ADD/REMOVE Problem - How Do I Uninstall Certain Programs?

I'm trying to free up disk space on my hard drive and have got rid of a lot of stuff via the ADD/REMOVE utility.

I've encountered a problem though. There are many programs listed in the ADD/REMOVE utility that I'm unable to remove as they don't have the 'change/remove' icon on them.

Surely there is a way of getting rid of these programs isn't there? They're not important or necessary programs for the stable running of the PC either.


HK

 

Mind tellin us which programs you cannot uninstall?

 

Try ccleaner, using the tools option to remove certain apps:

http://majorgeeks.com/download.php?det=4191

 

A lot of so called "no install" programs, ie programs that do not write entries to the Registry do not appear in the Control Panel Add/Remove, or the CCleaner Options listings.

My advice is to see if there is an uninstall in the programs own folder and use that first.

Usually starts will un*****.exe, could be unwise.exe in some cases.
Hopefully the programmer has spent time and effort seeing that the program will delete properly.

Then go to the Control Panel and use Add/Remove, then CCleaner Options, in that order, and check if they appear as an entry.

The only way if none of the above works (and if they don't have their own uninstall either), is to delete the Folder (and its' contents) by right clicking on the Folders name and then click on Delete. Answer Y(es) and it's gone.

Run CCleaner then, clicking on the Cleaner and Issues tabs, in turn, to clean up any residue that may be left. Bazza

 

I don't mean to hijack the thread but when I click on an "unwise.exe" it never works. It says "unable to open uninstall.log". It's just a comment, don't think of a solution in this thread.

 

Strange, unwise.exe usually works for me, when applicable.
Not a common method of uninstall, but some programmers use it.
Just mentioned it as unwise doesn't give any hint of it being an uninstaller. Bazza

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Try This

Make Hidden programs Appear In Add/Remove

1. Navigate to C:\Windows\Inf (hidden folder)
2. Make a copy of Sysoc.inf
3. Open the original Sysoc.inf, it will open in Notepad
4. Press Ctrl-H and replace the string ",hide" with ",," and save the file

After doing this you should be able to see all the hidden programs in Add/Remove.

Good Luck

 

This tip is mainly for "Unwanted Windows Components".
It does not related to third party installed programs. (p205, Windows XP annoyances for Geeks).

Bazza

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I am having this problem when I try to uninstall some programs... When I go thru the add/remove programs deal, and when I go thru CCleaner I get this message that says... WISE UNINSTALL, and cannot open INSTALL.LOG... Also, I am unable to remove a D-LINK thing. It comes up on the list, and when I click the change/remove button it goes thru all the motions.. but after all is said and done, it still remains.

 

Last resort, when all else fails, is to right click on the Folder and click delete.
Run CCleaner afterwards (Cleaner and Issues tabs, to hopefully remove any leftovers).

This is a last resort only, and not recommended as the way to remove programs, but when all else fails........... Bazza

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