# Opening the OS folder on a Mac **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 24, 2007, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opening-the-os-folder-on-a-mac/427609 "2007-11-24T15:38:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Barrington](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Barrington](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barrington)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2007, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opening-the-os-folder-on-a-mac/427609/1 "2007-11-24T15:38:37Z")
A simple question for Mac users: A friend is trying to install a webcam on a Mac G5, and the instructions say that four folders need to be copied from the installation CD into the Mac OS folder. The trouble is, she doesn’t know how to get to the OS folder. I’m trying to provide remote help, but I don’t know Macs. The webcam is an Icecam Macally, if that’s of any relevance. So how do you open the Mac’s OS folder? Enlightenment sought. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2007, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opening-the-os-folder-on-a-mac/427609/2 "2007-11-24T16:03:40Z")
There is no single “OS” folder. The OS is located in /System/Library… with lots of folders inside. The webcam instructions need to have a specific location to put the files. Maybe you can post exactly what it says. ---
**Author:** ![Barrington](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Barrington](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barrington)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2007, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opening-the-os-folder-on-a-mac/427609/3 "2007-11-24T16:08:02Z")
Thanks - it’s solved. I managed to track down a copy of the manual online, and we figured it out between us. It’s actually four extensions that went in “System folder/Extensions”. But thanks anyway, **Beowulff**. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2007, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opening-the-os-folder-on-a-mac/427609/4 "2007-11-24T16:14:41Z")
She’s not still running OS 9, is she? ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2007, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opening-the-os-folder-on-a-mac/427609/5 "2007-11-24T16:23:20Z")
[QUOTE=beowulff] She’s not still running OS 9, is she? [/QUOTE] Yikes! It sounds like it, the way it was described. Although, in Leopard, there is a System/Library/Extensions. Wild. ---
**Author:** ![Barrington](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Barrington](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barrington)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2007, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opening-the-os-folder-on-a-mac/427609/6 "2007-11-24T16:36:46Z")
Yep, it seems to be OS 9. Now we’re trying to work out how to get the damned thing working with Skype - turns out you need a 3rd-party driver called iChatUSBCam. This is getting complicated! ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2007, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opening-the-os-folder-on-a-mac/427609/7 "2007-11-24T16:41:34Z")
Good luck. OS 9 was great, but it’s 7 years out of date. Now may be the time to finally upgrade… ---
**Author:** ![drewbert](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drewbert/32/15890_2.png) [@drewbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewbert)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2007, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opening-the-os-folder-on-a-mac/427609/8 "2007-11-24T16:44:25Z")
A G5 won’t even boot OS 9, will it? ---
**Author:** ![Barrington](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Barrington](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barrington)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2007, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opening-the-os-folder-on-a-mac/427609/9 "2007-11-24T16:50:59Z")
Turns out it’s OSX - the instructions she was following were different to the ones I was reading. It’s like trying to decorate a room through the keyhole! ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2007, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opening-the-os-folder-on-a-mac/427609/10 "2007-11-24T17:20:28Z")
[QUOTE=Barrington] Turns out it’s OSX - the instructions she was following were different to the ones I was reading. It’s like trying to decorate a room through the keyhole! [/QUOTE] LOL just wanted to say that is a good line - I am going to use that next time I get a call from one of my family members saying “I can’t download the thing to the thing and it doesn’t open.” 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Barrington](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Barrington](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barrington)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2007, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opening-the-os-folder-on-a-mac/427609/11 "2007-11-24T17:27:17Z")
It’s not an original line unfortunately, **ZipperJJ** , but it does sum up the frustrations pretty well. It’s bad enough supporting Windows machines (which I’m familiar with) over the phone - but to support a Mac (zero experience) is maddening! We’ve given up on Skype, and now we’re trying Yahoo Messenger. The installer for that won’t even run on her machine - she says nothing happens when she tries to run it. Grrrr! ---
**Author:** ![Barrington](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Barrington](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barrington)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2007, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opening-the-os-folder-on-a-mac/427609/12 "2007-11-24T19:33:44Z")
Hopefully, the last update. All works now with Skype, but we don’t know why, or rather why it didn’t before. Thanks again to all. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2007, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opening-the-os-folder-on-a-mac/427609/13 "2007-11-24T20:49:00Z")
[QUOTE=drewbert] A G5 won’t even boot OS 9, will it? [/QUOTE] No, it won’t.