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Switcher Hangout (Windows to Mac)
Another soon-to-be Mac user
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<blockquote data-quote="chas_m" data-source="post: 1117068"><p>In most cases, all that's "left behind" by a program you delete is a tiny and completely inert preferences file, often under 8KB in size. It never "mucks up the computer."</p><p></p><p>A decade's worth of these don't add up to any substantive space on a hard drive, and really should not be worried about or even thought about. There used to be a third-party tool that could identify old/outdated/orphan prefs and remove them, but I've long since forgotten the name because it is such a trivial matter.</p><p></p><p>But some neat-freak types will always want to remove ALL traces of an uninstalled program, and for them you have third-party tools like AppCleaner and App Zapper et al. I like and use App Zapper because I love the childish zapping noise it makes (picture Peter Griffin of Family Guy). Ninety percent of the time, just moving the app to the trash and emptying the trash takes care of it.</p><p></p><p>A few of the more pro-grade apps and the occasional system-altering app (the latter not recommended for obvious reasons) install stuff in other places and really do need a proper uninstaller to remove everything. These apps tend to come with one, however, so again not an issue.</p><p></p><p>Welcome to Macintosh!</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="chas_m, post: 1117068"] In most cases, all that's "left behind" by a program you delete is a tiny and completely inert preferences file, often under 8KB in size. It never "mucks up the computer." A decade's worth of these don't add up to any substantive space on a hard drive, and really should not be worried about or even thought about. There used to be a third-party tool that could identify old/outdated/orphan prefs and remove them, but I've long since forgotten the name because it is such a trivial matter. But some neat-freak types will always want to remove ALL traces of an uninstalled program, and for them you have third-party tools like AppCleaner and App Zapper et al. I like and use App Zapper because I love the childish zapping noise it makes (picture Peter Griffin of Family Guy). Ninety percent of the time, just moving the app to the trash and emptying the trash takes care of it. A few of the more pro-grade apps and the occasional system-altering app (the latter not recommended for obvious reasons) install stuff in other places and really do need a proper uninstaller to remove everything. These apps tend to come with one, however, so again not an issue. Welcome to Macintosh! [/QUOTE]
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Switcher Hangout (Windows to Mac)
Another soon-to-be Mac user
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