Generally all computer users install various software programs regularly. Sometimes they keep them and sometimes they decide to remove them.
To remove a program in Windows, we uninstall it from Control Panel but many times the default uninstallation utility provided by the program doesn't remove the program completely. It lefts some entries in Windows Registry, some files in various folders in your hard disk drives.
These leftovers might slow down your system and there is no point to keep them in your system.
There are many 3rd party software like Revo uninstaller, etc are available on Internet which claim to completely uninstall a software program in Windows but sometimes these software also fail to completely uninstall a software from your system.
We here at AskVG always try to do the things ourselves so today in this tutorial, we are going to share some easy to use steps which will help you in completely uninstall a software program in Windows.
So without wasting time lets start the tutorial. We have taken Mozilla Firefox as an example in this tutorial:
We have divided this tutorial in 4 steps:
- Uninstall Using Control Panel
- Delete Remaining Files and Folders of the Program
- Remove Software Keys from Windows Registry
- Empty Temp Folder
STEP 1: Uninstall Software Using Control Panel
First thing first! Uninstall the software using Windows Control Panel.
Windows XP:
Open Control Panel, double-click on "Add/Remove Programs", select the program name and click on Uninstall button. It'll remove it.
Windows Vista / 7:
Open Control Panel, click on "Programs and Features", select the program name and click on Uninstall button.
STEP 2: Delete Remaining Files and Folders of the Program
Even though you have uninstalled the software using Control Panel, some files of this program might still remain in a few system folders.
To delete these leftovers, you'll need check following folders:
%programfiles%
%appdata%
If you find any folder with the name of the software program which you uninstalled using 1st step, delete it.
NOTE: You just need to type the above mentioned text in RUN or Start Menu search box and press Enter. It'll open the folders directly.
Program Files folder:
Application Data folder:
NOTE 2: 64-bit system users will also need to check "C:\Program Files (x86)" folder. Here we assume your Windows is installed in C: drive. If you installed Windows in any other drive, replace C: with that drive letter.
STEP 3: Remove Software Keys from Windows Registry
You'll have to be very careful while following this step. Follow this step only if you are comfortable with Windows Registry and if you have used Registry Editor in past.
When you uninstall a software program, many times its entry in Windows Registry is not deleted by the uninstaller. It might increase Windows Registry size.
To completely uninstall the software, you'll also need to delete its key from Windows Registry.
1. Type regedit in RUN or Start Menu search box and press Enter. It'll open Registry Editor.
2. Now go to following keys one by one:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE
HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Software
64-bit system users will also need to check following extra key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node
Once you go to the above mentioned keys, look for a key with the name of your uninstalled software. If you find a key, delete it.
Sometimes the key name might be based on the company name or developer name so if you suspect a key, expand it and check whether its related to the uninstalled software program. If yes, you can delete it.
PS: Make sure to take a backup before deleting anything from Windows Registry so that you can restore it later if something goes wrong. To take backup, right-click on the key which you are going to delete and select "Export". It'll save a .REG file containing the backup of that key.
PS2: Expert users can also find all occurrence of the key with the name of uninstalled software using "Ctrl+F" and delete them. You'll have to be very cautious for it. Delete the key only if you are absolutely sure that the key was created by the uninstalled software.
STEP 4: Empty Temp Folder
At last you can also empty Temp folder which contains temporary files and cleaning this folder is absolutely safe.
To empty Temp folder, type following one by one in RUN or Start Menu search box and press Enter:
%temp%
temp
It'll open Temp folders. You can empty them. If Windows shows errors while deleting a few files, leave them. These files might be used by some running software or Windows services.
That's it. After following the above mentioned steps, you'll be able to completely uninstall and remove a software program from Windows.
If you have any question or suggestion, feel free to post them in your comment...
Posted by: Vishal Gupta | Categories: Software, Troubleshooting, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP
David S.
Thanks VG!
I thought that I had seen that method elsewhere, but your tutorial on it by far passes what the other tech said.
Thanks Again
Ram
Hi VG, in my pc the program name is not listed in 'programs and features'....
So can i use 2,3, and 4 steps for uninstalling the program -'trendy talks bulls and bears'...
Plz help...
VG
^^ Absolutely.
Almost Complete Tutorial Again jr.
Great tutorial, except one sticking point. Many programs create undeletable keys that I have not found any editor that will delete them. Example: Mcafee Internet Security which is some kind of root kit possibly also. Anyway a person can go along with smooth sailing UNTIL a point is reached where the keys return the "access is denied..." message that has Andromada strained all us primitive windows registry users and finding something of INDUSTRIAL STRENGTH THAT CAN NOT BE STOPPED FROM DELETING THE ITEM NO MATTER WHAT IS A FAIRY TAIL BUT SHOULD BE A TOOL THAT ONE CAN GET. I have searched for eons and have never found such a tool without having to shell out hundreds for some commercial program or some possibly expensive software program as judging by the lack of free such tools it is going to be hard to find something like that without taking a 2nd job. Many tutorials like this one are great yet leave out that one fuzzy detail to where most tutorials are only mediocre because of it and is ashame as the author gives good info but leaves out a crucial detail. I have not read all posts so this analyis is in light of that. It does not take very long to find programs that create undeletable registry keys but there should be a load of programs that do that yet all have failed and is due to developer, Microsoft, the world in general and et al paranoia that this is going to lessen their postion as software gods but for the average user it can lead to DECADES of frustration especially for those that can not go out and spend hundreds of dollars on software to do MUNDANE tasks as deleting registry keys is one such task amongst hundreds, if not more, of tasks if one is to have a REASONABLE computer system set up. It took days just to go through windows 7 to tweak or redo all the nutty settings that Microsoft uses as default settings as all the old security breach type settings are there not to mention the time spent gasping at all the features that Microsoft removed such as no sellect all on right click menu or no new folder on windows explorer or internet explorer bars as this is absolutely amazing that they removed this and at times I wish I were back using XP again. I do not want to sound like I am bad mouthing all, all the time, as some of these organizations/individuals have simultaneously created and done many good things too, but this is so devastating to moral and sends the message "it is ok that we have to depend on foreign countries all the time as our people aint worth a crap" which is not my idea of reality for this country and world as our people should be able to get the job done too, that is once they come down back to earth. Earth calling people come back down here! I appologize for the analysis demonstration I have given, but it is relavent to this tutorial as if there were such a registry editor or basically what is needed is a simple tool that only goes through the registry and deletes all keys/values that are associated with my search term (eg. Mcafee) and also does this recursively for all others with the same name or same association with the proviso that it warns upon removing shared or dangerous keys/values to delete and it does this deletion with the balls to not be stifled by Microsofts unreasonable cloke of secrecy as it I want to ruin my win 7 installation the I should have the option to do so and besides most of the time when it gets to the "access denied..." message stage it means "dum dee dum dum dum" time for my windows install as it is corrupted beyond reasonable usage thus an unstoppable registry editor should be something that some one developes even if it is only for the purpose I have mentioned and nothing else, as this would help eleviate the paranoia (some times justifiably so, but not in this case) of software makers and Microsoft that they are not giving away the holy grail secrets yet are providing an ABSOLUTELY necessary tool. In fact we have all kind of rules that the government and corporations nowadays where by, like every thing else, they use creeps and wierdos
Almost Complete Tutorial Again jr.
(continued) from post above from: creeps and wierdos....
Dont know what happened to continuation of post above as something went wrong and it was sent incomplete and I tried second post, maybe it was too long and not posted, this in short I was trying to say that there is no rules on organizations about creating irresponsible products ESPECIALLY when it is a giant corp. thus some sort of registry editor that can not be stopped from deleting keys/values should be provided as a set of tools that are mandatory to be included instead of letting creeps and wierdos rape some little kid as an excuse so that big organizations can troll the internet even thought they know who did it before this and no need to troll internet and thus can focus efforts instead on making sure we get responsible products and at the same time the government can do their job and take care of these types of creeps and wierdos. Any way getting back to topic: nothings seems to handle uninstall completely to near 100%. Revo good but misses things many times (eg. program file empty folder, reg keys, etc). Need some search program for both reg and entire computer that will delete all LINKED files, folders, reg keys, settings, etc. for particular program but nothing like this is in sight but is baffling as it should be a straight forward manner to implement something like this in this complex computer age. One tool like this would greatly ease user frustration. Don't forget to say "thanks a lot Gilligan" this illuminating demonstration of a post!
Archana
Hey the article here is good and I do understand the basic steps in manually cleaning a software ...but I really need some help for regarding Microsoft security essentials as it seems to be bit nasty can anybody help with the windows registry cleaning part plzz .
and also a sincere request to you Vishal plz help.
VG
^^ What exact problem are you facing with MSE? Its quite good software.
Innocent
Nice explanation
BADAL
Plz tell me to solve the registry issue of idm means internet download manager. If it expires one time it will not work as a free software even uninstal and install it again plz tell me how i sove this issue.
Anurag
Hey ,
I am trying to uninstall Micrsoft SilverLight from my system but when I go in the Control Panel, it only shows the option of 'repair' and not 'uninstall'
How do I go about this ?
VG
^^ Try to check it in installed updates.
Frank Stephenson
Somehow Zoom Downloader has gotten into my computer (windows xp) & I want to delete (remove) it as it doesn't work. If I go into control panel and identify Zoom Downloader and click on remove, I get a message that I must remove Firefox, but I don't know how to do so. I would appreciate some assistance.
Frank
VG
^^ First post your HijackThis log file in following topic:
http://www.askvg.com/is-your-system-infected-with-a-virus-spyware-adware-trojan/
Klem
U are a Godsent for post, keep it up
uday kumar
hello,even though i uninstall completely a software called "easyhideip" it detects my computer when iam using it again how it is possible even though I removed the software completely...
Mani
its really useful. Thanks a lot!
tj
I did all these steps but I still found files and folders left over when I did a search
kami
thanks..............it really worked
Monji
my problem is with traces of uninstalled Avira AntiVir
I did find the relevant reg keys, but could not delete the files - message "unable to delete all specified values."
Alice
Hi, this help was very good and helped me too much. It was very user friendly and very easy to do. Thank you very much. It's wonderful!
chandrasekar
best very helpfull
Amrata
M nt able to delete files from
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE
HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Software
Error while deleting it
y so ?
Valoo
Your tutorial is such an interested one, thank you for such a help you have rendered to ppl like me. Remain blessed.
Nichole
Amazing thank you !!!
loula
I deleted windows xp and downloaded windows 8 and found out its c**p don't like it how do I remove windows 8 to put on xp again on my pc pls note don't have internet thanks in advance still new to all this
VG
^^ You'll need Windows XP setup disc to install it in your system. If you have the disc, boot using it, format the partition containing Windows 8 and reinstall Windows XP on it.
AG
This absolutely, positively works. Thank you so much !! Now I can play demo games over and over !!