The system folder in pre-OS X Mac operating systems contains necessary files for the system to function and is identified by an icon. It can be moved dynamically and allows for multiple installations and backups. Newer systems are more secure.
The system folder refers to the folder in pre-OS X versions of the Macintosh® operating system (OS) that contains the files necessary for the operating system to function. It’s the folder that the computer looks for when it starts up and can’t start without it. The folder is usually stored on the root drive and is marked with a specific icon to identify it.
In earlier versions of Mac OS, the system folder contained items such as fonts, control panels, preferences, and system extensions. When the system boots, this is the folder it would look for first, as it had everything needed to boot the operating system. If the folder was missing, the system could not boot and flashed a disk icon with a question mark.
Normally, you’ll find the system folder on your root drive, the lowest-level drive, but it doesn’t need to be there; the system will search everywhere until it finds it on startup. On English versions of systems prior to OS X, the folder is named System Folder, but it has different names in other languages. To avoid confusion therefore, the folder is identified by the operating system by an identification number rather than by name.
One advantage of the system folder is that it can be moved dynamically. Even if the operating system is running, the folder can be moved anywhere in the folder hierarchy and won’t cause any problems. This information will also be retained on restart. This is referred to as a “blessed” folder, which simply means that it is valid, functioning properly, and will allow the system to boot.
Being able to move the system folder is useful in several ways. The main benefit is that folder versions that are moved or copied are also blessed. The Mac operating system allows for multiple installations on a volume, so not only can you have multiple systems available to choose from when booting, you can also create backups for redundancy. Simply move a copy of the system folder to another drive and you can boot from that drive.
Newer Mac operating systems don’t have the same flexibility, but they are more secure when it comes to the system folder. In previous versions, the folder was relatively easier to edit and view, which could lead to problems if a malicious or inexperienced user changed or removed system files. This isn’t a problem in newer versions, as the system files are scattered and not easy to change.
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