removing traces of uninstalled programs

[aa]

I looks like some programs after being uninstalled (euther by their own
bulit in Uninstall option or via the Control Panel) still leave something in
the Registry.
Is it possible to manually identify these bits in the Registry and remove
them manually?

 

[Dave Patrick]

You'll need to ask the application developer. What problem is this causing?

--
Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

:
|I looks like some programs after being uninstalled (euther by their own
| bulit in Uninstall option or via the Control Panel) still leave something
in
| the Registry.
| Is it possible to manually identify these bits in the Registry and remove
| them manually?
|
|

 

[Mark V]

I looks like some programs after being uninstalled (euther by
their own bulit in Uninstall option or via the Control Panel)
still leave something in the Registry.
Is it possible to manually identify these bits in the Registry and
remove them manually?

In some cases it may be obvious (eg HKLM\<publisher>
\<applicationName>\) but often it is not.

Un-installing may also leave file system debris. The best plan IMO
is to track the installation in the first place using various
available Installation Monitors/Trackers. Be aware that additional
registry changes may be made by the application during normal use
(after installation).

Know that the "leftovers" in the registry are usually innocuous
clutter that has no significant effect on normal operations. Manual
or automated identification and cleanup can often be *much* more
hazardous than just leaving things as they are. Full registry
backups (*not* an "export") are always required IMO before embarking
on registry "cleanup".

 

[aa]

The application developers are not keen answering questions, especially if
this is a freeware.
No particular problems except the computer is too slow often freezes for up
to 30 seconds and crushes a bit too often. I run virus scan - found nothing.
Cghecked and defragmented disk. Memory is 512M, a lot of free disk space,
minimum programms running in background

You'll need to ask the application developer. What problem is this

causing?

 

[aa]

Be aware that additional registry changes may be made by the application
during normal use

(after installation).

This is really nasty.

So the only way is to make a Register snapshots just before and just after
the installation and compare them?

 

[Mark V]

This is really nasty.

It is "normal". For example, an application may install then offer
to associate certain file extensions as a preference or option. If
you do that, registry changes are made post-installation of course.

So the only way is to make a Register snapshots just before and
just after the installation and compare them?

Or contact the developers for all possible registry actions/locations
utilized by their application. Otherwise you are left to make
deductions and assumptions. Not a very reliable or inherently safe
choice. And the system itself will make registry alterations that
are not actually part of what the application does or even it's
installer necessarily.

But don't kill yourself with manual before and after, just get a
utility that tracks the installation "live". InCtrl5 may still be
available somewhere or
http://lists.gpick.com/pages/Install~Uninstall_Tools.htm

And I second the opinion that if something does not need to be
removed for a specific reason, most are better served by not trying
to do so in the first place. YMMV.

 

[aa]

Thanks