How to force uninstall a program you cannot uninstall
80At one point or another this happens to every computer user in the world: You install a program, find out that you don't like it, or need it, or that it's plain useless for the task you wanted to use it for, and you want to uninstall it. So you open up the Windows Add/Remove tool, click the button to uninstall the program... and find out that you cannot uninstall the program. In this article I will try to explain how to force uninstall a program, that you cannot uninstall using the Windows Add/Remove tool. Before that, however, I will try to explain what happens during installation.
What you need to know to uninstall a program manually
There are several things that happen during the installation of a program. First, of course, is the copying of files to the specified program folder (which is usually somewhere inside the Program Files folder). Also some files such as shared libraries (.dll files) can be copied into a folder inside Program Files called Common Files and some files such as drivers or shared libraries (again) are copied into the ‘WINDOWS\System32' and ‘WINDOWS\System32\drivers' folders. After that the installer makes some changes inside the windows registry. The windows registry is a unified place where all the settings for programs and for windows itself are stored. The installer can make changes inside the registry for several reasons. For example if a shared library needs to be registered. Or if certain types of files need to be associated with the program being installed, so that the user could open them (e.g. if you install Microsoft Word, then you will be able to open Microsoft Word documents). After this is done, a key is added to the windows registry in a place where the Windows Add/Remove tool looks for installed programs. During the installation all these operations are logged in a special file (e.g. setup.log), and the installation program usually puts that file inside the application's folder along with the uninstaller. When a user tries to remove a program through the Add/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 have been copied, all the registry keys the installer created etc.
However, if there is no log file, or if there is no record of the changes made to the registry the uninstaller might fail to uninstall the program, and it will stay there untill it is removed by other means.
So if a program won't uninstall, how do you perform a force uninstall?
Well, if you know how to work with the windows registry, you probably can perform a manual force uninstall.
Before I go into detail about how to do this manually, I'd like to say that this is pretty advanced stuff, and if you're not a power user, then perhaps you should consider using specialized software such as the Perfect Uninstaller which allows you to do this in just a few clicks.
If you are a power user, then let's continue. First, let's see how to remove the program from the list of installed programs. To do that you need to open the registry browser:
- Click Start and choose Run in the menu (If you're using Windows Vista then press Win+R on your keyboard).
- Type regedit and hit Enter.
- On the left side is the registry settings tree, use it to go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall
- Inside that key you'll find a lot of keys that belong to different programs. Some are named after the program's name, others as a mix of numbers and letters that makes no sense. Look through each of them until you find one that has the key DisplayName (on the right) with your program's name in it.
- Notice the key UninstallString - this key points to the uninstall program, and the log file usually resides in the same folder as that program.
- If you delete the key in which you've found the DisplayName key with the value equal to your program's name, then your program won't appear on the Add/Remove programs list.
Some programs create new entries in the registry to store their configuration options, these entries can usually be found in the HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software or in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE - look for the program name or the name of the company that made the software. Don't delete Microsoft though - that contains Windows settings as well.
Next we have to find all the files that have been copied. Open the folder in which the uninstall program should be, and look for files which are named uninstal.log or setup.log or something similar. The list of files that have been installed is inside this file, you can open it in your notepad and find all of the files that have been copied onto your system. Delete the files and you'll get rid of the program almost fully.
Again, I'd like to stress that if you're new to the windows registry and all of this stuff, and if you don't feel like experimenting with your computer, then, again, please consider using either the Perfect Uninstaller or similar software, I do not want to be responsible for breaking your computer.
- How to force uninstall a program you cannot uninstall
What to do if a program won't uninstall. How to force uninstall a program manually. - 3 years ago
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Would've been nice to have known this earlier........Like last year or so............
Thanx !
Thank you so much!!
wait. so what do you do after you find files with the .log extension?! do i delete anything else??
Thanks for noticing, I seem to have added my article only partially. It's corrected now.
thanks for correcting it. could you be a little more specific though? going by your steps, i deleted the key in the UninstallString, then under HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software and HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE. after, you say to find the program with the uninstall folder for copied files, which should be where? i'm afraid i might have already deleted it.
sorry, one more question. i found the .log file you were talking about, and most of the files it lists seems to be in the Program Files folder for that particular program. however, within the log it also says things like "File Overwrite: C:\Windows\System32\msvcr70.dll" - should i go and delete that listed file as well, or do something else?
thank you so much btw
no, if the installer didn't overwrite the file - you can delete that file, if it has overwritten it, that means some other program put it there and relies on its existence to work. Specifecally msvcr70.dll is copied during the installation of Windows itself.
is there a way to tell if the installer overwrote the file?
It says File Overwrite in the logs if it encountered an already existing file :)
i see. thank you! i hope it's all gone now.
If you remove everything about the program in the registry will you be able to reinstall the program?
yes, of course
thank you very much for the tip, i will try the perfect uninstaller.
I scanned through the computer for IDM searched the registry but no signs of it. finally i removed it using the Uninstall.exe from the internet but i could not understand where would it have kept its files.
I did this and the program is still in program files and won't let me delete it...its not longer listed in add/remove programs or in the resgistry!!!
nice
i need to remove windows security suite using this .....can i do????
could you recommend a FREE uninstaller? i don't want to blow $60 on a program I'm only going to use once anyways
Incredibly helpful Information, Thank!
thank you for the suggestion.. :)
thank u so much
I would just like to say that I love you.
Thank you for this information, I finally managed to delete a couple of stubborn programs! :D
thank you so much
thanks....yer a good 'ole guy
ha
not but seriously thanks for takin the time to help others
what an old tips.....this tips is for amateur in computer.......
Thank you very much Eugene2k for giving away your time to help others like me. I just noticed that some people is posting ridiculous comments like "what an old tips" if you don't need this tips what a hell are you doing here?
Thanks again eugene2k and other like you for making the internet an invaluable tool for everyone who needs it.
I can't find the file i'm looking for. I've searched all the folders and I can't find it anywhere. When I try to uninstall it, it says that its running, but its not.
yeah for reel love this info thanks thanks thanks and thanks
thanks thanks thanks and thanks thanks thanks and thanks thanks thanks thanks and thanks
I'll try to remember this the next time a pesky program won't remove all its components when I uninstall. Thanks.
where is a program that i do not have to buy
Great article there are some great free softwares is well that remove software from the entire registry. I've been using a few. Going through the entire steps you talked about looks a bit complicated for beginners.
great info much obliged
I'm trying to uninstall Avast antivirus, I didn´t find it in the places you suggested, insted I found a reference in
HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-21-4195039577-1148274939-2114202922-1000
I think it means other user installed it, I'm the only user, I installed it, so i figured it appear like this because it is an antivirus, how can i procced from here?
I found the Installation folder in
Program Files\Alwil Software\Avast 5
but no .log file there at all. I have another folder Program Files(x86) Since I have x64 Vista OS
You think its a good idea to just delete the folder and then run CCleaner to fix my Registry?
I can't even Stop the Process from Task Administrator, Acces Denied..
Please Help me! Thanks and excuse my english :-D
instructions were very clear, now i know, thank you very much
this doesnt work for me, it tells me that its not a valid application when I try to bring up regedit - Im using Windows Vista
I don't know where "the folder in which the uninstall program should be" is to look for any uninstal.log or setup.log files. Help anyone?
wad do i do after i found the key UninstallString of the programme i wan to uninstall? i dun quite get the instructions.
What if a program/application does not appear in the programs listing under control panel. If it's not there is there a way to make it be there so it can be removed by the resident windows.msi?
Thanks.. Thanks.. Thanks a lot.It really worked.Again Thank You Very Much.Keepon helping ........
Thanks dude.Its realy worked
Wow, thank you so much! I am not a "power user," but I feel like one now. Your instructions were clear, concise, and correct. You're awesome.
From the bottom of my heart! Thank you so much!
thanks, dude you have helped liberated my laptop of litterally GBs of crap
DIE LIVE MESSENGER DIE! MWUHAHAHAHA!!
is there ??
With Windows 7 64-bit there are also uninstall files located in the path: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall
I had to find a program that got stuck in there... it was a browser toolbar and there was no entry in the other path mentioned above for the application that was stuck in the add/remove programs menu.
thanks a million
Thank You a lot, but I have I problem on uninstalling. Could somebody be so kind and help me sole this...?
Nice instruction. but my problems it wasn't with uninstall logs. I don't know what was it about. it said "The Windows Installer Service could not be accessed because the Windows Installer isn't correctly installed" should I installed them back with drivers or is there has another way because it is in trials version.
Thank you this information solved my problem
Heeyyy I have windows 7 and I'm not sure if its set up the same, but I can't find current version under microsoft
thank you so much you saved me from a really bad virus in the form of a program called Disk Repair
it kept shutting down my computer and the program didn't appear on the Add/Remove programs list
I followed your steps, but I also found that it is very easy as well to search for a name in Registry Editor if you know the programs name. Disk Repair did not appear among the programs, but when I copied and pasted Disk Repairs file name from its properties into the search, I found it and deleted it with glee.
Thanks
Thanks so much.. been sitting for 2 days now trying to find the registry.. I even delete that registry in safemode with command prompt but the file was still in the Programs and Features.
The Revo Freeware worked for me. Easy to use, actually free and you do not have to register.
messed with the registry and effed up my compu-tator.
i couldnt delete the avast antivirus in registry.its showing error while deleting it in hkeys.wat to do...it was not found in control panel too..
This was not helpful because I don't see run on my start
what is the current version
thanks you bro may god bless u
I did this and when i go to add/remove programs it's still there. when i go to uninstall from there it tells me it is currently running but it isn't and that i need to log in as administrator, which i am. what do i do?
Thanks for this! It really helped me!
Hi I have uninstalled the transfer utility software for canon and am trying to install the video browser software. I had to do so since both cannot exist on the same machine. But when video browser program runs it says that transfer utility software is still installed. I uninstalled it from add remove programs ( XP ) and then removed traces from the registry - inspite of it am not able to install..would you be able to help me ?
Duudeee,THANKS ALOT,really helped :D
Thanks so much, I always wanted to remove this program from my computer, it was stuck into my computer like a used chewing gum in a long hair girls hair.
Thank for remembering this tutorials
The program i cant uninstall isnt in the list =( Any suggestions? Its a game i cant play or uninstall.. when i try to play it gives me a failed to load cursos: meshes/cursor .nif eror or somethin like that. When i try to uninstall it says it cannot find the specified file. Ive also tried -pasted from diff site-
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
From your computer's "Start" menu, click "Run." (On Windows 7 and Vista systems, enter "Run" in the "Start Search" text field.)
2
Type "cmd" in the "Open" text field and press "Enter." This will open the command prompt box.
3
Type "cd %programfiles%" followed by "dir /p" to see a list of the program directories on your computer.
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
But those give me syntax or batch errors. Sorry im not very computer savy on this level but id greatly appreciate any help =)
nothing to say.really it helped a lot. just wanna say thank you. never seen anything like this. great...........
Thanks alot... this helped me
I have a problem
i canceled an distillation but it uninstalled anyways so now im trying to uninstall another program and it says that i have to wait for the other program to finish uninstalling! How do i make the computer realize that its uninstalled already? cause now i cant uninstall a thing -_-" HELP!
Thank you very much buddy, worked fine on my pc!
thank you for your great comment, it is very helpful for me, here is a professional software website which i think would help all of you a lot, click http://www.wiseuninstaller.com/features.php, or you can check the yahoo,
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Ariqm
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=201108
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=201108
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=201108
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Amn9m
Hey MAn !!! THANK U SO MUCH !! i have a program that i can't uninstall on my PC alone and it Eat up 1.5gb memory on my PC. But your sofware worked. TY again
thanku very much
man thank you so much for this tutorial!
Thanx a lot....
can this get rid of a program i uninstalled then reinstalled by setting my computer to an earlier version?
cause im trying to use my disc to reinstall but it says its already installed.
Hi, I would recommend using a software that will force delete ANY unwanted program even if Windows Add/Remove feature can't delete. I am using this software www.registrywisecleaner.com/uninstall-any-software.php
Totally solve my problem
nice tank u so much please keep up the good work all in your office 100%%%%%%%%%%%%
I can't uninstall a game. It's not in the add/remove tool and i couldn't find in h_key ... But when i want to install it again only the uninstall appears. When i click on uninstall the installer closes and nothing happens.
(Sorry for bad English)
Thank you sooooooooooo much :D :D :D
OMG thank you soo much, you are a life saver
Maybe explain wich one of those "keys" to look in???
thanks..great article. :)
Give this uninstall program a try it has a force uninstall function that has worked for me before, maybe it will work for you.
Good luck
Incredible advice, thanks so much, you saved my day. God Bless.
Thanks a lot!!!
saved my life Thank you a millon times
worked well
thanks a lot guys
glad im not the only person having trouble getting rid of avast, the thing is preventing me from shutting down my computer and freezes up everytime i try to get rid of it or even just access the program in general, I will try some of this stuff and hopefully something will work
abhilash 3 years ago
Great tips, will try these when I am stuck next time.