Using terminal

[abz1981]

Hi all

I am trying to completely remove/uninstall a VPN client from PrivateInternetAccess.com I have used there service and installed the mac os client when I used there vpn. I have dragged and dropped the application for this into my trash can and deleted it. However I spoke to PrivateInternetAccess.com via there live chat and they also asked me to do the following:

Open a Terminal Window
Type the following command into Terminal: dscacheutil -flushcache;sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder
Press enter. This should allow you to connect normally with the VPN again.
If not, please try uninstalling and reinstalling our client. Here is how you can delete the application:
1. Go into your Applications folder, and drag Private Internet Access.app to the Trashbin. Empty the Trashbin after doing this.
2. Open Terminal
3. Type: rm -rf ~/.pia_manager/
4. Press enter. If the command is successful, there will be no confirmation, it will simply go to a new line in the Terminal window.
Please make sure to complete step 3 very carefully, and it will be removed.


does this sound right to you? i never used terminal before. so don't want to end up doing something wrong on my mba.

 

[MacUser2525]

Hi all

I am trying to completely remove/uninstall a VPN client from PrivateInternetAccess.com I have used there service and installed the mac os client when I used there vpn. I have dragged and dropped the application for this into my trash can and deleted it. However I spoke to PrivateInternetAccess.com via there live chat and they also asked me to do the following:

Open a Terminal Window
Type the following command into Terminal: dscacheutil -flushcache;sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder
Press enter. This should allow you to connect normally with the VPN again.
If not, please try uninstalling and reinstalling our client. Here is how you can delete the application:
1. Go into your Applications folder, and drag Private Internet Access.app to the Trashbin. Empty the Trashbin after doing this.
2. Open Terminal
3. Type: rm -rf ~/.pia_manager/
4. Press enter. If the command is successful, there will be no confirmation, it will simply go to a new line in the Terminal window.
Please make sure to complete step 3 very carefully, and it will be removed.


does this sound right to you? i never used terminal before. so don't want to end up doing something wrong on my mba.

Looks correct for an uninstall of that particular app for step 3 I would go with rm -rf ~/.pia_manager to get rid of the hidden directory instead of just its contents as the suggested command does.

 

[abz1981]

Looks correct for an uninstall of that particular app for step 3 I would go with rm -rf ~/.pia_manager to get rid of the hidden directory instead of just its contents as the suggested command does.

thanks. but i should only be following steps 1-4 yes?

because this part: Open a Terminal Window
Type the following command into Terminal: dscacheutil -flushcache;sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder
Press enter. This should allow you to connect normally with the VPN again.
If not, please try uninstalling and reinstalling our client.

seems to suggest its installing the client, when i don't want it anymore and want to remove it?

 

[Alrescha]

I would go with rm -rf ~/.pia_manager to get rid of the hidden directory instead of just its contents as the suggested command does.

The commands are equivalent.

A.

 

[MacUser2525]

because this part: Open a Terminal Window
Type the following command into Terminal: dscacheutil -flushcache;sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder
Press enter.

seems to suggest its installing the client, when i don't want it anymore and want to remove it?

No you want that part it is clearing the DNS cache so you will have no problems resolving IP address afterwards. You want to do that regardless as you do not want any of its leftovers in the cache messing with that.

----------

The commands are equivalent.

A.

I like to do it properly with no ambiguity whatsoever, no sense setting someone up for failure later when they need to do a different command again.

 

[Alrescha]

I like to do it properly with no ambiguity whatsoever, no sense setting someone up for failure later when they need to do a different command again.

I'm not sure what you mean. "rm -rf directory/" removes the contents and the directory. Not just the contents as you claimed. The danger in letting your statement stand is that someday someone may leave the trailing slash and expect the directory to still be there when the command has executed.

A.

 

[MacUser2525]

I'm not sure what you mean. "rm -rf directory/" removes the contents and the directory. Not just the contents as you claimed. The danger in letting your statement stand is that someday someone may leave the trailing slash and expect the directory to still be there when the command has executed.

A.

Oh yeah the nitpickers around here always have justification for it.

 

[abz1981]

No you want that part it is clearing the DNS cache so you will have no problems resolving IP address afterwards. You want to do that regardless as you do not want any of its leftovers in the cache messing with that.

----------



I like to do it properly with no ambiguity whatsoever, no sense setting someone up for failure later when they need to do a different command again.

hey thanks for the reply and everyone else too.

This is what I have done the above and this is what terminal shows, as attached image. re-installed the client first before I did the above, because I had moved it to trash can before.

See if this looks normal, if you don't mind: