has anyone used mac janitor?

Question

duuchess Author

Level 1

4 points

has anyone used mac janitor?

someone recommended mac janitor but has an older os than me. Does anyone know if this is a good/the best option please?

mac book pro, Mac OS X (10.6.1)

Posted on Nov 2, 2009 2:39 PM

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Answer 1

Tuttle

Level 7

29,565 points

Nov 2, 2009 3:04 PM in response to duuchess

It's not necessary to use MacJanitor anymore. It was useful in early versions of OS X (10.2, 10.3), but the maintenance tasks it performs run automatically now.

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Answer 2

Nov 3, 2009 5:45 AM in response to duuchess

I use Cocktail--which is similar to MacJanitor. Cocktail does some things that are not done automatically and can, of course, be used to force some automatic things if one wants to.

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Answer 3

Tuttle

Level 7

29,565 points

Nov 3, 2009 6:04 AM in response to donv_the_ghost

I got rid of Cocktail after 10.4 because I had no use for it anymore, either. IMO, there is really no need to install any of these utilities, especially ones you have to pay for, unless some otherwise insurmountable problem arises (which pretty much never happens).

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Answer 4

Nov 3, 2009 6:39 AM in response to Tuttle

I understand. I didn't mind paying, and its just plain convenient for doing some things like cleaning caches--and the others I mentioned above.

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Answer 5

Tuttle

Level 7

29,565 points

Nov 3, 2009 7:19 AM in response to donv_the_ghost

I haven't had any reason to clean caches outside of my browsers' for years, so I haven't had any reason to install a utility to do that.

Also, I'm wondering under what circumstances one would want to force automatic maintenance tasks?

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Answer 6

Nov 3, 2009 7:38 AM in response to Tuttle

I think the cron scripts are only run automatically if you keep your machine on at around 3am.

I switch mine off every night.

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Answer 7

Tuttle

Level 7

29,565 points

Nov 3, 2009 7:45 AM in response to Ian R. Brown

Those tasks have run through launchd (and not cron) since at least 10.5. If they aren't run automatically at the appointed hour because the machine is off or asleep, they will run automatically when the computer is next brought to life.

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Answer 8

Nov 3, 2009 7:49 AM in response to Tuttle

Thanks Tuttle ....... so can I trash my copy of MacJanitor now?

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Answer 9

Tuttle

Level 7

29,565 points

Nov 3, 2009 7:50 AM in response to Ian R. Brown

; )

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Answer 10

Nov 3, 2009 7:52 AM in response to Tuttle

Sorry, is that a "yes"?

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Answer 11

Tuttle

Level 7

29,565 points

Nov 3, 2009 8:00 AM in response to Ian R. Brown

Yes, sorry, yes, that's a "yes."

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Answer 12

Nov 3, 2009 8:09 AM in response to Tuttle

Thanks, I'm still years behind with symbols!

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Answer 13

Nov 3, 2009 8:32 AM in response to Ian R. Brown

If it is up-to-date, then you might find it useful at least for cache cleaning and fixing preference problems (assuming it will do either).

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Answer 14

Tuttle

Level 7

29,565 points

Nov 3, 2009 8:42 AM in response to donv_the_ghost

It does neither and hasn't been updated in going on five years.

http://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/5856/macjanitor

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Answer 15

cornelius

Level 6

17,826 points

Nov 3, 2009 8:52 AM in response to Tuttle

As I understand it anything after OS X 10.4.4 runs the scripts automatically. I used Macaroni for years, but do not have it installed on my MBP. One should note, at the same time, that while MacJanitor essentially runs CRON script cleaning, other utilities perform additional functions.

😉 cornelius

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