[scaught]

i have a blueberry iBook 300mhz running OS 9.1 (do iBooks have codenames? i hear people referring to their powerbooks as "pismo" or "wallstreet"). anyway, im sorta new to apples, is there a reccomended way of deleting programs off of your computer/places to check to get all the little errant pieces of it removed completely?

thanks
scott

[This message has been edited by scaught (edited 01-25-2001).]

[Cipher13]

If you don't know the Mac OS well it can be a pain. Some programs have an uninstall option (you may find it by holding option at the install screen).
Most don't though.
Some create an "Installer Log" file which you can use to see where it put all its files - but the problem is it may have installed components necessary to the system that just went over the copies already there, and if you delete them it could cause problems.
I think installer logs say "replaced" as opposed to "installed"...
Leave replaced items alone. Unless it installs old versions, in which case you update.

Generally though, all you need to worry about is finding the Application folder and deleting it - thats usually enough on a Mac...
Any specific programs you had in mind?

Cipher13

[muttfree]

Well..there are several things to trash when deleting any application on the CURRENT OS versions thru 9.1, most of which can be found inside the System Folder.........look for folders with these names, and open them and look for items with names related to the program's name

Extensions...allows the app to interface with the OS, share libraries, and access hardware, ram, HD, video card ect ect.......

Control Panels, allows you to set the operational perimeters that control the app's behavior and features

Control Strip modules, allows one-clik access to frequently used features of the app

Preferences, stores the settings for the above items so you dont have to reset them every time you use the app

Aliases....the illegitimate children of applications....they are only copies of the apps ICON, which are linked to actual application, normally used to launch the app from the desktop or the apple menu or the Recent items list..trash these for sure, they are worthless little bastards
but be careful here, some native OS apps like the Apple System profiler and the Remote Access Status are ONLY installed in the Apple menu folder and nowhere else, if you delete them, you are deleting the actual application itself.......

Some specialized apps install some other items elsewhere, but only a few

Of course, dont forget to trash the application itself from wherever you have your apps installed

HTH

[posthumanus]

i've always used sherlock: i type in the name of the application and sherlock finds all its little friends. then i just move everything to the trash.

sometimes sherlock overlooks a preference or two but is usually reliable.

am i doing it right?

posthumanus over.

[Gregg]

Using Sherlock (or the older "find") is ok, as far as it goes. Sometimes the titles of bits and pieces in the System Folder do not contain the "marquee" name of the application. Just throwing away the application's folder is the quickest, but least thorough method. There are uninstall utilities that claim to help you find all the components of a program. Spring Cleaning from Aladdin Systems is still out there, and there was one called Yanks Pro, but I don't know if it is still being sold. I imagine there are others as well. Spring Cleaning might not find everything, and it might identify elements that other programs use. Keep a list of everything deleted from the System Folder that doesn't contain the "marquee" name, and keep copies on a disk for awhile just in case. The best way to uninstall is to use the application's uninstall feature. But, most don't have one. It's really not as mysterious or complicated as it might sound. Without an uninstall on a Windows system, you'd be leaving stuff all over the place.

[George Orville]

It is a very simple task for me to delete/un-install all parts of a program I no longer want...........If the installer does not create a Installer Log I will create a hand written list of all SW and location......So when i have to un-install I can locate all parts of the program......Also I label and color code all icons on my hard disk and this is time consuming for the first time. I use...........
1. Not part of 8.6
2. OE 5.0.2
3. IE 5.0
4. AOL 5.0
5. Netscape 4.7.3
6. OS 8.6
7. 3rd Part SW

[slider]

I have been very sucessful in deleting entire programs using Sherlock to find all of the bits and pieces. It is true that not all of the extentions or preferences have the same name as the programs. One thing that do is several checks via Sherlock, search not just for the name of the program, but also the name of the company that wrote the program. Beware, if you have several programs by the same company this becomes iffy. I would remove only what you know belong to the program. A little common sense goes a long way here.

[Cipher13]

Try using Sherlock to search for date modified as well. Can often help find 'tag' files some apps leave, and extensions, libraries etc...

Cipher13

[rhino_g3]

i've always used sherlock: i type in the name of the application and sherlock finds all its little friends.then i just move everything to the trash.sometimes sherlock overlooks a preference or two but is usually reliable.am i doing it right?

posthumanus over.

I also use Sherlock (Sherlock II) posthumanus. If there is a file on your computer with the name of the program you are wanting to delete sherlock should find it. Open Extensions Manager and scroll through to see if you come across anything else with the program name. If you do uncheck it. Remember which one you unchecked so if it would cause problems for some reason you can turn it back on.

rhino_g3

[confuser]

I agree that the best way to uninstall an application in the future is to know what it installed originally. Though much can be added to this topic, let me put in just a few thoughts.

Other than perhaps an alias in the Apple Menu or on the Desktop, applications will be installed in its own folder, whose location you will choose and know. Support files will be in one of two major locations:
Documents Folder (like Microsoft and now iTunes like to do),
System Folder.
Those folders set up in the Documents folder will be readily recognizable.
Those in the System folder will fall either in a special folder of its own or normally within the following:
Application Support
Control Panels
Extensions
Additionally, as the application is subsequently used, it will create preferences file(s) in the Preferences folder, or in a folder of its own inside of the Preferences folder.

I think one very good utility to see what gets put where is the program called Installer Observer (find it at Version Tracker). You run it before any installation and then again afterwards. You can then see where everything was put, and can save this file for future reference if desired.
Check it out - great little utility.

As for invisible files...ahh, well that is another story altogether. Time for Sherlock

------------------
Kill the brain and you kill the ghoul.

I usually go through and lable all of my MacOS-installed extensions with red, then when I do a new install, I'll peek into the Extensions folder, list by type, and get an idea of what new was installed. If it's a major application/install, I might even create a new label for those. Not foolproof as far as things being replaced, but I usually do custom installs and try to avoid that anyway.

There are also apps that will help you delete preferences not used any more, tho' just sorting by date modified and keeping an eye out for prefs you still use is a pretty easy way to take care of that.

All in all, while the MacOS could really stand to have an uninstall feature, I find it a lot easier to remove apps on Mac than on Windows. And, more importantly, a lot easier to RESTORE apps, especially after a reformat or clean install or the like. The Preferences folder is your friend.