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Program in Windows without using 3rd Party Software?
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Generally all computer users install various software programs regularly. Twitter | Facebook | Google+ | YouTube
Sometimes they keep them and sometimes they decide to remove them.

To remove a program in Windows, we uninstall it from Control Panel but many

times the default uninstallation utility provided by the program doesn't remove
the program completely. It lefts some entries in Windows Registry, some files Latest Articles
in various folders in your hard disk drives.
Install All PostSP1 Updates Offline in Windows
These leftovers might slow down your system and there is no point to keep 7 Using Convenience Rollup Package
them in your system.
Windows 10 Mobile Insider Preview Build 14342
Available for Download
There are many 3rd party software like Revo uninstaller, etc are available on
Internet which claim to completely uninstall a software program in Windows Now You Can Use WhatsApp Messenger on
but sometimes these software also fail to completely uninstall a software from Your Computer

your system. Windows 10 Insider Preview Build 14342 for PC

Available for Download
We here at AskVG always try to do the things ourselves so today in this tutorial,
Windows 10 Preview Builds Changelog and
we are going to share some easy to use steps which will help you in
History
completely uninstall a software program in Windows.
[Windows 10 Tip] Disable Quick Actions
So without wasting time lets start the tutorial. We have taken Mozilla Firefox as Buttons in Action Center
an example in this tutorial: Download Windows 10 Insider Preview Build
14332 and 14295 Offline ISO Files
We have divided this tutorial in 4 steps:
[Review] Which DTH Service Provides Maximum
Uninstall Using Control Panel HD Channels in India?

Delete Remaining Files and Folders of the Program

Remove Software Keys from Windows Registry

Empty Temp Folder

STEP 1: Uninstall Software Using Control Panel

First thing first! Uninstall the software using Windows Control Panel.

Windows XP and earlier:

Open Control Panel, doubleclick on "Add/Remove Programs", select the

program name and click on Uninstall button. It'll remove it.

Windows Vista and later:

Open Control Panel, click on "Programs and Features", select the program
name and click on Uninstall button.
 STEP 2: Delete Remaining Files and Folders of the Program

Even though you have uninstalled the software using Control Panel, some files
of this program might still remain in a few system folders.

To delete these leftovers, you'll need check following folders:

%programfiles%
%appdata%

If you find any folder with the name of the software program which you
uninstalled using 1st step, delete it.

NOTE: You just need to type the above mentioned text in RUN or Start Menu
search box and press Enter. It'll open the folders directly.

Program Files folder:

Application Data folder:

NOTE 2: 64bit system users will also need to check "C:\Program Files x86"
folder. Here we assume your Windows is installed in C: drive. If you installed
Windows in any other drive, replace C: with that drive letter.

STEP 3: Remove Software Keys from Windows Registry

You'll have to be very careful while following this step. Follow this step only if
you are comfortable with Windows Registry and if you have used Registry
Editor in past.

When you uninstall a software program, many times its entry in Windows
Registry is not deleted by the uninstaller. It might increase Windows Registry
size.

To completely uninstall the software, you'll also need to delete its key from
Windows Registry.

1. Type regedit in RUN or Start Menu search box and press Enter. It'll open
Registry Editor.

2. Now go to following keys one by one:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE
HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Software

64bit system users will also need to check following extra key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node

Once you go to the above mentioned keys, look for a key with the name of
your uninstalled software. If you find a key, delete it.

If you get an error while deleting a Registry key such as "Cannot delete key:
Error while deleting key", you'll need to take ownership of the key as
mentioned in following tutorial:

[Guide] How to Take Ownership Permission of a Registry Key in

Windows?
Sometimes the key name might be based on the company name or developer
name so if you suspect a key, expand it and check whether its related to the
uninstalled software program. If yes, you can delete it.

PS: Make sure to take a backup before deleting anything from Windows
Registry so that you can restore it later if something goes wrong. To take
backup, rightclick on the key which you are going to delete and select
"Export". It'll save a .REG file containing the backup of that key.

PS2: Expert users can also find all occurrence of the key with the name of
uninstalled software using "Ctrl+F" and delete them. You'll have to be very
cautious for it. Delete the key only if you are absolutely sure that the key was
created by the uninstalled software.

STEP 4: Empty Temp Folder

At last you can also empty Temp folder which contains temporary files and
cleaning this folder is absolutely safe.

To empty Temp folder, type following one by one in RUN or Start Menu search
box and press Enter:

%temp%
temp

It'll open Temp folders. You can empty them. If Windows shows errors while
deleting a few files, leave them. These files might be used by some running
software or Windows services.
That's it. After following the above mentioned steps, you'll be able to
completely uninstall and remove a software program from Windows.

If you have any question or suggestion, feel free to post them in your comment...

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Posted in: Software, Troubleshooting, Windows 7, Windows 8 / 8.1,

Windows Vista, Windows XP

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Comments

David S.

Thanks VG!

I thought that I had seen that method elsewhere, but your tutorial on it by far
passes what the other tech said.

Thanks Again

Klem
U are a Godsent for post, keep it up

Mani

its really useful. Thanks a lot!

kami

thanks..............it really worked

Valoo

Your tutorial is such an interested one, thank you for such a help you have
rendered to ppl like me. Remain blessed.

Nichole

Amazing thank you !!!

AG

This absolutely, positively works. Thank you so much !! Now I can play demo
games over and over !!

Jax

This helped a lot. Many thanks, VG!

Kat

Thank you very much! I run Secunia PSI on my computer which tells me if any
programs are insecure. Even though I had uninstalled Mozilla Firefox, Secunia
PSI still recognized it as being there since pieces of the program were still in
my computer. I'm not computer savvy, but your instructions were easy enough
for even me to follow. After going through all of your steps, it disappeared
from Secunia PSI. Thanks again for your help!

Alexander

Help me, please!

I'm trying to uninstall Nero trial. I followed all of your steps but there is still a
Nero folder which cannot be deleted C:\Program Files x86\Common
Files\Nero with files such as LBFC.dll, NB.dll, NBBurn.dll, NBService and
NeroAPIGlueLayerUnicode.dll.
I'm desperate, it's very annoying!
Thank you :

VG

^^ Most of the times these files can be deleted after a reboot. If it doesnt
work, you can try Unlocker:

http://www.askvg.com/downloadunlockerfileunlockingutilityforwindows/

Surya

Thanks a lot.Helped me to reinstall IDM :P

zenab

Great stuff thanks in lots :

Erik

Tried all that with trying to delete IE folders nothing works. Can't delete
folder as it is telling me the app is open, can't delete the registry items tells
me I can't delete, probably from same reason but I completely uninstalled
that stupid IE, or so I think...
PS first I "took Control" of it as administrator with the app you noted on your
other blog
Any ideas?

ajju

thank you dude for helping me

Marianne

Totally wooooooooooooooooooooooooooorked...awesome job guys

jonameechi

I can no longer create playlists in WMP 12 WIN 7 x64 SP1. I just did a I Fresh
Install, and I had opened it and made a few, so I know it WAS working. But at
some point, during configuration of Windows Explorer or WMP, or another
area, it stopped allowing me to even Create Playlists.

I mean, not a single one. I can click a .mkv, .avi, mp4. , or any Music or Picture
File, any Media File I associated it to when it behaved, and it will play. But no
Playlists can be created. And all it says in error box is:

Windows Media Player encountered a ploblem while creating or saving the

playlist.

[Close] [Web Help]

And the link to Web Help, basically directs me here.

Windows Media Player error

You got an error message while using Windows Media Player. Unfortunately,
specific info about the error isn't currently available.

A common reason why files don't play is that you might have the wrong codec
on your PC. For more information about codecs, see Codecs: frequently asked
questions.

For general help with Windows Media Player, search the Microsoft Support
site. You can post questions about Windows Media Player errors in the
Windows forum. Experts are on hand to help.

I ran a Troubleshooter, and it said it was currupted and could not fix. That
sometimes it can be corrupted and would need to be reinstalled. I'm
paraphrasing, but, yeah.

Any, advice would be most appreciated.

VG

^^ Try to run sfc /scannow command. It'll restore default system files if any
system file is corrupted or missing. Check method 4 in following topic:

http://www.askvg.com/howtoremoveoruninstall3rdpartytransformation
packsinwindows/

Ivan Orokkhito

Thank you very much !

I sometimes install soft wares in some different drive Not in the same drive
that contains the system software . In case of that , how to remove that
software/s ?

VG

^^ Same steps will be applicable.

SHIYAS

Thank you very much, very helpful article.

Vishal

Recently, I uninstalled trial version of office 2010 but from then i could not
install any office version,
I have followed all the steps shown above but still i could not install office .. it is
showing some registry error..
Please help me

VG

^^ Please try following:

http://www.askvg.com/ccleanerfreewaresystemoptimizationandprivacy
tool/

joyce kenny

can you send me details of how to get office student 2007 off this desktop and
onto my new desktop with windows 8.1 so it works and updates ok.
i only have 2 keys ,and the other is on my laptop, this desktop i want to
decommission. but a friend repairs them and sends them somewhere they help
the poor people of the world learn.
i only want office cleaned out so nobody can use it except me

yours sincerely J A Kenny

VG

^^ You can find out your Office key using following link:

http://www.askvg.com/wingugglegetyourwindowsandofficeproductkeys
easilyandquickly/

And then uninstall Office from your computer. After that you can reinstall
Office using your genuine key in a new computer system.
anajneyulu

This is very useful. But iam not able to delete all the files from temp
and%temp%. I recently installed HP Qtp11.5 and uninstalled from the system
and iam not able to install the previous versions of qtp. it is showing already u
have the advanced version even though i followed the above process to delete
the files. can u provide a solution for as early as possible.

litlady1

I am trying to delete Dragon naturally/speaking 10 from my programs, I have

followed your steps. It is still in my programs, I can't get it to uninstall. If you
could help me I would appreciate it.. Thank you

Joanne

Tried doing this and was only able to get rid of the Windows 2010 folder with
the %programfiles% command. When I tried %appdata% it told me I needed
administrative permission to delete files but not how to get it. Since I'm the
only user of this computer I was pretty confulssed. Managed to delete some of
the appdata but then restored them from the trash after getting really nervous
about not knowing what the hell I was doing. Didn't even attempt to delete the
keys.

I've reinstalled PowerPoint but get the error message "ppt couldn't load
Motion Path Tools" when trying to reinstall these.

I have no idea what to do now. Any help you can give me would be really
appreciated.

Many thanks!

Ritesh

I had forgotten the password of oracle 11g due to which i was not able to
access it, but it was utilizing the computer resources like RAM which i felt is the
reason for my laptop getting slow so I deleted the folder of oracle 11g in start
option, than i disabled the oracle 11g in administrative tools> services, then i
went to the drive in my case F drive where app folder was created i deleted
even that, so is oracle 11g completely uninstalled, if not than how to remove
the remaining traces of oracle 11g to free up the memory and other resources
it utilizes?
One more thing i would like to tell is that after doing the above said procedure
the oracle 11g in disabledStart up type is still shown in Services which is I feel
indicating that oracle 11g is not completely uninstalled so guide me even to
remove it from the Services

VG

^^ Some registry entries are still there, you can use CCleaner to remove
obsolete entries and fix Registry issues:

http://www.askvg.com/ccleanerfreewaresystemoptimizationandprivacy
tool/

anonymous
heyy VG.. thanks aLot!
It really worked

Armond

I also think it makes sense checking the Common Files folder in both Program
Files and Program Files x86 folders.
Thanks so much!

Michelle

Thanks so much for your wonderful tips.. Even a computer noob like me is able
to clear the s**t that my parents accidentally installed.. Thanks once again.! :

Anthony

i'm trying that, but it says i need permission from TrustedInstaller in order to
get rid of internet explorer. how do i do that?

VG

^^ Which Windows are you using? Its not advisable to uninstall Internet
Explorer.

Regarding taking ownership from TrustedInstaller, check following:

http://www.askvg.com/guidehowtotakeownershippermissionofafileor
foldermanuallyinwindows/
http://www.askvg.com/addtakeownershipoptioninfilefoldercontext
menuinwindowsvista/

mohammed

i have only folder on my pc desktop how to find its installed software and
name in hard disk

jiro

Hi! I have a quick question, I did steps 1, 2, and 4 and the all went really
smoothly, thank you a ton for that. But I skipped Step 3 cause you say 'only do
this if you've used windows registry before' and i have not. My question is does
it still get rid of the program even if you dont do step 3? Thanks!

VG

^^ If you are worried about step 3, you can use following freeware to remove
unused software keys from registry:

http://www.askvg.com/ccleanerfreewaresystemoptimizationandprivacy
tool/

sandy

thank you so much for very clear instructions....i was able to remove ....your file
downloader that i have no clue how it was on my pc..but started to bring up a
box on start up...saying... to up date important.....? and i removed conduit and
bing and bother too.....BUT the other day....
i had used another persons instructions on utube and not realizing that x86
had many software programs in it ..................i clicked on delete and it started to
delete many files at a fast rate......not sure how i managed that ?? ... don't know
how many or what it deleted but my pc is working ok....but it still had the
youfile downloader at start up...

so i am without the pop up yourfiledownloader but wonder because i empted

alot by mistake...should i set my pc 8.1to start new ???i think it says u can do
that one time...

thank you for such great info . wish i found this site before i made the error..

bel

thank you so much I finally get rid of all the programs and now my laptop is
working fast again than you so much again!!!

femi

i tried all the steps,but with step 3 it came up with 'cannot be deleted error
while deleting key, please what can i do next?

VG

^^ Take ownership of the key:

http://www.askvg.com/guidehowtotakeownershippermissionofa
registrykeyinwindows/

Tanny

Thanks!

gg

my bluestacks soft somthng pack stucked in program files and not deletng it i
tried plz help me

VG

^^ Try Unlocker:

http://www.askvg.com/downloadunlockerfileunlockingutilityforwindows/

SACHIN

Thank you

badri

Thank you. Really Helpful.

Andreas

The question is that I install MS office and by mistake my MS outlook was

damaged.

I tried to reinstall or used IObit soft or Regedit clean all remaining files and so
on. However after a new installation it came with the same mistake.
I do not want to recover windows now or reinstall it completely.

How to get rid of this microsoft problem problem, which driving us crazy?

Thank you in advance.

Andreas

VG

^^ Do you want to completely uninstall Microsoft Office or want to repair

Office to be able to use Outlook? Please provide more details.

Pet

Hi,

I need help in uninstalling the program "Your File Downloader" from my PC.

I've deleted from the control panel, but it keeps popping up and its annoying.

Thanks

Pet

VG

^^ Post your HijackThis log file in following topic:

http://www.askvg.com/isyoursysteminfectedwithavirusspywareadware
trojan/

DudeNeedsHelp

I already uninstalled AVG antivirus but when im installing mcafee, AVG shows
up in the PUP

Potentially Unwanted Program but doesnt show up on the uninstall programs

list in the control

panel? wut to do mang?

VG

^^ Try to clean registry and temp files using following:

http://www.askvg.com/ccleanerfreewaresystemoptimizationandprivacy
tool/

Colleen

going through all your steps

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE
HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Software

I still can not find this file. I have uninstalled it originally of course. like you said.
I have gone into it's properties and it says under
Object name C:\Windows\System32\MarineAquariumLite.exe
Am I missing it somewhere.
I am desperate to get rid of it, as it is a screen saver that keeps coming on and
it's an aquarium and I feel running my computer all the time.
Hope you can help
Colleen

VG

^^ Please provide more details. Where do you find the object name and other
things?

kushal

thank you sir for you kind help, I could solve the problem

Sohaib

In control panel,there are two unnecessary folders o auto plot style manager
and auoto desk plot manager.How i delete them.
Secondly,Autocad 2012 and microsoft.Net frame work 4 client profile cannot
delete forever.Please reply on my email.

VG

^^ Try following:

http://www.askvg.com/howtohideshowspecificcontrolpanelapplets
iconsinwindows/

ANUBRATA PAUL

I WAS TRYING TO UNINSTALL McAFEE ANTIVIRUS FROM MY LAPY . BUT IT

WAS NOT UNINSTALL PROPERLY . BUT DELETED FROM CONTROL PANEL .
HOW TO DELET FULL ANTIVIRUS FROM SYSTEM

Niranjan

my trial version is over for folder protect software. it was in stealth mode. not
able to uninstall completely. and its not available in programs and feature
option. pls help

Bill

I can't completely remove Google Chrome from my PC. I have followed your
instructions, but when I reinstalls it finds the previous bookmarks. I want to
clean install Google Chrome and have it ask me If I want to import bookmarks
from ie and Firefox. How do I do this?

VG

^^ Try CCleaner:

http://www.askvg.com/ccleanerfreewaresystemoptimizationandprivacy
tool/

PouZha

Thank you so much...

your stepbystep process help me to fixed myself.

ramakrishna

can you please help me out,.

i installed far cry 2 it's a game but it is not working properly so I uninstalling
but it is not completely uninstalling. what should i do ?

brian

Thank you so much.. You're tutorial on this is by far the best.. Keep it up. :D

Suyash

i tried to install bluestacks but cancelled it in the middle which leaves a folder
named bluestacks in my program files x86 which i tried deleting but it didn't....
asked for some permissions.... please help me as when i tried to reinstall
bluestacks it says there is an error

VG

^^ First restart your computer and try to delete the folder again. If you still get
permission error, take ownership of the folder:

http://www.askvg.com/addtakeownershipoptioninfilefoldercontext
menuinwindowsvista/
http://www.askvg.com/guidehowtotakeownershippermissionofafileor
foldermanuallyinwindows/

WOW, thank you sooo much!

Feels like my old laptop was brought back to life after getting rid of all the stuff
there was that I didn't even know there was.

Kudos and a great year 2015

nat

thank you for such detailed tutorial!

However, I could not gain permission still after following those steps on the
other link you've included...
What could I do to delete it? thanks!

Donnie

Thank you very much it was very useful also I would recommend disconnecting
from the Internet when uninstalling any suspicious programs.

amey

thank you

Soyeb

I can't remove ms office 2007 from my pc in windows xp. When I want to

delete it it shows some errors. What should I do?

Marcus

Thanks for this guide! :

Phillip

I'm trying to remove "Glass Bottle" adware? malware?

I've run multiple malware scans, gone through tutorial after tutorial, including
this one, and I can find no trace of any files even remotely hinting that they
might be the culprit, but it STILL shows up on the left side of my screen, and it
opens new tabs with advertisements every few clicks, and i'ts absolutely
infuriating! Please help!!

VG

^^ First post your HijackThis log file in following topic:

http://www.askvg.com/isyoursysteminfectedwithavirusspywareadware
trojan/

Dewbert McClinton

Fantastic! Much more thorough and complete way of removing annoying

leftovers than anything I have seen out there. THANK YOU!

angom yaiphaba

sir i would like to ask is that how can i re install when its not uninstall using
cntrl panel

vamsi

please tell HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node also those fies

are delete safe or not

VG

^^ Check Point 2 in STEP 3.

Muhammad Zaman

I am unable to turn on Windows defender in Win 8.1

prithiviraj

Actually whats is my problem is i uninstalled AVconnected with server in client

system through revo uninstaller,that AV was removed from control panel
programs but still that AV is running in desktop and c:\programs files.,even
server also shown online itself.able to scan also.
so kindly guide the how to uninstalled fully..

Its windows xp home edition sp332bit

Trend Micro AV

VG
^^ Try following:

http://www.askvg.com/ultimatecollectionofuninstallersremovaltoolsfor
allpopularantivirussoftware/

Parth

It works... BUT..............
before few days, I installed oracle sql database... but now it's folder isn't being
deleted...
so kindly help me through this...
:

Margaret

I have an aquarium screensaver in my screensaver list, but I have uninstalled it,

removed the download link, removed it from my program files. It is NOWHERE
in any folder on this computer BUT it is still in my screensaver list! Noting gets
rid of it because it doesn't exist! HOW can I get rid of that stupid thing????

Margaret

I've tried Revo and Wise uninstaller. Neither of them even find the file or
program.

Margaret

OH and I've followed all the instructions I can find to totally remove it. It is
GONE. I've looked through every damn folder on this laptop. BUT it won't go
away.

VG

^^ Search for *.SCR files in C: drive where Windows is installed and make sure
Aquarium screensaver is not present in the search results. If you find it, delete
it. Also search for Aquarium word in Registry Editor. May be you find some
instances of it there.

Subinay

Working Nice!! Thanks

Souvik Ghosh

This was really useful! Specially

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node I never expected the key
to be in this location. Phew.

jgmanza

Totally great. Thanks a lot.!!

pdm

Thank you for the simple instructions. I'm a sr. citizen; not a tech genius but I
can follow instructions.
Syed Usman

Hey Genius, Thanks for your help. May God love you!

Genius

YOU ARE GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anas

i have followed all the instructions and I've successfully uninstalled my ESET
nod32 Antivirus but after that it's running , it's not showing me in the box of
add/remove programs but it's running can anyone tell me what should i do? :

Prati

This is very helpfull for us thanks.

bhawna

I want to remove software name MTV20151125, and i couldn't remove it by

any of the above methods, can you please help.

VG

^^ Post your HijackThis log file in following topic first:

http://www.askvg.com/isyoursysteminfectedwithavirusspywareadware
trojan/

Aram

thank you, this has helped me alot.

Margaret

VG didn't work. It's still there and my AVG picks it up as a threat and says it
removes it, but it is still showing in my screensavers. I give up

VG

^^ Please post your Hijackthis log file in following article:

http://www.askvg.com/isyoursysteminfectedwithavirusspywareadware
trojan/

Abdul

Thanks you very much. well explained. It would be nice if you provide pdf files.
Cheers.

Nii

very detailed and so helpful... thank you

sudhanaveen

Please help me a program Can't uninstall its shows "Cant open uninstall log
file C:\Program File\Nudi 4.0\uninstall.in!"
VG

^^ You can follow the instructions given above for removing its files/folders
and Registry entries. You can also try to reinstall it and then uninstall it.

Sudha

a program can't unistalla its shows "can not delete c:\program files\nudi
4.0\nudi exe. this file may be in use by another application. retry? please help
me i can use Revouninstaller pro 3.15 soft ware but no use.

VG

^^ You can try Unlocker to remove the file:

http://www.askvg.com/downloadunlockerfileunlockingutilityforwindows/

Sudha

a program can't install its shows "Unpacking c\program files\nudi

4.0\uninstall.exe" so please help me sir

Terry

The steps are too hard for me, any recommended software can do it for me?

delta

hello,
according to the steps mentioned, i have deleted all the files of the application.
but it gives an error while re installing saying the program is already installed.
i had to uninstall the program because i couldn't run the application and tried
reinstalling.

Olakunle

Thanks for this insightful tutorial, it really did the job perfectly.

Kamardeep73

I have installed a 15 day trail of voice synthesizer sangeeta it has say the key
expired how can i reuse that 15 day trail

Rashid tahir

Dear sir I'm taring to remove the program file x86 from system local disk c

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