Add/Remove Programs

I am trying to clean up my dads computer, and some items on the add/remove list won't delete.

ie...

Comet/Comet Cursor (I know this is NOT a necessary item)

I get an error message that says

"Error loading C:\\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\Comet\Bin\csbho.dll "
"The system cannot find the path specified. "

I don't care if it can't load it ... why won't it just delete it ?

Anyway, Is there any help out there about adding/removing programs ... such as how to delete such files, and also how to find out just what some other files are, and whether or not they are needed ?

Thanks for the help !

 

Doug W--The easiest way is to install and run a spyware detector such as
AdAware (easy to run)
http://www.lavasoftsupport.com/
SpybotS&D
http://security.kolla.de/
both are free. You might find a lot more undesireable stuff.
Maybe that explains why you said items?
Or you could use a specific Comet removal tool
http://www.pchell.com/support/cometcursor.shtml
And I hope your father has an antivirus program installed, and keeps the virus definitions updated.

 

Doug W - I've had some problems like yours and have found that Add/Remove won't delete the program from its list if the program files have been deleted first. Always use the Add/Remove program or any other you have to delete a program. Then use the Find function on the Start menu to search for any files Add/Remove failed to remove. You can delete these file right from the Find function without having to search for the files to delete them.

To remove an entry from the Add/Remove program that won't remove I use JV16 power tools. This program is NOT for a beginner. However, I was a beginner when I first began to use it but instead of jumping right in I took the time to run each tool and just look to see what it did and what it found when it searched. Its pretty good at not letting you delete anything that shouldn't be deleted, but still you have to use good judgement.

As for finding out if certain files are ok to delete I use Google search to look up a certain file and see what its fuction is, what program uses it, and what it is susposed to do. If I'm sure I don't need it I'll delete it. But only if I'm sure.

Hope this helps. - John

 

Installs and unistall must be done in a clean manner. Lot's of things can go wrong if done improperally. You should never have anything running inthe background other than what is needed such as "explorer" and "systray "

Some make the mistake of deleteing unstead of uninstalling. Bad idea.

Corrupted files or incomplete installs can also cause glitches.

Files do disappear on occasion due to improper shutdown glitches.

Accidental renaming or moving of folders or files, happens all the time. [Mouse happy fingers].

Buggy software. Beta software.

Registry glitches.

I could go on but I think you get the idea.

Work arounds:
Got a problem with an uninstall, use a search engine to see if there's manual uninstall directions somewhere.

Reinstall application and than uninstall it.

=============
Got some references and links the Archives of past posts [using the boards search function] that may help you with clean uninstall or how to completely remove a program Or uninstall. Not sure which keyword filters will give you the best results.

You may wish to try this. I'll have a look if you can't find anything helpful, I know there, there, somewhere. Just don't have the time at the moment. I am trying to install windowsxx on another computer as we speak and it is throwing fits.

 

A family member recently downloaded a program from Internet - would like to uninstall but when I try, everything comes to a standstill, cannot go anywhere - try to restart pc but that isn't possible - have to shut unit down. Any suggestions or help would be greatly appreciated.

 

1.A good starting point: "What's the program "?
*whats the problem with program?
*Possiblity: the install was incomplete and so the uninstall will be a problem. More likely is file corruption, some file opened that belongs to the program in question or conflicting program running.

2.Have you made sure nothing (tasks) is running in the background or open? Cntrl/alt/del should allow you to shutdown (endtask) everything with the exceptions of systray and explorer.

3.Using startbutton>run line>type msconfig>General tab>selective startup>uncheck all and reboot, this will also work to make sure you have nothing that could be interferring with your installs/uninstalls.

4.Made sure trashbin and c:\windows\temp folder is empty and problem free.

5.None of these worked? Have you ran scandisk or sfc to check for possible file corruption?

 

Boots,
Since this is your first post here, you jumped into the middle of an ongoing thread that is unrelated to your problem. It is very confusing to try and help 2 people with unrelated problems in the same thread. Recommend you start a new thread, with a detailed subject line such as "program won't uninstall" or something like that. Name the problem program. How you tried to uninstall. What happens when you do? more specific, the better. Answer Goddez's questions, and I'm sure someone here can help with your problem.

 

Doug W--I may have gone overboard with my original answer by assuming you had spyware like Comet Cursor still on the PC.
If it has been properly uninstalled, the only issue, as dopey has pointed out, is getting the item off the Add/Remove list.
I think simpler than using jv16 is to use TweakUI|Add/Remove tab.
You get TweakUI (free and from Microsoft) here
http://www.microsoft.com/ntworkstation/downloads/PowerToys/Networking/NTTweakUI.asp
If, however, Comet Cursor was not properly ininstalled in the first place, the simplest way may, as suggested by goddez1, be to "Reinstall application and then uninstall it ", not delete.
Let us know the outcome.

 

Hi Jim,

It seems as aleekat has predicted, that confusion has now commenced.

This is an old, and I assume, abandoned post by Doug W, who has chosen neither to return to nor update. p Doug)

Boots, a new member to the board, has now attached his/her uninstall problem onto the archived file.

It's Boots who needs the help.

I should have realized, as aleekat, that this was going to happen, but I gave up trying to redirect posts a while back. I tend to take them as they come and hope admin can sort it out.