Find and Delete old files in application support

[hornbyrav]

I'm cleaning up my macbook pro and I have what looks like many versions of the same files that were installed with Acrobat over several versions. How can I identify the old versions and delete them? They are found in the two libraries/application support and I suppose in other places as well.

Thanks for your help.

[ls_rbls]

Hi,

I would primariliy recommend to use the Adobe Acrobat /Reader Cleanup and Repair Tool: 

https://labs.adobe.com/downloads/acrobatcleaner.html

In addition, if you've also used the Adobe CC Desktop App before to manage other Adobe products subscriptions in that computer run this tool as well:  https://helpx.adobe.com/creative-cloud/kb/cc-cleaner-tool-installation-problems.html

If for reason, you suspect that any of these tools fail to remove or clean old traces of software in other system folders, I always recommend the Nick Romero method: https://www.nickromero.com/completely-remove-adobe-from-your-mac-in-2-steps/

This is what I would do, using some of the steps describe in the Nick Romero's link,  I would inspect some folders using the console, then run the cleanup and repair tools, and check again those folders using the console.

In the event that some things weren't properly cleaned/remove then you can apply the full guidance of Nick Romero method for mac.

[hornbyrav]

Thank you for responding so quickly. When I look at the cleaner tool, it seems that it could remove the current version of Acrobat itself and so I hesitate to use it before checking in again. I think what I have are old copies of the files that get installed with Acrobat and somehow don't get updated or removed in later upgrades of Acrobat itself. Can I use the cleaner to remove only those old files? Will it know which they are, since they come with names that make no sense to me? Would the Nick Romero approach also leave my current version intact?

Thanks again.

[ls_rbls]

Well these are all methods that will completely remove old traces of the software and possibly repair the structure of folders and subdirectory structures, leaving the system ready for a fresh re-installation of the Adobe Acrobat application.

However, to maintain a level of caution, I recommend the Nick Romero method because it shows a DIY approach on how to search for files before commiting to any removal.

This helps in the event that you wish to examine these files before any major change takes place in your system.

From a PC repair point of view, it is best to explore which folders have files of interest to you and back them up in another folder out of their current directory. That way you can always restore them back in their original folder with their original names if something doesn't work well after a cleanup. 

In my case I upgraded from Windows 7 to Windows 10 , for example.

And even though I completely wiped off Windows 7 to install version 10, this new operating system has a folder that automatically keeps increasing in size every day. 

Such is the case of C:\Windows\winsxs

This is a new feature since Win7 and later to facilitate system services operations  such as applying  service packs, system patches, software security mitigation and migration patches, etc.

According to Micrososft guidance this is supposed to be a design behavior, but when you hav a computer with low specs, this becomes a problem, even if you uninstall and re-install misbehaving applications.

That said, I am not implying that this is your case with macOS but we should look at it with the same eyes because is one of those new 64bit operating system that is constantly updating and installing things in the background without user intervention.

This is precisely where the Nick Romero's method is essential for me in troubleshooting a system.

The Cleanup Tools are OK, but that reminds me of how CableTV and Internet Broadband companies used to send a cable guy to your home 10 years ago  to setup your cable modem and computer by running everything from a CD-ROM.  

Was it effective?   Damn right it was... for the Cable comapny and their field reps.

Was it effective for the consumers when an issue popped out of nowhere?    NO! 

And for many obvious reasons, specially if you don't know what the heck was installed in your computer to begin with.

Everytime I post this Nick Romero link I don't receive a welcoming feedback in return. Probably because it basically open your eyes to possibilities, which in return some community professionals may consider it as inappropriate guidance  or even lacking corporate doctrine in-accordance-with the Adobe Community Forums "netiquette".

[Test Screen Name]

Application Support doesn't have a lot of files that are installed. More, they are made as Acrobat runs. Take care, every single file potentially has a critical role. Do you really need the amount of disk space you would save, for the risk of breaking it? Some is in identifiable folders with a version number; you could rename the folder and leave it some months.

[ls_rbls]

Yes, you're absolutely right and thank you, I forgot to point that out.

I am able to remove older patches and service packs manually for example, but as another user  mentioned in the forums the other day, had a similar issue with a growing folder in his/her computer.

In my personal case I do need the amount of space because I have a low spec computer dual-booting  with other OSs'.  So the Windows system files partitions grows very quickly with some of the chached and temporary files folders that behave like that.

In the case of the user that I was trying to assist the other day, the cleanup had to be done manually, and doing this daily was annoying the user.

I suggested creating a Task using task scheduler or a batch script to be executed through Task Scheduler. 

But for some users this an intimidating procedure, and like you said, if not performed with caution you can ruin more things.

So, I posted back to the user with  a batch script to do this automatically taken from Micrososft support guidance.

Instead the user didn't accept the solution because of wanting to be able to have a configuration setting in Acrobat to simply stop adding cached  bitmaps to a folder, when in fact the problem was more related to design behavior in the OS rather then the Acrobat application. 

[hornbyrav]

Thank you for your replies. While it still seems to me that Acrobat and Adobe in general (I used to use Photoshop as well) seem to leave older versions of files in place and just add the new ones, something I wasn't keeping track of.

In any case, I think I'm going to upgrade to Catalina and purchase a subscription to the newest version. That way I can clean out all the old files and start again.

Again, thank you and I do intend to follow up on the Nick Romero link and appreciate your sharingit with me.

I think that ends it for now. Thank you again.

[ls_rbls]

Yes you're welcome. Stay healthy!