application support folder

I only have *Application Support* (singular)

I would have looked in the plural version and tried to see if there was any files specific to some application. Maybe some 3rd party application created it.

I might have also checked to see if it was a real directory or a Symlink or an Alias to the *Application Support*, especially if it had all the same files in it. Of course if they had different files in them, I would have known it was not a Symlink nor Alias.

Hello,

NEVER ever delete or modify Mac OS X system files. When you download and install software updates, the installer needs to see the "path" to see where to install those files.



Carolyn 🙂

Have you performed a recent Archive and Install?


Carolyn 🙂

Don't delete either of them or you'll find yourself in nightmare land.

OK there's one folder called "Application Support" at root level, and another with the same name in your Users folder.

Don't let that bug you. Just leave them alone. I'm sure there are plenty of other things for you to be worrying about.

Despite all the other notes, warnings and cautions presented here, the Applications Support (plural) folder was created by crappy software during an install of something. It should not exist, but won't hurt anything if it stays. Is there anything inside of the folder?

It sounds like somebody (or some app) tried to make a copy, perhaps to use as a backup in case something else went wrong.

I'd be inclined to compare the two folders in detail. Are there files/folders in one but not the other? Where they're the same, how do the Modified dates compare?

If you decide to delete the folder, BY ALL MEANS back it up FIRST so you can reinstall if chaos ensues.

My suggestion:

Using Carbon Copy CLoner or SuperDuper (NOT Time Machine), make a full bootable backup of the entire hard drive to an external FireWire drive.

Test the clone by rebooting the computer from the external drive.

Then trash the folder you don't want from the main computer, reboot, and run for a while to see if everything works as normal. Try running all applications and routines, but don't do any major work you wouldn't want to lose.

If there are no problems your next clone can be from the main computer, sans the folder you trashed.

If there are problems, clone back from the external drive.

That's one of the many big advantages of having a bootable clone.