window contents are not stored in the volatile RAM but in preference and database files so they are permanent, subject to your changing what's on the Desktop at any time.

     

    OTsig.png

  • by zoktoberfest,

    zoktoberfest zoktoberfest Apr 16, 2016 4:37 PM in response to Old Toad
    Level 1 (13 points)
    Desktops
    Apr 16, 2016 4:37 PM in response to Old Toad

    Old Toad,

    Thanks for clearing that up.

    The new RAM will be swapped in when I can free up the computer.

    CleanMyMac 3 was notifying me, when many windows were open, that RAM capacity was insufficient; nothing that wasn't obvious to me already.

    I'm upgrading from 4Gb (2x2Gb) to 16Gb (4x4Gb) and I hope to see much better multitasking performance.

    I'll check in with the results, when I can

    Cheers;

  • by Acm001,

    Acm001 Acm001 Apr 17, 2016 7:41 AM in response to zoktoberfest
    Level 3 (623 points)
    iPhone
    Apr 17, 2016 7:41 AM in response to zoktoberfest

    Also get rid of cleanmymac. Check this forum for all the reasons you should. Its not needed at all.

  • by Eric Root,

    Eric Root Eric Root Apr 17, 2016 9:14 AM in response to zoktoberfest
    Level 9 (69,640 points)
    iTunes
    Apr 17, 2016 9:14 AM in response to zoktoberfest

    CleanMyMac 3 Uninstall

     

    After un-installing, use this program to make sure you got all the pieces.

    EasyFind – Spotlight Replacement

  • by babowa,

    babowa babowa Apr 17, 2016 9:33 AM in response to zoktoberfest
    Level 7 (31,878 points)
    iPad
    Apr 17, 2016 9:33 AM in response to zoktoberfest

    FWIW, it is always recommended that you have a backup before you attempt to do anything. You do have a backup?

  • by zoktoberfest,

    zoktoberfest zoktoberfest Apr 17, 2016 10:27 AM in response to Acm001
    Level 1 (13 points)
    Desktops
    Apr 17, 2016 10:27 AM in response to Acm001

    Yes, I was expecting that to be recommended.

    After upgrading to Yosemite, iMovie became dysfunctional, and I could not make it Force Quit.

    I appealed to the community with two differently worded questions, about the same situation, but nothing was forth coming.

    I wanted to delete the app, but I was concerned that iMovie was still hung up somehow, somewhere.

    I say this, even though it did not show in Activity Finder,  the dock icon remained, as did the option to Force Quit.

    CleanMyMac-3 trial version deleted it, it also suggested that I was exceeding my RAM capacity, which explained the sluggish nature of my computer, when multitasking.

    It used a clever graphic to illustrate the impending overcapacity, essential feedback, Mac developers should take note of, but never will.

    I've been begging for a variable vertical scrolling feature to be added to TextEdit for those of us who do real time over voicing, but we are forced to go third party, and than you guys say uninstall that non native app...jeez

    How about improving the deficiencies in existing apps, before moving on to new ones, so we don't have to go third party

    Anyway, I went through the MacKeeper horror show, so I will note your concern.

    Thanks...

  • by zoktoberfest,

    zoktoberfest zoktoberfest Apr 17, 2016 10:38 AM in response to babowa
    Level 1 (13 points)
    Desktops
    Apr 17, 2016 10:38 AM in response to babowa

    An external hard drive is backing up my computer through Time Machine.

    I will be upgrading to a solid state (non disk) backup drive, since the present disk unit has been in service for at least 5 years.