add/remove is only ONE section you remove programs with.there are a LOT of misinformed people who will tell you other wise but trust me,THESE are the folders you need to clean out to get EVERY bit of a program to be removed.
Vista removal methods are SOMETIMES different than XP's. when that happens,you will be directed to Vista footnote to equal the XP process.
Vista has deleted the My from all the start page folders.
VERY 1st thing will be to open System Restore [ see Vista System Restore footnotes ]:
programs like to hide in System Restore and after you clean up the puter and reboot...SURPRISE !!
Start,All Programs,Accessories,System Tools,System Restore,Settings,turn System restore OFF
this deletes all previous restore points [ and the bad guys ]
after a COMPLETE clean up,return to System Restore and click create new restore point.
give it a name like today's date.
click create
ROFL !! REMEMBER TO TURN SYSTEM RESTORE BACK ON AFTER REBOOT
next,open the All Programs listing and click the program to be removed.
look for uninstall file.
click that to begin uninstall process.
do NOT expect that this is ALL you need do,uh,uh!
next step is Add/Remove [ Vista is Program & Features,see Program & Features footnote ].
start,control panel,Add/Remove
click change & remove
wait till the list is populated with all programs
click the program to remove
click change/remove
once that's done,it's off to your Downloads folder
start,put your cursor on your username at top of start page
if it opens up to a submenu,choose My Downloads
if it doesn't open,right click username and select open THEN select My Downloads
right click the program download and select delete
now open All Programs,right click program,select delete
Taskbar/Desktop:
right click taskbar and desktop icons
select delete
right click start
click start menu if it isn't already
check hide unused icons
click customize
choose hide or show for each icon/program listed
apply...ok
close
Program Folder:
next,remove program from:
program folder
program data folder
temp folder
prefetch folder
start,My Computer,local disk drive (c),windows
program folder:
click view,choose select all,press delete key on keyboard
back out and continue to Temp folder:
Temp:
click view,choose select all,press delete key on keyboard
back out and continue to Prefetch folder
Prefetch:
click view,choose select all,press delete key on keyboard
close window
INDEXED LOCATIONS:
this is a LONGGGGG list of EVERYTHING in place on your computer. be prepared for a few minutes looking through this longggg list!
start,my computer [ computer in Vista ],local disk drive (c),users,your username,searches,indexed locations
Internet Options:
next,off to Internet Options:
start,control panel,general
history:
click clear history & set days to keep to 0
Temp files:
click clear temp files
cookies:
click clear cookies
close window
System Restore:
Start,All Programs,Accessories,System Tools,Disk Clean:
click Disk Clean,wait till the removable items are listed
anything with a number in the right box gets deleted,check each
click ok
you'll be asked [ several times ] if it's ok,click yes or delete
Recent:
Recent Documents,email,music,ect.
right click username
when menu is up,click search
check each recent folder for files to delete
close window
DANGER! DANGER! DANGER!
FOR ADVANCED USERS ONLY !
there are 4 "keys" that you need to open and delete program "keys" from.
THIS IS BRAIN SURGERY !! WRONG MOVE HERE AND POOF! GONE PUTER !
NOT! RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY DAMAGE DONE !!
so much for the legal stuff!
many software programs will have duplicate names,like Symantic/Norton--Avast/Alwil.
be sure you know what program file names are associated with the program you are removing
press the Windows key on your keyboard [ 1 with the 4 part flag ] and the letter R
in the text box,enter:
regedit
the next box to open will have 5 Hkey's in it.
they are:
hkey_classes_root
hkey_current_user
hkey_local_machine
hkey_users
to the left of each will be either a + or diamond shape.
to open each "key",you need to click those.
+ hkey_classes_root
click the "opener"
scroll down the list of program "keys" until you find the program you're looking for right click "key" and select delete
scroll back up and close that 1st "key" by clicking on the "opener"
+ hkey_current_user
click the "opener"
click the "opener" for Software
scroll down the list of program "keys" until you find the program you're looking for
right click "key" and select delete
scroll back up and close that 1st "key" by clicking on the "opener"
+ hkey_local_machine
click the "opener"
click the "opener" for Software
scroll down the list of program "keys" until you find the program you're looking for
right click "key" and select delete
scroll back up and close that 1st "key" by clicking on the "opener"
+ hkey_users
click the "opener"
click the "opener" for Default
scroll down the list of program "keys" until you find the program you're looking for
right click "key" and select delete
scroll back up and close that 1st "key" by clicking on the "opener"
click the "opener" S-1-5-18
click the "opener" for Software
scroll down the list of program "keys" until you find the program you're looking for
right click "key" and select delete
scroll back up and close that 1st "key" by clicking on the "opener"
click the "opener" for S-1-5-19
click the "opener" for Software
scroll down the list of program "keys" until you find the program you're looking for
right click "key" and select delete
scroll back up and close that 1st "key" by clicking on the "opener"
click the "opener" for S-1-5-20
click the "opener" for Software
scroll down the list of program "keys" until you find the program you're looking for
right click "key" and select delete
scroll back up and close that 1st "key" by clicking on the "opener"
click the "opener" for S-1-5-21-2047574935-13621892
click the "opener" for Software
scroll down the list of program "keys" until you find the program you're looking for
right click "key" and select delete
scroll back up and close that 1st "key" by clicking on the "opener"
click the "opener" for S-1-5-21-2047574935-13621892
click the "opener" for Software
scroll down the list of program "keys" until you find the program you're looking for
right click "key" and select delete
scroll back up and close that 1st "key" by clicking on the "opener"
reboot the computer and you're all set !!
Vista Footnotes:
Programs & Features:
instead of Add/Remove,Vista has Programs & Features
start,control panel,Default Programs,Programs & Features
click the program to remove
click uninstall tab at top of program list
System Restore:
start--All Programs,Accessories,System Tools,System Restore:
How do I turn System Restore on or off?
System Protection, the feature that creates restore points, is on by default. We recommend that you keep System Protection turned on for all hard disks that contain important files so that you can use System Restore if you need to.
To turn System Restore on or off
Click to open System.
In the left pane, click System Protection. If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.
To turn on System Protection for a hard disk, select the check box next to the disk, and then click OK.
– or –
To turn off System Protection for a hard disk, clear the check box next to the disk, and then click OK.
Create Restore Point:
start,Accessories,System Tools,System Restore:
click open system protection
check (c) drive
click create
here are several programs I use for clean up and virus/trojan/worm removal
Avast anti virus
Spybot anti spyware
Spyware Blaster anti spyware
Registry Seeker registry cleaner
Ccleaner crap cleaner
the last 2 have an application [ program/software ] removal section to help with future problems
if you install Ccleaner,uncheck both Recycle bin & Cookies text boxes or you'll clean out both when you don't want to
open options,settings,cookies:
move cookies you want to keep from left box to [ keep ] right box
click brush,click run
the update button is right bottom
get everything here
http://browseraddons.friendpages.com