Is there an "uninstall" function in the Mac?

Barry Garsson · #1 June 8th, 2007, 08:55 AM

There are a lot of applications bundled into the Mac (Mac Mini) that I have no use for (games, garage band, iweb, etc. and can put the disk space to better use.

I don't see any "uninstall" function as I did in Windows (nor in the Finder Help window).

I thought I would try simply using the Finder -> Find function, and enter one of the applications I want to trash, then delete every item that comes up under that app's name - so I get to delete the Library items I may not know about. Is that the correct technique?

I do notice that under some apps, the finder brings up a bunch of files anding in ".h" that I am afraid to touch. Can I delete those as well?

Please advise.

Thanks.

Barry

**fryke** · #2 June 8th, 2007, 08:58 AM

Basically, you simply have to drag the _app_ itself to the trash and empty it: That's it. And that's why there's often no uninstaller. Delete it: That's it. With some apps, there are "Application Support" files and folders that use a lot of space. Garage Band is such an example. There you have to delete the folders in Application Support directories as well to save the space.

Barry Garsson · #3 June 8th, 2007, 03:38 PM

Thanks. What about those ".h" files that come up in the finder?
Barry

artov · #4 June 8th, 2007, 03:38 PM

Some programs come with Uninstall feature. They are installed onto their own
folder, where there is the Program.app and something like Uninstall Program.app.

Texas Mac Man · #5 June 10th, 2007, 06:41 PM

Check out AppDelete @ http://reggie.ashworth.googlepages.com/appdelete

Cheers, Tom

Decade · #6 June 11th, 2007, 03:59 AM

The ".h" files are header files. They're used mainly for compiling programs, providing function prototypes and system constants. I see no reason why they'd be installed on a normal system, but they're usually pretty small, anyway. They're especially useful to keep around if you decide to do anything with XCode or DarwinPorts or something.

FlashMac · #7 June 11th, 2007, 08:57 AM

Some Apps include this uninstall facility and if it does its best to use it. For instance I just had an issue with a user's Acrobat 7, the support page on Adobe said to remove and re-install. I did this the Mac way by trashing the App and plists and receipts and prefs, and the problemm persisted. I re-installed, and then used the Uninstall function (from the Acrobat application folder in Apps), then re-installed and it was indeed fixed.

Barry Garsson · #8 June 11th, 2007, 09:31 AM

Thanks, all - the AppDelete program sounds like the best solution.