 If only uninstalling a program were as simple as taking out the trash: bag it, stuff it in the can, and roll it to the curb.
In theory, uninstalling a program from your PC should require even less effort than that. As we’ll explain, several options are at your disposal for removing programs, and using them is easier than preparing for garbage pickup. Problems arise, however, when the uninstall process stalls and your computer says it couldn’t remove the program. Or when the uninstall process leaves bits of the program scattered about your PC.
You wouldn’t tolerate such sloppiness from your waste removal professionals, and you shouldn’t have to put up with it in your computing either. So try these suggestions for problem-free program removal.
 Program Uninstaller
The first method you should use to uninstall a program is the uninstaller that comes with the software. This is especially important when you have multiple programs from the same software maker installed on your system.
For instance, we have several Symantec programs installed on our PC. As we contemplated removing one of them (Norton Confidential), we learned that this program shares components with four other Norton programs: Antivirus, Internet Security, Personal Firewall, and SystemWorks. In this situation, it’s preferable to let the manufacturer’s uninstaller sort through which files and folders can be removed and which need to stay. And, as we’ll explain later, it may be necessary to remove other programs first and then reinstall them.
To open the uninstaller, click Start and All Programs and find the program you want to remove. In that folder, you may see an uninstall tool. If so, click on it, and the uninstall process will begin. It will differ from program to program. | 
If necessary, manually delete files using the Registry Editor to clear out lingering elements of a program you’re trying to uninstall. |
You may encounter an instance where the uninstall tool cannot remove all of the files or folders associated with the program. If this happens, click Details in the screen that informs you of the error so you can see which items couldn’t be removed. Then you can remove them manually.
Windows’ Removal Tool
The Add Or Remove Programs tool in the Control Panel (click Start, Control Panel, and Add Or Remove Programs) is a good option for program removal in these situations: if a program’s uninstaller isn’t listed under the Start, All Programs menu or if the item you want to remove is a small application that you downloaded from the Web, and it’s not listed under All Programs.
Add Or Remove Programs is easy to use. Just find the name of the application on the list, click on it, and click Remove. Again, the actual removal process will differ from program to program.
Sometimes Add Or Remove Programs may leave behind program-related files or folders that you want deleted, as well. You’ll have to hunt for those yourself and remove them manually, as we’ll explain later.
Also, you may encounter an instance where Add Or Remove Programs can’t remove a program. You may get a message that says Windows couldn’t remove the program because part of the application was in use or something similar. And you’re left scratching your head, because you likely already closed the application.
That problem may occur if you are trying to remove an application that runs in the background, such as a security program. If this happens, try to end the background processes. Press CTRL-ALT-DELETE to open the Windows Task Manager and click the Processes tab. You’ll see a lot of executable files at work. Look for and highlight the one(s) associated with the program you’d like to remove and click End Process. Try to use Add Or Remove Programs again.
Dust Off The Disc
It’s easy to turn to Add Or Remove Programs or the uninstallers found under All Programs first. But you may need to insert the installation disc (if you have one) and follow the uninstallation wizard found there. | 
Using the Add or Remove Programs tool is easy, but it’s not 100% effective for deleting all programs. |
As we said, the manufacturer of the program knows best how that program should be removed. In the situation we described above, with trying to remove Norton Confidential, it makes much more sense to ask Symantec, not Microsoft, to uninstall its own program. Besides, the Norton folders found under All Programs on our system don’t list an uninstaller, so that’s another reason to use the disc.
Sometimes the disc will undo every step of the installation process. If this is the case, you’re in luck, because you won’t have pieces of the program lingering on your computer. Nor will you have to mess with the Registry, which should always be your last resort (see below). Though the installation disc won’t always offer a simple solution, it’s worth a try. Should you encounter any problem using the installation disc to remove a program, or if for some reason you don’t still have the disc, try the next step.
Get Help Online
It’s not uncommon to find program removal help at the Web site of the software developer.
For removing a small program or applet, such as the Google Toolbar, the instructions will normally be short. This Web page (www.google.com/support/toolbar/bin/answer.py?answer=9231&topic=915) gives a three-step process for uninstalling the toolbar.
You’ll find lengthier instructions for removing bigger programs, such as the ones we found at a McAfee help site for uninstalling SecurityCenter (ts.mcafeehelp.com/faq3.asp?docid=71525). Before you attempt to uninstall the program, you also have to uninstall all other McAfee products. According to McAfee, if you uninstall those other programs, you should then be able to use Add Or Remove Programs to uninstall SecurityCenter.
If Add Or Remove Programs doesn’t work, the site describes how to manually delete all ADF files first, then use the Microsoft removal tool.
Similarly, the method Symantec offers on its Web site for removing one of its Norton programs results in the removal of all Norton programs—from 2003 through current release—from your PC. At this page (service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT
/tsgeninfo.nsf/docid/2005033108162039) you’ll find the Norton Removal Tool, which you can download and run from your PC.
A Manual Fix
If you think that using an uninstaller, Add Or Remove Programs, or the installation disc didn’t result in a clean uninstall, you can check the Registry for remnants of the program.
First, back up your Registry. Click Start and Run, type ntbackup.exe, and click OK. Follow the instructions. (NOTE: It’s possible that the Backup utility is not yet installed on your system, in which case you’ll need to install it from your WinXP installation disc.)
Now, on to the Registry Editor. Click Start and Run and enter regedit in the Open field. Click OK. There are three key places to check for lingering elements of the uninstalled program. They are:
• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE. Find the folder named for the program you removed, if it’s still there, and delete it.
• HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE. Again, find the folder of the program you’ve removed and delete it.
• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ CURRENTCONTROLSET\SERVICES. Look here for any services that may be associated with the program. Be very careful, because deleting something here could affect other programs.
Clean Out Useless Files
After you’ve removed a program, don’t forget to look for and delete files you created with that application that you’ll no longer need. This will free up disk space. Click Start and Search to look for files of a certain type. For instance, type *.mny to find all files made with Microsoft Money. 
by Rachel Derowitsch
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