Uninstalling Applications


If you don't use a program, you can remove it from your system. Doing so frees up disk space. You could simply delete the program files, but these files are not always stored in one location. A program installation may store files in other places on your hard drivefor instance, in the Windows folder. Therefore, uninstall the program using the Add or Remove Programs Control Panel. This removes the program and all its related files and folders from your hard drive.

caution

If you have any folders that contain your documents within the program folders, be sure to move them to other folders or drives so that they are not deleted with the program.


Removing Programs

Follow these steps to uninstall or remove a program:

1.

Click the Start button and then Control Panel.

2.

Click Add or Remove Programs. You'll see the Add or Remove Programs window (refer to Figure 14.7).

3.

Click the Change or Remove Programs button, if necessary. Usually, these options are displayed by default.

4.

Select the program you want to remove (see Figure 14.11). Windows XP then provides you with some information to help you decide whether to uninstall. First, you'll see the size of the program (the amount of disk space you will gain by removing the program). Second, you'll see a rating of how often the program is used. If the rating is "rarely," you know you don't use that program often, so it's most likely safe to remove it. Third, you may see the date the program was last used.

Figure 14.11. Use the information listed for each program to get an idea of how often you use the program.


tip

Some programs enable you to change their setup by adding optional items that may not have been installed. If you see both a Change button and a Remove button, you can click the Change button to change the program's setup.

5.

Click the Remove button. (This button may be called Remove or Change/Remove.) Windows XP then removes the program. The steps will vary from program to program. Simply follow the onscreen instructions.

Removing Programs Manually

If your program is not listed in the Add or Remove Programs area of the Control Panel, you have to use a different method to remove it. You can try one of two methods: using the program disc or deleting the program folder.

You may be able to run an uninstall program from the program disc. Insert the disc and see whether options for uninstalling the program are displayed on the install menu. If so, use these. If the program disc doesn't automatically display your uninstall options, insert the disc, click Start, and then click My Computer. Double-click the icon for the drive that contains the program disc. Then look for a Setup, Install, or Uninstall icon. Double-click this icon and follow the steps for uninstalling. (Sometimes, the Install and Setup programs will display a menu, and one of the choices will be to uninstall the program.)

If the program doesn't have an uninstall program, you can delete its files manually. This method does not always remove all of the program files. It's common for programs to place certain program files within the Windows folder, for instance. But, you can get rid of the main files.

tip

You can purchase programs to keep track of what programs you have installed, where they are, and what changes they have made to your system. You can use a program such as Uninstaller to uninstall programs not listed in the Windows Add or Remove Programs Control Panel.


Click Start and then My Computer. Double-click the drive icon that contains your My Programs folder. Then, open the My Programs folder and look for the program folder (usually named the same as the program). Delete the program folder by selecting it and pressing Delete or by clicking Delete this folder. Confirm the deletion by clicking Yes.



    Absolute Beginner's Guide to Microsoft Windows XP
    Absolute Beginners Guide to Windows XP (2nd Edition)
    ISBN: 078973432X
    EAN: 2147483647
    Year: 2005
    Pages: 176
    Authors: Shelley OHara

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