More Mac Madness: Installing Firefox

[jeremyc]

Bear with me, for I am an OS X newbie.

I've downloaded and installed the Firefox browser which appears to have mounted a volume on the desktop which contains the application (and can be "ejected" in Finder). To execute Firefox I have to click on the 'volume' icon, then click the Firefox icon (I have, though, managed to add the Firefox icon to the dock). All this disappears when I reboot.

1. How do I install Firefox so it appears like the other applications in OS X e.g. Safari, and without a different disk volume showing on the desktop and in Finder? I'd like to have a Firefox icon in 'applications' and permanently in the dock that I can simply click to launch the browser.

2. Presumably if I want this to be retained on reboot then I need to add something to my startup preferences?

[robbieduncan]

You have downloaded a Disk Image. This is a file that behaves like a disk. It should be considered the "normal" way for OSX software distribution. Installing is as easy as falling off a log. Drag Firefox from the disk image window to wherever you want it to live, normally your Applications folder. And that's it done. Now you can eject the disk image and delete the .dmg file. If you ever want to uninstall Firefox drag it to the trash.

[olf]

jeremyc said:

Bear with me, for I am an OS X newbie.

I've downloaded and installed the Firefox browser which appears to have mounted a volume on the desktop which contains the application (and can be "ejected" in Finder). To execute Firefox I have to click on the 'volume' icon, then click the Firefox icon (I have, though, managed to add the Firefox icon to the dock). All this disappears when I reboot.

1. How do I install Firefox so it appears like the other applications in OS X e.g. Safari, and without a different disk volume showing on the desktop and in Finder? I'd like to have a Firefox icon in 'applications' and permanently in the dock that I can simply click to launch the browser.

2. Presumably if I want this to be retained on reboot then I need to add something to my startup preferences?

Open the volume icon, locate the firefox application, drag and drop the firefox application into the 'Applications' folder on your HD.

Drag the volume that sits on your desktop to the trash can. It's no longer needed.

Start up firefox from the applications folder. press and hold the mouse button on the firefox icon in the dock at the bottom fo your screen until a menu comes up, select 'keep icon in dock'.

Jobs a good'un.

[jeremyc]

robbieduncan said:

You have downloaded a Disk Image. This is a file that behaves like a disk. It should be considered the "normal" way for OSX software distribution. Installing is as easy as falling off a log. Drag Firefox from the disk image window to wherever you want it to live, normally your Applications folder. And that's it done. Now you can eject the disk image and delete the .dmg file. If you ever want to uninstall Firefox drag it to the trash.

Job's a good 'un - thanks.

Intuitive, but not obvious - a bit like the rest of OS X then.

[cjs]

jeremyc said:

robbieduncan said:

You have downloaded a Disk Image. This is a file that behaves like a disk. It should be considered the "normal" way for OSX software distribution. Installing is as easy as falling off a log. Drag Firefox from the disk image window to wherever you want it to live, normally your Applications folder. And that's it done. Now you can eject the disk image and delete the .dmg file. If you ever want to uninstall Firefox drag it to the trash.

Job's a good 'un - thanks.

Intuitive, but not obvious - a bit like the rest of OS X then.

You'll get used to it! If you have a Windows head on like I did then it takes a bit longer.

[jimothy]

It's great this drag to the apps folder stuff. It means uninstalling is usually a case of dragging it from applications to the trash - none of this add/remove programs nonsense.

[CommanderJameson]

Also, you can drag any application to the Dock for quick access. Dragging application icons off the Dock causes them to be deleted in a puff of smoke, but doesn't delete the application.

[PJ S]

View the Dock as a shortcuts folder containing all the Apps you use regularly.
Removing anything only removes the shortcut and not the App itself.
It's a bit like the Quick Launch bar in Windows.