uninstallating a software

[rahulkothari]

how to determine whether a software can be uninstalled or not ? coz some softwares put all their files in only 1 folder (which can be safely deleted) while others put it in more than 1 folder. (like shared files / dlls etc).

Many-a-times all softwares(that v install - yeah install .... not just copy and paste from CD) are not listed in "Add/rem prgs" ... so how to determine wheteher they can be unistalled or not (thru 3rd party uninstallation utilies) or is it safe just deleteing the concerned folder ?

hey ... if v see an uninst.isu file , does it mean dat the software can be uninstalled ? (coz i guess it contains the uninstall info)


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An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind.
-Mahatma Gandhi

[Fruss Tray Ted]

Yes the uninstall engines do exactly that and even let themselves out the door as well.

What I would do if the 2 normal ways of uninstalls were not available is, go to Start>Find>files and folders, and type in whatever it is you want to remove. This should show you all the files that have much of anything to do with what you want to 'bug out'. Delete all of these. You may end up with 1 or 2 that linger but they will be miniscule in most cases and not be any bother.

When say, it's a program that is set as default when you have other programs that are similar you may reach a few snags. So first make sure it is not a propietary program and that it will not cause you to not be able to access files, pictures or videos etcetera.

If you're worried about what may happen after you delete just send them to the recycle bin and power down. Reboot and try to see if things aren't working the way they should. If all is well, empty the bin.

If you're still leery of emptying the bin, send the program or whatever to floppy or burn it to a disc. Then you'll always be able to recover it if you find something a little whacked out say, a week down the road. Capeesh?

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This space for George Carlin quotes:

You never really learn to swear until you learn to drive.

(He should broaden that to pc's.)

[JonathanB]

I have not been so confident uninstalling softwares manually (including in the Windows Explorer as said by some). I have made lots of that during my learning stage till I clean-installed my Win 98SE. Uninstall it thru ADD/REMOVE or Norton Cleansweep (if it does not have uninstall strings. Besides, you have to cleanup your Registry and it's so tedious looking for it manually.

[Sylvander]

Hello rahulkothari

I would NEVER just delete the files unless I knew that only the files had been installed and there were no settings in the Registry to be left behind and that's most unusual. There would normally be lots of trash left cluttering up the Registry!

It's a much better idea to take regular backups and list [in black?]ALL the programs installed and list [in red?] the backups taken and perhaps you could re-format and re-install a backup taken before the programme was installed, then re-install programmes required to bring you back to your full complement.

[kayofcircles]

I recently found a program on my puter that I thought I had uninstalled at some point, but was still there. Went to Add/Remove..not there. So, went off to Google and found at compguystech.com (http://www.compguystechweb.com/troubleshooting/windows/uninstalling_wo_addremove.html) which describes how to uninstall a program that has an .isu file in the program folder. Took me a couple of tries to get it to work..was easier to go to Run and then put in C: and Browse..walk puter to the .isu file..back to Run box and before the isu file, type in the stuff it says in the link above. What hung me up for awhile is that I wasn't putting a space before the "-f" part of the command line. But I was thrilled when I finally got it right and the "uninstall shield" gizmo popped up and requested confirmation on removing the program. Now, if I could just figure out how to "properly" remove a program..like a game I tried to install today...that doesn't have an uninstall or a isu file..I would be so happy. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif

[rahulkothari]

thx everyone. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif

kay: i tried compsguytech.com's suggestions but to no avail. they said try uninstalling thru uninst.exe prg but dat prg is missing from my c:\windows folder ??? http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/eek.gif there is a prg called unwise.exe but then it asks for the installation log files which arent present for the software i wanna uninstall http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/frown.gif. Infact, there are only two files:-

1.its .exe file
2.uninst.isu file

... i also tried searching on google for ways to uninstall prgs, but got only useless sites.

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An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind.
-Mahatma Gandhi

[kayofcircles]

If you have an uninstall.exe file in the program, you can probably uninstall the program through that? I just did a Find on "uninstall.exe" and the only one I have is in a program file..not the Windows folder. But if you see an "DeIsL1.isu" file (or similar like DeIsL2.isu) in the program...not in Windows..folder, then you can go to Start..Run...put the letter of the drive in..say C:\..then click on Browse. Walk the puter to the proper program folder, and the isu file, then click on Open or Ok or whatever it says..think "Open". You'll be back to your Run window. Click at beginning of line..before the isu file.. and type in c:\Windows\uninst.exe_-f where the _ is a space..and the wise uninstall, or whatever that is, pops up and asks if you want to remove the program from your puter.

I read another site that particular day that said one can just "delete" the program, but that one needs to run a good Registry clean afterwards. And that is also necessary on many programs anyway. I have done two now using the above procedure (wasn't necessary..lol..on the second one but wanted to practice) and after the uninstall gizmo ran, it said that it couldn't get all the files...that they would need to be manually removed. What Fruss said above is okay..except that sometimes the files are not "named" the same thing as the program or you "find" a whole bunch of files that are not actually part of that particular program. I put "S3" in the search box the other day..having problems with Savage video adaptor..and got about 70 files scattered all over the puter..so I know that's not just files for that video adaptor. So, still checking that part out. Tried the MS RegClean..and it did nothing at all..said all was well. Tried the other RegClean..and don't understand how to work it yet. So, can't help on that yet...need to do further research.

[rahulkothari]

If you have an uninstall.exe file in the program, you can probably uninstall the program through that?

no i dont have any such file in the folder.

.... also i dont have uninst.exe file anywhere in my pc.


Tried the MS RegClean..and it did nothing at all..


did u try RegClean ver 4.3 ?(it has a cool interface http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/cool.gif and i successfully removed some 584 invalid entries http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/eek.gif )

u may directly download by clicking on the link:- http://www.vtoy.fi/jv16/programs/RegCleaner.exe

... or visit its homepage at http://www.jv16.org/


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An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind.
-Mahatma Gandhi

[This message has been edited by rahulkothari (edited 05-26-2002).]

[kayofcircles]

Yes, thanks rahulkothari , that is the one I downloaded. When I ran it, though, it just came up with a window saying to remove any entries I was sure belonged to programs I had removed. I wasn't "sure" about any of them..and a couple of them were names I didn't even recognize, so as I said, need to do further "learning" before doing much else. It's freeware, so shouldn't criticize, but if it gave me dates on that screen, I would "know" what is safe to remove or not because I keep a puter journal and write down dates for installing or removing programs.

Bottom line, as I understand it, is that if you don't have an uninstall in the program you are trying to remove, and there is no isu file, then you have to just "delete" the program. Do a Find file, and remove all the files you can find..like Fruss said above..and then use a good Registry cleaner to get the "last" of the files/entries.