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General discussion

Removing Programs without the Control Panel?

by thebign Dec 25, 2003 3:15AM PST

Happy Holidays,

How can I remove an installed program when it doesn't show up in "Add or Remove Programs" within the Control Panel? There isn't even an uninstall file within the program's folder. I'm using XP Pro. Any help would be truly appreciated.

Thanks everyone.

Discussion is locked

7 Posts
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Re:Removing Programs without the Control Panel?
by r. proffitt Forum moderator Dec 25, 2003 3:24AM PST

Remember that uninstalling is still a new feature. It was about 1995 when it became a 'big deal.' Up till that time you had to do such manually. Some programs still may not offer an uninstall.

Let's start with an omission by you. You didn't name the program. Also worth noting is that a few hope to extend a trial period by uninstalling and reinstalling. This time extersion rarely works since the software maker deliberately hides the information elsewhere.

A short list of what to delete when you want to manually uninstall a program.

1. The program's directory.
2. The shortcut to the program.
3. Optionally, use a registry editor like the last free version of JV16's PowerTools which will categorize registry entries and if your software was from "Neat-o", then you may find it easy to drop these entries with this tool. -> http://www.321download.com/LastFreeware/

There may be a few stragglers of DLL's or such, but this will effectively uninstall the program.

Bob

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(NT) Yep, Which Program ?
by Grif Thomas Forum moderator Dec 25, 2003 3:55AM PST

.

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Re:(NT) Yep, Which Program ?
by thebign Dec 25, 2003 4:05AM PST

It's called "Real-Time Labor Guide - Version 6.31". It came as a trial CD for my father's work and he installed it this morning. He has no use for it.

The only reason I ask is that I'm worried about things not really being deleted completely, and things being left in the registry (that's not good, right?).

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Only for neatniks.
by r. proffitt Forum moderator Dec 25, 2003 4:08AM PST

There are a few that fret over every registry entry and spend most of their computing hours scouring the registry and seeking out what the best defragmenter settings or programs are. If this is you, then you hunt it out and delete such.

If not and you want to just use the machine the procedure I noted above will be fine.

Bob

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Re:Re:(NT) Yep, Which Program ?
by Cursorcowboy Dec 25, 2003 7:35AM PST

1. Do you have a choice?

2. The Control Panel applet dialogue in the Add/Remove Programs applet simply lists programs installed which were designed with a Windows-compatible uninstall feature built-in. Some programs add a reference to their uninstaller (this is part of the requirement for a 32-bit aware program to have the official Microsoft "Windows Logo" on their packaging), some simply provide a shortcut. If an Uninstall feature is not listed in the Add/Remove Programs section then check for any Readme type files in the program's folder which may explain their process.

3. IMHO, the important questions is, even when an Uninstall feature is added, did the author of that program ensure that when a user uses it, his uninstall wizard will clean not only the system but also listing from the Add/Remove Programs list or could Windows perhaps circumvent it regardless of whether he did or not.

4. When a program is uninstall under Windows, the uninstaller wizard (written by the author of the program) removes all the program files and registry entries associated with the application usually. It may also remove shared DLL's, but only if the application being removed is the last application registered for that DLL. Normally uninstall wizards do NOT remove; program-specific configuration files (usually an x.INI) and could be located anywhere, so use the find function to locate them; data files; and custom files (eg: custom dictionaries).

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Re:Re:(NT) Yep, Which Program ?
by Edward ODaniel Dec 25, 2003 11:06AM PST

Either follow Bob's advice above or look on the CD it came on and you just might see a "Readme.txt" or a "setup.txt" file that tells you how to do the uninstall. Often trial versions are uninstalled by running the setup or install executable again and selecting to uninstall.

Another option is to simply contact the company that created the program--if they are on the web they likely have info regarding the software on their site to include uninstalling it.

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Re:Removing Programs without the Control Panel?
by Willy Dec 25, 2003 10:45AM PST

Right click on the shortcut or pgm. icon then on the "properties" button. Follow where the properties says its run from and manually delete it. Delete all proper related files and directory then exit. Now delete the shortciut or icon. That should handle most pgms. but expect some registry listing but that shouldn't effect the OS(cross-fingers). You now use some registry cleaner to handle that for a more clean removal.

NEXT TIME - When you install a pgm., don't settle for the default install dir. instead make one that makes sense to you or remember, like XYZ123 for pgm. XYZ123. That way you can more readily delete it as explained above. Shocked -----Willy

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