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    Deleting Applications

    Discussion in 'Apple and Mac OS X' started by wave, Jul 19, 2007.

  1. wave

    wave Notebook Virtuoso

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    Hello,

    Being new to the mac I tried many programs and utilities. The ones I didnt like I deleted. Also I deleted alot of Trial junk that came with the mac and application that were pre installed buy I know I would never use. I used Appdelete to delete them.

    Now I looked through the mac partition and found a few folders and files left over. I am not a neat freek and since they are all small I dont really mind. However coming from the Windows world this worries me. In Windows the Registry keeps getting bigger and fatter with every install and over time. Does the mac have this effect at all? After I found all the applications I need should I do a clean install?

    Thank you!
     
    wave, Jul 19, 2007
    #1
  2. Budding

    Budding Notebook Virtuoso

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    Well, OS X has no registry, so all those little files will only take up HD space and nothing more. They will not slow down your boot time or anything (at least not that I've noticed, and I usually don't even bother with AppDelete).
    If you are a neat freak, there are several non-free application removal apps that are very good (can't remember names atm though), but they are not free.
     
    Budding, Jul 19, 2007
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  3. taelrak

    taelrak Lost

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    I actually hate having preference files and other files littering my system - they probably will add up over time too.

    With any "uninstaller" that's not native to the program though, always make sure you check the logs and trash before you empty it to make sure it didn't delete files you actually want to keep.

    For example, with AppDelete: find a random App, say Camino, and then create a random new file and call it something with the word "camino" in it. AppDelete will delete that file too even if it has nothing to do with camino.

    For a more probable scenario, imagine you're updating to a newer version of some software (let's call it "frogger")and downloaded the dmg or install file first (called "frogger.dmg"). Then you decide you want a complete fresh install without your old settings cluttering up the program, so you go to delete the frogger package with AppDelete. Well, AppDelete will find your new frogger.dmg on your desktop and delete that too :p
     
    taelrak, Jul 19, 2007
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  4. infiniti007

    infiniti007 Notebook Guru

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    Can anyone recommend any programs like AppDelete for neat freaks?
     
    infiniti007, Jul 21, 2007
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  5. wave

    wave Notebook Virtuoso

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    AppZapper

    Not sure if it is worth paying for.
     
    wave, Jul 21, 2007
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  6. Sam

    Sam Notebook Virtuoso

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    I use AppDelete. Its good for me. Then again, I end up re-installing Mac OS X every few weeks because I'm an ultra-clean-freak :p.

    I'd consider AppZapper but it does cost money so I'd rather go with AppDelete which is free.
     
    Sam, Jul 21, 2007
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  7. taelrak

    taelrak Lost

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    ... my level of clean-freakiness pales in comparison to yours. :(
     
    taelrak, Jul 21, 2007
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