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    Uninstall - using drop-to-trash or uninstaller app - how do I tell?

    Discussion in 'Apple and Mac OS X' started by lanwarrior, Dec 25, 2008.

  1. lanwarrior

    lanwarrior Notebook Evangelist

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    Many program, like Office 2008, obviously requires the use of the program own Uninstaller utility instead of drop-to-trash method. However, after installing numerous applications over the past few months, I couldn't remember which applications REQUIRES the use of an Uninstaller utility.

    Is there an easy way to do this?
     
    lanwarrior, Dec 25, 2008
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  2. chen

    chen Notebook Deity

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    I believe that applications that you install by opening a dmg file and drap drop at the application folder to install, you can simply uninstall them by drag drop at Trash. However, their related files are not deleted by this way and may take up little space, therefore uninstaller apps like AppZapper or AppCleaner will help you get rid of both the app and its related files. Applications like Office 2008 install by pkg file that installs in a different manner, I haven't yet tried to uninstall them so I dun really know if you REQUIRE an uninstaller app or not but i doubt it.
     
    chen, Dec 25, 2008
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  3. lanwarrior

    lanwarrior Notebook Evangelist

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    WHat I am wondering about is for those applications that is not obvious that I must use an unisntaller. Office 2008 have an "uninstaller" that is also installed under "Applications", so it's quite obvious.

    But other application where there is no uninstalled application installed, can I just drop it to the Trash can?

    FYI, a friend of mine have an Epson Artisan 800 All-in-One printer/scan/fax. He uninstalled the Print and Scan application by dropping in the trash and when he tried to install again, all kind of errors appears. The fix is to run the installer, select "Uninstall" and then install again.
     
    lanwarrior, Dec 26, 2008
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  4. jimboutilier

    jimboutilier Notebook Evangelist NBR Reviewer

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    In general if a program comes with an uninstaller (sometimes just in the original DMG and sometimes installed as part of the program) I would use that applications uninstaller, and for all others I would use a utility like AppDelete.

    Remember all uninstallers are not created equal and many - as is the case for the Office 2008 uninstaller fail to clean up a lot of stuff. The Office 2008 uninstaller is so bad is leaves files around that make it impossible to install another version of office (home vs standard vs media edition)or use a different install key until you track them down and remove them.

    Nothing is completely foolproof - even the uninstallers that "monitor" installs and promise to get rid of everything for you but these are about as good as it gets.
     
    jimboutilier, Dec 26, 2008
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  5. Luke1708

    Luke1708 Notebook Virtuoso NBR Reviewer

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    just double click on the original dmg setup..it contains the uninstaller app
     
    Luke1708, Dec 27, 2008
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  6. circa86

    circa86 Notebook Virtuoso NBR Reviewer

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    like was mentioned, if it comes with an uninstaller it means the installer is putting stuff in other places besides the Applications folder, most likely the System/Library/Application Support folder, or the ~/Library/Application Support folder.

    what is nice about OS X apps is that they are "packages" that really contains everything that app uses, especially if it is an app that is a simple drag and drop install. so in that case it can be dragged to the trash. You can check this out by right clicking an app, and choosing "show package contents" too see what is inside. All apps are like this, but some, Office, Adobe, Final Cut Studio, etc. will use extra files stored elsewhere on the computer, so those usually require an uninstaller or a little more work.
     
    circa86, Dec 28, 2008
    #6