You know that all of the information on your MacBook is stored in files and then filed away into folders, so you've probably already realized that file management is a pretty big deal. A file can be any self-contained item on your computer.
Most of the files on your MacBook are system or application files, and you'll never have a reason to interact with them. They are stored to be accessed by the applications that require them to run. As a MacBook end user, the files you will likely work with include items like documents, photos, music files, e-mail messages, movies, and applications.
To get started with managing files, go ahead and open a Finder window by clicking the Finder icon in the Dock. Click on your hard drive icon in the upper portion of the sidebar so that a list of folders that your hard drive contains appears in the Results window.
Applications - This is the folder where the information for your installed applications resides. When you're installing new software, this is the default location where your MacBook will want to place the files. All user accounts have access to these applications. Inside the Applications folder is the Utilities folder. You will find some applications in there that will help you perform system tasks on your MacBook, but you probably won't use them very often.
Library - The Library folder contains information that your MacBook and its applications use to run, like device drivers that let your computer use an installed printer or mouse. The files in the Library folder can be accessed by all users. Because the Library folder is critical to your computer, you shouldn't change or alter the folder or its contents.
System - The System folder is where your MacBook stores all of the system files it needs to run the operating system properly. Mucking around in this folder could cause some very serious ramifications, including system instability or a total system meltdown. You may think I am exaggerating, but I assure you, I am not. Unless you know exactly what you are doing, it's best to just ignore this folder.
Users - This is where personalized information is stored for user accounts. When you set up a user account, a folder is created just for you with your user account name. In it you will find your documents, e-mails, and personalized settings, like your desktop picture.
When it comes to file management, the nuts and bolts that you really need to know are how to create new folders and files, rename those that you've created, move or copy them, and delete ones that you no longer need.
If you plan to organize your computer at all, you need to know how to create folders. Folders can be created inside one another for some pretty high-level order. To create a new folder, you can:
Creating files varies by the type of application you use to create them. You can create text documents in a word processing application and create photo files in a photo editing application. Once you've created a file, you can save it to your hard drive. When you click the Save button or go to File > Save in whichever application you choose, you will be presented with a dialog box that prompts you to name your file and browse your drive to select a location to save it to.
The default location for saved documents depends on the type of file. Your MacBook will save document files to the Documents folder associated with your user account. Each user on your computer has their own home folder, so whatever you save in your account won't get mixed up with anyone else's documents.
You can create an alias for any file, folder, or application. An alias is a duplicate of the icon that, when clicked, offers a shortcut directly to the original application or file. For example, if you have Photoshop installed, you might normally access it from the Applications menu. Instead, you could create an alias for the application and keep it on your desktop, saving yourself a few steps when you want to launch it. ctrl-click an icon and select Make Alias from the shortcut menu.
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1. Steps to Maintaining Your Personal Computer
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