removing (trial) software

I installed some trial software and now I want to completely remove it. I did a control panel/ add remove programs, uninstall.

How do I remove the info from my registry, etc......

 

Hello drecollet,

How do I remove the info from my registry, etc......
Two ways:

regedit: start > run > type regedit > ok.
Once you're in regedit > edit > find. Type whatever you're looking for in the find box.

You might also if you haven't already used the search on the start menu to look for files/folders on the HD.

RegSeeker: http://www.hoverdesk.net/freeware.htm

This is a reg cleaner - has find options, but before using the find option, run it cleaning the registry, it will flag reg entries for the uninstalled app. Get rid of those and then "find ", see if anything left.

Very important: before doing this, either create a manual System Restore point if you're running XP or, in regedit > file > export. Create a folder and in the dialog box give the backed up registry a name.

Regards - Charles

 

Before even thinking about cleaning the Registry check the HD to make sure the desired program files have been removed. And if you do have to delete some, restart windows before cleaning the reg.

A lot. And I mean A LOT of trialware and even normal software does not do a good job of cleaning out its files.

Other wise you may well be wasting you time cleaning the reg first.

This is a good reason that we need to pay as close attention as possible as to where the stuff installs.

I have learned a lot of this from installing trialware. Un-installing it. BUT STILL have it hanging around.

BillyBob

 

drecollet--This recommendation depends on
1) What version of Windows you are running
2) If WinMe or later, how long ago you first installed the trial. If not too long ago, use System Restore. All system files will go back to that date, so if you have installed other programs, Windows Updates, etc., you will have reinstall. The need to reinstall should not apply to personal data (like My Documents, Pictures, etc.). If the trial was installed a long time ago, the reinstallation may be too much of a job.

 

Thx, the recover worked (XP home) for one program but I had another that I wanted to remove, so I'll have to do that the first manual way suggested above.

 

Hi drecollet,

SR will still leave bits of a program on the C drive, such as folders, .txt files and other dribs and drabs. So you can go into search and just delete them. For that reason SR is not normally recommended as an uninstaller.

Regards - Charles

 

After I did the uninstall, I did the system restore to remove the registry items. That appeared to work. Now I went and did a reg clean w/ the above program, selected all on clean, then I hit my delete button. Should everything be fine now?

 

After I did the uninstall, I did the system restore to remove the registry items. That appeared to work.
That's fine and you took care of the registry.

I was discussing the leftover non-registry files.

If you don't like the searching dog, AgentRansack is a very good free alternative http://www.mythicsoft.com/agentransack/

Regards - Charles

 

You did a SR and then cleaned the Reg.

After you got everything cleaned up did you make a new RP so that it reflects the system as IT IS. Not as IT WAS.

I find the better way to do this is to just shutdown and restart SR. And then dis-abling SR on all but the C: drive.

If you do not the old RP ( if used ) will put everything right back in and you may/will need to clean all over again.

BillyBob

 

charlesvar--

I certainly do not disagree with that.
But since drecollet had already uninstalled the program through Add/Remove, I thought SR might be helpful in cleaning the Registry of any remaining bits and pieces in one quick procedure.
However, I probably did not make it clear that my suggestion about using SR was specific to using after an uninstallation (through Add/Remove or otherwise). I was just replying in context with what had already been said in the thread.

 

FYI, think we are all saying the same thing, I knew he meant after the unistall to do the SR. I also deleted the folders manually after uninstall.