Uninstall programs properly

Uninstalling Windows programs isn't as straightforward as it should be.

Programs seem to have a way of leaving bits of themselves all over the place, clogging up the PC and eventually slowing it down.

In this Back to Basics article we will look at why this happens and explain the most effective methods for removing unwanted programs.

The problem with uninstalling files
The way Windows is built does not encourage tidy installations. By the same token, getting rid of old or otherwise unwanted programs requires a certain amount of clearing. The majority of Windows programs, for example, create a folder for themselves inside C:\Program Files\ and then one or more sub-folders inside that.

So far, so good. Unfortunately, at the same time they spray bits of themselves into other folders where Windows keeps the different libraries and other supporting components it needs to make everything work together properly.

As well as this new programs will also usually make changes to the Windows Registry, a kind of database where all kinds of important settings are stored.

The upshot of all this is that while it is possible to right-click a folder where a program was installed and choose Delete, this will leave lots of stuff behind. So how do you get rid of a program you don't need any more?

Install and uninstall tools
As well as the setup wizard that takes you through the installation in step-by-step fashion, well-behaved programs come with another program that handles the uninstalling process.

Most of the time this will be available from the All Programs menu. Just click the Start button followed by All Programs, find the entry that corresponds to the program you want to remove, click on it and look for an Uninstall or Remove option. It may be hidden in a sub-menu.

If you find the entry, click it and follow the instructions. First, though, close any other running programs to avoid any conflicts.

Sometimes a program will not include the option to uninstall it directly on the menu. Instead, it will be hidden away in the folder where the program was installed. To check, use Windows Explorer to open the Program Files folder and look in there for the relevant application's installation folder.

Once inside, have a look around for a program file called something like ‘uninstall', ‘uninstaller', ‘uninst' or even ‘remove'. Then double-click it. If in doubt, check the help file that came with the program (by pressing F1, typically) or the website of the company that wrote the program.