Cleaning out library and user/library folders

[james948]

Waiting for my new Mac to be delivered. I've decided to do a data migration but, before I do that, I want to try and delete as much cruft as I can.

My problem is that I have a ton of apps I deleted but their prefs, support libraries, receipts, containers etc all still remain. Is there an easier way than manually removing them? I was rather hoping an app could reference them against my currently installed apps and delete if it doesn't find a corresponding app.

Anyone got any ideas? I don't believe Cocktail, App Cleaner or CleanMyMac do this.
James.

 

[mossy]

I don't think there is any other way. You will have to go through them all one by one and delete them (if you now what to actually delete).

EDIT: I would not actually delete them. I would make a folder and move them there just in case. When you have your new machine set up and all is going well - then you could delete the folder of old stuff.

If I were you - I would not do a migration - if you can avoid it at-all. I would start off FRESH

 

[james948]

Thanks! Yeah, the only thing is there are so many things I need to do to start off fresh, just thinking about it makes me reel.

 

[fisherking]

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/easyfind/id411673888?mt=12

use it to find the files you want to delete, just... proceed with care. take your time, be sure of what you're deleting...

 

[mossy]

Thanks! Yeah, the only thing is there are so many things I need to do to start off fresh, just thinking about it makes me reel.

Yep - especially development environment. Take your time doing it though. Get the immediate things back onto your machine and install the apps you need/use all the time.

No need to do it all in a day. You will just end up with a load of junk and will be back to square one again.

Anyways - best of luck with new machine

 

[KALLT]

Just sort them by size and weed out the biggest. Why bother with the noise?

 

[airlied]

create a new user account then compare the library folders (both on user/ and -/) to see what folders/files dont show up at new account but exist at your main account. then decide which are legacy junks.

 

[KALLT]

create a new user account then compare the library folders (both on user/ and -/) to see what folders/files dont show up at new account but exist at your main account. then decide which are legacy junks.

That is questionable advice. A new library directory is pretty much empty, except for a few empty directories and a couple of plist files. By that logic, you could just wipe the library altogether (and in fact, you can, but you will lose most user settings and application data and the system will re-create files and folders as needed).