I purchased a mac-mini about 6 months ago. I have been using the internet, photo options, i-tunes, dvd etc. However, I have not been able to successfully download any software. Everytime I try (I have made sure the CD's/programs are mac compatable), it seems like it's running, puts the icon on my desktop. However, when I click on the icon to install and run it tells me "can't find default application to open". Then it gives me drop down options for all my applications. But I can't get anything to work. Like I said I am new to mac & this may be something totally easy that I just don't know what to do. Can anyone help??? Thanks in advance!
Error when installing software help!
- Thread starter lshaver
- Start date
Satcomer
In Geostationary Orbit
when you download an application for OS X it is an archived file to make it smaller for transport to you. Now OS X program come archived several different ways. I will list them:
1) Disk Image: I looks like a pure white hard disk on your desktop. This is a TEMPORARY hard drive! The application might be on the inside of the temporary hard drive. so you need to drag and drop that application to your hard/desktop for it to be installed on your Mac.
2) Zip file: This is one way of making an application transferable. It may contain the application directly or a Temporary Disk described above. You can make you own Zip files by right clicking (control button+click) and making an "archive".
3) Stuffit File: This is a proprietary archive method made by Allume. They have made this you years on Macs. To "unstuff" those files you need their Stuffit Expander. This will "unstuff" a direct application or disk image or installer package
(that I will explain net).
4) Installer package: This is what the name describes. It is an installer package (like Apple point OS X updates) that will install several files over you Mac. The icon looks like a partly open box and will launch the Installer program.
5) Bin: this is a style of archive the uses old Unix style of archive. Stuffit Expander will unstuff .bin files.
Finally I highly recommend an easy read book by David Pogue called Mac OS X (Missing Manuals). It is a very easy, interesting tech book you will ever read. If you read it you will be able to diagnose most any common problem in OS X.
1) Disk Image: I looks like a pure white hard disk on your desktop. This is a TEMPORARY hard drive! The application might be on the inside of the temporary hard drive. so you need to drag and drop that application to your hard/desktop for it to be installed on your Mac.
2) Zip file: This is one way of making an application transferable. It may contain the application directly or a Temporary Disk described above. You can make you own Zip files by right clicking (control button+click) and making an "archive".
3) Stuffit File: This is a proprietary archive method made by Allume. They have made this you years on Macs. To "unstuff" those files you need their Stuffit Expander. This will "unstuff" a direct application or disk image or installer package
(that I will explain net).
4) Installer package: This is what the name describes. It is an installer package (like Apple point OS X updates) that will install several files over you Mac. The icon looks like a partly open box and will launch the Installer program.
5) Bin: this is a style of archive the uses old Unix style of archive. Stuffit Expander will unstuff .bin files.
Finally I highly recommend an easy read book by David Pogue called Mac OS X (Missing Manuals). It is a very easy, interesting tech book you will ever read. If you read it you will be able to diagnose most any common problem in OS X.