Accidentally deleted applications folder...

Luckily I caught that thousands of files were set up to delete when it should have only been 25 or so and stopped the trash from emptying. Unfortunately everything after smcFanControl alphabetically is gone(I think part of smc got removed too).

Where do I go to get the apple software back? The first thing I notice that I need is text edit, but I can't seem to find a download location for it. Any suggestions?
(I have text Wrangler, but it's a bit bulkier especially for Makefiles).

 

I've used the OS X Install DVD to manually install individual applications before. You just need to make hidden files viewable in Finder so you can locate the installation packages. Enter the following code in Terminal to view hidden files:

Code:

defaults write com.apple.Finder AppleShowAllFiles YES
killall Finder

Then navigate to /Mac OS X Install DVD(Disk 1)/System/Installation/Packages/. Just double-click the package you want to install. TextEdit.app is included in the Essentials.pkg.

And after you're finished you can hide the hidden files using Terminal:

Code:

defaults write com.apple.Finder AppleShowAllFiles NO
killall Finder

Also, some of the Utilities are on the Mac OS X Install Disk in /Applications/Utilities/ and they're not even hidden. The directories I mentioned are according to my PPC OS X 10.4.2 Disc, so they may be slightly different for you.

 

Well, I discovered that my Utilities folder was amongst those that got deleted, so I've decided to just reinstall. I'm backing everything up now...

 

well if you just re-installed, i asume that means you have a backup. why not just back up the applications folder?

 

Cause a lot of my applications have files outside the applications folder and therefore don't work by just copying the .app file, so I just never bothered with it.

I've reinstalled, and I'm working on getting the applications I had back on here.

 

Can one protect system folders, like the application folder, so that they NEVER can get deleted, even by accident? I am sure there must be a way.

Seems lame that one could just delete a folder without the system laerting you that these are applications or system files one is deleting: I am in Windows world, and I have delberately deleted the C:\Windows, without any serious warning (you get a caution with option to YES/NO, but nothing to prevent you from doing).

just a curious question.

S

 

You can set permissions on the folder to only allow the root user to delete it, but even then all it asks for is a password I believe(which several things ask for when deleting).

Maybe Sam or Xander will have a better idea on protecting vital files.

 

Just create another User Account without Admin privelages (System Preferences > Accounts). Click the Plus (+) button. And always use that account unless you need the Admin privelages. Nothing is foolproof though. There are numerous warning messages whenever you delete files in OS X. Always check the content of the Trash before you empty it.

And now that I've read this, instead of using a Move operation always use Copy instead (hold Option if you drag-and-drop files), then delete the original files afterwards.

 

Hmmm... new issue has popped up. I don't seem to have a .profile file in my home folder. When I try open .profile I get a "No such file" error. Any idea where it is?

 

I guess Tiger never creates a .profile in the first place. Had to create mine by hand, IIRC - well I copied it from my Linux box.