On the front end, the Windows operating system is simple and easy to use. However, the system is actually quite complex when you get to the heart of the matter. The tiniest of errors or a simple mistake can do major damage to your computer.
To get the most out of the Windows operating system and your entire computing experience, you need to take proper care of your machine. One of the most important, yet often overlooked tasks of owning and operating a personal computer is correctly uninstalling computer programs.
Correctly uninstalling computer programs is an imperative task. The reason for this is that when you install a program on your computer, a number of different registry entries and files are included and installed on your system. Failing to uninstall the application correctly using the proper method will leave behind several program shortcuts, registry entries and orphan files. All of this orphaned data clutters up the machine, leading to frequent crashes, freezes and system errors that will have you on the phone with computer support day after day.
It is important to learn the correct methods for correctly uninstalling a computer program in order to prevent uninstall errors that often occur when an incorrect program removal process is used.
Add or Remove Programs
The majority of computer programs, especially if installed with Windows Installer, play pokies make an entry to the program list in the Add or Remove Programs in the Control Panel. When attempting to remove a program from your machine, this should be the first step to getting rid of the program and all of its components completely.
For example, if you were to decide that you no longer want a certain program on your computer, then you would take the following steps to begin the proper removal process:
- Click on Start Menu to open Control Panel.
- Select Add or Remove Programs, or Programs and Features if you are using Vista.
- Scroll down the list of currently installed programs and click on the program that you want to remove.
- Select to uninstall the program.
- Restart your computer to ensure that you remove all related programs and registry entries effectively from your system.
Program Uninstallers
The Add or Remove Programs feature is the one used most often to uninstall computer programs. However, it is not adequate for removal of large applications. Therefore, most computer support professionals recommend that you have a separate uninstaller program available to uninstall the larger programs. The RHUB 4-in-1 Web Conferencing Appliance offers secure remote access and remote computer support, so you will be able to maintain your system, even if you have a number of different computers on your network.
Program Uninstall Option
Several programs do not include an option for uninstalling in the Add or Removes Programs list. The option to uninstall these programs is typically found in the program folder and a shortcut is added to the Start Menu named “Uninstall program name”. For example, if you want to uninstall a program from your computer, click on the Start Menu, go to All Programs, select the program that you want to uninstall and then select “Uninstall program name” to remove the unwanted program.
Since there are so many registry entries and orphan files left behind, it is a good idea to scan the hard drive and the registry for anything that remains and delete it from your system. To get rid of unwanted orphan files in the registry, you can use a reliable registry cleaner that will scan and remove such files. In addition, if you are using Windows XP or Vista, you can use the included Disk Cleanup tool to clean unwanted programs from your computer.