One of the first things you learn to do with a Windows computer is to uninstall programs or remove them from your PC, the program folder and the Start menu.
Especially those who regularly read technology blogs other than Navigaweb.net, try and install programs that then prove to be useless and that must be removed. The installation and uninstallation of programs on Windows 10 and Windows 7 and 8.1 works well, but can sometimes give problems or not be complete.
In this guide we see how to uninstall programs completely from the computer, without leaving traces and without using external applications.
1) Uninstall the program from the Control Panel .
In Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 and also in Windows 10 click on " Programs and Features ", select the name of the program and press the Uninstall button.
1.1) In Windows 10 you can remove a program in the same way as Windows 10 or even by going to Settings (from the Start menu) and then in the App section. On the right side you will see all the applications and programs installed and clicking each one you will be able to find the Uninstall button to remove it.
In Windows 10, in addition to programs, you can also remove applications from the same menu.
2) Eliminate residual files and folders of the Program
Even after uninstalling the software through the Control Panel some files of this program may still remain in a couple of system folders.
To eliminate these leftovers, it is necessary to check if there are folders with the name of that program in the system folders % Program Files% (program folder) and % AppData% (application data folder) (to open these folders, copy and paste these names also with the%, on the address bar of a folder or in Start-> Run or in the search) If any folder with the name of the program removed is found, delete it.
NOTE: 64-bit systems must also check the " C: \ Program Files (x86) " folder (assuming that Windows is installed in C :).
To do this first you can use one of the cleaning programs that erases obsolete files.
3) Remove the registry keys of the uninstalled program from Windows .
This is the most difficult step to do and requires some familiarity with the use of the computer.
When you uninstall a program, referenced many times in the Windows registry.
To uninstall a program completely you must delete its registry key:
Type regedit in the search box of the start menu, press Enter and then in the Registry editor go to the following paths:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Software
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE
HKEY_USERS \ .DEFAULT \ Software
For 64 bi systems also check: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \ Wow6432Node
Look for a key with the name of the uninstalled program and delete it.
Sometimes the name of the key could be based on the name of the distributor company or with the name of the developer so pay attention to the names and delete the key only if you are 100% sure.
Better to make a backup of the removed keys so as to restore them in case something goes wrong.
The easiest way is by creating a system restore point (Start-Programs-accessories-system utilities-restore).
To do it first you can use an automatic program to clean the registry like ccleaner.
4) Empty the Temp folder and delete all the temporary files it contains.
To find the Temp folder just type in the search, in Start-run or in the address bar of the folders the command % Temp% .
5) Clean the Programs folder to eliminate orphaned or empty ones.
To remove programs without errors and without traces there are, as mentioned above, software uninstallers such as Revo Uninstaller very precise.
If during the uninstallation of a program there are errors that prevent its removal, read the guide to solve installation and uninstallation problems .
Experienced users can read the guide for using msizap, a Microsoft utility for removing Windows Installer information.
Especially those who regularly read technology blogs other than Navigaweb.net, try and install programs that then prove to be useless and that must be removed. The installation and uninstallation of programs on Windows 10 and Windows 7 and 8.1 works well, but can sometimes give problems or not be complete. In this guide we see how to uninstall programs completely from the computer, without leaving traces and without using external applications.
1) Uninstall the program from the Control Panel .
In Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 and also in Windows 10 click on " Programs and Features ", select the name of the program and press the Uninstall button.
1.1) In Windows 10 you can remove a program in the same way as Windows 10 or even by going to Settings (from the Start menu) and then in the App section. On the right side you will see all the applications and programs installed and clicking each one you will be able to find the Uninstall button to remove it.
In Windows 10, in addition to programs, you can also remove applications from the same menu.
2) Eliminate residual files and folders of the Program
Even after uninstalling the software through the Control Panel some files of this program may still remain in a couple of system folders.
To eliminate these leftovers, it is necessary to check if there are folders with the name of that program in the system folders % Program Files% (program folder) and % AppData% (application data folder) (to open these folders, copy and paste these names also with the%, on the address bar of a folder or in Start-> Run or in the search) If any folder with the name of the program removed is found, delete it.
NOTE: 64-bit systems must also check the " C: \ Program Files (x86) " folder (assuming that Windows is installed in C :).
To do this first you can use one of the cleaning programs that erases obsolete files.
3) Remove the registry keys of the uninstalled program from Windows .
This is the most difficult step to do and requires some familiarity with the use of the computer.
When you uninstall a program, referenced many times in the Windows registry.
To uninstall a program completely you must delete its registry key:
Type regedit in the search box of the start menu, press Enter and then in the Registry editor go to the following paths:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Software
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE
HKEY_USERS \ .DEFAULT \ Software
For 64 bi systems also check: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \ Wow6432Node
Look for a key with the name of the uninstalled program and delete it.
Sometimes the name of the key could be based on the name of the distributor company or with the name of the developer so pay attention to the names and delete the key only if you are 100% sure.
Better to make a backup of the removed keys so as to restore them in case something goes wrong.
The easiest way is by creating a system restore point (Start-Programs-accessories-system utilities-restore).
To do it first you can use an automatic program to clean the registry like ccleaner.
4) Empty the Temp folder and delete all the temporary files it contains.
To find the Temp folder just type in the search, in Start-run or in the address bar of the folders the command % Temp% .
5) Clean the Programs folder to eliminate orphaned or empty ones.
To remove programs without errors and without traces there are, as mentioned above, software uninstallers such as Revo Uninstaller very precise.
If during the uninstallation of a program there are errors that prevent its removal, read the guide to solve installation and uninstallation problems .
Experienced users can read the guide for using msizap, a Microsoft utility for removing Windows Installer information.
