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I hate this program!WhatRemove a program from your computer - the right way. WhenYou click Start, Programs, and your screen fills up with hundreds of items to click on. You don't use half of these programs any more, and some of them don't even look familiar. Should you just hit the DELETE key? Nooooooooooooooo! HowThere are just about three different correct ways to remove a program from your computer. There are hundreds of incorrect ways. Let's see if we can find out what the right thing to do is... The first thing to try is the program's own uninstall function (if it exists). Installation of software usually creates a program group icon that shows up in the Start, Programs menu. This group appears as a folder with program icons on it and a right arrow next to it. For example, if you have Norton AntiVirus, there is a program group named (guess what...) "Norton AntiVirus". When you hold the cursor over that group, the items within that group will appear. It just so happens that there is a program in that group called "Uninstall Norton AntiVirus". If you click on that icon, it will uninstall the program for you. Your second option is for when no uninstall icon comes with the program. There is a general uninstaller that comes with Windows. It lives in the Control Panel, so to access this, you must click Start, Settings, Control Panel (much as you would have to install a program). From Control Panel, double click on Add/Remove Programs. This will get you to a list of programs that can be uninstalled. Select the desired program from this scrolling list, then click the Add/Remove button. That should do it! The final option is for people that don't trust, or find it difficult to use, the above methods. There are programs that you can buy (and install) which will uninstall other programs for you. These programs will work in cases where the other techniques will fail, and they can also perform other Windows housekeeping tasks for you. No matter which of the above techniques you use to uninstall a program, never just delete the files or folders from your computer. It may seem like nothing is wrong right now, but it will come back to bite you in the buttocks at some time in the future.
Tip: If for some reason things don't go as planned, try to read the uninstallation instructions that came with the program (if they exist). If you still get nowhere, call the publisher on the telephone or visit their web site.
Disclaimer:Every precaution has been taken to insure that the procedures presented here will not cause damage to your computer system. However, Mind Over Machines Inc. will not be responsible for any damage caused directly or indirectly by any advice and/or procedures given anywhere on this web site. Likewise, we cannot be responsible for malfunctions caused by defective hardware, or unforeseen problems which arise from use of the standard Microsoft tools. If problems do arise, we may attempt to assist in the diagnosis and eventual remedy, but cannot be held liable or bound to do so.Contents Copyright © 2000-2004, Mind Over Machines Inc. Page last updated 08/28/04. |
