Undeleting files in Mac OS X 10.4

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Level 1

8 points

Undeleting files in Mac OS X 10.4

How do you undelete files in Tiger? Are there Operating System functions that do that (if not, why aren't there any?) or do I need 3rd party software to do this.
If I need the second, which program should I buy? I believe Norton is no longer available for Mac OS 10.3 and above. Is there an easier way, like going into Unix and finding those files without special software?

Thanks

P.S. The deleted files are on the main (startup) disk. There is only 1 disk on the computer. I do not wish to use software that runs from the net (VirtualLab for example).

G4, Mac OS X (10.4.7)

Posted on Aug 15, 2006 6:04 PM

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Answer 1

Aug 15, 2006 6:23 PM in response to pitou

No OS X version currently available includes an operating system function to undelete deleted data.

If Empty Trash was used for any files marked for deletion and located in the Trash can for your user login account, the only way to do undelete deleted data is by using a 3rd party data recovery utility such as Data Rescue II by Prosoft Engineering.

http://www.prosofteng.com/products/data_rescue.php

Being careful before emptying the Trash is important but for data deleted by accident is one of the reasons to maintain a regular backup of all important data and besides, it isn't a matter of if but when your hard drive has a partial or complete failure since none last forever.

For most people, Time Machine included with Leopard can't get here fast enough.

http://www.apple.com/macosx/leopard/timemachine.html

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Answer 2

Kappy

Level 10

362,023 points

Aug 15, 2006 6:40 PM in response to pitou

Uninstalling Software: The Basics

Most OS X applications are completely self-contained "packages" that can be uninstalled by simply dragging the application to the Trash. Most applications create preference files which are stored in the /Home/Library/Preferences/ folder. Although they do nothing once you delete the associated application, they do take up some disk space. If you want you can located them in the above location and delete them, too.

Some applications may install an uninstaller program that can be used to remove the application. In some cases the uninstaller may be part of the application's installer, and is invoked by clicking on a Customize button that will appear during the install process.

Some applications may install components in the /Home/Library/Applications Support/ folder. You can also check there to see if the application has created a folder. You can also delete the folder that's in the Applications Support folder. Again, they don't do anything but take up disk space once the application is trashed.

Some applications may install a startupitem or a Log In item. Startupitems are usually installed in the /Library/StartupItems/ folder and less often in the /Home/Library/StartupItems/ folder. Log In Items are set in the Accounts preferences. Open System Preferences, click on the Accounts icon, then click on the LogIn Items tab. Locate the item in the list for the application you want to remove and click on the "-" button to delete it from the list.

If an application installs any other files the best way to track them down is to do a Finder search using the application name or the developer name as the search term.

There are also several shareware utilities that can uninstall applications:

AppZapper 1.6
Yank 1.31
SuperPop 1.0b2
Uninstaller 1.99
Spring Cleaning 8.0

For more information visit The XLab FAQs and read the FAQ on removing software.

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