XP SP2, uninstall third-party software

[Mark]

I have heard from sales reps through computer retail stores they no
longer recommend purchasing third-party uninstall software due to
Windows XP SP2. First they tell me that third-party software
uninstallers are not always 100% and now Windows XP SP2 breaks these
uninstallers.

Is there any truth in the above?

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

Absolutely untrue! Windows XP does not have its own
antivirus protection. It would behoove you to purchase and
install a good one! Windows XP with SP2 will install a
third-party antivirus program just fine!

Antivirus software: frequently asked questions
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/protect/antivirus.mspx

List of antivirus software vendors
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;49500

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

Be Smart! Protect Your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/protect/default.aspx

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

:

| I have heard from sales reps through computer retail stores they no
| longer recommend purchasing third-party uninstall software due to
| Windows XP SP2. First they tell me that third-party software
| uninstallers are not always 100% and now Windows XP SP2 breaks these
| uninstallers.
|
| Is there any truth in the above?

 

[K Patrick McGee]

What are you wanting to uninstall? Some sales guys will misinform you, such
as a couple companies here who claim an AMD 3000+ is faster/better than a P4
2.8GHz, etc.

Pat McGee
CompTIA A+

 

[Mark]

Absolutely untrue! Windows XP does not have its own
antivirus protection. It would behoove you to purchase and
install a good one! Windows XP with SP2 will install a
third-party antivirus program just fine!

Antivirus software: frequently asked questions
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/protect/antivirus.mspx

List of antivirus software vendors
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;49500

How did you translate "third-party uninstall software" to installing an
antivirus product?

 

[Mark]

What are you wanting to uninstall? Some sales guys will misinform you, such
as a couple companies here who claim an AMD 3000+ is faster/better than a P4
2.8GHz, etc.

Pat McGee
CompTIA A+

After installing a program and device drivers, there are times where we
need to uninstall the program and device drivers to bring Windows back
to its original previous state; as if the installed program and device
drivers never existed in Windows. I know in Windows XP we can use
System Restore, but we found that not 100% effective, mostly 50%
effective. This is for software testing to make sure the installed
program(s) and device driver versions install properly in Windows. We
already checked in to using Virtual PC and VMware, but we find these two
product with limitations to using a real computer with Windows installed.

 

[Plato]

I have heard from sales reps through computer retail stores they no
longer recommend purchasing third-party uninstall software due to
Windows XP SP2. First they tell me that third-party software
uninstallers are not always 100% and now Windows XP SP2 breaks these
uninstallers.

Is there any truth in the above?

So they waited ten years to warn you about third party uninstallers?

 

[Mark]

So they waited ten years to warn you about third party uninstallers?

I never asked anyone until now. I never had a need to use an
uninstaller program.

 

[Alex Nichol]

Absolutely untrue! Windows XP does not have its own
antivirus protection. It would behoove you to purchase and
install a good one!

What does that have to do with third party uninstaller software?
Depending on how those were written I might not trust them after SP2.
But I would not trust them much anyway. Respectable programs come with
the necessary uninstallation (usually from InstallShield or Wise if they
are not using Microsofts)