how do i completely erase an application?

[sonarghost]

Hello, I feel dumb for asking such a simple question but here it goes!

If I have a program in which there is no uninstall option, even in the "installer", is there an easy way to erase the program and ALL the components within OSX? Do I have to buy cleansweep or something similar to do this?

Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[Oryan]

For most OSX programs you can simply delete the application file from the /Application directory. There may also be a few settings files lurking in the /Library directory. OSX does not have any sort of registry or /Win32 folder that makes entirely removing Windows apps so difficult.

 

[GeeYouEye]

Check ~/Library/Preferences and ~/Library/Application Support. Well-behaved programs don't put anything anywhere else, at least that isn't gone by reboot (temporary files, etc.).

 

[Father Jack]

AppZapper and CleanApp will do the job.

personally I prefer CleanApp.

FJ

 

[supz]

Another nice freeware alternative to AppZapper is AppDelete

http://reggie.ashworth.googlepages.com/appdelete

It does the same thing, but I don't think the sound effects are as cool as AppZapper (which I use, since I bought it before AppDelete came out)

 

[Counterfit]

Check ~/Library/Preferences and ~/Library/Application Support. Well-behaved programs don't put anything anywhere else, at least that isn't gone by reboot (temporary files, etc.).

Well, some apps use /Library/Application Support, rather than the one in your home folder. Could you imagine a set of GarageBand loops for every account?

 

[epochblue]

I'm a fan of AppZapper, personally.

 

[sonarghost]

Hello, First of all I would like to thank YOU ALL for such quick, informative responses! I went with the suggestions to get AppZapper. It works like a charm (found things that I would not have been able to find). Once again thanks everyone!!