Can't delete Outlook Express

[Nico]

Hi! I bought a new notebook with Windows xp. Now I am
trying to delete what I won't use but certain folders can't
be deleted, e.g MS Frontpage, MSN Gaming Zone and
especially Outlook Express which I certainly don't want on
any of my computers for security reasons. When I delete the
files in the folder, they are just restored without a message.
How to get rid of those files?

 

[Tim]

That is EXTREMELY BAD PRACTICE..... never just delete a folder..... that almost
always ends up causing system-wide problems.

What you need to do is learn how to use the control panel.

Click Start, select Control Panel. Then go to Add/Remove Programs and select
the programs you don't want.

To remove Outlook Express or MSN Explorer, click the button on the left hand
side that says "Add/Remove Windows Components" and find Outlook Express and
whatever else is there you want to remove.

Tim

 

[Testy]

Return your laptop for an immediate refund.

Testy

 

[Nico]

-----Original Message-----
That is EXTREMELY BAD PRACTICE..... never just delete a folder..... that almost
always ends up causing system-wide problems.

What you need to do is learn how to use the control panel.

Sorry my mistake, I thought I was among pros here. Of
course I went through software deinstall first. The folders
I mentioned remain after deinstalling Outlook Express and
the rest.

 

[Nico]

-----Original Message-----
You shouldn't be allowed to use a computer!

Thank you, that was a very helpfull remark.

 

[Nico]

-----Original Message-----
Do you know how many incompetents just delete folders, thinking it will rid
the computer of a program?

And how many of them got any wiser by reading comments
like yours? BTW, ten years ago I used to work with an OS
that protected it's folders by telling the user clearly
that a certain folder was crucial to the system stability
and could therefor not be removed. When you grabbed a
system folder and stored it somewhere else it silently
corrected its references. Unfortunately those techniques
never made it into Windows ...

 

[Crusty \(-: Old B@stard :-\)]

As did Windows XP, when you tried to delete the friggin folder! Dummy!

 

[Tim]

With all due respect, you will find pros here. But people who post and leave out
details are of no help to anyone.... You just said you were deleting the folders
and got a message. You never mentioned that you had uninstalled it......

 

[Tim]

Thank you!

Do you know how many incompetents just delete folders, thinking it will rid
the computer of a program? They post here every day. Well, you sure came
across as one of them!. Then, after the fact, you say "of course I
uninstalled the program first".

Maybe if you posted correctly and "completely" the first time.....

 

[David]

Sorry my mistake, I thought I was among pros here. Of
course I went through software deinstall first. The folders
I mentioned remain after deinstalling Outlook Express and
the rest.

Yes. It is YOUR mistake. There are some pros here. But, not many
psychics. When YOU say you deleted folder, Hoe the hell are we supposed to
know you tried proper un-install techniques??? We have no idea what your
experience level is and can only go by what YOU tell us. If you were a
"Pro". you would know that there are some Windows Files and folder that
can not be removed.

So, I suggest you drop the attitude when asking people to help your
worthless ass.

David

 

[Nico]

Tim, I have to apologize to you. I had read your answer to
my question and the two others who stated nothing but "You
shouldn't be allowed to use a computer". I meant those two
when I wrote "not among pros", certainly not you.
What strikes me as odd is that MS Frontpage was never
installed on this computer but still there is a directory
I can't delete, even though it appears to be empty. There
are no hidden files or anything in it.
The same goes for the folder MSN Gaming Zone.

 

[Tim]

It's ok, I understand now.....

This may be of some help.....

Again, make sure there are NO files in the folders you are trying to delete.....

This involves editing the registry, so if you are uncomfortable with trying
this, don't attempt it and I'd just leave things alone..... that is if they are
not causing any problems except just "existing"......

Run Registry Editor by clicking on Start, select Run, and type in REGEDIT and
press enter.

First off, make a backup of the registry. Select My Computer in the top of the
tree (above HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT) and click on File, select Export.... and save it
to a file. This process could take a minute, so be patient.

Search the HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID tree for the folder in question, like
"C:\Program Files\Outlook Express".....

I have done this before and it worked, but the goal is to remove all references
from that folder......

For example, I searched and I found this key:
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{32714800-2E5F-11d0-8B85-00AA0044F941}

Under that, the InProcServer32 has the default value set to
C:\Program Files\Outlook Express\wabfind.dll

That of course is pointing to an invalid file (since you say you have removed
all files in it).

Start by right-clicking on the Class ID branch (the one with all the numbers,
letter, and hyphens), and selecting delete.

Repeat this for any other entries found pointing to items in that folder (Don't
go beyond the HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT hierarchy.... we're just trying to remove class
id's only).

Then, reboot, and delete the folders in question. You shouldn't receive any
messages while doing so.

If you suffer any adverse problems, just double-click on the .REG file you
created as backup and your prior registry will be restored....

Hope this is of help...