|
By James Ricketts | November 2007
Whenever software is installed on your Windows computer, it adds
several installation files on the hard disk and entries in the registry. These
files and registry entries are required to run the software on your computer.
When you choose to uninstall the software from your PC, you must ensure that you
use a method that enables you to completely remove the software by getting rid
of all related files and registry entries. Let’s have a look at some of the
methods that you can use to achieve this.
Use Add or Remove Programs
Your first step to uninstall the software is by using the Add or
Remove Programs option included in the Control Panel. For instance, if you want
to
uninstall AOL Instant Messenger and
uninstall Netzero toolbar from your computer, then you must perform the
following steps to uninstall the software:
-
Open Control Panel from Start menu and select Add or Remove
Programs link.
-
Scroll down the Currently installed programs list and select the
AOL Instant Messenger or NetZero toolbar option.
-
Select the Change/Remove button to start the uninstallation
process.
-
After the uninstallation is complete, restart your PC to ensure
that all related registry entries and system files are removed from the
system.
Use Program Uninstaller
Many software applications, such as a few earlier versions of
LimeWire, do not make an entry in the Add or Remove Programs list. To remove
these programs from the system, you may have to perform the uninstallation by
using their own uninstallers. For instance, to
uninstall LimeWire, you may perform the following steps:
-
Open Windows Explorer, navigate to the LimeWire folder and then
open the UninstallerData folder within it.
-
In this folder, look for a file with the word ‘uninstall’ in
it—for LimeWire the name of the file would be ‘Uninstall LimeWire’.
-
To start LimeWire uninstallation, double-click on this file and
follow the screen instructions to complete the process.
Note: The Uninstall Program option may also be visible in the
Start menu listing of the program. Therefore, prior to looking for the uninstall
file in your software’s folder, it is recommended that you first check the
folder of the software included in the Start menu. If this folder comprises the
uninstall command, you must perform the uninstallation using this command.
Use Third-Party Uninstaller
Many large software applications add so many files and registry
entries that, at times, it becomes difficult to get rid of them completely by
uninstalling using Add or Remove Programs. To remove these programs, you need to
use advanced third-party uninstallers. You can search for and download a
Windows uninstaller utility
from the Internet and use it to ensure complete uninstallation of the software.
Software manufactures, such as various Norton and McAfee, have
included uninstallers for their products on their websites. Therefore, you may
also go through the website of your software manufacturer and check if
uninstallers for their products are available. If you find an uninstaller,
download it, and use to remove the software from your system.
Clean up the Registry
After any software uninstallation process, it is important to
ensure that there are no orphan keys left behind in the registry. This is an
important step, even if you have used a legitimate process to uninstall a
software.
To cleanup the registry after uninstalling an application, you may
seek the help of a reliable and efficient registry cleaner tool. Using a
registry cleaner tool, you can perform a through scan of the registry and weed
out all orphan keys that may be hidden deep within the complex registry hive.
Remember, correct uninstallation procedures help you keep your PC
free of unnecessary trash, safe from several system errors, and will ensure
optimal performance of your PC.
| 
