noob Q? (uninstall)

Andy_M · Sep 16, 2006

How do you uninstall a program within mac?
just drag to the bin? as you know in windows it leaves a messy trail of folders and registrys...

but i cant seem to find how mac uninstalls things lol.

trpnmonkey41 · Sep 16, 2006

trash it. if you are OCD you can go into the preferences folders in the library and delete any .plist file that is associated with the program but these files are miniscule and really don't matter

Andy_M · Sep 16, 2006

ok thanks.

OCD = ? lol (expert?)

trpnmonkey41 · Sep 16, 2006

obsessive compulsive disorder

Andy_M · Sep 16, 2006

lmfao that sounds about right for me

NanoBite · Sep 16, 2006

If you were bottle-fed on Mac you wouldn't care about miniscule files but if you are a switcher then there's a period where you start to realize that the so called "Crap" that is left behind on your System as a result of uninstalling apps really is miniscule!

Andy_M · Sep 16, 2006

my life may change when i get my imac this following week...

but i do have a tendancy on this windows machine to remove files/folers/registry even after its gone with the basic uninstaller..

if plists are like inf or ini files then i can live with that, but i find it amazing how a program can be self contained or should i say im amazed how windows like to root themselfs in every folders and nack and granny possible.. another reason why im switching to much hassle for something thats not needed (eg.) crossing the moterway when theres a bridge.

NanoBite · Sep 16, 2006

BlooGrape said:
my life may change when i get my imac this following week...

but i do have a tendancy on this windows machine to remove files/folers/registry even after its gone with the basic uninstaller..

if plists are like inf or ini files then i can live with that, but i find it amazing how a program can be self contained or should i say im amazed how windows like to root themselfs in every folders and nack and granny possible.. another reason why im switching to much hassle for something thats not needed (eg.) crossing the moterway when theres a bridge.

I just "weighed", so to speak, one of the plist files and they are all 4kb.

On macs there is a Preferences folder and that's where all the plists go. When you install any app, they each create a plist file in this folder.

Hypothetically, if you accidentally deleted this small pref file, the next time you launched that particular app - the app would pop another plist file in the Prefs folder....along with probably another in your username>library>Prefs folder too...

Andy_M · Sep 16, 2006

ok so its like a temp registery sorta thing? (.INI)

nice...

so there isnt anymore clutter? its all contained within the container?