From Windows users: "WTH are ".DS_Store" files in OS X??!"

Macaholic · Jun 16th, 2008, 10:29 AM

As many here know, they are files that simply tells the operating system the display attributes for the folder this file resides within. Therefore, EVERY folder has one. They are similar to Windows' "Desktop.ini" files.

On a Mac, these files are invisible but, when Windows users are viewing Mac volumes over a network or when a Windows user unzips a folder that was zipped on a Mac, they are visible to the Windows user and therefore might cause some confusion (or panic, if they suspect this file as being a Trojan or other malware).

The best, most courteous thing a Mac user could do when sending OS X folders to Windows users is to delete these .DS_Store files. The videoblog below talks of all this:

What are .DS_Store Files? ~ Chris Pirillo

Bottom line solution is to zip files using this open-source application:
Sopht Square - CleanArchiver

Silv · Jun 16th, 2008, 11:26 AM

Just like "Thumbs.db" files you get from opening Windows-created archives on my OSX computer..

Macaholic · Jun 16th, 2008, 11:34 AM

	Quote:			Originally Posted by Silv
	Just like "Thumbs.db" files you get from opening Windows-created archives on my OSX computer..

YES!

EvanPitts · Jun 16th, 2008, 12:23 PM

I find it funny that Windoze users have such an insane fear of .DS_STORE files that come from a Mac - while not having any fear of such Windoze monstrosities as (but not limited to): any .PIF or .ICO files, .DLL, .EXE, .COM, .BAT, .OVL, Autorun.inf, OCDB32.DLL, and literally entire file folders stuffed with thousands of files of dubious uses or origins, vapourware, the Registry, and who can count the rest?

I just find it strange that they worry so much about a single .DS_STORE file, as if they are fixated on it despite the fact that their own system is occupied by at least 125,000 useless files that could do pretty much anything; not to mention all of the viruses, worms, trojans, scripts, spybots, adware, etc. that their systems hoard.

It is better to not burn the .DS_STORE files, and in fact, it is better to use real CD burning software that can create an actual ISO9660 disk for the miseable Windoze sufferers, rather than the hybrid disk (which works but is less standard, and is a waste of CD space)...

Macaholic · Jun 16th, 2008, 12:45 PM

I'm not saying that I have encountered any Windows users who have feared a DS file as being a Trojan; I merely was ruminating that it wouldn't surprise me if some did given how targeted their platform is.

Having said that, the extraneous files and folders that appear before a Windows user when opening a Mac zip archive can be confusing. This, I have experienced firsthand.

cap10subtext · Jun 16th, 2008, 12:53 PM

Maybe sometime Mac and Apple with put their heads together and make a patch to create a universal hidden file. Looking at my Boot camp volume from the OSX side makes it look like windows took a dump on my hard drive. Then again looking at it through Windows isn't that much more pleasant.

Jun 16th, 2008, 10:29 AM	#1
Macaholic Honourable Citizen Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Toronto Posts: 8,754	From Windows users: "WTH are ".DS_Store" files in OS X??!" As many here know, they are files that simply tells the operating system the display attributes for the folder this file resides within. Therefore, EVERY folder has one. They are similar to Windows' "Desktop.ini" files. On a Mac, these files are invisible but, when Windows users are viewing Mac volumes over a network or when a Windows user unzips a folder that was zipped on a Mac, they are visible to the Windows user and therefore might cause some confusion (or panic, if they suspect this file as being a Trojan or other malware). The best, most courteous thing a Mac user could do when sending OS X folders to Windows users is to delete these .DS_Store files. The videoblog below talks of all this: What are .DS_Store Files? ~ Chris Pirillo Bottom line solution is to zip files using this open-source application: Sopht Square - CleanArchiver __________________ 32GB iPad WiFi. 15" MacBook Pro 2.4GHz Core2 Duo/6GB/200GB/GeForce 8600M GT 256MB GPU/DL-DVDRW/24" BenQ LCD. MacBook 2.4GHz Core2 Duo/2GB/200GB/DL-DVDRW >3TB of FW drives, 16GB iPod Touch, 8GB 5th gen Nano, Canon HV20 HD-DV cam, Kodak digicam, Canon scanner, Canon iP5400 printer, Jailbroken 8GB iPhone 3G. In memoriam: my Sawtooth "Frankenmac" with dual 1.3GHz G4/2GB/360GB striped RAID/DVDRW/ATI Radeon 9000 Pro

Jun 16th, 2008, 12:45 PM	#5
Macaholic Honourable Citizen Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Toronto Posts: 8,754	I'm not saying that I have encountered any Windows users who have feared a DS file as being a Trojan; I merely was ruminating that it wouldn't surprise me if some did given how targeted their platform is. Having said that, the extraneous files and folders that appear before a Windows user when opening a Mac zip archive can be confusing. This, I have experienced firsthand. __________________ 32GB iPad WiFi. 15" MacBook Pro 2.4GHz Core2 Duo/6GB/200GB/GeForce 8600M GT 256MB GPU/DL-DVDRW/24" BenQ LCD. MacBook 2.4GHz Core2 Duo/2GB/200GB/DL-DVDRW >3TB of FW drives, 16GB iPod Touch, 8GB 5th gen Nano, Canon HV20 HD-DV cam, Kodak digicam, Canon scanner, Canon iP5400 printer, Jailbroken 8GB iPhone 3G. In memoriam: my Sawtooth "Frankenmac" with dual 1.3GHz G4/2GB/360GB striped RAID/DVDRW/ATI Radeon 9000 Pro

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Jun 16th, 2008, 11:26 AM	#2
Silv Full Citizen Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 181	Just like "Thumbs.db" files you get from opening Windows-created archives on my OSX computer..

Jun 16th, 2008, 12:23 PM	#4
EvanPitts Honourable Citizen Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Hamilton, ON Posts: 6,821	I find it funny that Windoze users have such an insane fear of .DS_STORE files that come from a Mac - while not having any fear of such Windoze monstrosities as (but not limited to): any .PIF or .ICO files, .DLL, .EXE, .COM, .BAT, .OVL, Autorun.inf, OCDB32.DLL, and literally entire file folders stuffed with thousands of files of dubious uses or origins, vapourware, the Registry, and who can count the rest? I just find it strange that they worry so much about a single .DS_STORE file, as if they are fixated on it despite the fact that their own system is occupied by at least 125,000 useless files that could do pretty much anything; not to mention all of the viruses, worms, trojans, scripts, spybots, adware, etc. that their systems hoard. It is better to not burn the .DS_STORE files, and in fact, it is better to use real CD burning software that can create an actual ISO9660 disk for the miseable Windoze sufferers, rather than the hybrid disk (which works but is less standard, and is a waste of CD space)...

Jun 16th, 2008, 12:53 PM	#6
cap10subtext Honourable Citizen Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 1,698	Maybe sometime Mac and Apple with put their heads together and make a patch to create a universal hidden file. Looking at my Boot camp volume from the OSX side makes it look like windows took a dump on my hard drive. Then again looking at it through Windows isn't that much more pleasant.