Removing Software

Hello all...
Just bought a new iBook 12" mainly for GarageBand and music use. I have a questions about removing software I'm not going to use, I did a search on the forums for software removal, about dragging the program to the trash bin, my question is, does doing that remove everything associated with the program? I bought this laptop mostly for my home studio, so I don't want/need any of the photo or movie programs. Thank you

Nope. You'd be surprised where it is all hidden on your computer. The best way I know of (to get it all) is to go into your HD icon and find what you want to get rid of and spotlight it there. That will bring up a list on the bottom of where it all can be found and start deleting each and every file.

floorjack said:

I did a search on the forums for software removal, about dragging the program to the trash bin, my question is, does doing that remove everything associated with the program?

Click to expand...

NO. I know this for certain, but I am not as adept w/ OSX as I was with the "classic" Mac OS so I can't say what all to be looking forl.

However, I know that many programs also have a .plist file. This file typically is where the preferences you've set are stored.

I know this is an old post but i would like to know as well if there is a program that eliminates unwanted programs for the mac.I have a G3 ibook.Thanks for the help in advance

try appzapper.

welcome to the forums!


edit: ooh, just saw the G3... are you running 10.4? you'll need it for that app.

ibookmobile007 said:

I know this is an old post but i would like to know as well if there is a program that eliminates unwanted programs for the mac.I have a G3 ibook.Thanks for the help in advance

Click to expand...

Just drag the app/s to the Trash as stated earlier, and do a search for anything related to the program/s in mention. This is really all that's needed.

Any files left over after doing this would be quite small in size.

Guys don't make the Mac sound so complicated...

To uninstall a program:

1. Drag the application to the trash.

But apps leave some residue, true, but usually this adds up o a few megs over years. But if you are a clean freak, the simplest way is to use AppZapper.

Of course you can go hunting down on your hard-drive, but I usually don't feel comfortable wandering around system files.

yogi, i saved nearly a gig removing the iwork app's "residue". the extras can be quite large, and just annoying to know it's still there.

and this guy can't use appzapper as has been said.

Count me in the Clean Freaks, yogi!

Well, I am one too... ... The guy deleted his account, anyway. So I guess he was unhappy here...

Well appZapper for OSX 10.2.8 will not install for me.However i will be updating my OSX to Tiger.Thanks to the help that i have recieved here.

If an application has never run, there wouldn't be any associated files, would there?

Well, excluding MS apps that create their files as soon as the computer is turned on because they're created by all-pervading but invisible omega-zeta ultra-high oscillating rays constantly broadcast from Redmond and that can be stopped only with tinfoil.

Once an app has been partially removed, AppZapper or AppDelete can't retrieve the rest, it's too late. I use AppZapper immediately on the app before doing any manual delete and it works very well. There are apps that have their own uninstallers, of course, like M$ or Adobe apps, so I use those specialized uninstallers to prevent further problems.