Question about Disk Utility

When I run the disk utility to repair permissions, which drive to I click on. The first one that has a number (74GB) or the one indented below it that says Macintosh HD. Also, how often do I run the repair permissions? Sorry if this is a stupid question. Thanks, Holly

It doesn't matter which one you click, they both will repair permissions for the same drive.

As for how often, I usually recommend before and after any large software installs or whenever your computer may start acting weird.

also after software updates, os updates, or security updates.

Im not a mac user yet.. still pc guy... what does repair permissions do?

thanks

unix is permissions based, meaning the system gives 'permission' for example, to apps to open certain files, etc, when adding new apps and system components, these permissions
are sometimes changed, repairing them repairs them, or gives permission to the correct apps and users to do things.

To take what Macman said a little farer. Every file on the has permissions set to some thing. This is done to be able to limit access to certain files.

I believe then software is loaded on the system certain files and folder have their permissions changed to make it easier to update, or the files.folder that are changed may have the wrong permissions set.

It is for that reason I believe that you need to repair file permissions after each update or install.

You can go to the terminal window and do a man on chmod if you want to know more about file permissions.