114 Macintosh
User's
Handbook
SYSTEM
AND
ALTERNATE DISKS
In order for a disk
to
be a System disk, it must contain the
system information. That
is,
it must contain the System and
Finder icons. When the Mac
is
first turned on and a startup
disk
is
inserted, that disk will become the System disk for the
computer
by
default, since there
is
no other disk to command
the Mac's attention. We will assume that the startup disk
features the Mac Write application. Try this on the Mac. Notice
that the System disk icon appears
at
the top of the display
directly above the Trash icon.
We
shall call this position the
Controlling
Slot. Its importance
is
to the System disk what a
throne
is
to a king.
While no other disk
is
inserted into the Mac, the first disk
will remain the System disk. No matter what operations
we
perform with the System disk, it will always remain
in
com-
mand. Let's try some operations with the System disk icon.
First, let's try dragging it
to
the Trash icon.
As
with any good
king, the System disk icon
is
safeguarded against disposal. The
Mac may display a message indicating that the startup disk
may not be thrown away. Let's try selecting Erase Disk from
the Special menu. Foiled again! A message appears disallowing
the erasure.
As
long as the disk
is
the System disk, its system
files may not be tampered with in any way.
We
may perform
normal operations with the disk, utilize applications, create
documents, and manipulate icons.
We
may not throw away the
System or the Finder icons while the disk remains in charge.
Try moving the System disk icon about the Desktop. As
long as
we
do not move it
to
the Trash, there
is
no objection.
In
this case the king remains the king even though he does not
occupy the throne. The Mac still recognizes the disk
as
the
System disk even though it does not occupy the Controlling
Slot. Return the System disk to its original position and select
Clean up from the Special menu.
To Next Page
Loading...
