clickhere for the language selection page!
clickhere for the tutorials menu page!
Removing program "leftovers"!

 
 
 
Have you ever removed a program from your computer, but still see its icon and menu?  This happens more often than not, whenever you use the Add/Remove Programs option from Control Panel.

In this tutorial, we'll be showing you how to delete these "leftovers" as well as an alternative way to uninstall a program.

Deleting a program's "left-overs"

Each time you remove a program with the Add/Remove Programs option from Control Panel, there are three additional things you have to check when you are done.

1)  Your desktop surface to see if the program's icon is still there.  If the answer is yes...

  • right click on the icon, highlight and click on Delete and on the dialogue box that appears click on the Yes button
2)
  • click on the Start button , highlight Programs and start searching for the program's icon or folder (program group)

If it's still there...

  • right-click on the Start button, then highlight and click on Open

The Start Menu window will come up...

  • Double click on Programs
You'll be able to see all your program folders  now and program icons.  If the uninstalled program appears as an icon only, delete it.  If, on the other hand, it appears inside a program folder (group), delete the entire folder after making sure that no other program icons are inside the folder.  Otherwise, you should only delete the icons associated with the uninstalled program.
 

3)  Finally, you must erase the program's folder from your hard drive.

note: Whenever you remove a program with the Add/Remove Programs option in Control Panel, all program files may be deleted, however, the folder may remain

  • Right-click on the Start button, highlight and click on Explore,  and double-click the "Program Files" folder

This is where will find the removed program's folder

If it's still there, delete it by...

  • right-clicking on it and clicking on the delete option
If on the other hand you're having trouble finding it, start looking for a folder named after the software maker as opposed to the program itself.  When you delete a folder under a software maker's name, always make sure it doesn't contain subfolders with other programs.  If this is the case, you should only delete the subfolder named after the program you've uninstalled.

For instance, if you had a folder in Program files named "Software Maker" which in turn contained 3 subfolders (Program1, Program2, Program3), you would only delete the subfolder belonging to the uninstalled program (e.g. Program 2)...

Now you've completely removed the program!
 

Directly removing a program from your Programs menu

Each time you want to remove a program, you should alwyas check first to see if the program itself gives you that option.

  • Click on the Start button, highlight Programs
  • and highlight the program's folder
 Can you see an icon labelled Uninstall <Program Name>?  If the answer is yes...
  • click on the uninstall icon and follow the instructions on your screen to complete the process
Whenever you uninstall a program like this, everything associated with this program is deleted!  On the other hand, if the option isn't offered, remove the program with the Add/Remove Programs option from Control Panel.
 

Now you know everything you need to know about removing a program!

Screen shots reprinted by permission from Microsoft Corporation.  Windows® is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation.
 
 

clickhere to return to the start page!


©2002-2005 clickhere.gr, All rights reserved