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Not every program that has an uninstall routine, and even those that do leave garbage in Windows and System folders. Third-party uninstall applications are available, but my experience with them has been wanting I recommended using the manual method instead. First, if an application doesn't come with an uninstall option (look in the 'Start Menu', in 'Control Panel's' 'Add/Remove Programs' applet, or in the program's own folder), then delete the application's folder. It may be called Use Windows Explorer to find the folder, then select it and press 'Delete'. Click 'Yes' every time Windows asks you if you really want to delete it. Next you'll want to remove the program's shortcuts. In Explorer, remove any shortcuts or folders within the 'Start Menu' folder that are named for that program. For instance, if you launch 'BadCode' by selecting Start�Programs�BadCode, you'll want to go to the 'C:\Windows\Start Menu\Programs' folder and delete 'BadCode'. But if you launch 'SystemCrasher' by selecting Start�Programs�System Crasher�SystemCrasher, you'll want to delete the 'C:\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\System Crasher' folder. Now it's time to clean out the System folder. Doing this isn't an exact science - it requires guess-work and caution. While in Explorer, go to 'C:\Windows\System'. Select View�Options (or View�Folder Options). On the 'View' tab, select 'Show All Files', then click 'OK'. Right-click an empty space in the folder and choose 'New�Folder'. Name the new folder 'Probably Garbage'. While you're still in the System folder, select View�Arrage Icons�by Name. Look for file names similar to the program's name, then drag each one to 'Probably Garbage'. When you are done, move 'Probably Garbage' to another place on your hard drive or better yet, to another drive. Wait three months to make sure you don't need any of these files before you delete them for good. Finally, you should clean up the 'Registry'. Editing the 'Registry' is always dangerous, so make sure you have a good backup first. When you're ready to clean, select Start�Run, type 'regedit', and press 'Enter' to enter the 'Registry Editor'. Press 'F3', type the name of the unwanted program, and press 'Enter'. Whatever result the search returns, click it, press 'Delete', then select 'Yes'. Watch out for entries on both panes of the 'Registry' - deleting an entry from the right pane alone may not be enough. Press 'F3' to continue the search, deleting each reference you find. When you're done, close the 'Registry Editor' and reboot'. |