Uninstalling

[Allan]

This may seem like a stupid question but I am here trying
to learn as much as I can and give advice also. When I
install a program, and then at a later date uninstall it,
does it leave tracks still in my system? I know at times
I go manualy and go to certain folders and have to
deleate things out of them left behind but does it leave
things behind in my registry and if so, how do I get them
out of there? Is there a program or tool that will help
me to clean out my registtry of the programs I am not
useing now.
Thanks
Allan

 

[Tom Porterfield]

This may seem like a stupid question but I am here trying
to learn as much as I can and give advice also. When I
install a program, and then at a later date uninstall it,
does it leave tracks still in my system? I know at times
I go manualy and go to certain folders and have to
deleate things out of them left behind but does it leave
things behind in my registry and if so, how do I get them
out of there? Is there a program or tool that will help
me to clean out my registtry of the programs I am not
useing now.

What a program leaves behind is dependent on how well or poorly the
uninstall routine was written. Unfortunately too many programs include
poor uninstall support that leaves behind files and settings. There are
registry cleaning tools that can help with some of this, including the
tools available at http://www.jv16.org/.
--
Tom Porterfield
MS-MVP MCE
http://support.telop.org

Please post all follow-ups to the newsgroup only.

 

[Will Denny]

Hi Allan

I wish that all uninstalls did delete **all** the files and Registry entries
(dross) that they installed. Unfortunately, that isn't the case, and it is
very hard - if not impossible - to manually delete them. No folders should
be manually deleted to try and uninstall a program. That can cause
problems. Manually editing the Registry can cause even more problems!!

If you want to try and clean the Registry out - Winguide's Registry
Mechanic:

http://www.winguides.com/regmech/

--

Will Denny
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User


| This may seem like a stupid question but I am here trying
| to learn as much as I can and give advice also. When I
| install a program, and then at a later date uninstall it,
| does it leave tracks still in my system? I know at times
| I go manualy and go to certain folders and have to
| deleate things out of them left behind but does it leave
| things behind in my registry and if so, how do I get them
| out of there? Is there a program or tool that will help
| me to clean out my registtry of the programs I am not
| useing now.
| Thanks
| Allan

 

[Allan]

I only go back through my system once it has been
uninstalled and has left some folders or traces of it
left behind that I know are related to it.
Allan