Uninstall unwanted programs

[Leslie Aaron]

Hi,

Two programs I downloaded cannot be uninstalled because I'm missing the .dat
uninstall file.

How can I safely remove these programs?

Thanks,
Leslie

 

[Mike Williams]

Hi,

Two programs I downloaded cannot be uninstalled because I'm missing the .dat
uninstall file.

How can I safely remove these programs?

It will depend on the (unspecified) programs.

 

[Leslie Aaron]

Bug Doctor and PConPoint

It will depend on the (unspecified) programs.

 

[Mike Williams]

Bug Doctor and PConPoint

Couldn't you use Bug Doctor? After all it "Easily fixes annoying errors
that cause problems with your PC" or even PConPoint because "poorly
designed software can easily leave traces behind, so applications you
removed in the past can still be cluttering up your computer."

The websites for both programs provide contact/help points.

 

[Leslie Aaron]

Thanks Mike, but I can't even open Bug Doctor...so I think it has "a bug".
Everytime I try to open it a screen comes up that says it has encountered a
problem and needs to close.

I'd like to delete it and use one of my other registry cleaners to correct
the registry.

Do you think this will work?

 

[Mike Williams]

Thanks Mike, but I can't even open Bug Doctor...so I think it has "a bug".
Everytime I try to open it a screen comes up that says it has encountered a
problem and needs to close.

I'd like to delete it and use one of my other registry cleaners to correct
the registry.

Do you think this will work?

Registry Cleaners are usually pretty terrible, and if they only operate
on the registry, then they'll have no effect on files missing/remaining
on your disk. It's possible that REinstalling them will give you back
the files required to UNinstalling them. However you still have the
option of contacting the companies that made these products or checking
their online knowledgebases.

 

[Greg Hayes/Raxco Software]

Leslie,

You are better off contacting the application software companies directly
for assistance in removing these programs. The fact that they are missing
the .dat uninstall file indicates that the applications did NOT use Windows
Installer to install themselves - thus Windows' ability to repair the
installation is limited.

Typically, installed applications write information to
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall as well as to
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\AppPaths. You can try to see
if you can find these applications there. Typically, for non-Windows
Installer installed applications, removing the appropriate entries from
these registry keys will effectively show them as no longer being
installed - even though the files that they programs installed will still be
left on the drive. EXTREME caution should be taken if you decide to
manually delete/edit registry keys as if you do the wrong thing, it may
result in Windows or other applications no longer working correctly. That
is why I said at first that you are better off contacting the companies and
asking them for assistance in removing their applications.

- Greg/Raxco Software
Microsoft MVP - Windows File System

Want to email me? Delete ntloader.

 

[Leslie Aaron]

Thanks for everyone's help.

Tried many things, finally ran virus scan and I had a worm. Once I cleaned
my computer I was able to delete the exe program.

Now need to clean my registry.

Thanks again.

Leslie