Uninstalled programs

Where do program files go when a program is uninstalled?

 

Eleanor316,
Just complicating what Pete says, a little.
The files aren't actually deleted. They are renamed by Windows and hidden from view, which makes them (and the space they occupy) available to be written over when other data requires that space. This is why you can even recover (SOME) programmes and data with undelete programmes, even if you have "emptied the recycle bin ". Various parameters can have a bearing on this, such as available free space and the amount of contiguous free space available. So the longer it is left the less likely the recovery will be successful. If the drive was defragged after the deletion, the files may be permanently lost as well.
If you're still awake then there is some interesting reading at Geekgirls

 

Thanks, Paul. That is very interesting.

 

I'd also add that often, for at least some of the files the answer is nowhere.

I find it very rare for a program's uninstall program to completely remove (as far as windows is concerned - nice point Paul) all the files and or registry settings that it has created. Hence the wide range of uninstall and registry cleaning programs available. The problem isn't confined to smaller outfits who may not have the nounce to do the job properly - Adobe and Microsoft are two of the worst.

If I am removing a program completely, the fact that a few loose ends are left (especially files - registry settings are a little more of a pain) is an inconveniance but I can live with it. Where the problem really becomes a major pain is when I try to remove a program to fix a problem with a fresh reinstall. If a program becomes corupted, or I realise I've misconfigured it and wish to start again rather than trying to correct the problem, I do an uninstall and then a new install. So many times I find that all the old config files are still there and used by the new install so the problems are there too! And the files aren't in one location - they'll be hidden in the WINNT/WINDOWS folder, or somewhere in the registry.

So while I can understand (but not condone) a software house not giving priority to customers who no longer want to use their software, what I fail to understand is why they impede customers who have every intention of using their software from using a simple technique to correct problems.

For me the lack of a proper uninstall routine is the sign of bad programming. As an IT manager, It causes me as many headaches as anything else (that I can think about while having a rant about this ).

For a simple example: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Great program. Where would we be without it. However, once it gets corupted it is a nightmare to fix. It is not helped by the fact that each version seems to leave behind it a wake of old files and settings. Many people have gone along the route from version 4 to 6 via 5. So if you get a coruption of version 6 there are all sorts of places where old config files can lurk!.

 

Hi Reggie,

There are two programs that I know of that track installs and saves the "before and after files" states.

One is PCMAG's InCtrl5 - does not unistall the programs installed through it. It has gone shareware.

Another is TotalUninstall - does the uninstalling as well http://www.webattack.com/get/totaluninstall.shtml This one is free.

Both have a hole though. If the application has to reboot in order to finish the install, the process of tracking the installation files is aborted.

Now this doesn't "Take a small long helical metal object and press it lengthwise into the object while applying a twisiting action" up the install - no harm done if this happens

Regards - Charles

 

But this won't work for programs already installed. That's what I'm looking for.
Thanks anyway.

 

Hi Eleanor,

It would be a good program to have for future installs, you lessen the chances of this happening again.

And if you re-install with TotalUninstall, there is a chance that it will find all the associated files. If you read its "readme ", that's one of it's uses.

Actually, reading your posts, you give very little info on what your aim is. I'm maiking the assumption that your aim is to clear out pieces of a program,

Regards - Charles

 

Thank you Charlevar. I guess my problem is that I often find myself fixing other people's computers.

When I was a geologist, no one asked me to come round and look at their rocks. When I moved to IT everyone wanted me to look at their computers.

 

Charlesvar - I was just curious where program files go when uninstalled. I know they don't end up in the Recycle Bin. Just questions from a curious mind.