On any computer, various programs are constantly being installed and then removed, and not all programs are completely removed. Over time, the accumulated garbage on the hard drive does not give Windows work normally, which is why there are familiar "brakes". To avoid such problems, it is necessary to try uninstall the program completely and many programs have already been created for this purpose. One of these programs will be discussed in this article.
How to uninstall a program from a computer in the standard way in Windows 7 Probably everyone knows, but still remember him. The control panel has a special menu section "Uninstalling a program", which contains a list of all installed programs available for removal by the program Uninstaller embedded in Windows 7. To uninstall the program, it is necessary to select it in the window "Uninstall or change a program" and press the button "Delete".
There are, of course, users who do not even take such simple and necessary actions, but remove the program by simply deleting its folder from the disk.
not to clean Windows from various garbage manually, many programs have been written "uninstallers", which can remove programs and associated residual files that are not available for standard removal. One of these programs Revo Uninstaller. You can download it on the website www.revouninstaller.com and take advantage of a 30-day free trial.
After installation, the program immediately shows a complete list of all installed programs. To uninstall a program, you must, in the same way as in the standard method, select the program and press the button "Delete".
Next, a window appears in which you are prompted to select a scan mode. Naturally choose "Advanced", because we want to remove absolutely all traces of the program on the computer. Uninstalling a program will not start until Revo Uninstaller do not perform all the actions shown in the window, consisting of three points.
After performing a normal uninstallation of the program, you need to start scanning for the remaining garbage. Scanning in advanced mode can take a decent amount of time. The scan results are displayed in a separate window in the form of a list where you can mark files or folders that should be deleted. In our case, we do it easier, press "Select all" and confirm our decision to delete.
Now consider the option when the program you want to remove is not in the list. For these purposes, the program Revo Uninstaller there is a special mode "Hunter Mode".
When this mode is selected, the program is minimized to tray, and a sight appears on the desktop, which must be aimed at any trace of the program. It can be a desktop shortcut, a pop-up window, or a tray icon. After pointing this sight at "victim" a menu appears with various options for actions, among which we select the option that suits us "Uninstall".
A window appears prompting you to select the scan mode and shows the location of the program to be removed. Naturally, we choose the mode "Advanced".
Further, a match was found in the names of the programs and the use of an internal uninstaller was proposed. But the name shows that this is a completely different program and we refuse this action by unchecking the box.
The result of the check shows numerous traces in the registry, which we will remove by selecting all.
In the next window, we see a list of all the remaining folders, files and shortcuts, which we also delete everything.
After removing from the program being removed, for some reason it remained. A rescan turned up no more traces, so we can say uninstall the program completely we succeeded, and we will delete the shortcut manually.
The Revo Uninstaller program also has other useful features, but we will not consider them in this article.
Before the release of any software product is tested. In addition to programs, specialists also test the site. Testing sites and software allows you to identify errors in the operation and safety of using these products on users' computers, as well as the vulnerability of the products themselves. The developer is not able to check all his developments on his own, so outsourcing testing is often used. Having carried out functional testing, specialists can immediately determine whether the program performs its tasks, and usability testing will show the usability of the product being released.
Post navigation
Most novice computer users cannot, if necessary, properly remove the program from the computer. What do they do when they need to uninstall a program? Most often, they simply find the folder with the program and send it to the trash, that is, they simply delete it.
On the one hand, it seems that everything is correct and the program has been deleted, because the folder weighed several tens of megabytes, and now this place has been freed up. But no! Other parts of it most often remain on the computer: data about the work in the program, entries in the registry and other "garbage". And over time, the remnants of these programs, after deletion, become more and more, and the user wonders where a couple of hundred more megabytes, or even a couple of gigabytes, have gone. And this is possible.
And it also happens that the user simply removes the program shortcut from the desktop, and thinks that everything is in order and the program is completely removed. Of course, this is not the right thing to do!
And today we will study with you uninstall programs correctly. Let's consider a couple of ways to remove software: using standard Windows tools and separately installed programs for thorough cleaning.
The easiest and most correct way to uninstall a program is to open "Start", go to " Control Panel».
In the window that opens, select " The installing and deleting of programms". This method is for those who have Windows XP.
And if you have Windows 7, then in your case this item is " Uninstalling a program».
We go there, and a window appears in front of us, where we see a list of all installed programs on our computer. We find the program that you want to remove and click on the button " Remove».
In the window that opens, we confirm our intention to uninstall the program by clicking " Next" or " Remove", It can also be in English the word " Uninstall".
The program will be completely removed from the computer.
In Windows 7, programs are uninstalled in the same way, only the windows are slightly different.
It should also be said that the correct option is also the way to remove the program from the folder by running the Uninstall. Most often, this file is there, and if you go to the folder where the program is installed and run this file Uninstall, then we can also remove the program.
Note! Using the standard method for uninstalling programs, you need to remember that at least once a month you need to carry out how this is done, I told in the lesson at the link in this sentence.
For more complete removal of programs there is a separate developed software. This option may also come in handy in cases where, with the above method, it is not possible to uninstall the program, since it is simply not in the list of installed software.
One of these programs is called Revo Uninstaller, it is not difficult to find it. For example, on the official website, you can download the free, latest version by following this link http://www.revouninstaller.com/revo_uninstaller_free_download.html and scroll down the page.
Save this program to your computer and install. I don't think it will be difficult.
We launch Revo Uninstaller and see that its interface is quite simple. By default, we have the " Uninstaller" tab open, which displays all installed programs.
We can click on any program icon with the right mouse button and select the item " Uninstall", To completely remove the program from the computer.
Revo Uninstaller analyzes files related to the program we are uninstalling.
After we delete the program itself,
Revo Uninstaller will prompt you to search for the remaining files.
It will scan the registry and other places, you need to wait a bit.
We will be prompted to delete the entries in the registry that the program left behind. There you need to check the boxes in front of the items highlighted in bold and click " Delete", Then " Next».
We also delete the found files and folders on the disk itself related to the program.
This is how we completed the complete removal of the program from the computer.
Most often, this list displays all programs, even those that are not in the standard uninstaller. But if suddenly there is no such program that you want to remove, then there is a fallback.
Go to the "Hunter Mode" tab.
Revo Uninstaller immediately minimizes and appears in the upper right corner with only such an icon, in the form of a sight.
We open the program we want to remove, then point the sight at the program window and click on this sight icon. And in the menu that opens, select the item " Uninstall».
We confirm the removal and also go through several stages: choosing the uninstallation mode, completely removing the program, cleaning from the remaining files.
In fact, there are a huge number of programs, both paid and free, that are designed to remove software, but the essence is the same everywhere. And even the free version of Revo Uninstaller does a great job.
And if you are interested in other topics on working with deleting files and programs, then I recommend reading my following lessons:
, And
.
That's all! I wish you good luck with uninstalling programs!
Remove the program from the computer- it would seem, what is easier? With standard Windows tools, this is done through a special item in the Control Panel.
For Windows 7 And Windows 8 we go:
Start - Control Panel - Programs and Features (when viewing "Large/Small Icons")
Start - Control Panel - Uninstall a program (when viewing "Category")
For Windows XP:
Start - Control Panel - Add or Remove Programs.
the uninstaller will start, which is included with the program itself, and you can safely remove it, guided by the prompts in the window.
You can also uninstall the program using a special file, which is most often called Uninstall and is located in the program folder in Program Files. But this method is for perverts of more inquisitive users, as well as if there is no name of this program in the list of installed programs in the Control Panel.
This is how most novice users are deleted. And it's good if they know where this item is located in the Control Panel. And sometimes they don't even know. But that's another story...
But this method has one drawback. The fact is that during installation, the program not only creates its own folders and files (which can be immediately seen in Programm Files, on the Desktop, in the Start menu, Quick Launch Panel, etc. - it depends on the program and how you yourself want ), but also writes its paths to , adds itself to startup, creates additional folders, adds an item to the context menu, creates and much more. It depends on the program itself. All this together is often called "tails" or "garbage".
And when you uninstall programs in the standard way, it is not always possible to clean up these very tails, even if the uninstaller asks for a reboot (and I strongly recommend agreeing to this point). But the program is still deleted, and the garbage remains. You don't notice him because he doesn't bother you. And over time, this trash becomes quite a lot (with frequent installation and removal of programs) and from it the computer begins to "slow down", conflict, disk space decreases, etc.
For these purposes, special cleaner programs have been invented, but about them in another article. And now I will give you a couple of good free programs with a Russian interface that will help you fully delete the program along with its tails and remnants.
IObit Uninstaller- a wonderful program to remove programs that do not require installation.
to select the Russian language, click on the link above More- Language - Russian
An excellent program that may well replace the standard removal of programs. You can "throw" on a flash drive.
You can simply put it on the desktop and run it when you delete it.
What else is good about it:
and many more interesting things.
When uninstalling, it will display a confirmation message, then delete it and ask you to do a "Powerful Scan" in which it looks for all the garbage left from the program.
Video from Americans about this program
You can download this wonderful program from the link with.
Revo Uninstaller- this product is much more serious than the previous one and the size of the installation file is almost 5 times larger. And all this is due to its components:
In general, this is just a combine, the basis of which is the removal of programs, and then the auxiliary modules that are described above.
And everything would be fine, but such a program simply cannot be without a catch, and there is one - this is that it is free for 30 days. But I think this time will be enough for you to do everything you wanted with its help.
Video from the developers of the program, about its innovations
You can download a program for "smart" removal of programs along with garbage - you can follow the link from.
Geek Uninstaller - a program for removing programs and their "tails". It does not require installation (portable) and works under all versions of Windows 7/8/XP/Vista/2003/2008.
The interface of the program is simple to disgrace:
It immediately shows a list of installed programs. Below there is a search by name (you need to enter). The lower bar shows how many programs and their volume.
The list of programs can be exported to an HTML file for later viewing in .
On the menu Actions you can find out the program entries in and the file location folder (they will open themselves when selected).
In addition, you can remove the entry from this list and search the Google search engine for the name of this program.
You can just uninstall the program Actions -> Uninstall), then the uninstall wizard of the program itself will start and will uninstall in the standard way, and then the program will display a message about possible "tails" and suggest deleting them.
You can also choose Forced deletion, which is useful for uninstalling programs that require a password to uninstall or when the program cannot be uninstalled in the standard way.
As a result of the actions of these options, a scan will start
then a window will appear containing a report on the "tails" found
Well, after pressing the button Delete The program will report successful completion.
The overall impression of the program is quite good. Especially when you consider that you do not need to install and can be carried with you. All that is needed is present and removes qualitatively and completely.
I will add that it is better to use programs to completely remove programs.
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:
- Go to the application directory.
- If you do not remember where you installed it, right-click on its shortcut.
- Select "Properties".
- The "Object" field will contain the path to the directory.
- 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"
- Open it and follow the instructions.
- 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 methods.
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:
- In the registry editor, click Edit - Find. Or use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+F.
- In the input field, write the name of the program that was recently erased.
- A list of items related to this utility will appear on the right. You need to get rid of them (right-click - delete).
- 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:
- Open Task Manager (shortcut Shift+Ctrl+Esc).
- Processes tab.
- "Show all" or "Show all users" button. Such utilities are often disguised as system processes.
- Find all services of the unwanted application. In our case, baidu.
- It's better to order the lines by image name or description. To do this, click on the top of the column.
- There can be many processes. But everyone has hieroglyphs in the description. And the name must include the name of the program.
- Right click on one of the processes.
- Select Open Storage.
- Save the path to the folder in some text file.
- Repeat this for all baidu processes. Even if the directories are repeated.
- End the processes related to the application.
- 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.
- 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.
- After uninstalling, restart your computer. During power on, press the F key. This is necessary to initiate another boot mode. Select "Safe Mode".
- Now the Chinese utility will not be able to activate its processes. And they can be removed.
- Open the file where you saved the paths to baidu.
- 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.
- Erase everything in it. Better yet, delete the directory itself.
- 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.
Over time, some applications, games become unnecessary for the owner. To properly uninstall them, you need to know how to remove the program from your computer without leaving unnecessary files in the registry. The rules are the same for both laptops and desktops. You can uninstall using the built-in Windows tools or third-party utilities.
How to completely remove a program from a computer
Some users think that you just need to click the delete button on the desktop shortcut, but this is not true. Removing programs from a computer can be done in several ways, some of them leave invisible files in the system, others completely erase all data. If you do not know how to remove unnecessary applications, over time you will accumulate so much "garbage" that problems with memory or system performance will begin.
Proper uninstallation manually or by means of third-party programs will help to avoid this. The most common utilities for these needs are as follows:
- uninstall file;
- your uninstaller;
- CCleaner;
- Revo uninstaller;
- built-in Windows tools.
Uninstalling programs in Windows 7
One of the common versions of this operating system has all the necessary resources to completely uninstall files. You do not need to download additional software to remove all unnecessary applications and games. You just need such an item as adding and removing programs in Windows 7. The algorithm of actions is as follows:
- click on the "Start" button;
- select "Control Panel" from the menu;
- inside you need to find the "Installation and removal" section;
- select from the list the application that should be uninstalled;
- click on it and click on the "Delete" item;
- wait until the end of the procedure.
uninstall file
All official developers leave the user the opportunity, without any problems, to simply and quickly remove their product. There is a native uninstaller in the program, which, as a rule, is located along with all other files after installation and is called Uninstall. You just need to click on it, agree to uninstall and the file itself will perform all the actions, leaving no hidden documents on the computer.
Utilities for the complete removal of programs
There is also special software that was created to erase data from a computer, clean registry, and completely remove all components from a PC. Utilities will help get rid of all hidden, inaccessible files. You can use the following software to uninstall programs:
- ccleaner;
- uninstall tool;
- Revo Uninstaller;
- unlocker.
How to remove an unwanted program from a computer
Above, various options have been described on how to get rid of unused applications. You yourself can choose any of the ways to remove unnecessary programs from your computer. The option to uninstall via the Start button is the easiest, but there are more advanced utilities that open up more options for advanced users. You can not only remove unnecessary programs from your computer, but also work with the registry. Keep in mind that you can only perform these actions if you understand what you are doing. Otherwise, there is a risk of erasing the necessary documents.
Free Uninstall tool
This is a lightweight, simple utility that is distributed freely on the Internet. The Uninstall tool can be used without purchasing a license. During installation, in addition to the main folder, hidden in other places on the PC appear, entries in the registry are added. Removing them manually becomes difficult because the search does not always find them by name. The utility in question will help you in this matter, it detects all the "tails" that were created during installation. You need to do the following:
- Install software.
- It will launch the application, in the first window you will see the "Uninstaller" menu.
- From the list in the window, select the unnecessary application.
- Information about the file will appear, it is possible to delete it forcibly.
How to uninstall a program with CCleaner
This is a powerful tool for working with the registry, all installed applications, games. Ccleaner computer cleaning can be done automatically or manually. The utility is able to collect data from the entire PC and offer to erase specific files. Externally, the main window of the program looks like a standard Windows tool. To get rid of unwanted documents, do the following:
- Install and open the app.
- Select the "Service" tab.
- The first item in the menu will be "Delete", in the list you need to select the required line.
- Click on the "Uninstall" button, the software will perform all the necessary actions by itself, guide the user through the necessary steps.
- Keep in mind that you need to click on the button above, and not on "Delete". This function erases data from the registry, not the application itself.
- Then go to the "Registry" window, run the scan.
- Clean up any extra entries that Ccleaner finds.
Revo uninstaller
A powerful utility that simplifies the process of erasing data. With its help, you can solve all the problems that may arise in this process. The Revo uninstaller programs are uninstalled as follows:
- Run the software, find the icon of the document you want to erase in the main menu. Right-click on the line and select "Delete".
- First, a preliminary analysis will be carried out, then the uninstaller will be launched.
- The uninstall wizard will guide you through several steps, perform the necessary actions, choosing the desired uninstallation options.
- Some “tails” could remain, so go to the “Advanced” section, start scanning.
- The report should include all registry entries after the deletion.
- Click "Select All" and then click "Delete" again. You don’t have to worry about the health of Windows, only unnecessary data is removed from the registry.
- Do the same in the "Remaining Files..." section.
What to do if the program is not removed
Sometimes users may encounter a situation where a file or folder that cannot be deleted appears on the PC. In this case, you will need special applications that lift the ban. Utilities for unlocking LockHunter or Unlocker files are considered popular. These options help to remove the lock from the desired element, which gives you the message "Unable to delete the file." Instructions on how to remove an uninstallable program:
- Download, install Unlocker, it will immediately appear in the OS context menu so you don't have to look for it.
- Right-click on the document that voluntarily does not want to go to the trash.
- In the window that appears, click on "Delete" and click "OK".
LockHunter works on the same principle. When you install it, when you right-click on any document, there will be a new line in the menu "What is locking this file?". When the item is activated, a note will appear in which the path to the document and those processes that prevent it from being erased will be written. To get rid of the document, you just need to click on the “Delete it!” option.
How to uninstall a program from a remote computer
Sometimes it's easier to do everything yourself than to explain to a person who does not understand the issue. You can uninstall programs on a remote computer. It will be possible to do this only for users who have experience with computers on a local network. Use of another PC must be approved by the owner. To work, you need the built-in WMI utility, you need to do the following:
- Press Win+R keyboard shortcut, write cmd.exe to run command prompt.
- Next, type in wmic.
- Next, you need to get a list of what is installed on the remote machine. Write the following: node: computer name product get name - and confirm the action with the enter button.
- You will receive a list and, for example, you need to erase the Klondike game.
- Retype the following from the wmic utility: node: PcName product where name = "Klondike" call uninstall.
- Confirm your decision with the "Y" button.
- A message about deletion will appear on the screen, additional options will be indicated.
How to uninstall portable programs
There are utilities that do not require installation. They are simply copied to the hard drive and run from the exe file. Removing portable programs is completely done with a simple keyboard shortcut Shift + Delete. If you want to send the folder to the trash, then just Delete is enough (this will leave you the opportunity to restore the data if necessary). Such cases do not require additional cleaning of the registry.
What programs can not be removed from the computer
The main thing in this process is not to get carried away, because you can erase something really important. There is a list of folders that should not be touched by a complete removal of programs. Some data is responsible for the operation of the entire operating system, and overwriting it will lead to the inoperability of the computer. You cannot delete anything from the following folders:
- ProgramData - if you do not know what the folder is responsible for, then nothing should be erased from it;
- Windows - the main folder of the OS, here are all the components of the system;
- Program Files - installed software, only if you understand what the folder is responsible for, you can overwrite it;
- Users - user data;
- Boot - system boot files.
Video: Ways to uninstall programs
