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General discussion

suggestions

I tried TT on a new computer before I had removed the trial-ware, so now my software list includes all of these trial programs which I have no intention of ever using.

The TT web site should allow me to delete these items from my software list. After all, it is my list, why not let me delete anything I want?

I realize that I could hide these, but that is not good enough. I want to use this hiding feature for programs that I am no longer using. I would rather delete the programs that I never have and never will use.

Discussion is locked

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suggestions
Dec 15, 2009 5:50AM PST

Thank you for using CNET TechTracker app and the suggestion. Did you rescan your computer after removing the trial-ware? TechTracker app's My Software list is designed to only display the software you have installed on your computer. Rescanning should remove these applications from your My Software list. To rescan your computer, click on the TechTracker icon in your system tray (if TechTracker app is not in the system tray make sure its running by opening it from the Windows Start | All programs menu). Then click on "Scan Now". When the scan is complete open your TechTracker app My List page or refresh the page so your scan results reflect the most recent scan.

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that helps

Thank you for clarifying that.

I rescanned my system and some of the apps that I wanted to delete disappeared from my list - as you suggested.

Some of them, such as the Office 2007 trial applications, did not disappear but I think that is because they are not really gone. I guess there is no way to truly uninstall some trial ware.

I understand though that this is Microsoft's fault and not TT's. In the case of MS Office, I find this rather strange: you would think that MS would want everyone else to write well behaved apps for Windows so they would set a good example!

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One possible reason...
Dec 16, 2009 11:29PM PST

Trial applications almost always leave some traces behind so that users do not simply uninstall the trial after the period has ended and then reinstall it, a potential avenue to avoid paying. In addition, they also frequently leave behind user preferences, even if they are the default preferences, so that 'you can pick up where you left off' should you purchase/reinstall the application down the road. And that does not even take into consideration all of the files/registry entries that many program uninstallers should, but fail to, properly delete. Unfortunately, TechTracker and other applications can pick up on those traces and assume the application is still fully installed. You can run programs such as CCleaner to remove many of the leftovers, but you will inevitably have to ignore some false-positives.

Regards,
John

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trialware

Thanks for explaining the situation to me. It's a bit annoying for me because I never wanted or tried MS Office 2007 in the first place. I guess I will use the TT hide feature to hide all of the entries related to trialware.

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Fire Fox
Dec 23, 2009 2:23PM PST