Does OS X file organization works like Ubuntu's?

Question

I mean, does mac have a "home" folder, and if I want to format and reinstall the system, it'll not affect my home folder? And the Desktop is a folder within the home folder?

For further reference, don't hesitate reading http://apple.stackexchange.com/q/4125/115 — Martin Marconcini, Jan 19 '11 at 12:44

score 6 · Accepted Answer · answered Jan 19 '11 at 11:31

6

OS X does indeed have a home folder, in /Users/<username> with a hierarchy of folders, including one for Desktop, in this location - similar to Ubuntu.

On most Linux distributions the /home is a different partition on the drive and formatting the primary OS partition would not erase your data. This is not the case with OS X and (unless you've made a concerted effort to the contrary) erasing the OS X drive will erase your data.

answered Jan 19 '11 at 11:31

jtjacques

649

1

However you can reinstall the OS without deleting the /Users directory – mmmmmm Jan 19 '11 at 12:20
@Mark that's an override? Or it's delete all files and reinstall? – The Student Jan 19 '11 at 12:58
@Tom The default install for OS X 10.6 (Snow Leopard) preserves /Users – jtjacques Jan 19 '11 at 13:09
@jtjacques that's an override of the system files? Or it's delete all system files and recopy? – The Student Jan 19 '11 at 13:29
It is an overwrite - but I would not rely on the result as the unwritten over files might not match the OS – mmmmmm Jan 19 '11 at 14:15
@Mark I think its smarter than that. It selectively deletes system directories and applications and replaces them. So there shouldn't be anything left behind that the os cares about. – KeithB Jan 19 '11 at 18:22

Does OS X file organization works like Ubuntu's?

1 Answers1