Contextual menu in finder "open with" has multiple entries of same apps

When I use the contextual menu (right click) on documents, the menu point "open with..." shows multiple entries of the same programs. For example when right clicking a PDF, there appears 5 times neoOffice, 2 times Preview, 6 times ... any other application that you could use to open the document. This occurs on all user accounts, only that the multiplicity of listings of the apps is different. So it can't be a preferences problem on my account. What else could be the cause?
This is quite annoying because the apps-list becomes very long and unusable.
Note: I have 2 internal start up disks with OS and apps installed, but only one mounted. That means, there cannot be a duplicate (triplicate...etc) copy of any app accessible at any time.
Thanks.

if I quit all running applications, it will be pretty hard to put anything in the Trash!
Are you being literal? Like quitting the Finder too? Or what bespeaks you?
Actually, I use Xupport to do that, but I think Onyx and several other Utilities include that option.

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Multiple entries for same apps showing next to 'Open With' in contextual menu since last backup

I did a back up of my MBPs internal drive recently, using Carbon Copy Cloner - since then there are multiples of the same icons for all apps under 'Open With' in the contextual menu. I seem to remember there being a command line that could be entered in Terminal to fix this, but I can't find it anywhere.
Can anyone help?

Yes, LaunchServices. These are only cache files but can get corrupted. Launch /Utilities/Terminal and copy & paste this at the command line to rebuild LaunchServices: (be sure to copy the entire line it's a scroll)
Code:
/System/Library/Frameworks/CoreServices.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/LaunchServices.framework/Versions/A/Support/lsregister -kill -r -domain local -domain system -domain user
Then press return. Wait until terminal returns to the command line. Quit Terminal. After that, log out and back in or restart. Let us know

Clearing the Finder "Open With" contextual menu ?

After the install I now have duplicates of all the stuff I used to have in the open with menu.
Like VLC and then under it VLC (version number).
How do I clear it?

As seen here: http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=305627
*Mac OS X: Clearing the Finder "Open With" contextual menu*
Ever wondered how to "clear" the Finder's Open With... contextual menu choices of any extraneous or older applications? (This is the menu that appears when you control-click or "right-click" a document icon.)
If your Open With... menu is filled with too many choices to easily scroll through, you can remove the less-commonly used choices. These steps will clear the list except for the most current applications that can open your document.
From the Finder Go menu, choose Home.
Open the Library folder in the Home window.
Open the Preferences folder.
Find com.apple.LaunchServices.plist.
Rename "com.apple.LaunchServices", such as to "com.apple.LaunchServices.old", or move it to the Trash.
The next time you use the Open With.... contextual menu in the Finder, only current applications will be listed. Some items may return if the application that controls them adds itself back to the list.

Clean up Finder "Open With" contextual menu in Yosemite

How do I clean up the Finder "Open With" contextual menu in Yosemite? I have several duplicate and obsolete entries in mine. There are several articles out there that show how to do this for previous versions of Mac OS X, but the instructions don't line up with what I see in Yosemite.
Also, the entries I have in the menu are from a version of Windows through a version of VMware Fusion, both of which versions I haven't used in a long while. I did a clean install of Yosemite this morning (on an erased disk) so I'm curious how the menu was populated. Did it somehow get inherited through the iCloud Keychain?
Thanks for any help!

As seen here: http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=305627
*Mac OS X: Clearing the Finder "Open With" contextual menu*
Ever wondered how to "clear" the Finder's Open With... contextual menu choices of any extraneous or older applications? (This is the menu that appears when you control-click or "right-click" a document icon.)
If your Open With... menu is filled with too many choices to easily scroll through, you can remove the less-commonly used choices. These steps will clear the list except for the most current applications that can open your document.
From the Finder Go menu, choose Home.
Open the Library folder in the Home window.
Open the Preferences folder.
Find com.apple.LaunchServices.plist.
Rename "com.apple.LaunchServices", such as to "com.apple.LaunchServices.old", or move it to the Trash.
The next time you use the Open With.... contextual menu in the Finder, only current applications will be listed. Some items may return if the application that controls them adds itself back to the list.

TA24770 Clear Finder "Open With" menu with VMware Fusion 5

Hi.
I had same problem of duplicate Apps showing on Finder "Open With" contextual menu.
After following instructions on this link http://support.apple.com/kb/TA24770?viewlocale=en_US&locale=en_US all Mac applications where OK, but could not see VMware Fusion Virtual Machine applications in Finder contextual menu.
So follow these steps:
Shut down virtual machine.
Open virtual machine settings.
Go to Default Applications.
Click "Restore Applications".
Start virtual machine.
This should reset contextual menu in Finder with the VMware Fusion 5 applications.
Mac OS X 10.8.3
VMware Fusion 5.0.3

Great, post tip, thanks!

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Simon,
Resetting Launch Services, by Dr. Smoke should be helpful.
;~)

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Photoscene-
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Alan
cube Mac OS X (10.3.9)

Finder Open With Menu

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Use an encrypted disk image or a third-party method. Placing the password in the keychain will automatically unlock the image when your Mac OS X account is active.
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Contextual menu in finder "open with" has multiple entries of same apps

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