Q: Duplicates of applications

Hello !

           Today my younger brother created multiple duplicates of all OS X Applications ( ex safari , calendar , notes etc ) .

I entered in recovery mode to reset the password , ran SMC , safe mode .....etc but no avail .

Is this issue is due to malware in the system ?

And my brother school examinations are still going on and the important data ( solutions for subject math , physics ) are stored , so i don't want to delete the data by any means .

 

It's confusing as we don't what to do .

 

Any suggestions will be really helpful .

 

Thanks !

 

NOTE : Using mac book air 10.11.6

Posted on Sep 19, 2016 4:37 AM

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Q: Duplicates of applications

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  • by turingtest2,

    turingtest2 turingtest2 Sep 19, 2016 4:43 AM in response to tygb
    Level 10 (85,929 points)
    Apple TV
    Sep 19, 2016 4:43 AM in response to tygb

    Made duplicates where? Can you post a screenshot? It ought to be fairly easy to remove the redundant copies leaving the originals. Backup data first just in case.

     

    tt2

  • by tygb ,

    tygb Sep 19, 2016 4:53 AM in response to turingtest2
    Level 2 (398 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 19, 2016 4:53 AM in response to turingtest2

    When we click on finder & select applications , screen shot is attached .

    Screen Shot 2016-09-19 at 5.21.22 PM.png

  • by turingtest2,Helpful

    turingtest2 turingtest2 Sep 19, 2016 7:03 AM in response to tygb
    Level 10 (85,929 points)
    Apple TV
    Sep 19, 2016 7:03 AM in response to tygb

    You can delete the copies and the aliases. Nothing should miss them, and your data should be unaffected. But you do back that up, don't you?

     

    tt2

  • by tygb ,

    tygb Sep 19, 2016 5:12 AM in response to turingtest2
    Level 2 (398 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 19, 2016 5:12 AM in response to turingtest2

    Thanks for the suggestions , i had taken back up of all data but how to know which app is original ?

  • by dialabrain,

    dialabrain dialabrain Sep 19, 2016 5:15 AM in response to tygb
    Level 5 (6,241 points)
    Mac App Store
    Sep 19, 2016 5:15 AM in response to tygb

    As Turing said, you can delete anything that has copy or alias appended to the name. It won't harm any data.

  • by tygb ,

    tygb Sep 19, 2016 5:20 AM in response to dialabrain
    Level 2 (398 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 19, 2016 5:20 AM in response to dialabrain

    Yes , i will delete them but a query is there what is the way to find the original app .

  • by dialabrain,

    dialabrain dialabrain Sep 19, 2016 5:25 AM in response to tygb
    Level 5 (6,241 points)
    Mac App Store
    Sep 19, 2016 5:25 AM in response to tygb

    The originals are the ones without the word copy or alias appended to them.

  • by tygb ,

    tygb Sep 19, 2016 5:35 AM in response to dialabrain
    Level 2 (398 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 19, 2016 5:35 AM in response to dialabrain

    Is there any method or a way that it clearly shows original .

  • by turingtest2,Helpful

    turingtest2 turingtest2 Sep 19, 2016 7:04 AM in response to tygb
    Level 10 (85,929 points)
    Apple TV
    Sep 19, 2016 7:04 AM in response to tygb

    You cannot have two identical copies of exactly the same file or folder inside a folder, so the name is always going to be different. For Safari you have:

    • Safari copy.app (a copy to delete)
    • Safari.app (the original to leave)
    • Safari.app Alias (a shortcut to delete)

    The original has the shortest filename, and if you're looking, the earliest timestamps. It really won't take that long to sort out.

     

    tt2

  • by tygb ,

    tygb Sep 19, 2016 6:26 AM in response to turingtest2
    Level 2 (398 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 19, 2016 6:26 AM in response to turingtest2

    If any alias or duplicate is created unknowingly .

    Screen Shot 2016-09-19 at 6.50.52 PM.png

    Right click on safari.app.alias copy  or safari.app alias

    Screen Shot 2016-09-19 at 6.51.11 PM.png

    Then click on show original the highlighted safari.app.aliascopy will be shifted to the original safari.app

    Thanks !

  • by dialabrain,

    dialabrain dialabrain Sep 19, 2016 6:33 AM in response to tygb
    Level 5 (6,241 points)
    Mac App Store
    Sep 19, 2016 6:33 AM in response to tygb

    You're somewhat confused. An alias is a pointer to the original. So when you have an alias selected and choose "Show Original", that just shows what the alias is pointing to. It doesn't work with a copy.

  • by tygb ,

    tygb Sep 19, 2016 7:03 AM in response to dialabrain
    Level 2 (398 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 19, 2016 7:03 AM in response to dialabrain

    It do work with copy i'll right  click on safari.app.alias.copy and click to show original the highlighter in navy blue color will automatically shift to original safari.app .

     

    It also works when i go into  favorites - all files or documents , if i have files named , introduction letter , proforma invoice .....etc and i create a duplicate or alias of it , how to find out which one is original . in this case it will be more difficult to find out the original .

     

    Any how you both have given your precious time and your answers were really helpful to me .

     

    Thanks ! once again .

  • by dialabrain,Solvedanswer

    dialabrain dialabrain Sep 19, 2016 7:16 AM in response to tygb
    Level 5 (6,241 points)
    Mac App Store
    Sep 19, 2016 7:16 AM in response to tygb

    tygb wrote:

     

    It do work with copy i'll right  click on safari.app.alias.copy and click to show original the highlighter in navy blue color will automatically shift to original safari.app .

    You are not clicking on a copy of the app. You are clicking on a copy of an alias. two different things. Not sure why I'm explaining this but to show you what I said…

     

    Right click on the Calculator.app, select Duplicate. That will create "Calculator copy.app". Right click on the copy and choose "Make Alias". Right click on the alias, chose "Show Original and it will highlight the copy. For that matter, right click on the copy and Show Original will not be available.

  • by tygb ,

    tygb Sep 19, 2016 7:35 AM in response to dialabrain
    Level 2 (398 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 19, 2016 7:35 AM in response to dialabrain

    Yes you are correct

    Thanks !

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