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TICKET ARCHIVE -> How to Uninstall a Program On Mac Os Tiger

tarmstrong - Aug 18, 2005 - 8:28 am

Hi There,

I just bought an iBook G4 with MAC OS X Version 10.4.2. I am VERY new at using a MAC, I am an old Windows user. I was trying to get VPN installed for my work, and I didn't realize that there was already a VPN client installed on the mac already. Anyway, I did install the VPN software from my work, however, it is not working, it is encountering problems, etc.. and I would like to uninstall it from the mac altogether. As a windows user, I am use to being able to find an uninstaller or use Add/Remove programs.. how do I do this on the mac?

Thanks so much!!!

thoule - Aug 18, 2005 - 8:44 am

What VPN client is it? Cisco I assume?

Mac application are drag-to-trash-to-erase. While Windows keeps resource files everywhere, Mac applications are all together in one bundle in the Applications folder. However, that method causes a problem with the few programs like VPN that puts files in other places. There generally is no remove tool for those.

However, there is a cisco vpn remove program hidden.

In Applications folder, open Utilities. Inside there, open Terminal. If you ever learn unix, you can have a lot of fun here. Inside Terminal, type the following line to remove the cisco VPN client.

sudo /opt/cisco-vpnclient/bin/vpn_uninstall

You'll be asked for your password and you will need to be a computer administrator. You can then reinstall the VPN client.

If you are not using the Cisco VPN client, then things may be a little tougher. Let me know what you're using and I'll see what I can offer.

Todd
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todd@macosx.com ---- Apple Certified System Administrator

tarmstrong - Aug 18, 2005 - 8:54 am

Hi There,

Ok, yes, I had dragged it to the trash can, and if I go look in the trash can it does show me the VPNClient. Yes, it was a Cisco VPN Client. I was just worried that there might be residual files left over somewhere, because I had seen the opt/cisco-vpnclient/bin folder .. but I wasn't sure if the files in here were actually related to the VPN Client that was factory installed on here or related to what I had installed? What do you think? Is there a way to tell?

Also, yes, I do know unix, however I am not familiar with sudo?
Thanks!

Tina

thoule - Aug 18, 2005 - 8:57 am

Yes- the cisco client does leave files around your system besides the icon in the applications folder. Go ahead and run the remove program, then reinstall the one that came with work.

sudo means 'run as root the following command'

Todd
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todd@macosx.com ---- Apple Certified System Administrator

tarmstrong - Aug 18, 2005 - 9:20 am

Uh oh,

I may be confused now. The Cisco VPN Client is the one from my work that I installed that is having the problems. I just assumed that the one I installed from work was the VPNClient I saw under Applications, do you think this is correct? How do I know where the VPN client that comes with MAC OS X 10.4 is? I do not want to interfere with that at all, which is my main concern.

thoule - Aug 18, 2005 - 10:11 am

If you have an apple vpn client setup, you can ignore it. It won't interfer with anything. If you are having problems with the cisco client, I find it helps to do a full remove and reinstall. I also find that sometimes I need to reboot in order for Cisco VPN to work again. It's very sensitive and often doesn't start easily. There are long threads on discussion boards about how to deal with the disco VPN client. Make sure you are using the very latest version. Early versions won't work at all with Tiger. The latest version works atlthough it occessionally has problems starting (just like with earlier versions). Talk to your network admin- only your company's cisco contact can get the VPN software.
Todd
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todd@macosx.com ---- Apple Certified System Administrator

tarmstrong - Aug 18, 2005 - 10:25 am

Hi Todd,

Ok thanks, well I am trying to do :
sudo /opt/cisco-vpnclient/bin/vpn_uninstall

but I am getting vpn_uninstall command not found...
I even cd'ed to opt/cisco-vpnclient/bin and I do see it there, but when I then just tried sudo vpn_uninstall, I get the same message. Any ideas? It did prompt me for my password first, but I then got sudo: vpn_uninstall : command not found

thoule - Aug 18, 2005 - 10:38 am

If you cd'ed into that directory, then type sudo ./vpn_uninstall The ./ means in the current directory (else the computer will look in it's applications folder of /bin for the vpn_uninstall program).
-t-
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todd@macosx.com ---- Apple Certified System Administrator

tarmstrong - Aug 18, 2005 - 10:46 am

Hi Todd,

Thanks,

That ran fine now. I do not see VPNClient underneath my Applications anymore. However, I do still have the opt/cisco-vpnclient/bin folder there with 2 items left in it... is this ok?

Also, could you tell me how to get to the (not sure what it is called) the system log, or some kind of log that shows errors for when things have bombed?
I found it last night, but now I cannot find it again? That is where I saw errors about the kernal, etc. when trying to run the Cisco VPN Client.

thoule - Aug 18, 2005 - 11:47 am

You can ignore the remaining /opt/cisco-stuff folder. Or delete it if you want and let it get reinstalled.

As for the logs, open your applications folder, then open Utilities and look for one called Console. Click Logs to see all the different logs available.
-t-
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todd@macosx.com ---- Apple Certified System Administrator

tarmstrong - Aug 18, 2005 - 1:04 pm

Thank you so much Todd, you have been absolutely wonderful and helpful! I really appreciate it more than you can know!