How to uninstall software that simply refuses to go?

[Ayesakara]

I am not sure this is the right forum for this query, so please forgive me if I am in the wrong area... this is my first time here.

Let me give you a little back story first: I have Windows 98 on my home PC. After a recent RAM upgrade, I started having problems running Windows Media Player 9. I have several large AVI files, that use DivX 3 plugin to play, which used to play just fine on WMP (all versions from 7 to 9) before the RAM upgrade, but now rather than the speed increasing, WMP has gotten even slower. The files play just fine on the DivX player, so there's nothing wrong with the files themselves, only WMP. And it's not just the video files, but WMP has gotten slower for all media files, i.e. MP3 included.

Now with this problem in hand, I tried uninstalling WMP, thinking perhaps there was an error in it which would be removed with a fresh reinstall of the software, but it simply refuses to uninstall. Everytime I use the Add/Remove Programs Utility, it shows me that it has uninstalled the WMP, but then when I restart the PC, the software is still there.

This problem is apparently not limited to Windows 98. A colleague is having the exact same problem on her PC with Windows 2000 Server.

How do we get rid of Windows Media Player? Would appreciate any suggestions.

[Sylvander]

It's really simple!
[It has to be; I use it.]

OPTIONAL
Keeping the C: drive lean and mean by keeping on it only the O/S and the contents of the Programs folder [plus some bits and pieces].

THE METHOD
1. As you move forward in time:
make backups of your C: drive, especially before installing new software or making configuration changes.

2. To eliminate a software or configuration problems, re-format the C: drive and restore your latest good backup.

3. If you made a backup [immediately] before installing the application, then doing this restores the software to it's previous state. It has a similar effect to uninstalling.
The big difference is that no trash is left behind as is possible in an uninstall.

[b]SLOW PLAYING OF MEDIA FILES
How fast is your processor?
Is it an old, slow one?
New players like this require new, fast processors.
I stick with the older players for my slower processor and it works fine.

[Ayesakara]

Thanks for the response.

Isn't this the long way to go about it? Does this mean everytime a program doesn't uninstall, we need to format the C Drive? At the risk of sounding like a slacker, which I am not --- honest---- :p, that seems like a lotta pain. Having to reinstall all those programs... *sigh*... isn't there any easy way out?

I know, sometimes, there *is* no easy way out... but I've gone through this whole exercise --installing, reinstalling, formatting-- so many times in the past 2 months, I am going outta my head.

And right now, my C drive is quite lean and mean. I only have the softwares installed on it, that's all. The actual data is elsewhere. Is that what you meant?

Oh, and to your question, yep, its an older processor. An Intel Celeron. I did install version 7 of WMP at first as that was what was running previously (and running fine) but when that didn't jive, I thought perhaps installing the newer ones would help. It didn't.

What backup method would you suggest as the best?

[akif]

Welcome to the forum.
Good to see another Pk here.

From your post, it is evidently a problem that came with your RAM upgrade.
First you should check by removing the RAM stick that u have just added.
Then,why don't you manually delete the culprit (WMP) and then reinstall.

You haven't told about your colleage's problem that whether she is having this same problem for how long?
HAd she also gone with a RAM upgrade?

[Abbadon]

for backing up your OS/program files hard drive you're best of using Norton Ghost. It's like taking a snapshot of you hard disk or partition, including all program files. Then, if something goes wrong, you can always go back to that snapshot in a fraction of the time a full format and reïnstall requiers.

see here for more info on Norton ghost (http://ghost.radified.com/)

I always make a ghost image before major soft- or hardware changes and when something goes wrong, I'm back to "the way things were before my tinkering" in under half an hour (whereas normal format & reinstall takes houououououours).

Of course, you have to make the immage while your pc is performing ok, so unless you find someway to solve the current problem, it's back to square one I'm afraid :(

And finaly: in my experience (so it might be just me :p), wmp 9 is crap (I use winxp). Using it is a sure way to make my system lock up frequently while playing files. I use wmp 8 and it does its stuff for me without any troubles.

[Ayesakara]

Akif --- re: Problem with the RAM upgrade. That's *exactly* what I keep telling my hardware guy and he refuses to believe me. I think I'll delete the WMP (directories & all) manually and see if it works. And take out the new chip too to check. Thanks.

Abaddon --- thanks for the tip about Norton Ghost. That sounds great. I'll definitely look into it, when my system is working ok.

[Sylvander]

I think re-formatting and restoring only SEEMS dificult.
I think it's all in the mind.

I don't find it to be at all difficult.
It's a breeze, especially after you've done it a couple of times.

I mean, how easy is it to boot with a Startup disk in place and type "format c:" and hit Enter?
The format is done quick as a dash to the fridge and back for a cold drink.

Then I re-boot with the "Disaster Recovery Disk" in place and select "Custom Restore" and tick the C: drive box.
Put the first CD-RW disk in the drive; give a couple of ticks to set it going and go watch TV.
Come back in 10 minutes to change CD's; go back and watch TV; come back in another 10 minutes and the job is done.
Total time spent DOING anything is only 5 minutes, if that.
If you have a bigger HDD you would use an imaging program.

I do my backups from within Windows in "MSconfig>Diagnostic Mode" and run "Simple Backup>Custom Backup" and tick the C: drive [and perhaps untick a few items].
The backup is as simple as the restore.

LEAN & MEAN
I have only the Windows folder and the Programs folder which account for 95% of the total space occupied.
The other 5% is small odds & ends.
Total space occupied = 1.11 GB.
Things I've moved off the C: drive:
1. Swap File.
2. My Documents.
3. Temporary Internet files.
4. Windows installation files.
5. Internet Explorer Favourites.
6. E-mails for all identities.
7. Address book.
8. MP3 & wave files etc.

With the e-mails & address book & My Documents etc off the C: drive they remain untouched and therefore up-to-date after I re-format & re-store the C: drive!

[Paul Komski]

You could try:-
RunDll32 advpack.dll,LaunchINFSection C:\WINDOWS\INF\wmp.inf,Uninstall from the very end of http://www.geek.com/news/geeknews/2002Sep/gee20020913016322.htm