Uninstalling programs correctly

  • Thread starter Thread starter Mikoyan
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Mikoyan

What is the difference between uninstalling a program using add/remove
programs or using the installation CD?

Is one method preferable?

Do they, in fact, achieve exactly the same result?
 
Mikoyan said:
What is the difference between uninstalling a program using add/remove
programs or using the installation CD?

Is one method preferable?

Do they, in fact, achieve exactly the same result?
Click to expand...

To the best of my knowledge, it usually (if not always) does the same thing.
Running setup.exe for an installed program (presuming it uses the windows
installer) will generally give you the option to repair or uninstall, just
as add/remove programs does.
 
Mikoyan said:
What is the difference between uninstalling a program using add/remove
programs or using the installation CD?

Is one method preferable?

Do they, in fact, achieve exactly the same result?
Click to expand...

Hi Mike,
It depends on the software makers if they are reputable and the
programmer/designer who wrote the program included the uninstaller which will
remove the program and clean up afyer it. Then it is advisable to use the
software vendor uninstaller. Some software doesn't really bother since
Windows have the uninstaller through Add/Remove Programs.
So, the conclusion is to use the software uninstaller if it is provided.
HTH,
nass
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
^^^ http://www.nasstec.co.uk ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
 
Hi Nass, Thanks for your reply.

I'm still unsure though...
Why does Office 2003 for example, give you the option to uninstall either
way? Surely there must be some difference between the two methods, or why
would Microsoft provide a choice?
 
Mikoyan said:
What is the difference between uninstalling a program using add/remove
programs or using the installation CD?

Is one method preferable?

Do they, in fact, achieve exactly the same result?
Click to expand...

I've watched (monitored) a few add or remove uninstalls and what happens
is that it goes to the programs folder and runs the programs uninstaller
if there is one. I'm not sure what happens if there isn't an uninstall
program there: I think it just looks for th einstall log and uses it for
the uninstall.
 
Inside the Registry at
HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall
are entries for programs & updates. Each may have an entry
named "Uninstall". This is the actual command for removing
the program.
 
Thanks everyone.

If I've understood you all correctly, either method is fine.

Which method is more likely to clean up behind itself regarding the Registry?
 
The software uninstaller will be best.
The issue here is what IF? If the Uninstaller is corrupt? Then the answer
you can use the microsoft uninstaller to uninstall the software. If the
software dependent on its uninstaller (unwise.exe) to be uninstalled, you
will have to reinstall it or remove it manually from the system Root!!!
 
Mikoyan said:
Hi Nass, Thanks for your reply.

I'm still unsure though...
Why does Office 2003 for example, give you the option to uninstall
either way? Surely there must be some difference between the two
methods, or why would Microsoft provide a choice?
Click to expand...

Add/Remove can only handle things the system knows about. The OS does not
monitor, for example, data files created by the program at issue. A proper
uninstaller knows the intimate details of the program and, theoretically,
can do a better job of removing the program and all its traces.

For simple cases - one EXE and one folder - I suspect the two methods would
be equivalent. For more complex situations (i.e., Norton AV) that scatter
breadcrumbs hither and yon, there's no way XP can keep up with all the
little snowflakes.

If a program like NAV (who shall remain nameless) uses the registry as a
scratch-pad only NAV knows what entries it placed there.
 
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