Newbie Q - uninstalling apps

GraemeUK

GraemeUK

GraemeUK

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Joined
19 Oct 2004
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Location
Newcastle Upon Tyne
Hi guys,

Sorry for the newbie question but I'm very inexperienced with OS X.

I have just got my macbook and theres some programs like iWork trial and Office test drive. If I want to remove these programs, or indeed any others, are there proper uninstallers somewhere (like add/remove programs on Windows) or can you just delete the icon in the applications folder to delete everything? Does it not leave files behind doing it that way, like in the system folder or the registry etc

Cheers in advance
 
Just drag them into trash and that's them gone. They may leave behind some small files hidden away on your HDD so you can use AppZapper to completely get rid of everything if you want to.
 
Pretty much on the same subject

is there a program that searches for orphen files on the hdd for programs thats already been uninstalled via draging to the trash... as I keep finding files for old programs that been uninstalled.

Thanks
 
GraemeUK said:
Thanks for the quick reply Justin. Its a shame on such a brilliant OS that they leave something like this out. I'm looking forward to Leopard, I hope they have something like this built in.
Click to expand...

There's not really a need for it. The files left behind are usually tiny and hidden away in the Library. It's not like the Windows registry which can slow down the OS if it's full of bits and bobs.
 
Its much easier to drag a folder into the trash then go through a lengthy uninstall process.

Personally, I find it much easier! :)
 
Once you get into your head that apps sit on top of OS X rather than infest the OS like they do with Windows the whole concept becomes easier to handle. Just drag the folder to the trash and then search for the app's name using Spotlight, that usually turns up an Application Preferences entry and the odd folder, trash those as well and it is job done. As noted already though, leaving them will do no harm whatsoever. After trashing an app remember to repair permissions using Disk Utility.

On a related note, OS X usually does maintenance to keep everything running nicely at night, if your computer is left on of course. Another way to run the maintenance is to use one of the many tools available or for that 1337 ( :rolleyes: ) feeling use the terminal to run the cron scripts:

Open terminal (quickest way is Spotlight, type 'ter', Cmd and return)
type: sudo periodic daily weekly monthly
hit return
type: your account password
hit return
a prompt will appear when finished


:)
 
AJUK said:
Open terminal (quickest way is Spotlight, type 'ter', Cmd and return)
type: sudo periodic daily weekly monthly
hit return
type: your account password
hit return
a prompt will appear when finished


:)
Click to expand...

What would the above do AJUK?

My girlfriends Mac Book is currently running fairly slowly after a years worth of work and I'd like to see if I can tidy it up a little.

Cheers,
 
AJUK said:
Once you get into your head that apps sit on top of OS X rather than infest the OS like they do with Windows the whole concept becomes easier to handle. Just drag the folder to the trash and then search for the app's name using Spotlight, that usually turns up an Application Preferences entry and the odd folder, trash those as well and it is job done. As noted already though, leaving them will do no harm whatsoever. After trashing an app remember to repair permissions using Disk Utility.

On a related note, OS X usually does maintenance to keep everything running nicely at night, if your computer is left on of course. Another way to run the maintenance is to use one of the many tools available or for that 1337 ( :rolleyes: ) feeling use the terminal to run the cron scripts:

Open terminal (quickest way is Spotlight, type 'ter', Cmd and return)
type: sudo periodic daily weekly monthly
hit return
type: your account password
hit return
a prompt will appear when finished


:)
Click to expand...
I believe with Tiger they changed it so the scripts would run at sensible times of the day (not 3am like in Panther etc).

Wouldn't harm running them manually though :)

EDIT: Just in case someone didn't understand that script.. you must replace daily, weekly and monthly with a SINGLE entry.. for example, if you want OS X to run the script daily you just write "sudo periodic daily".. it's set to daily by default.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Justin said:
OT: but what's with the name change from EVH to DJLOREY, just realized!
Click to expand...
Didn't think anyone would notice! haha ;)

I wanted to change my name to the same as that of my PSN ID, and I'd gotten bored with the old username.



Back on topic: You think Uninstalling apps should be added to the sticky?
 
DJLOREY said:
Didn't think anyone would notice! haha ;)

I wanted to change my name to the same as that of my PSN ID, and I'd gotten bored with the old username.



Back on topic: You think Uninstalling apps should be added to the sticky?
Click to expand...

Fair enough!

Yep, a lot of people ask how to uninstall and what's left behind when they uninstall, so it would be good to have it in the sticky imo.
 
Ok, I'll get on it.. hopefully this will help out a few people then :cool:

Hope you guys are liking the work I've put in to the sticky.. seems to be taking forever to update!
 
wush said:
It's all good until you come across apps that aren't drag and drop but rather use a .pkg installer program :(
Click to expand...
Ahh cheers, I'll be sure to add that in too.

To be honest I forgot about .pkg files :o
 
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