Mac OS® X Leopard™ Bible

Chapter 21. Maintaining Mac OS X

IN THIS CHAPTER

• Exploring the Mac OS X Library folders

• Practicing good housekeeping

• Scheduling maintenance

In this chapter, you find out about the structure of the Mac OS X system architecture and some basic system maintenance, as well as discover the importance of a good backup.

Exploring the Mac OS X Library Folders

The core of Mac OS X hangs out in the System folder. You can look in the System folder hierarchy, but touching the files contained inside is generally unwise, a fact that is evidenced by taking a look at the permissions of the folders contained therein. This file hierarchy belongs to the system, and the only visible item is a Library folder. This folder is one of three Library folders you'll be introduced to, but also the one that we discuss the least because its contents are beyond the scope of this book. It hosts a number of important files and is where the code and resources required for core Mac OS X functionality reside. Make changes to this folder at your own risk.

The second Library folder, and perhaps the most easily located one, is found at the top level of your system disk. This folder is modifiable by those users with administrator access, and it's where such a user would place items in order to make their functionality accessible to all users. It holds the fonts, sounds, screen savers, and so on that are available to all of the accounts on your computer. Resources required by installed applications, as well as drivers for peripheral ...