removing folders from program files

[ALev]

Hello,

I just used the "Add and Remove Programs" facility to remove a program
called "Goombah Partner COM Server".

Now, I have this folder called "Emergent Music LLC" in my Program Files
directory. The only thing it contains is a folder called "Goombah Partner COM
Server". I want to delete the "Emergent Music LLC" folder, but I want to do
it safely.

When I go to the "Add and Remove Programs" thing, there is not program
called "Emergent Music LLC", so it seems that my only choice is to delete it
from Program Files directly.

My question is: is it safe to delete the "Emergent Music LLC" folder from my
Program Files? I was kind of under the impression that you should never
delete anything from the Program Files but instead you should use "Add and
Remove Programs". Please explain if that is wrong.

Andrew

 

[sgopus]

most likely it's spy/malware, use malwarebytes and or s&d spybot to scan your
system for unwanted/malicious software. yes you shouldn't just delete
software as it leaves behind registry entries and can cause errors in other
areas.

 

[ALev]

I already have McAfee. Does that do the same thing?

 

[Craig Coope]

I already have McAfee. Does that do the same thing?

Which mcafee product do you have though? mcafee is the developer, not
the application name.

It would still be wise to run Spyot S&D.....

The folder is something to do with Apple iTunes.... If it doesn't go
when you uninstall this I wouldn't have thought it would cause a
problem to just delete the folder. I often get random folders (that
never get used) appearing when installing stuff. If the folder doesn't
contain anything else I'd personally just delete it. You won't have a
problem - obviosuly if you do use iTunes and all it's "features" then
keep it. If you get rid and you have some sort of error then you can
always just install it again.

But as said elsewhere in this thread be careful about what you delete.
Never "unistall" programs by deleting the folder......

 

[Tim Meddick]

ALev,
It's not a crime to remove sub-folders from the 'Program Files'
folder. It's not like the system folders within the Windows directory,
which IS fairly sacred. The 'Common Files' folder within 'Program Files'
shouldn't be touched unless you REALLY know what you're doing.
But as for the others, if you can see something you know YOU have
installed and it is not listed in the 'Add / Remove Programs' dialogue, then
you CAN delete it. The possible complications of doing this you should be
aware of, though. You may get an error message when Windows starts,
saying that a certain file cannot be found (because you deleted it!). But
this can be solved by going to the 'msconfig.exe' program and 'unchecking'
an entry that corresponds to the deleted folder.
It's a rarer occurrence that the program installed a windows 'service',
but again, this time it is a case of going into 'Services' (Admin tools) and
disabling the service that corresponds to the deleted folder. Basically,
the 'rule of thumb' is that the bigger a program is the harder it is to get
rid of. If you are deleting a sub-folder in 'Program Files' that has only
ONE program file (.exe) in it, then the only possible ramifications are
going to be that it wants to start up automatically and can't because you
deleted it, so causing windows to give you an 'I can't find it' error
message. And, as I said, that can be dealt with using the msconfig.exe
program and going to the 'Start-up' tab where you can simply de-select it.
Modifying a folder of an existing program that you enjoy (like, say,
trying to re-name it) is another matter. If you do that, the program will
most definitely fail to start. The same is true of attempting to move
program's folders to another location, it will more than likely cease to
function.
I don't mean this to be a recommendation to go trash your 'Program
Files' folder, but to give you a bit of an insight into why people say not
to modify it. And to, perhaps, give you the confidence to remove any
program that you are certain is a unwanted and a potential threat to your
system.


==


Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London.

 

[ALev]

I have McAfee VirusScan Enterprise 8.50i. I do use iTunes...so I hope I
didn't delete something that is used in iTunes. I removed the "Goombah
Partner COM Server" program because after searching on the internet I
couldn't find anything that it did that was related to the things I do on my
computer. In particular, I couldn't find any connection between "Goombah
Partner COM Server" and iTunes.

So, now I have one person that says I should just delete the folder and
another person who says that is a bad idea. Can I get a third opinion?

Andrew

 

[sgopus]

I misunderstood, if you have already done an uninstall, then it should be
safe to delete the folder.
if the software doesn't have an uninstall program, try to reinstall and then
uninstall.

 

[ALev]

Thanks Tim Meddick. I just deleted the "Emergent Music LLC" folder.

The general problem here is that I am pretty sure that I did *not* install
"Emergent Music LLC" or at least that I did not do it consciously and
knowingly. It was probably installed as a byproduct of some other application
that I installed. I have tons of other things in my Program Files folder with
a similar story. I kind of wish I could "ask" each of them "why were you
installed?" or "what application that I actually know about were you
installed with?".

BTW, to prevent this situation from recurring in the future, is there a way
to have some sort of notification sent to me whenever a new folder gets added
to the program files directory? Would I have to write some program that runs
in the background all the time and checks periodically whether the Program
Files folder has changed? Or would there be an easier way to do that?

Andrew

 

[Craig Coope]

Thanks Tim Meddick. I just deleted the "Emergent Music LLC" folder.

The general problem here is that I am pretty sure that I did *not* install
"Emergent Music LLC" or at least that I did not do it consciously and
knowingly. It was probably installed as a byproduct of some other application
that I installed. I have tons of other things in my Program Files folder with
a similar story. I kind of wish I could "ask" each of them "why were you
installed?" or "what application that I actually know about were you
installed with?".

I know that you said previously that you could not see the connection
between iTunes and your folder however when I searched in Google I
instantly found the association. I find Google very helpful in this
way as there are nearly always cases of others asking what these
files/folders do. It may be a good idea in the future to read the
small print during installation as it will possibly tell you what may
be installed during that process.

If in doubt, like I said....Google will nearly always give you the
answer...

 

[Jim]

Hello,

I just used the "Add and Remove Programs" facility to remove a program
called "Goombah Partner COM Server".

Now, I have this folder called "Emergent Music LLC" in my Program Files
directory. The only thing it contains is a folder called "Goombah Partner COM
Server". I want to delete the "Emergent Music LLC" folder, but I want to do
it safely.

When I go to the "Add and Remove Programs" thing, there is not program
called "Emergent Music LLC", so it seems that my only choice is to delete it
from Program Files directly.

My question is: is it safe to delete the "Emergent Music LLC" folder from my
Program Files? I was kind of under the impression that you should never
delete anything from the Program Files but instead you should use "Add and
Remove Programs". Please explain if that is wrong.

Andrew

Drag and drop to somewhere else , if nothing happens after a week ,
delete .