How to uninstall a program

You can set up right click by going to the system preferences panel and clicking on mouse. If you have a one button mouse you can right click by pressing control on the keyboard as you click.

To uninstall a program, go to the applications folder, or wherever you placed the program, and drag it to the trash. That's it.

I don't know off hand of a place to look up answers, but if you ask, most mac people will be more than happy to help.

With the mac OS, there are usually 2 or 3 different ways to do the same thing, so you get to choose which way works best for you...and usually, when you are stuck on how to do something, think of the easiest, most direct way to do it and that is what does it. Even now, after ten years of using Mac OS, when I get stuck, I often find myself trying to make the task harder than it is.

Don't worry, your frustration will go away in about a week.

Good luck, and welcome to the mac.

Welcome to the Mac World (What a brave New World)

Usually deleting an app is as simple as dragging it to the trash can, nothing else is needed. There are one or two apps that delete things automatically, but most people just seem to drag to the trash. (By the way, what app are you trying to delete??)

One thing I would suggest is set up two fingered scrolling ASAP - as soon as I discovered that on my MacBook I was converted!!

Go to System Preferences>KeyBoard and Mouse, and click on "Use two fingers to scroll" - when I go to a PC laptop, I get very frustrated when I cannot use this feature!

Enjoy your MBP, you lucky person!!

Not sure if this will help but it worth a click anyway.

http://www.myfirstmac.com/

http://www.macosxhints.com/

http://www.leopardtricks.com/

Here is a free program that helps delete unwanted programs.

AppDelete



They helped me in the past when I just wanted to read about "How to".

..

It sounds like you're entirely new to Macs. In that case, I'd recommend David Pogue's Switching to the Mac book. It specifically addresses how to do things you did on Windows on the Mac, as well as the general way things are done (differently or not). There's also a more general book on Leopard itself, but this one sounds like just the thing for you.

If, though, you prefer being taught directly then Apple's retail stores offer hands-on training and seminars for new Mac users, and presumably Windows switchers. Some people love these, others find them patronising: it depends a lot on how you much you know about technology. I'd also check out the Find out How section of Apple's website, and more specifically these videos.

It's not that simple

For many applications just dragging it to the trash doesn't delete everything. There are still files in the various Library/Application Support and Library/Preferences directories, as well as potential startup items, fonts, and receipts. For example, if you want to delete Apple's own Logic Studio, just dragging the application files to the trash still leaves you with OVER 30 GIGABYTES of installation files that haven't been deleted.

Uninstall is one of the biggest usability gaps with Mac. There really needs to be a unified installer/uninstaller to ensure that all the files get deleted. The original poster is correct; this is one area where Windows figured this out back in 1999 and built infrastructure into the OS to handle these common tasks.

To answer the original poster: there really isn't any way unless the vendor was kind enough to include an installer/uninstaller program (most don't).

If the application can't be uninstalled by dragging it into the bin, then there should be an uninstaller for it. (Do a cmd-q to make sure the said app is closed).

Don't worry, in a month you'll wonder how you ever lived without it. Just give it a chance.

I use AppZapper, it costs but its great. Removes everything.

Riscy: The OP bought a Mac Pro (desktop), not a Macbook Pro

Here are two good webpages to check out:

Apple Switch 101 - Helps with all the Mac basics

Also from the Apple website...

On Windows, I used to... - Gives you a nice comparison chart showing what you did in windows, and how you do the same thing on a Mac.

I know the frustration, I felt it for maybe a week when I got this computer back in January....but it really isn't bad, and now I'm hooked on OS X. I don't want to go back to windows

One other thing, *most* of the time you'll drag an app to the trash, but that's not always true - really big programs like Photoshop (or any of the Creative Suite), do use installer programs and the uninstaller is hidden away under the Utilities folder inside of your Applications folder.

Also, pick up AppZapper - It's $13, free updates for life, and not only does it delete the app, but it finds all the related support/settings files as well. Just drag an app to the appzapper window instead of to the trash. That's all I use anymore

Hope this helps,

-Bryan

riscy said:

Welcome to the Mac World (What a brave New World)

Usually deleting an app is as simple as dragging it to the trash can, nothing else is needed. There are one or two apps that delete things automatically, but most people just seem to drag to the trash. (By the way, what app are you trying to delete??)

One thing I would suggest is set up two fingered scrolling ASAP - as soon as I discovered that on my MacBook I was converted!!

Go to System Preferences>KeyBoard and Mouse, and click on "Use two fingers to scroll" - when I go to a PC laptop, I get very frustrated when I cannot use this feature!

Enjoy your MBP, you lucky person!!

Click to expand...

He has a Mac Pro.

Oops, sorry. Apple-ogies, I misread MBP.

GoKyu said:

Riscy: The OP bought a Mac Pro (desktop), not a Macbook Pro

-Bryan

Click to expand...

IgnatiusTheKing said:

He has a Mac Pro.

Click to expand...

A couple of things that *might* help.

From OS X 10.4 onwards, Apple crippled the Find function so that it couldn't find invisible files/folders. If you can't find the trashed/untrashed app with Spotlight/Find then try EasyFind. Make sure you check the Invisible Files & Folders option.

If your application was installed with an installer, as opposed to telling you just to drag it into /Applications, then you'll probably be able to reinstall the whole shebang or just locate the application itself within the package with Pacifist.

macffooky said:

If your application was installed with an installer, as opposed to telling you just to drag it into /Applications, then you'll probably be able to reinstall the whole shebang or just locate the application itself within the package with Pacifist.

Click to expand...

Let me add to that by saying, if it does use this kind of installer,
the layout of the installed files is usually visible if you expand
the installer package. Then you can see what went where, and
you can find out what to delete.

But knowing Sony, they'd do it some really awkward non-standard
way, or use a VISE installer, etc etc.

I just purchased my first Mac and I found the book by David Pogue "Mac OS X Leopard Edition - The Missing Manual" invaluable. There are so many good tips, keyboard shortcuts, instructions on all the programs and quick reference areas I can't imagine not having this book now (even for experienced users).

Here it is on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Mac-OS-Leopar...bs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1209328734&sr=8-1

Mac-HD said:

I loaded Sony's ClipBrowswer for Mac. It refused to work (was installed properly). Worked so well on my PC. Then I pushed the app into trash, and removed it from the trash just to be sure. It didn't work as now, when I try to reinstall it from the disk, it says you already have it installed (but I don't see it).


Except that I can't find the ClipBrowser app in the app area as I trashed it and removed it from the bin. Unless I see it, I can't put it back into trash.

Click to expand...

Reading this, I have to ask if you are being confused by the mounting of the installer disc vs actually installing the app. Sometimes I have seen this confuse girlfriends, etc in the past. I'm not trying to be condescending, but I don't know anything about you so I will post step by step how you install on the mac...because what you wrote up there is very confusing.

Step one - insert CD, and it mounts on the desktop, or when your app is downloaded from the net, click on it, it unstuffs, and then it mounts just like an inserted cd.

Step two - either you find the app on the mounted disc and drag it to your applications folder (in effect, copying it over from the cd to your computer) or you click on the installer.

Step three - eject the mounted image or cd by clicking on it once, then pressing command e, the eject button, or dragging the disc to the trash, where the trash will turn into an eject icon.

Step four - find your app in your app folder (or wherever you installed it - you can install stuff to anywhere, to the desktop if you want, for example) then click on your app. It should start up and you are good to go.

The reason I said all this, and sorry if you already know it, was because you said it never ran right to begin with, and you were saying you drug it to the trash, then out, and that it says it is installed, etc.

That is how you install. What you need to do right now is search for any file with the name of your prgram and delete it. Try spotlight, little spyglass icon at the upper right of your desktop...or look yourself in the directory users/your name/library/...you might find something there. Or try your app zapper program, then RESTART.

Now, start over and install like I said before.

I have never used any app zapper program...99 percent of the time you just drag the app to the trash, then empty the trash and you are good to go. Sometimes you have to check for other files, like in Final Cut Pro, if you are going to be using that as you state - you have to remember to empty your scratch disc files....or else everything you capture will stay on your drive taking up space long after you are done editing.

Also, I don't know this Sony product but I have to say that I have used Final Cut for years and I'm fairly certain the Sony product is not even needed. It is very simple to import clips in Final Cut, feel free to ask if you need to.

Sorry if this sounded like I was talking down to you, however it sounds like the install is confused in some way.

Great question! For example, how do I uninstall the trial version of Office shipped on every new Mac? The guy at the Apple store assures me that Office hasn't written to any folder other than "/Applications/Office 2004 for Mac Test Drive". Really?

EyeConnect is another fun one to uninstall. Even if you search their website, you can't find the correct instructions to remove it. And the default search in Finder is no help. It doesn't search in places like "/Library" or "/System" without some tweaking.

Mac-HD said:

Also, I have switched to a regular mouse. Just couldn't get used to the Apple one.

Click to expand...

That Apple mouse has a right-click, you just push down on the right side of it. There doesn't appear to be a left and a right button, but they are there. It will take you two days to get used to. Just go into the system preferences and click on Keyboard & Mouse to set it up to your needs.

Mac-HD said:

… Except that I can't find the ClipBrowser app in the app area as I trashed it and removed it from the bin. Unless I see it, I can't put it back into trash. …

Click to expand...

Sony Clipbrowser would have installed an app in the Application folder and also other files/folders in either the Library folder in your home folder or in the root of Macintosh HD.

to find these type "sony clipbroswer" into Finder's search then highlight the "Filename" button and then add a "System files - include" search attribute (you may have to add this from "Other…").

here is a picture to help you

Mac-HD said:

Incidently, the keyboard and mouse came with barely foot-and-a-half long cables. Does it make sense? I had to find a USB extension cable for the mouse.

Click to expand...

As everyone else has said... usually you simply drag the app you want to delete to the trash.

Just to help you understand a few differences, and why Microsoft has the uninstall control panel (which doesn't ALWAYS work, depending on how the app was written... which I suspect is the case here with Sony working their non-conforming magic)...

With Windows... you have files in multiple places for one program, and then entries in a registry file. The APP that you launch in Windows is usually a SINGLE FILE EXECUTABLE APPLICATION.

Not so in the Mac world....

Everything that the APPLICATION needs to run on the app is... well...

Let me give you an example...

If you Open your Applications folder, and double click on the app "iTunes"... itunes launches! Seems easy, just like windows, right?

WRONG!

The iTunes.app is actually a DIRECTORY containing ALL OF THE FILES TYPICALLY THAT ARE NEEDED (including configuration files sometimes) to launch the app.

Right click on iTunes in the Applications folder, and you will see a directory called CONTENTS. The actual EXECUTABLE for iTunes is buried within this directory. It's called a PACKAGE.

However, to the end user, this DIRECTORY, or PACKAGE OF FILES called iTunes looks like a single executable program.

The beauty of this over windows is TYPICALLY several fold:

1) YOU CAN COPY / BACKUP THE ENTIRE APP BY MOVING / COPYING IT. If you re-install the OS... simply drag the "App" into whatever folder you want... and it works... bata bing!

2) No need for a complex registry system as all information is kept within the package (this is breaking it down simply.. there are still preference files etc. stored in standard UNIX places).

3) To delete the app, TYPICALLY all you need to do is drag it to the trash. Voila! GONE!

No problems.

However, if a company doesn't write an app the way Apple recommends and specifies... that can't be helped... which is what seems like you had happen to you!

But really, in most cases, it's a MUCH better system than windows!

Oh, and about the cable.. Apple ships an extension cable in the box, and a USB port on the keyboard to plug your mouse into!

Hope that helped!

Richard

Mac-HD said:

Incidently, the keyboard and mouse came with barely foot-and-a-half long cables. Does it make sense? I had to find a USB extension cable for the mouse.

Click to expand...

I'm not sure about the keyboard, but the reason the mouse cord is so short is because the default Mac keyboard comes with USB ports built-in, one on either side.

For me, I ended up not liking the default keyboard *or* mouse, and went back to what I was used to - a wireless keyboard/mouse setup.

-Bryan

Mac-HD said:

I think we are using two different languages. In fact, I had to reread your steps a few times to make sense out of it. How did I install? Inserted the disk, located the folder, and double clicked at the right link. Isn't this what you are suggesting via the 4 steps?

Click to expand...

Yes, but sometimes when you install something you don't double click on a link, you will have to drag the app from the cd or disc image (whatever is mounted) to your apps folder (or wherever you want to install it). There will be a time in the future when you see what I mean because not everything comes with an installer, you just drag it over.

To use the right click on your apple mouse go to system preferences, mouse, and set it up...you can also set the side buttons and scroll wheel to your liking.

Also, like the above poster said, the mouse cord is short because the keyboard has 2 usb ports on it, and your computer should have come with an extention for the keyboard usb cord...mine did.