Add/Remove issue

Discussion in 'Windows 7' started by archaeopteryx, Mar 28, 2011.

  1. archaeopteryx

    archaeopteryx MDL Junior Member

    Sep 15, 2010
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    Hi

    I know this has cropped up in forums before, but as yet I have failed to find a successful solution.

    I wish to remove some software - however, it does not appear in Windows 7's Add/Remove feature, neither does it appear on the list of installed software generated by the application Perfect Uninstaller.

    Would it cause problems to simply drag the application's folder into the Recycle Bin (as with the Mac method of uninstalling), or would this cause potential system problems?

    Any help would be much appreciated.

    Thanking all in anticipation,

    A
     
  2. archaeopteryx

    archaeopteryx MDL Junior Member

    Sep 15, 2010
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    Thank you acrsn. I shall definitely look into those and get back to you. Cheers! :biggrin:
     
  3. zahnoo

    zahnoo MDL Senior Member

    Feb 2, 2011
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    Oftentimes there is an uninstall .exe in the program folder itself.
     
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  4. archaeopteryx

    archaeopteryx MDL Junior Member

    Sep 15, 2010
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    Cheers, I know - already looked - no joy I'm afraid! :(
     
  5. zahnoo

    zahnoo MDL Senior Member

    Feb 2, 2011
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    #5 zahnoo, Mar 28, 2011
    Last edited: Mar 28, 2011
    Yeah, unfortunately not always one there. But the MS method is relatively painless. I have just deleted the program folder and then scrubbed the registry as best I could. I've also re-installed the program on top of the existing one in hopes the Add/Remove entry would show up. Sometimes it did; sometimes not.
     
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  6. archaeopteryx

    archaeopteryx MDL Junior Member

    Sep 15, 2010
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    Yes - cheers zahnoo

    I tried the reinstall method - still no go...

    I've read that in some instances it may be best to just leave it be...ie it is possible to cause system wide problems with some of the more 'exotic' methods of removal. Would you agree?
     
  7. zahnoo

    zahnoo MDL Senior Member

    Feb 2, 2011
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    If the worst thing the software is doing is taking up a tiny bit of disk space then yeah, just leave it. But being a space freak, that's hard for me to do; but I have done it. The last time was on an XP Pro machine and it involved a well known free anti malware program. Even doing the normal system uninstall led to problems I just couldn't solve. My "final" solution was to reinstall it, use autoruns to stop things from running at system startup and just left it that way for a couple of years. When I moved up to Windows 7, the problem went away. :D
     
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  8. archaeopteryx

    archaeopteryx MDL Junior Member

    Sep 15, 2010
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    "But being a space freak, that's hard for me to do"

    I love that - could be me talking!

    It's a comparatively small application and as I don't feel 100% comfortable with some of the removal operations I have read about, I may just leave it - even though it is annoying me at the moment!
     
  9. genuine555

    genuine555 MDL Expert

    Oct 3, 2009
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    If it's just a small app, just delete it from the program files folder, and run Crap Cleaner to clean the registry.
    This is by far the easiest solution, childs play, and gets the job done in this case.

    Running Ccleaner maybe isn't the most elegant solution, but it is will clean all residues left behind by the application,
    and you won't have to break a sweat at all.

    \gen