Uninstall programs in Windows

The best way to keep your computer running smoothly is to remove programs you no longer use.

Deleting the program files will not suffice. Instead you will need to properly uninstall them from Windows. This frees up disk space, removes clutter from the internal bits of Windows itself and keeps the PC running swiftly.

Thankfully, uninstalling programs within all versions of Windows is a simple task.

In XP, click Start, Control Panel and then select the Add/Remove Programs option. Vista and Windows 7 users need to click on the ‘Uninstall a program’ link within Control Panel.

A list of all currently installed programs will now be displayed, and it’s just a case of hunting down the one you want to remove, clicking on it and then selecting Remove (XP) or Uninstall (Vista and Windows 7).

After a short wait, the uninstall wizard for that program will appear and guide you through the process. When it has finished you may be required to restart the PC.

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