Apparatus and methods for improving uninstall process

摘要

Various embodiments for improving application uninstallation from a computing device are described. In one or more embodiments, a scanning application may generate a files list that includes information about what other applications may use ancillary files. When an application is deleted, a user interface presents a list of ancillary files used by the deleted application and what other applications may use the ancillary files. The user may then select which ancillary files to delete along with the application. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

主权项

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:
scanning files automatically at periodic intervals on a computer-readable storage medium with a scanning application to obtain the files metadata; generating, with the scanning application, a file list to identify ancillary files associated with an application, the file list comprising an entry for each scanned file, the entry associated with the metadata that includes a filename of the scanned file, an application name of a first application that uses the scanned file, a version, a location, and a bundle ID and comprising a set of identifiers of other applications that may use the file; detecting deletion of an application when the application is moved to a deleted files directory wherein the detecting the deletion of an application causes the scanning application to generate a file list specific to the deleted application; comparing the file list specific to the deleted application to the file list to identify from the ancillary files associated with the deleted application and determine what other applications use the ancillary files; displaying, based on the determination, with the scanning application, a list comprising an entry for each file used by the deleted application, the entry comprising at least the filename and a name of a second application that may use the file, and a selection mechanism to allow a user to select the file for deletion, wherein the scanning application is independent of each of: the deleted application, an operating system, and an uninstall application provided with the deleted application; deleting, with the scanning application, an associated file in response to a user selection from the displayed list; and updating the file list when a file is updated, removed or added.