Can't uninstall Aperture to upgrade - please help

Question

Been trying to figure out how to upgrade to Aperture full licence for a week.
On load of trial it asks you to selct the 'mode' - i.e.: Continue Trial, Enter licence Key or 'Buy' a licence.
When you click on the "buy" you go to AppStore - but then you cannot buy a licence as you need to install the software and the application reports an error that the 'software is already installed'
Trying to uninstall the software I discover that in Lion you must use the LaunchPad to do this: instructions below from "help"
Uninstall apps
To uninstall apps you purchased from the Mac App Store, hold down an app’s icon in Launchpad until all the icons begin to wiggle. Click an app’s delete button (x) to uninstall the app.If an icon doesn’t have a delete button, that app can’t be uninstalled.
To uninstall other apps, drag the app to the Trash (the Trash is located at the end of the Dock), and then choose Finder > Empty Trash.If you change your mind, before emptying the Trash, select the app in the Trash, and then choose File > Put Back.WARNING: When you empty the Trash, the app is permanently removed from your computer. If you have any files that you created with the app, you may not be able to open them."
However Aperture fits into the type "Cannot be uninstalled" highlighted in red above.
I am concerned that if I use a third party uninstaller I may lose application data.......  Please help!!
P.S.  Can you 'back up/save/ output etc the system settings for an application so as to not lose them on a reinstall??

Answer 1

I see from your signature you are using Mac OS 10.7.2 Lion.
Under Lion the Applications Folder is protected, and dragging from this folder simply creates Aliases on the Desktop. To delete an Application I found it easier to select the application and to use Command-delete. Then you will be prompted for your administrator password an can remove the application.
Regards
Léonie
PS:
Can you 'back up/save/ output etc the system settings for an application so as to not lose them on a reinstall??
The setting, and all your Aperture presets, are stored in your user library, in the preferences folder and the Application Support folder. These will not be affected by moving the Aperture Application to the trash. Aperture will use the same settings when you relaunch it after the upgrade to the full version.
Enjoy Aperture!