Removing software completely

  • Thread starter Thread starter Trish
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Trish

Hi, I am using Vista Home Premium. I loaded a program (which had a 30 day
trial) and because I didn't register it within the 30 days, it won't
function. That is understandable. However, I have the disk, registration
number and serial number but whenever I uninstall and reinstall the program,
it says I have 0 days left and even though I put in the registration details,
it ignores it. I am guessing that somewhere in the computer's memory, there
is something that says this is not a new installation. How can I completely
clean this up and start again from scratch? Many thanks.
 
Hi, I am using Vista Home Premium. I loaded a program (which had a 30 day
trial) and because I didn't register it within the 30 days, it won't
function. That is understandable. However, I have the disk, registration
number and serial number but whenever I uninstall and reinstall the program,
it says I have 0 days left and even though I put in the registration details,
it ignores it. I am guessing that somewhere in the computer's memory, there
is something that says this is not a new installation. How can I completely
clean this up and start again from scratch? Many thanks.
Click to expand...

Contact the seller of the program.
 
It is probably a registry key. Find and remove that and you should be good
to go.
 
Thanks Colin. Forgive me for being stupid, bujt where would I find that?
As a matter of fact, i still have the program functioning perfectly on my old
laptop. This particular problem is because I then installed it on my new
laptop, but got too busy to come back to it and didn't register it within the
required 30 days. Do you think it would help if I copied a file across from
one laptop to another - if so, which (or should I perhaps be asking what the
file ending might be for a registry key)? I do appreciate your assistance
as this is very frustrating. In fact the people who provided the software
have changed company or something and I am not even sure I could reach them.
However, having been using this since 2002, I like it and would like to
continue using it. Many thanks Colin.
 
You may find something in Regedit, HKEY_Local_Machine, Software and the name
of the Software or the company that makes it. You should also look in
Program Files folder on disk, the name of the company or software. In many
cases like this it is sufficient to delete the program folder and any
registry keys it has set up. In some cases not.

You have been using a trial version of software since 2002? Or do you have
valid registration information that the program is not accepting because of
the 30 days thing? It's not real clear.

Earle

Trish said:
Thanks Colin. Forgive me for being stupid, bujt where would I find that?
As a matter of fact, i still have the program functioning perfectly on my
old
laptop. This particular problem is because I then installed it on my new
laptop, but got too busy to come back to it and didn't register it within
the
required 30 days. Do you think it would help if I copied a file across
from
one laptop to another - if so, which (or should I perhaps be asking what
the
file ending might be for a registry key)? I do appreciate your
assistance
as this is very frustrating. In fact the people who provided the
software
have changed company or something and I am not even sure I could reach
them.
However, having been using this since 2002, I like it and would like to
continue using it. Many thanks Colin.
Click to expand...
 
Thanks Earle. I will try as you suggest. I probably didn't make myself
clear. I have been legally using the software since 2002 as I have the
disks, registration, serial number etc. In 2004 I reloaded the program onto
another laptop and had no problems - they just asked me for the regn and
serial - no problem. Now I have done the same, ie I have installed the
program on another laptop, but because I didn't register it straight away, it
must have treated it as a 30 day trial. Now it won't let me put in the
registration details and even uninstalling and reinstalling the program
hasn't helped. I will look at your suggestion and get back to you. Many
thanks.
 
Hi again Earle, ok I have been there and done that, but there is no sign of
the name of the software not the company. I have just been through the
whole proces again, uninstalling, even removing the folder, and the same
thing keeps happening. Any other suggestions? Incidentally I am using Vista
Home Premium and my other laptop is XP, but I can't really think that would
have anything to do with it ...
 
If it's not obvious then perhaps the company has hidden it, to prevent
people from using the thirty day trial period over and over. You may have
to contact the vendor. You might try having Regedit search the whole
registry for the key. Program name or company is usually what they use.

Earle

Trish said:
Hi again Earle, ok I have been there and done that, but there is no sign
of
the name of the software not the company. I have just been through the
whole proces again, uninstalling, even removing the folder, and the same
thing keeps happening. Any other suggestions? Incidentally I am using
Vista
Home Premium and my other laptop is XP, but I can't really think that
would
have anything to do with it ...
Click to expand...
 
Thanks Earle.
--
Trish


Earle Horton said:
If it's not obvious then perhaps the company has hidden it, to prevent
people from using the thirty day trial period over and over. You may have
to contact the vendor. You might try having Regedit search the whole
registry for the key. Program name or company is usually what they use.

Earle
Click to expand...
 
Trish said:
Hi again Earle, ok I have been there and done that, but there is no sign of
the name of the software not the company. I have just been through the
whole proces again, uninstalling, even removing the folder, and the same
thing keeps happening. Any other suggestions? Incidentally I am using Vista
Home Premium and my other laptop is XP, but I can't really think that would
have anything to do with it ...
Click to expand...

OK, grab the Free program, Revo Uninstaller (Google for it). Install
that firstly.

Then install the program and then use Revo to uninstall it and select
the Aggressive mode and Revo will find EVERY key in the register and
highlight them for you to select remove

Frenchy
 
Trish,

You might want to look at the EULA. Lots of companies have a limit on how
many machines you can install the software, i.e., two. Since you had already
installed it twice, maybe that limit is preventing you from installing to
the 3rd machine. Just a thought.

Ed
 
Hi,

It has been my experience that it is best to dump the old software version
(especially if the company may no longer support it or the company has
disbanded) than to waste so many hours trying to get it to work properly.
Plus, if the software was written for an XP OS in 2002 there may be headaches
when running it with Vista '07-'08.

oscar ;)
 
Trish said:
Hi, I am using Vista Home Premium. I loaded a program (which had a 30 day
trial) and because I didn't register it within the 30 days, it won't
function. That is understandable. However, I have the disk, registration
number and serial number but whenever I uninstall and reinstall the program,
it says I have 0 days left and even though I put in the registration details,
it ignores it. I am guessing that somewhere in the computer's memory, there
is something that says this is not a new installation. How can I completely
clean this up and start again from scratch? Many thanks.
Click to expand...


Simply contact the maker of that particular program for assistance.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:


http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand Russell

The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has
killed a great many philosophers.
~ Denis Diderot
 
Bruce Chambers said:
Simply contact the maker of that particular program for assistance.
Click to expand...
She bought the thing in 2001 or so and the vendor has changed hands, maybe
more than once. Technical support, hah, they would probably try to sell her
version 12 or something. I wonder if any of the registry cleaners would
handle this?

Cheers,

Earle
 
I would not use a registry cleaner. I would search the registry for
references to the program and delete those entries.
 
Last thing I remember from the OP she couldn't find any references. No
posts from her in a while so she's probably figured something out.

Earle
 
Earle said:
She bought the thing in 2001 or so and the vendor has changed hands, maybe
more than once.
Click to expand...


Bought? Your original post said it was a trial version. Which is it?

2001? I wouldn't expect that to work on Vista, anyway. Definitely
check with the manufacturer for a modern version.
Technical support, hah, they would probably try to sell her
version 12 or something.
Click to expand...


Not surprising, no. It'd be the reasonable thing to do.

I wonder if any of the registry cleaners would
handle this?
Click to expand...

Registry cleaner? I thought you were trying to help.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:


http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand Russell

The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has
killed a great many philosophers.
~ Denis Diderot
 
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