pmudesign Posted August 12, 2006 Share Posted August 12, 2006 I'm a noob to OS X, just got my first iMac after many years of using Windoze and I've got a question: How do you completely delete an application from your system? I bought my iMac used and I'm trying to install a copy of an application, but the "Installer" application goes through the install process but then tells me I have a newer version of the application on my HD and it can't install. I'm guessing the previous owner had deleted the application from his HD and I don't own the same version. I did a "spotlight" search for files but haven't found anything. I looked in preferences and didn't find anything there either. I don't want to have to re-format my HD, is there anything I can do to find this? I don't want to have to pay for the update if I don't have to. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rammjet Posted August 12, 2006 Share Posted August 12, 2006 What app are you trying to install? If the installer comes as a .pkg file, then it uses the Apple installer which places a receipt in the Library/Receipts folder. Find and delete that Receipt. Other installers will give that message if it finds the actual app on your drive. Try a spotlight on the name of the app and see if any copies show up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fingerr Posted August 12, 2006 Share Posted August 12, 2006 What app are you trying to install? If the installer comes as a .pkg file, then it uses the Apple installer which places a receipt in the Library/Receipts folder. Find and delete that Receipt. Other installers will give that message if it finds the actual app on your drive. Try a spotlight on the name of the app and see if any copies show up. Try this one: http://appzapper.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
INFNITE Posted August 12, 2006 Share Posted August 12, 2006 What app are you trying to install? If the installer comes as a .pkg file, then it uses the Apple installer which places a receipt in the Library/Receipts folder. Find and delete that Receipt. Other installers will give that message if it finds the actual app on your drive. Try a spotlight on the name of the app and see if any copies show up. yeah, I always put spotlight to good use when I uninstall an app. First trash the application file, then I spotlight for the name of the app (and variations of it) and trash that. Normally works pretty well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A Nonny Moose Posted August 12, 2006 Share Posted August 12, 2006 1. Some apps (like MS Office) come with an uninstall. Try looking for that on the disk first. 2. If that isn't found, you can delete the application. Then search for that application so you can delete the preference files and any application support files, etc. Delete and you're done. 3. You can try App Zapper Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dtm3dd Posted August 12, 2006 Share Posted August 12, 2006 App zapper is probably the best solution for a new mac user as it is very much like a windows uninstaller. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pmudesign Posted August 12, 2006 Author Share Posted August 12, 2006 If the installer comes as a .pkg file, then it uses the Apple installer which places a receipt in the Library/Receipts folder. Find and delete that Receipt. Thanks, that did it! I took a look at "AppZapper", unfortunately the app has to be still installed in order for it to un-install it. Thanks all for your help!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockett Posted August 14, 2006 Share Posted August 14, 2006 $12.95 is definately worth it for AppZapper. I am surprised that Apple doesn't include this kind of functionality by default though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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