How to remove a program that the computer does not see. To work with it,

Sometimes this happens: the program has already been removed from the computer, but it is still displayed in the “programs and components” list. How you can solve this problem, and will be discussed in this article.

How can this happen? Yes, it's very simple, first of all, this can happen as a result of incorrect removal of the program. Therefore, before proceeding directly to solving this problem, it is necessary to remind once again how to properly remove programs.

I think that all users who have some experience with a computer already know that you cannot simply delete the folder in which the program is located. It is necessary to approach the solution of this kind of problem wisely, that is, it is necessary to correctly uninstall the program.

This site has an article that describes how to properly remove installed programs, and what will happen if you do it wrong. If you are a novice user, and you are not yet very well versed in this issue, then I recommend reading this article, here it is: "". If you do not have Windows 7, but for example XP, then do not rush to get upset, since this information is relevant for all versions of Windows.

However, no matter how hard we try to do everything right, at one “perfect” moment, some program may “refuse” to uninstall according to the rules. And as a result, we get the following picture: the files themselves belonging to this program have already been deleted from the hard drive, but it is still displayed in the list of installed programs.

In this situation, a small registry edit will help us.

How to remove a program from the registry

As an example, the program that was described in the previous article, that is, PDF Creator, will be used.

1) We go into the system registry, for this we press Win + R, then we write "regedit", and click Ok.

2) In the registry, go to the following path:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall

3) We right-click on the Uninstall section, select the find item, enter the name of the problematic program, and click "find next."

4) In order to make sure that you have found exactly the program you need, look at the value of the DispiayName parameter (located on the right side). If the name of your problematic program appears there, then this is exactly what you need.

5) Right-click on the found key (on the left side of the registry editor), and click delete. After that, a window will pop up where you will need to confirm your intention to delete this section.

After the work done, we go to the control panel - programs and components, if the name of your problematic program has disappeared from this list, then you did everything right.

Why is the program not removed? I’m already this way and that, but it doesn’t matter where she was, she is there. And Windows is also upsetting: it gives messages that there is no way to get rid of this program. Either it allegedly works (although the window is already closed!), then some program objects access it or it is completely blocked ... and so on and so forth.

Is the situation familiar? Surely, if you started reading this article. And by the way, not in vain! It will help you remove a program that is not removed, and using several methods.

Well, let's get started. Get out of the computer any obscenity! And especially the one that completely, you see, "refuses" to leave.

Method #1: Manual removal

A program, file, or folder may be held onto a computer's operating system for a variety of reasons. If they are identified and eliminated, one can hope for a standard uninstallation of the application and sending an unnecessary file to the Trash.

Let's take a closer look at common cases of blocking and their elimination:

Active processes

Processes, due to the specifics of their functionality, tend to be active (running), even if the application window was closed by the user. Windows detects them and aborts the uninstallation to avoid a software conflict.

To deactivate processes, do the following:

1. Press the key combination - "Ctrl + Shift + Esc".

2. In the Task Manager that opens, go to the "Processes" section.

3. Find the item in the list that is related to the file or folder to be deleted. Be guided by its name (column "Image name") and signature (column "Description").

4. Right-click on the detected process.

5. Select the "End Process" option in the drop-down directory.

6. Close the Dispatcher, try again to get rid of the "naughty" object.

Running services

Some programs integrate their services into the system. Being in the active state, they access libraries, modules and other elements of the uninstalled software and, accordingly, prevent them from being sent to the Trash.

Disabling services is done like this:

1. Click the Start icon.

2. In the pop-up window, click "Control Panel".

3. Click the left button to open the "View" option. Set the view to Large Icons.

4. Go to the "Administration" section.

5. In the subsections of the administration panel, click "Services".

6. Find the service of the application to be removed. Click on it 2 times with the left button.

7. In the service properties window, open the list in the "Startup type" field and select the "Disabled" status.

8. Click Apply, then OK.

9. Proceed to uninstall the software.

Autoload

1. Press the "Win" and "R" keys at the same time.

2. In the Run panel, enter the -msconfig directive.

3. Press "Enter".

4. Uncheck the box next to the program or item that you cannot uninstall.

5. Click "Apply" → "OK".

6. Restart your computer.

Tray check

Some applications, when the window is closed, “minimize” to tray and continue to function. As a result, Windows may block the launch of the built-in uninstaller.

View the contents of the tray. If it contains the icon of the program to be removed, right-click on it and launch the exit option in the context menu that opens (it may be called “Exit”, “End the program”, “Exit”, “Exit”, etc.).

To view hidden icons in the tray, click the triangle icon (an additional panel will open).

Method #2: automatic removal

Neutralization of non-removable objects from the system using special utilities is easier and faster than the manual cleaning method. In addition, this approach is great for beginners who are afraid to do anything in the system in order to delete the locked file.

Here are the most effective software solutions:

1. Download the free distribution kit of the utility from offsite (revouninstaller.com) and install it on your PC.

2. In the Revo Uninstaller window, go to the Force Uninstall section.

3. In the line " Full path to the file ...", click "Browse for ...".

4. Select the object type: "File" or "Folder".

5. In the system window that appears, specify the path to the element to be deleted. Click "Open".

6. Click to set the uninstallation mode to "Advanced".

1. Download the utility from the developer's website (ru.iobit.com/iobit-unlocker).

2. Install on your computer.

3. Right click on the locked element.

4. Select "iObit Unlocker" from the menu.

5. In the utility window, click the mouse to open the "Unblock" drop-down menu. In the list, select the procedure "Unlock and delete".

Unlocker

1. Install and run the utility.

2. Hover over the object you want to get rid of. Press the right button.

3. Select "Unlocker" from the list of options.

4. In the program panel, in the drop-down menu, set the "Delete" command.

5. Click OK.

Quick and easy cleaning of your computer!

Is it somewhat difficult to imagine an operating system that is deprived of the ability to install additional software? However, sometimes there are precedents of the opposite nature - programs are not deleted through. In such situations, the user may come to a slight bewilderment: they say, how so? The fact is that there can be many reasons that caused such an incomprehensible “behavior” of the OS, ranging from the banal inattention of the user himself to the destructive effect of malicious code (virus). We dare to assure you, dear reader, that everything is quite simply resolved. You will see this for yourself after you devote a few minutes of your precious time to the chapters of our story. So…

Or maybe, well, him .., or And how to do it?

It often happens that after the user is faced with a situation where programs are not deleted through the control panel, he turns to the saving System Restore service. However, it is worth noting that such a simple way to get away from the problem is not always one hundred percent effective. Sometimes the virus remains on the hard drive, and even reinstalling the OS can become a futile undertaking. Nevertheless, in most cases, rolling back the system to the “healthy” point works, and the problem, which can be described as “programs are not removed through the control panel”, goes away on its own.

• In order to start the system restore service, you need to go to the OS start menu and write in the search line: "recovery".
• After you find yourself in a special window, click on the link of the same name with the addition "... systems".
• In one of the following paragraphs, select a restore point and activate the process with the corresponding key.

Depending on the configuration of your PC, the "reincarnation" process may take some time. Do not interrupt recovery operations - wait.

If programs are not removed through the control panel: Windows XP

Probably, detailed instructions on how to get into the service window "Installation and removal ..." will not be superfluous. However, we recall that the list of programs installed on a computer is not always up-to-date and true. Some software is bizarrely hidden in the depths of the OS. However, a little later we will definitely return to this important point. In the meantime, let's get back to the correct uninstallation algorithm. So, through the control panel?

• You can not enter the OS start menu. Press the key combination "Win + R" and enter the command "appwiz.cpl".
• After you press "Enter", the service window "Installation and ... programs" will open.
• From the presented list, select the “applicant” for elimination and click the “Delete” button.

Of course, at the end and confirmation of your actions, you must click on the "OK" button. If everything is done flawlessly, and the software still continues to take up extra disk space, try restarting the installation process of this application. It may well be that it is damaged. Therefore, you can try to restore it by simply overlaying files from the distribution.

The seventh version of Windows: uninstall chips

Now it certainly makes no sense to talk about how to remove programs through the control panel in Windows 7. Since the entrance to the corresponding menu is carried out in the same way as in the case of the XP version. The uninstallation process is no different from the option discussed above. However, there is another, so to speak, standard way to remove software that “resists” the uninstallation process - to log into the system through safe mode.

• After you restart your PC, continuously press the F8 key.
• After a menu with suggested boot methods pops up, select the “Safe Mode” item.
• While in the Windows operating environment, go back to the "Control Panel" menu.
• Re-enter Programs and Features and try uninstalling the software.

If all of the above does not help, and the system is still unable to carry out a full-fledged uninstallation process, use the recommendations from the following sections of the article.

Despite the unsurpassed performance and increased functionality, the eighth version can also be observed a kind of artifact at the time of uninstallation. At the same time, the operating environment, so to speak, is “overgrown” with all kinds of service applications, which, for obvious reasons, are not displayed in the main “Programs and Features” window, which means that they cannot be removed by the traditional method. However, there is still a standard method for uninstalling them.

• Download the "RemoveWindowsStoreApp" script.
• Hover over the file and right-click to open the context menu, select "Run with PowerShell".
• A list of installed applications will be displayed in the service window - enter the serial number of the object to be deleted and press "Enter".

However, there are also non-standard methods for resolving a problematic situation: “Programs are not removed through the control panel”, which, in turn, are applicable to literally all (following XP) operating systems of the Windows family.

Universal "erasers" of software

Your attention will be presented to several specialized programs that have amazing functionality. Well, we will begin our review with the simplest of them.

• Your Uninstaller is a small application that can quickly and correctly uninstall almost any software. It is worth noting that this program not only deletes, but also overwrites all entries about the deleted object from the system log (registry). Understanding the settings of Your Uninstaller is not difficult, since the interface is Russified and will be understandable in terms of management even to an inexperienced user.

As an addition to the above

Well, we hope you understand how they are not deleted through the control panel. And yet, in case of any difficulty during the uninstallation process using the standard method, do not be too lazy to go to the "Resource Monitor" service window. Most likely, the program that does not want to go into "digital oblivion" is involved in some important process. Under such circumstances, it is necessary to deactivate the software, and only then carry out the removal of such software.

Summing up

You can be congratulated! Now you know the answer to the question: “Programs are not removed through the control panel, what should I do?” However, it is not certain that the methods described above will work if the user's machine is infected with a malicious application. Again, there is a solution for this case: scan the system with several antivirus tools - and "the enemy will inevitably be defeated." Fewer problems for you and more effective programs!

Quite often, users are faced with the inability to delete a file, folder or program. When trying to delete, the user gets this message:

Always like this error related to the fact that the file or folder busy another program. For example, a folder contains a document that is currently open. Accordingly, the folder cannot be deleted until the document is closed.

The same goes for programs which, for one reason or another, are currently working.

But there are more difficult cases when nothing is running on the PC, but the necessary element cannot be deleted. We will consider such cases.

Basic Removal Methods

Before resorting to "heavy artillery" in the role of specialized software, you can try simple methods elimination of non-removable elements:

If none of the above methods helped, move on to the next section.

Access permissions missing

Sometimes it happens that the local user simply does not have enough rights to the object being deleted.

To change rights per file you need:

This completes the setup, you can try the removal.

Unlocker to remove

If none of the methods helped, then proceed to the use of programs. The most popular application Unlocker. It can be found on the developer's website. Full software is free.

The application allows unlock non-removable file and get rid of it.

There are two versions of the program - installable and portable.

Portable version allows you to use the program without installation, which is quite convenient if you do not plan to use it in the future.

The algorithm of work is quite simple:

In cases where the file is occupied by a system process, the program will prompt reload a computer. We agree and wait for removal.

Other software

There are several analogues the above program, although there are quite a few of them.

One of the most popular is iObitUnlocker. It is included in the iObit application package. All actions in it are similar to Unlocker.

Another application - Deadlock. It's also easy to use.

We launch program and look for the item to be deleted.

Then right-click on the item in the list and select Unlock – Remove.

No further action is required.

How to remove non-removable programs

Programs may also refuse to be removed. Comes across software that simply no delete function from a computer. In this case, you can use the following utilities:

It is easy enough to figure out how to remove a program from a computer. But files, configurations, registry entries, saves (if this is a game), tools (if this is a graphics or video editor) and so on can remain from it. They take up disk space.

Under no circumstances should utilities be erased directly by moving them to the trash. Take advantage of the services specifically designed for this.

Usually, an uninstaller is installed with the program. It automatically cleans up almost all application data. If you created a utility folder in the taskbar, open it. There should be a file that initiates the deletion.

Here's how to remove unnecessary programs from your computer if they're not in the Start menu:

1. Go to the application directory.
2. If you do not remember where you installed it, right-click on its shortcut.
3. Select "Properties".
4. The "Object" field will contain the path to the directory.
5. Open it and find the executable "Uninstall.exe". This is the generic name for uninstallers. Used in many applications. But the name can be different: for example, "Uninst.exe"
6. Open it and follow the instructions.
7. The uninstallation process is different for each utility. In some cases, you need to click "Next" several times. Or select the items you want to erase. Sometimes they ask you to indicate what you do not like about the software, and why you decided to remove it.

Built-in Windows Tools

Here's how to remove unnecessary programs from your computer using the built-in tools of the operating system:

• Go to "Control Panel". It can be opened through the Start menu.
• If it's not there, right-click on the taskbar and select Properties.
• Start tab.
• Customize button.
• In the list that opens, find "Control Panel" and put a marker in the "Display" checkbox.
• Save your changes.
• Now you can go to the Control Panel.
• In it, open the "Uninstall programs" (or "Programs and Features") menu.

Click on "Programs and Features"

• In the list, find the utility you want to get rid of.
• Select it. The "Delete" button will appear above the main workspace.
• Or right-click on the desired line. The "Delete" option will also be available in the context menu.

Click Delete

• The next steps depend on the application. Follow the instructions of the uninstaller.

Third party software

Even if the utilities are properly erased, there will still be some data, registry entries, files with saved settings. The most practical option is to use the removal utilities. Specialized software will not only remove the application, but also destroy all traces of it in the system. So they will not take up extra space and clog the OS.

Suitable programs:

• Revo Uninstaller. Completely erases utilities, temporary files, cleans the registry and . There is a so-called "Hunting Mode": press the button, the sight appears, aim it at the program (more precisely, at the program file) and click. Applications will be added to the Revo list.
• iobit uninstaller. Independently determines what data remains after the "standard" deletion. There is a built-in uninstaller.
• CCleaner. Designed to clean the disk, registry and system from "junk" data. If you erase programs through it, there will not even be any mention of them.

Uninstalling programs in CCleaner

• Ashampoo Uninstaller. When deleting, you need to check the box next to the item “Search for folders / files / registry entries”.
• Portable modification with a simple interface.

How to clean the registry manually?

If you do not use special software that “cleans up” the remnants of the program, links to it will not go anywhere in the registry. It's not scary, because they lead nowhere. The deleted utility will not be restored without your knowledge. But if there are too many "useless" entries in the registry, problems will arise. The system will work slowly, slow down. You will have to wait a few minutes to open the document.

It is necessary to periodically clean the registry from entries that point to non-existent utilities. It is better to use applications designed for this: for example, Registry Fix or Advanced SystemCare. Can also be cleaned by hand. But this is a risky business. It's better to try other ways.

If you decide to figure it out yourself, first create a backup copy of the registry. So that it can be restored.

• Go to Start - Run, in the window that opens, type "regedit" without quotes and click "OK". The Registry Editor will appear.

• Click File - Export. In the save window, specify the path and come up with a file name. Subsequently, it will be possible to restore the registry from it by selecting the "Import" command.

Now start cleaning:

1. In the registry editor, click Edit - Find. Or use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+F.
2. In the input field, write the name of the program that was recently erased.
3. A list of items related to this utility will appear on the right. You need to get rid of them (right-click - delete).
4. If something goes wrong, you can restore the registry to its previous state.

If the program is not removed

You run the uninstall, and it gives an error? Most likely, the utility is now "busy" - being used by other applications or services. Here's how to uninstall a program that won't uninstall:

• Open Task Manager (shortcut Ctrl+Alt+Del or Ctrl+Shift+Esc).
• On the Applications tab, shut down everything related to the utility.
• Go to the "Processes" section.

Go to the Processes section

• Find the program you want to remove from the list. Typically, the process name is the same as the name of the executable file used to run the application.
• End the process. It may re-activate after restarting the PC if you do not uninstall the utility.
• Try deleting the app again.

If the program still remains on the computer, it may be a virus. Scan your system with a good antivirus.

Chinese programs

Of particular note are Chinese utilities. They are installed on the PC in the background without asking the user's permission. It is very difficult to get rid of them. But they cannot be classified as a malware family either. These applications include baidu - a kind of antivirus. Even if you erase it, it will boot again.

And it's not so easy to deal with the uninstaller. It only contains hieroglyphs. Here is how to uninstall the Chinese program:

1. Open Task Manager (shortcut Shift+Ctrl+Esc).
2. Processes tab.
3. "Show all" or "Show all users" button. Such utilities are often disguised as system processes.
4. Find all services of the unwanted application. In our case, baidu.
5. It's better to order the lines by image name or description. To do this, click on the top of the column.
6. There can be many processes. But everyone has hieroglyphs in the description. And the name must include the name of the program.
7. Right click on one of the processes.
8. Select Open Storage.
9. Save the path to the folder in some text file.
10. Repeat this for all baidu processes. Even if the directories are repeated.
11. End the processes related to the application.
12. You can erase the program using the Windows functions. Go to "Control Panel". Open the Programs and Features (or Uninstall Programs) menu. Find the unwanted app and get rid of it.
13. There will be hieroglyphs in the uninstaller. Unfortunately, you have to act "by touch". But there are a few factors that will help you decide. The delete deletion function is usually highlighted additionally: by color or by volume. As in Russian installers, the "Next" button is on the right, "Back" is on the left.
14. After uninstalling, restart your computer. During power-up, press the F key. This is necessary to initiate another boot mode. Select "Safe Mode".
15. Now the Chinese utility will not be able to activate its processes. And they can be removed.
16. Open the file where you saved the paths to baidu.
17. Navigate to the folders listed there. To do this, open the Start menu, copy the path into the input field at the bottom (it usually says "Find files") and press Enter. The correct directory will appear.
18. Erase everything in it. Better yet, delete the directory itself.
19. Repeat for each path.

For a comprehensive cleaning of the system, use special uninstallers. So you don’t have to “catch” files and entries in the registry yourself. And there will be no risk that any element of the hated utility will remain in memory.

It is up to you to decide how to completely remove the program from your computer and what software to use for this. You can limit yourself to the built-in Windows tools. But in this way, unnecessary melons and links that have not been erased along with the application will accumulate in the system. It is better to install special utilities designed to remove programs and the garbage left after them.