Uninstall applications

changomarcelo

changomarcelo

Friend of the elves
Well, I admit it, I'm very used to work with Windows at work and, as I'm new with Macs, I find some things rather strange.
One of the things Windows have that Mac don't have is an uninstall application for the programs. Windows has the Add/Remove Programs, where I can safely delete a program, including ALL the files that where created in the install. In Mac, I was told I just have to delete the program folder, but, sometimes I have found remaining files installed by that program I have deleted in different locations, such Preference folders, Library folders, etc.
I would like to know if it's correct to uninstall programs just deleting the programs folder and if there's an application that tracks the installations, so that I can delete ALL the files that where installed.
Thank you
 
... is to save the log files that the installers create, when you DO use an installer. However, in Mac OS X, almost all of the applications I've encountered use a package to store all of its contents in one "folder", which when opened actually only opens the application.

It's usually safe to say in Mac OS X that deleting the program's package will delete all the files it installed.
 
sometimes the installer comes with an uninstall option. still kinda risky to try. not a good idea to uninstall shared files. if you are ever in doubt about having all the extra files outside of the app folder removed, just do a search for the name off the app with sherlock. this wil find any major files used by the app 90% of the time.
there are also programs you can buy to do this for you like spring cleaning and chaos master.

i've noticed this one feature, or lack of, confuses a lot of windows users who don't understand how simple it is to do on a mac.
 
unlike Windows, it is enough - both under 9.x and X - to just remove the application folder. There will be some stuff left - preferences etc., but they won't harm you since they only take up some HDD space but are never again used, unlike Windows, where applications often tend to clutter all over your file system (with .dlls, for example, which often are still used due to registry entries etc.)
 
Hi,
How would I uninstall something that the software updater installed? I don't know what file it is installing and into what folders.
And on a completely opposite note, how do I force an installation of a package that Software Updater thinks (incorrectly) that I already have?

Thanks,
G
 
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