Deleting Programs

  • Thread starter Thread starter Carl
  • Start date Start date
C

Carl

I am a Mac user, new to Windows.

I removed Firefox from Windows XP Home by using the Add or Remove
Programs control panel.

Afterward, when I do a search for Firefox, I come up with three
folders: Components, Defaults, and Plugins.

May I just right click on these and delete them?

Why are they not deleted by the Add or Remove Programs control panel?

Is there some Program I could download, as there is for the Mac, that
will, when you use it to delete a program, safely delete every file
associated with that program?

Many thanks,
Carl
 
I am a Mac user, new to Windows.

I removed Firefox from Windows XP Home by using the Add or Remove
Programs control panel.

Afterward, when I do a search for Firefox, I come up with three
folders: Components, Defaults, and Plugins.

May I just right click on these and delete them?

Why are they not deleted by the Add or Remove Programs control panel?

Is there some Program I could download, as there is for the Mac, that
will, when you use it to delete a program, safely delete every file
associated with that program?

Many thanks,
Carl
Click to expand...


Hi Carl:

I use REVO uninstaller
http://www.revouninstaller.com/revo_uninstaller_free_download.html

As far as I kinow, it does exacrly that.
If I'm wrong (and I'm no expert) I'm sure someone will soon set me straight.

Cheers!
__________________________________
johnn
__________________________________
"God is dead"
- Nietzsche (1844-1935)
"Nietzsche is dead"
- God
 
It's common - in the Windows world, at least - for programs to leave
behind some files and folders after they are uninstalled. Many people
uninstall a program only to re-install it right afterwards. This might
be done if the program stops working properly.

Rather than forcing the user to re-configure the program when it is
re-installed, certain configuration information is left behind. If you
have no intention of using the uninstalled program again - or if you
prefer to configure a re-installation from scratch - you are free to
delete the leftovers.

The leftovers in your case are your Firefox profile.
 
At least you tried to uninstall the software. Some users just delete the
files which causes problems; not the least having to re-install to do a
proper uninstall.

I'm not sure if the uninstall which comes with some software is any more
efficient than the Windows 'Add remove software': I've not found any real
difference.

You may also find references to uninstalled software will remain in the
Registry. If you're that bothered a registry cleaner should do the job but
be cautious.

Bill Ridgeway
 
You may also find references to uninstalled software will remain in the
Registry. If you're that bothered a registry cleaner should do the job
but be cautious.
Click to expand...

Take cover, everyone!
<ducks>
 
Carl has brought this to us :
I am a Mac user, new to Windows.

I removed Firefox from Windows XP Home by using the Add or Remove
Programs control panel.

Afterward, when I do a search for Firefox, I come up with three
folders: Components, Defaults, and Plugins.

May I just right click on these and delete them?

Why are they not deleted by the Add or Remove Programs control panel?

Is there some Program I could download, as there is for the Mac, that
will, when you use it to delete a program, safely delete every file
associated with that program?

Many thanks,
Carl
Click to expand...

Carl, the best way to remove a program completely, is to monitor the
installation when you first install it. The two programs below do just
that and will in most cases completely remove it or in the case of
Total Uninstall, show you a list of the files and registry entries that
it could not remove.

Total Uninstall (The last freeware version (I still use it) can be
downloaded from here:

http://www.321download.com/LastFreeware/page11.html#Total Uninstall

I just came across this one the other day, and it not only will monitor
your installation, but will give you a choice, when you uninstall a
program, of completely uninstalling it or keep a reinstall record so
that you can reinstall it if change your mind and want it back (kind of
neat) It's a definite keeper for me.

AShampoo Magical Uninstall

http://www2.ashampoo.com/webcache/html/1/product_2_0803___USD.htm

Although it is freeware at the moment, it may not continue to be so. I
would get a copy now while it is still available. This one requires
registration, but the entire process takes only a minute or two at the
most(I wouldn't use my primary email address though, because these type
of offers usually result in a bombardment of emails promoting there
different products)

Note: So far, for me, Magical Uninstall has performed an install,
uninstall and reinstall of the applications I tested flawlessly. Hope
this helps you out. Enjoy!
 
Carl has brought this to us :
Carl, the best way to remove a program
completely, is to
monitor the installation when you first install
it. The
two programs below do just that and will in most
cases
completely remove it or in the case of Total
Uninstall,
show you a list of the files and registry
entries that it
could not remove.
Total Uninstall (The last freeware version (I
still use
it) can be downloaded from here:

http://www.321download.com/LastFreeware/page11.html#Total Uninstall

I just came across this one the other day, and
it not
only will monitor your installation, but will
give you a
choice, when you uninstall a program, of
completely
uninstalling it or keep a reinstall record so
that you
can reinstall it if change your mind and want it
back
(kind of neat) It's a definite keeper for me.
AShampoo Magical Uninstall

http://www2.ashampoo.com/webcache/html/1/product_2_0803___USD.htm

Although it is freeware at the moment, it may
not
continue to be so. I would get a copy now while
it is
still available. This one requires
registration, but the
entire process takes only a minute or two at the
most(I
wouldn't use my primary email address though,
because
these type of offers usually result in a
bombardment of
emails promoting there different products)
Note: So far, for me, Magical Uninstall has
performed an
install, uninstall and reinstall of the
applications I
tested flawlessly. Hope this helps you out.
Enjoy!
Click to expand...

What about data files, etc., that a program
creates on the fly? Will it delete those and
their folders too? Many programs create new files
as they operate.

Twayne
 
The Windows Add or Remove application does a good job but it uses the
application's uninstaller and these are designed to leave behind what the
new version may need from the previous version. If no new version is
installed the files can be deleted directly.

The three folders contain the Firefox settings and are left behind by the
Firefox uninstaller, anticipating that you are uninstalling one version of
firefox to install the latest.


To have the best chances of removing everything you installed during a
program installation, you need to monitor the installation with a Microsoft
product as "Windows Installer Cleanup" or a third party application like
"Total Uninstall"
 
I use REVO uninstaller
http://www.revouninstaller.com/revo_uninstaller_free_download.html

As far as I kinow, it does exacrly that.
If I'm wrong (and I'm no expert) I'm sure someone will soon set me straight.
Click to expand...

Thanks, John. I downloaded Appupdater as I believed it would both
remove AND update programs but, when I tried to run it in the command
line, I realized I was in over my head. Got it to do a few things,
but if you don't know what you are doing there, best to back out and
try something else. REVO has a nice, simple GUI which is what a
newbie like me needs.

Again, my thanks,
Carl
 
I use REVO uninstaller
http://www.revouninstaller.com/revo_uninstaller_free_download.html

As far as I kinow, it does exacrly that.
If I'm wrong (and I'm no expert) I'm sure someone will soon set me straight.
Click to expand...

I just downloaded and ran REVO uninstaller for the first time. I'd
like to check one thing.

When you get the window that says - - Please carefully verify the
bolded items! Only checked bolded items and their subitems will be
deleted! - - I presume them mean to check the bolded boxes as I have
dore here:

http://a3.s3.p.quickshareit.com/files/picture2c3f3e.jpg

Did I do this right??? Keeping my fingers crossed that I did.

Carl
 
One more question - how do you delete any and all games that came with
Windows? I couldn't seem to do it with REVO's Hunter Mode. Carl
 
Just a little FYI, not a big hairy deal: The Windows Installer Cleanup
Utility uninstalls Windows Installer packages (*.msi) and components
(*.msp and *.mst). These objects contain the logic and data needed to
install and update applications installed using the Windows Installer
(aka MsiInstaller). It doesn't remove the application itself.

WICU can be very useful when Windows Installer packages become, shall we
say, buggered up and you find yourself unable to uninstall, reinstall or
update an application installed by Windows Installer. You use it it to
remove the installaer packages, and then you reinstall the application.
Now you can (hopefully) uninstall or update the application.

When you uninstall an application that uses Windows Installer, the
installer packages can get left behind. In this case - they're just
sitting there on your hard drive doing nothing, and go figure what that
huge .msp file with the cryptic name is - WICU gets rid of the installer
packages.
 
Thanks, Leonard. On your advice, I installed the Windows Installer
Cleanup Utility.

I note you stated that this utility will uninstall "objects (that)
contain the logic and data needed to install and /update/ applications
installed using the Windows Installer"

Am I correct in interpreting this to mean that if I downloaded, say,
version 1 of some application and wanted to update it when version 2
came out that I would be unable to so do because I had run this
utility?

Should I just keep it on my HD and use it only if some Windows
Installer package became corrupted and I am unable to uninstall,
reinstall, or update it?

One last question: how the devil do I get rid of those 11 games that
M/S installs and that I will never use?

Thanks,
Carl
 
"Am I correct in interpreting this to mean that if I downloaded, say,
version 1 of some application and wanted to update it when version 2
came out that I would be unable to so do because I had run this
utility?"

Correct, sort of, presuming that v.1 used the Windows Installer and v.1
can be upgraded to v.2. The Windows Installer objects have to remain on
your hard disk in order to upgrade. OTOH if v.2 works better as a clean
install - let's say you're "upgrading" from Office 2003 to Office 2007 -
you'll do better to remove the old installer packages with WICU.

Windows Installer objects live primarily in C:\Windows\Installer, which
is, of course, a hidden file that is often a gigabyte or more in size.

Steve Jobs would not put up with it.

"Should I just keep it on my HD and use it only if some Windows
Installer package became corrupted and I am unable to uninstall,
reinstall, or update it?"

Correct.

"...get rid of those 11 games that M/S installs and that I will never use"

Easy...when you know how. Go to Control Panel > Add or Remove Programs >
Add/Remove Windows Components.
 
Leonard said:
"...get rid of those 11 games that M/S installs and that I will never use"

Easy...when you know how. Go to Control Panel > Add or Remove Programs >
Add/Remove Windows Components.
Click to expand...

Hi Leonard -

I found my way to this, but it failed to remove the games.

I clicked on the Add/Remove Windows Components and got the Windows
Components Wizard.

I selected Accessories and Utilities > Details > Games, and then
checked the box for Games, then OK, then Next and the Wizard ran and
finished with the message that I had successfully completed the
Wizards Component Wizard.

However, when I navigate to All Programs > Games > then choose one of
the games, the game opens.

It's still there.

See anything I am going wrong???

Again, many thanks for your help and patience.
Carl
 
Thanks, Leonard. On your advice, I installed the Windows Installer
Cleanup Utility.

I note you stated that this utility will uninstall "objects (that)
contain the logic and data needed to install and /update/ applications
installed using the Windows Installer"

Am I correct in interpreting this to mean that if I downloaded, say,
version 1 of some application and wanted to update it when version 2
came out that I would be unable to so do because I had run this
utility?

Should I just keep it on my HD and use it only if some Windows
Installer package became corrupted and I am unable to uninstall,
reinstall, or update it?

One last question: how the devil do I get rid of those 11 games that
M/S installs and that I will never use?

Thanks,
Carl
Click to expand...

***************begin canned response*******************

What I use to clean and maintain Windows -

Windows Update (free to use)
http://www.update.microsoft.com/windowsupdate/v6/default.aspx?ln=en-us

Secunia Online Software Inspector (free to use)
http://secunia.com/vulnerability_scanning/online/

AntiVir (free version)
http://www.free-av.com/

Windows Defender (free)
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/defender/default.mspx
for w2k users, see instructions here:
http://www.compatdb.org/support/topics/175747_windows_defender_windows_2000.html

SUPERAntiSpyware (free version)
http://www.superantispyware.com/download.html
If you canÿt download def. files you can get them here:
http://www.superantispyware.com/definitions.html

Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware (free version)
http://www.malwarebytes.org/index.php
If you canÿt download def. files, you can get them here:
http://www.malwarebytes.org/mbam.php

SpywareBlaster (free)
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html

Windows Firewall (free)- w2k users can get sygate (old free version)
http://www.oldversion.com/program.php?n=sygate

Firefox with AdBlock/NoScript/WOT installed (free), set to ´default¡
browser
http://en-us.www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/

AdBlock https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/1865

NoScript https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/722

WOT https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/search?q=WOT&cat=all


MVPS Hosts file (free)
http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm

Thunderbird for e-mail (free), set to ´default¡ e-mail
http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/thunderbird/

Turn off un-needed Windows Services
http://www.jasonn.com/turning_off_unnecessary_services_on_windows_xp

Update Java (delete old versions before update)
http://www.java.com/en/download/index.jsp

Buy a router w/built-in firewall (under $50)

More things to help keep your system lean and mean

Decrapify your PC
http://pcdecrapifier.com/download

Remove Adobe Acrobat Reader and use Foxit Reader
http://www.foxitsoftware.com/downloads/

CrapCleaner
http://www.ccleaner.com/

JKDefrag
http://www.kessels.com/Jkdefrag/


***************end canned response********************

max
 
Carl said:
Hi Leonard -

I found my way to this, but it failed to remove the games.

I clicked on the Add/Remove Windows Components and got the Windows
Components Wizard.

I selected Accessories and Utilities > Details > Games, and then
checked the box for Games, then OK, then Next and the Wizard ran and
finished with the message that I had successfully completed the
Wizards Component Wizard.

However, when I navigate to All Programs > Games > then choose one of
the games, the game opens.

It's still there.

See anything I am going wrong???

Again, many thanks for your help and patience.
Carl
Click to expand...
Hello,
I beleive the first six games are internet links to on-line games.
In the correct area but I beleive you should uncheck not check.
Click on the "details" button after you highlight games, another
page will open with a list of each game, uncheck each game then "ok".
Then uncheck "games" then ok. Continue to use "ok" until you clear
out of Windows Components.
Please excuse my butting in, hope you do not mind.
take care.
beamish.
 
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