wilfredo Posted September 4, 2007 Share #1 Posted September 4, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) Is there a problem between Mozilla Firefox and IMAC's? I downloaded Firefox to my IMAC. I've been using it for the last few weeks, now it seems to have vanished. The Alias is on the screen but when I try to open it I get a message saying: "The Alias Firefox could not be open, because the original item could not be found." Any ideas? The AOL program for MACS is also not quite up to par with the PC version. Other than that, I'm loving the transition to the world of Apple! Cheers, Wilfredo http://www.BenitezRivera.com Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted September 4, 2007 Posted September 4, 2007 Hi wilfredo, Take a look here IMAC Mystery. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Michael-IIIf Posted September 4, 2007 Share #2 Posted September 4, 2007 Wilfredo, Are you sure the original .app has disappeared or perhaps the link between it and its alias has just been broken. Look in the Applications folder, or just in case it wasn't placed there in the first place do a Spotlight search for it. If you find it, just make a new alias. Or simply drag it to the Dock - the Mac will put an alias in the Dock for you. Michael Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wlaidlaw Posted September 4, 2007 Share #3 Posted September 4, 2007 Wilfredo, I would reinstall Firefox. Use Safari to go to the Mozilla website, download the latest Mac version, drag to Applications. Not quite sure why you would need to use an alias. Firefox is a program you would want on the dock. After you have opened it for the first time from Applications, right click (or ctrl click) on the icon on the dock; tick the line "keep in dock". The usual use for an alias is to have a short cut on your desktop for a less frequently used program. If you just drag the program to the desktop, this is an inefficient use of memory and the next time you update the program you will end up with two copies as updates default to go to Applications. Couple of tips for beginner Mac users. Use the disc utility in Utilities (quick way is when you are in Finder, it is in the pull down menu "Go"). Highlight your user disc and run both repair permissions and verify disc - about once a week is good practice. There is an excellent piece of Freeware called ONYX that contains lots of good housekeeping utilities. I know given the fast start from sleep, it is tempting never to shut down or restart a Mac but you should do a full restart about every week. Finally before you have a problem, learn how to force a shut down, reset your SMU and PRAM and how to start from the system disc. Macs are wonderful but not foolproof. When they do go wrong, they can be very cranky indeed. Wilson Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jquimby Posted September 4, 2007 Share #4 Posted September 4, 2007 chances are you didn't "install" the application. Firefox doesn't have an installer application on Mac OS X you simply copy the application (firefox.app) onto you local hard drive from the disk image (.dmg file). when you make an alias or shortcut for windows speaking people, it is just a reference back to the original file or application. What it sound like you did was drag the firefox application to a reserved space (think of the dock, the application doesn't actually reside there, anything dragged there is actually an alias...) and thus an alias was created. Now this will actually work for a short period of time until the disk image with the actual application referenced by the alias is ejected (reboot will eject the disk as well). Now the application is essentially gone. You need to remount the firefox disk image and drag the firefox application to you Applications folder then either re-associate the alias to the app in the applications folder or delete the alias and create a new one. hope this helps, -joe Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
spylaw4 Posted September 4, 2007 Share #5 Posted September 4, 2007 There's another maintenance programme called Macaroni. Using that you can automate all the routine OSX maintenance scripts and set them to run when you want. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
geoff Posted September 5, 2007 Share #6 Posted September 5, 2007 Is there a problem between Mozilla Firefox and IMAC's? I downloaded Firefox to my IMAC. I've been using it for the last few weeks, now it seems to have vanished. The Alias is on the screen but when I try to open it I get a message saying: "The Alias Firefox could not be open, because the original item could not be found." Any ideas? The AOL program for MACS is also not quite up to par with the PC version. Other than that, I'm loving the transition to the world of Apple! Cheers, Wilfredo http://www.BenitezRivera.com Wilfredo, I have noticed a repeated habit of many clients to improperly install Firefox from the downloaded .dmg file. Usually one of three things are done wrong: 1.) The inclosed Firefox icon, with in the opened .dmg file, was dragged directly to the Doc. 2.) An Alias of the inclosed Firefox icon, with in the opened .dmg file, was created. 3.) The Firefox .DMG file was placed directly in the Applications Folder. In all cases, the .dmg file is forced to open first upon attempting to launch Firefox as the application itself was never actually installed in the first place. If the original .dmg file gets deleted, the results are that the “...original item could not be found” message. Firefox or any other application should never be run from with in a downloaded .dmg file itself. Always drag the actually application’s icon itself to the Applications Folder and then from there, if deemed, to the Doc. Also, I second the acquisition, proper understanding and use of both Titanium’s Software OnyX and Atomic Bird Macaroni. These products go a long way to keeping you iMac in good hygiene. Additionally, you might what to consider getting away from AOL, or at least the use of the AOL client app. It’s features and benefits are redundant in this day and age. You could keep the AOL account for email but I would suggest configuring the Apple Mail app to access your AOL mailbox instead of the AOL client itself. This can be done with the Apple supplied AOL Service Assistant 1.1 utility app. Geoff myspace.com/geoffotos Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wilfredo Posted September 5, 2007 Author Share #7 Posted September 5, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) Thank you all for the valuable information. I downloaded again and everything seems to be working fine. I'll look into purchasing Titanium's Software OnyX and Atomic Bird Macaroni . I usually turn off my IMAC when I'm done using it instead of letting it go to sleep mode. What is the recommended practice? Another silly question, how do I get rid of the icons on my desktop? Since I have an alias in the dock I don't need the desktop icon for Firefox. Thanks, Wilfredo Benitez-Rivera Photography Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
geoff Posted September 5, 2007 Share #8 Posted September 5, 2007 Another silly question, how do I get rid of the icons on my desktop? Since I have an alias in the dock I don't need the desktop icon for Firefox. Umm, that might be your original problem right there. You're deleting the original application file itself. Don't confuse the Alias as one-in-the-same as the application. In your specific case, make sure that Firefox application actually resides inside the Applications Folder and that the Doc representation is sourced from it and not some other file that gets deleted. Geoff myspace.com/geoffotos Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael-IIIf Posted September 5, 2007 Share #9 Posted September 5, 2007 What is the recommended practice? Leave it on, it'll sort itself out. Or download MacJanitor (free) and run it every month or so. Another silly question, how do I get rid of the icons on my desktop? More to the point, how are you getting icons on the desktop? When one runs an installer it should put the app in the Applications folder. Not all do, some just mount them in a virtual drive and leave you to drag them to the Applications folder. I'm curious as to how you are getting this problem. Either way, if it's an Alias (shortcut) that you don't need simply thrash it. If it is the app in question simply drag it to the Applications folder. I've just downloaded Firefox to see. And that's what it does, it mounts a new virtual drive on your Mac and it's up to you to drag the .app to the Applications folder, thus: [ATTACH]52518[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]52519[/ATTACH] Then eject the Firefox virtual drive and delete the "Firefox 2.0.0.6.dmg" file (which will be on your desktop). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wilfredo Posted September 6, 2007 Author Share #10 Posted September 6, 2007 O.K. I dragged the Icon to the applications folder and all is well (knock on wood). I had the same thing happen when I downloaded Vuescan for scanning film, so I dragged that over to the applications folder as well. Overall, I am really enjoying the IMAC and can't see myself ever going back to the PC world. Cheers, Wilfredo http://www.BenitezRivera.com Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.