How to Delete Program From Computer to Recover Again Trial Usage

Eugene has experience with figurer programs and is hither to share his advice for uninstalling a pesky program that won't uninstall.

Learn how to force uninstall a programme that won't uninstall on its own

Canva.com

How to Force Uninstall a Plan in Windows

It happens all the time: You install a program, decide you don't similar it or need it, and yous want to uninstall information technology. So you open up the Windows Add/Remove tool and click to uninstall the program—only to discover that you can't. In this article, I will explain how to force uninstall a program.

Beginning, however, I will attempt to explain what happens during installation.

What You Need to Know Almost Installing and Uninstalling Programs

Several things happen during the installation of a plan, which can help explicate why you are having difficulties uninstalling it:

• When you download a program, the files are copied to a specified folder, which is unremarkably somewhere inside the Program Files folder.
• Some files, such as shared libraries (.dll files), will be copied into a folder within Plan Files called Common Files.
• Other files, such equally drivers or shared libraries (once more), are copied into the WINDOWS\System32 and WINDOWS\System32\drivers folders.
• After that, the installer makes some changes inside the Windows Registry. This is a database where all the settings and options for the operating arrangement are stored, as well as for whatsoever applications or Os components that are programmed to use it. The installer can brand changes inside the Registry if a shared library needs to be registered or if certain types of files need to exist associated with the program being installed. For example, if you install Microsoft Word, then you volition also be able to open Microsoft Discussion documents.
• After this is done, a key is added to the Windows Registry, where the Windows Add together/Remove tool looks for installed programs.
• During installation, all these operations for installing are logged in a special log file (for example, setup.log), and the installation program commonly puts that file inside the awarding's folder forth with the uninstaller. When a user tries to remove a plan through the Add together/Remove tool, Windows looks for the registered uninstaller inside the registry and executes it. The uninstaller goes through the log file and undoes all the changes done during installation. That is, it deletes all the files that accept been copied, all the Registry keys the installer created, and then forth.
• If in that location is no log file, or if at that place is no tape of the changes fabricated to the registry, the uninstaller might fail to uninstall the plan and will need to be removed by other means.

In curt, normally, programs are removed using an uninstaller, reading the documentation written during their installation. If, for some reason, the file that contains these instructions was never produced in the first identify, the program will exist impossible to uninstall normally using the Windows Add together/Remove tool.

Force Uninstall Using the Windows Registry

If you're comfy working with the Windows Registry yourself, y'all tin perform a manual forcefulness uninstall. Be careful when working in your operating system's database equally you don't desire to accidentally delete essential files. It goes without saying that this is pretty advanced stuff, and if you're not a power user, and then possibly y'all should consider downloading an uninstaller.

To manually remove a program, y'all have to find the programme key in the Windows Registry. The Registry contains keys and values; keys are containers that perform a similar function to file folders and may contain values or more keys. However, earlier manipulating the Registry, information technology would be wise to back it up in instance something goes wrong.

How to Back Up the Windows Registry

For Windows Vista or higher up:

1. If operating Windows viii or in a higher place, swipe from the correct and bring up Search. In Windows 7 or Vista, click Start.
2. Blazon regedit.exe into the search box; provide administrator confirmation if asked.
3. Click the Registry central you wish to support.
4. Select File, so Export. Select the location where you want to salve the backup, then Save.

If using Windows XP:

1. Click Offset and and so Run.
2. Blazon %SystemRoot%\system32\restore\rstrui.exe. Click Enter or OK.
3. Y'all will be taken to the Welcome to Arrangement Restore page. Select Create a Restore Point and then Side by side.
4. Type a name to exist the restore point and Create. Shut.

Now, yous can deport on with your uninstall and restore the registry every bit is if y'all delete the wrong matter.

Navigating the Windows Registry to the Uninstall Log

Click Start and choose Run in the menu (If you're using Windows Vista then press Win+R on your keyboard). Type "regedit" (without quotation marks) and hitting Enter:

Run menu.

Gyre to Continue

The Registry volition open with a settings tree is on the left side. To locate the program's uninstall key, navigate to the following sub-folder:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall

Follow the sequence below to accomplish the correct key:

Windows Registry.

Inside the Uninstall binder (prototype in a higher place) you'll find a lot of keys that belong to different programs. Some are named afterward the programme's name, others as a mix of numbers and messages that probably make no sense. When you click on ane, the right-side pane volition display the key's information, including a category called DisplayName, which is the name of the program equally information technology's displayed to the user.

The image beneath shows an example of one of the Registry primal's contents:

Uninstall folder in Windows Registry.

In the screenshot below, the DisplayName item has been highlighted. This particular volition show y'all the name of the program as yous know information technology, rather than its coded name within the organisation. Employ the DisplayName item to discover the correct program:

Windows Registry display name.

Delete the keys that show your program's name under DisplayName by correct-clicking on the items and selecting Delete. Now your program won't appear on the Add/Remove programs list.

Deleting an item from the Windows Registry.

Some programs create new entries in the registry to store their configuration options, and then y'all may need to hunt down these files as well. These entries can commonly be found in HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software, HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software, or, occasionally, HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services. Await for the plan proper name or the proper noun of the company that made the software and delete the relevant binder.

Delete Programme Files From Uninstalled Program

Finally, you need to find all the files that were copied onto your computer during installation. Open the folder where the uninstalled programme should be, and look for files that are named uninstall.log or setup.log or something similar. Inside this file is a listing of files that have been installed with the corresponding program. Open the file on Notepad and read through to find all of the files that have been copied onto your organization during installation. Delete the files and you'll become rid of the program about fully.

Manually Uninstall a Program From the Windows Registry

This commodity is authentic and truthful to the best of the author's noesis. Content is for informational or entertainment purposes but and does not substitute for personal counsel or professional advice in business concern, financial, legal, or technical matters.

fady on June 04, 2020:

very helpful thanks

Judah on March 23, 2020:

give thanks you sooooooooooooooooooo much for this article.

life saver!

varma on Jan 15, 2020:

Thank you, this article is a life saver.

An on August 22, 2019:

Thanks. it has helped me as well.

Harry on July 12, 2019:

with mine it doesnt evidence upward i dont know if im looking in the right place exercise u look in line with display name and downward from data?

pooja on May 04, 2019:

This blog is very squeamish and very useful How to Force Uninstall a Program That Won't Uninstall thanks for this data thank you for sharing us...

Hiry Armpit on March 07, 2019:

Prissy work

jordan khan on March 05, 2019:

thank u so much.Information technology helped.Information technology saved money as i was recommended a paid software which does the aforementioned.

mehrad on February 09, 2019:

and so amazing

actually helpful

tnx

Sandy on November 02, 2018:

awesome.... information technology works for me.. superbbbbb... thank u so muchhh

hullo on October 09, 2018:

ummm it says a dll is missing to install when ever i try to uninstall sony vegas i am much confused help is needed

srij on May 01, 2018:

hi tin u please tell that what to do if setup don't even piece of work in windows eight

the setup says "unable to create a temporary file" and the setup then aborts. please tell what to do

riff on April 16, 2018:

cheers it work

Enihs on Apr xvi, 2018:

thank you human,appreciate it :)))

Katalina on April 04, 2018:

I am thankful

very useful

and very understandable

Thank you once again, this groovy chore :)

Samuel Ogunfuye on March 12, 2018:

Cheers so much. It was really Helpful.. Bully work

JAXK on March 05, 2018:

Groovy Information technology WORKS.. HAIL FOR THIS MAN

Galla on December 06, 2017:

The guide is good actually, but it'southward not the easiest style to forcefulness uninstall programs. If anyone is looking for a 'several clicks' solution, then y'all may try 3d party tools, like CleanMyPC. It gives you lot a complete listing of apps you have currently installed and information technology allows to remove any of them by clicking a button. Aforementioned with registry - has a module to clean information technology. and it automatically removes any leftovers.

Pete The Mouse on Nov 26, 2017:

"Error while deleting central" This guide doesn't piece of work don't fifty-fifty try to apply it...

Deepak on November 12, 2017:

very easy and quick mode to get rid of a troubling program. great!!

Jennifer on November 09, 2017:

This was an awesome commodity. Thanks

male monarch on Oct 24, 2017:

how-do-you-do sir , first i update windown 10 so install autocad 2013 and then i re-install the window update and at present i desire to uninstall the autocad only it give error during uninstall ....plz tell me solution

Mathew on Oct 18, 2017:

then i accept McCafee forcefulness installed on hither and I need to get rid of it. however following your steps here. McCafee is no where on the list. how would I get rid of information technology in this case?

Manraj Singh on September 09, 2017:

thank you alot bro....

ShepardVasNormandy on August 28, 2017:

Give thanks you lot bro ;)

Jay on August 16, 2017:

Can you mail a similar video for uninstalling the program, in beast strength mode? for ex: my org has forced websense due south/w and is not allowing united states of america to uninstall through grouping policy. I have admin rights, but some south/w i can't do much.

shuxxx on July 25, 2017:

dainty! thanks

Nur on July xx, 2017:

Thanks. It worked good.

Severodvinsk Masterskaya on June 25, 2017:

BRAVOOO ! tnx .... !!! Yous are KING !

Jenn on January eighteen, 2017:

Thanks for the video

John Doe on January 08, 2017:

You're a life saver.

jigar iglesias on August nineteen, 2016:

omg thank u and then much...

zepp on July 24, 2016:

Rest in peace eugene2k

venkat on July 07, 2016:

Thanks I volition effort ...

steamboat on June 29, 2016:

Simply got around to doing this...I first checked the avira free site and found its education to be useless...it doesn't work. So then I tried its "help" assistance. Bingo, Null in that location, too. I take it the avira people don't want their users to get out. I gauge that'south why they accept misleading update pop-ups which are really plugs for their not free versions. I used to recommend the avira anti-vi programme. Merely, because of these failures, no more than.

On the other hand, unwittingly, the producers accept been quite successful in producing at least one anti-avira user however. Requite credit when credit is due, I say.

Beak on June twenty, 2016:

Why does the registry uninstall not display all my programs?

JohnP on Jan 19, 2016:

You can use Microsoft FixIT for this purposes

http://hitech-u.s..com/manufactures/entry/89/How-to-clea...

brainlanded.com on May 27, 2015:

Thats Cool. But also Try this too

http://brainlanded.com/tech-how-to-un-install-stub...

SarahK on March 16, 2015:

This actually helps!! Although, when I become to uninstall programs through the registry editor, some of the programs don't take a display name. There are weird advertisement apps that continue randomly installing themselves and information technology won't allow me uninstall them through the control console. They might be the unnamed programs, but I don't desire to accidentally delete something of import... How do I work around this?

Over again, thank you so much for this article, it truly helped!

juliaop on February 12, 2015:

Long Path Tool is very elementary and like shooting fish in a barrel solution for this.

avs on February 06, 2015:

cheers for the help....Excellent .....

ek on December xv, 2014:

it piece of work well thanks

NicMadden on November 27, 2014:

Hey! I had a problem similar that trying to uninstall a program that there was no way to get rid of it. Finally looking through internet constitute this program: http://perfectuninstaller.co.nf and at least I could uninstall it.

Accept a expect at information technology probably is what you're looking for! :)

Logik on May twenty, 2014:

So, I used to utilize this website chosen "listentoyoutube" to go sound files off of YouTube considering I am starting to brand animations and intros for my YouTube channel. Well, I went on this site, similar whatever other twenty-four hour period, but this time when I was downloading the sound file of a Gaming YouTuber'south video, it told me to download this matter, and I figured, "Oh ok, peradventure the site updated and this is for easier converting or something." Well, when I downloaded information technology, I got ads all over the place, and things take attempted to download by themselves that Chrome has blocked due to malicious reasons. I at first tried uninstaling via Add/Remove Programs because the thing is called YouTubeAdblocker and was downloaded the same exact fourth dimension the download for the sound file was made. That didn't work. Then, I stumbled upon this, and I thought, "My savior!" only to observe out that it didn't show upwardly. It had every other affair under my software except for that. Is there anyway to remove this without restoring my estimator to factory settings? Or practise I absolutely Take to restore my computer to factory settings?

ioana on April 27, 2014:

Thak you so much, you are a genious!

Mira on April 01, 2014:

Thank you for the clear instructions for removing the primal from the Registry. I was able to remove the bundled software uninstall programe!

Take a good mean solar day!

Matty on February 28, 2014:

im on windows seven, tried to follow these steps an i couldn't find the games that were refusing the be removed, nonetheless once in the regedit simply use the top bar, view and Find.. search for ur game or plan to find it, and delete the stubborn matter lol.. works a treat

Samuel Ranta on Jan 29, 2014:

It seems these instructions won't fully utilize on windows vii.. Deleted all registryentries related to a stubborn program and fifty-fifty more and program tin nonetheless be seen in Add together/Remove -panel...

Uday on October 22, 2013:

I am unable to uninstall a program which is named as bundled software uninstaller...it is displaying a message some trouble with internet connection try later...except the proper noun of that program in control console nothing is displayed nigh that, how can i uninstall this...plz allow me know...i experience information technology is a virus in my pc.

Lilia on October 07, 2013:

Thank yous so much!!

You are the all-time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

jegon on September xiv, 2013:

im trying to delete my lockbox because i forgot my password. im hoping when i delete it, i could reinstall information technology to make a new password. just when i tried to remove information technology in control panel information technology asks me for password. then i ended the procedure from task managing director so i could delete the lockbox folder. then i went to regedit and got rid of everything that had to do with my lockbox. i got happy, until i went to reinstall it. when it finished, i went to open information technology and it yet asked me for the password...wth!! how do i become thru this? where is it storing the password? at present what??

jegon on September 14, 2013:

im trying to delete my lockbox considering i forgot my password. im hoping when i delete it, i could reinstall information technology to make a new countersign. but when i tried to remove it in control panel it asks me for countersign. then i concluded the process from task director so i could delete the lockbox folder. then i went to regedit and got rid of everything that had to do with my lockbox. i got happy, until i went to reinstall it. when information technology finished, i went to open it and it withal asked me for the countersign... what the hell! how do i get thru this? where is it storing the password? now what??

windows user on August fourteen, 2013:

why does information technology take to exist so difficult!v I hatehaTEhate bill gates!

sam88 on July 27, 2013:

microsoft fixit is the best...http://back up.microsoft.com/mats/Program_Install_...

Mrinal Saha from Jaipur,India on July x, 2013:

Just utilise revo uninstaller ,, it's best,,

computer putz on May 08, 2013:

didn't exercise a thing for me, I had to do a syste mrestore to an earlier version.

it wouldn't allow me to change anything in the registry, giving me the same meaase that I do't accept sufficient permssion to admission i t.

what idiot wrote this into windows, and thought he was existence cute.

sombody ought to bitch slap him to hell and back again.

Information technology is MY figurer and "I" have al lthe permission I need to practise ANYTHING on MY computer and who does microsoft thjink they are by even THINKING of permissions?

blooming idiots.

Like I said "It is MY f'ing' comuoter and I command all who is and what is on information technology, not you , microsoft idoits.

I am going to linux, like everyone else.

Take that microsoft jackasses. Think I demand your "permission" t odo it?

THINK AGAIN....................MR. GATES............

Jonathan on March 15, 2013:

Perfect Uninstaller did the verbal aforementioned thing I did when trying to uninstall an old version of Java, FAIL. I likewise can't find the fundamental for Java in the registry editor. Assist!!!

kaushal on March 09, 2013:

thank you very much

Renz on March 09, 2013:

Thank u ..................u help me a lot

lalit on March 04, 2013:

cheers a man ...u save my lots of fourth dimension......cheers a lot

Sergio on February 25, 2013:

Thanks for this! :) I had a game I couldn't uninstall and ended upward deleting the folder (similar an idiot done this a million times sometimes works), but couldn't install over again and this helped.

christopher on February 12, 2013:

reason is that the plan does piece of work right

keegan on January 28, 2013:

That'southward non uninstalling its still in there. I want the whole thing gone.

ASh on Jan 09, 2013:

Thank you a lot....for it....

stefan on January 05, 2013:

give thanks you and so much ! great work using the second method and i am non a "power user".

All the best!

hentai on Dec 27, 2012:

even if you remove it on registry it can not uninstall delete it on program file data not in registry if will back once more if yous delete registry

rashadujjaman on December 25, 2012:

tanks for help me.

Harshree from India on December fourteen, 2012:

In my opinion, the add/remove programs option in windows is not good at all. Even if the programs gets uninstalled there will still be many leftovers that will remain forever on your hard drive. I agree with the employ of an uninstaller program. They provide y'all with several options to uninstall the program too equally related files.

ABA on Dec 04, 2012:

thanks a lot!!!

co-ordinate this tip i establish this one

http://www.allbestapp.com/system-utility-apps/wins...

Gwen on Nov 30, 2012:

Thanks a lot, helped me, and if u wanna discover something in the registry, and then you can just use Ctrl+F once you accept opened the registry. Simply thanks for this!

poop on November 20, 2012:

why would you lot suggest perfect uninstaller? i'm a student I tin can't afford that right now. this didn't assist at all.

jipsysoul35 on September 16, 2012:

You stone!

anil on August 24, 2012:

we can use recommended uninstaller to uninstall applications on Windows. Information technology tin help solve bug that are caused when a programme does not uninstall properly.

http://world wide web.mirekusoft.com

rohit on August 10, 2012:

thank u buddy

Skylobos on August 09, 2012:

Cheers man, this was really helpful.

abhishek bhat.g on July 23, 2012:

thanks human you are the all-time

MaryDL on July 20, 2012:

Thank you soooo much!!

you are my hero

i installed avg2012 thinking it was avast virus protection.when i realized my error i tried to unistall but it says not installed request ignored just yet its running and is in my control console on July nineteen, 2012:

Program says its not installed how e'er its running and information technology'southward in my command panel

shubham on July 07, 2012:

thxs a lot for urs great comment. This makes me able to remove a waste program.thxs again

mouni on July 06, 2012:

cheers...................

Vidhya L from Chennai, India on June 21, 2012:

Thanks for the tip, will try it when needed. I likewise use Revo uninstaller (free version) and it has always forcefulness uninstalled for me without any problems.

Roy A. Briant on June 13, 2012:

Before y'all re-install Windows, information technology might exist something more simple like running out of deejay space. Find 'My Computer' from the start button card and right click on 'local disk C:' and then 'properties' to check on bachelor disk space. If its more than than 80-90% total there might be a trouble. At to the lowest degree a couple gig should be available.

Read More than at: http://www.techyv.com/questions/i-can-not-install-...

twinmomplus1amy on April 21, 2012:

I had Microsoft Function 2010 student and teacher edition. I uninstalled it to download another version of Microsoft Office 2010 that has Publisher and Outlook which my previous version did not. When I try to install the new version, information technology says information technology cannot be installed because I yet have Update for Microsoft Word 2007 kB974631 installed. When I highlight the update in the control console, uninstall is not an option. How exercise I uninstall it and why won't information technology uninstall? Thank you!

Kar3n4u on Apr 21, 2012:

For some reason, my program is installed... simply its not actualization on the registry. o-o

sic on April 21, 2012:

I get a "Fault deleting key" when I tried to delete this horrible, horrible program I so want to rid my computer of in all aspects. Which is "Avast" , by the way. My computer hasn't been running right sense I downloaded "Avast"-did not pay anything, either it was complimentary or trial version. Whatever suggestions?

Ronny Francis on April 13, 2012:

It was excellent. I was totally to remove program.

Now everything is smoothen. Thanx very much.

Ankit on Apr 12, 2012:

Awesome buddy !! :D

thnx a lot !!

Jeremy Tschudy on Apr 02, 2012:

Shogoll

Judging by your typing, I suggest you lot take your auto in to a tech...I can only expect you to do more impairment than skillful to your car.

jryan on March 31, 2012:

Run CCleaner its faster and easier.

joy on March 21, 2012:

Cheers a lot. MAY YOUR Skillful TRIBE MULTIPLY.

Thank you once more.

me on March 17, 2012:

What am i supposed to do if every time i try to uninstall the program my computer freezes. i've run a virus scan on it and it comes up with nothing. what am i supposed to do??????????

Aman on February 29, 2012:

Thanks a ton... great trick to uninstall the useless/spam programs..

edna crandall on February 17, 2012:

why is information technology that a program that has 10 Google pages defended to its uninstall is allowed to get away with their

intrusion? I myself will be writing the Better Business and the visitor itself to express my frustration.

pow on February 07, 2012:

glad im not the simply person having trouble getting rid of avast, the matter is preventing me from shutting down my reckoner and freezes up everytime i endeavour to get rid of it or even just access the plan in general, I will try some of this stuff and hopefully something volition piece of work

JK on Jan 20, 2012:

worked well

thanks a lot guys

Romeo on January 12, 2012:

saved my life Thank you a millon times

Ramel on January 06, 2012:

Thanks a lot!!!

William on January 03, 2012:

Incredible advice, thanks so much, you lot saved my day. God Bless.

hello on December 03, 2011:

thanks..great article. :)

wtf on November 15, 2011:

Maybe explicate wich one of those "keys" to look in???

brownwarvervaind.blogspot.com

Source: https://turbofuture.com/computers/How-to-force-uninstall-a-program

Share this post