DellTouch Software Doesn't Completely Uninstall

  • Thread starter Thread starter Rocket J. Squirrel
  • Start date Start date
R

Rocket J. Squirrel

It didn't uninstall for me either - the first time. I reinstalled the
software, and then uninstalled it again. This time it worked. The software
comes from Netropa, but you needn't bother asking them for a solution.

Rocky
 
So I was using a Dell Model RT7D00 Keyboard on my computer before I just
switched to a Microsoft Natural Keyboard Elite. While I still had the Dell
keyboard attached, I uninstalled the DellTouch software that had enabled the
three customizable program buttons.

I just noticed today, while I had a java applet giving me some grief, that
the DellTouch software I thought I had completely uninstalled was sitting
right there as an Application in the windows task manager. Sure enough, I
go over to MSCONFIG, and there it is, a registry entry pointing to
C:\WINDOWS\MMKeybd.exe. And of course that MMKeybd.exe file is there too.

So I plug the Dell Keyboard back in, reinstall the DellTouch software, and
then uninstall it again... No luck, the entry and the program MMKeybd.exe
are left in place.

I'm perfectly capable of removing this entry and the file manually, but I
can't for the life of me figure out why they weren't removed by the
uninstaller. If nothing else, I guess I'm just reporting a bug, perhaps
venting, or looking for a reason for this madness. I assume they made the
uninstall routine intentionally leave the startup registry entry and file
behind. I'm sure it doesn't significantly impact my system, but regardless,
it seems unacceptable to leave that program in place after a user has
explicitly asked that it be removed.

Are there any other pieces of this software lounging around my system,
possibly also active in the background wasting resource?
 
So I was using a Dell Model RT7D00 Keyboard on my computer before I just
switched to a Microsoft Natural Keyboard Elite. While I still had the
Dell
keyboard attached, I uninstalled the DellTouch software that had enabled
the
three customizable program buttons.

I just noticed today, while I had a java applet giving me some grief,
that
the DellTouch software I thought I had completely uninstalled was sitting
right there as an Application in the windows task manager. Sure enough,
I
go over to MSCONFIG, and there it is, a registry entry pointing to
C:\WINDOWS\MMKeybd.exe. And of course that MMKeybd.exe file is there
too.

So I plug the Dell Keyboard back in, reinstall the DellTouch software,
and
then uninstall it again... No luck, the entry and the program
MMKeybd.exe
are left in place.
Click to expand...
<snipped>

Here's a tip. When you uninstall a program, there is *always* a remmant
of the program left in the registry. The registry is dynamic, and gets
modified programs get installed and uninstalled. The registry can never
go back to a "pristine" state.

A good analogy would be if you were trekking through Antartica. When you
leave, you leave behind your footprints and maybe a few small pieces of
rubbish. Antartica can never go back to the "pristine" state" that was
there before you came.

This is the same with windows, a new program in Windows is like a new
person entering Antartica. There will always be footprints remaining
in Window when you uninstall programs - which is why Windows performance
*will* degrade over time of continual install and install of programs.
Registry cleaners cannot fully clean the registry and leave their own
footprints.

So don't worry, too much if your DellTouch software has a footprint in
the Registry - this is very normal and should be expected!

Buck
 
<snipped>

Here's a tip. When you uninstall a program, there is *always* a remmant
of the program left in the registry. The registry is dynamic, and gets
modified programs get installed and uninstalled. The registry can never
go back to a "pristine" state.

A good analogy would be if you were trekking through Antartica. When you
leave, you leave behind your footprints and maybe a few small pieces of
rubbish. Antartica can never go back to the "pristine" state" that was
there before you came.

This is the same with windows, a new program in Windows is like a new
person entering Antartica. There will always be footprints remaining
in Window when you uninstall programs - which is why Windows performance
*will* degrade over time of continual install and install of programs.
Registry cleaners cannot fully clean the registry and leave their own
footprints.

So don't worry, too much if your DellTouch software has a footprint in
the Registry - this is very normal and should be expected!
Click to expand...

Oooh, I think I haven't really addressed your enquiry as to why the program
has not been uninstalled, only to expect a footprint to remain in the
registry.
As you say, it could be a bug - and an annoying one too.

With respect to your below question:

"Are there any other pieces of this software lounging around my system,
possibly also active in the background wasting resource?"

Press Ctrl-Alt-Del and let Task Manager show what processes are currently
running on your system.

Good luck!

Buck
 
Rocky - thanks for the "me too".. I always feel better knowing I'm not
alone.

Buck, thanks for your input. I figured it had to be a bug... This
MMKeybd.exe being the main piece of the installed software, I couldn't
imagine they had left it behind and auto started from the registry on
purpose.

Some remnants of programs are understandable, but hard drive fragmentation
and various user settings that are purposefully left behind in the registry
or in a program files folder by uninstallers should, and typically are, the
only footprints left behind in XP nowadays. Poorly written software wreaked
havoc leaving Win 98 with all sorts of garbage after programs were
"uninstalled". XP has been a serious reliability boost, and I expect
software vendors to mature with the industry. The days of gradually eroding
performance necessitating an annual HD format have come to an end. That's
not to say XP can't get wedged, but it's not as likely as it used to be.
 
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