If you remove a program that has to be used sometime in the future, you could be in for some, uh, interesting times - a completely different program might crash, for example. If you leave a ) program on your machine that’s never used, you lose a tiny sliver of hard drive space. When you delete a program that uses the file, the counter is lowered by one.
#Reinstalled windows xp install#
When you install a program that uses that particular file, the counter is raised by one. Windows keeps a count of how many different programs use specific files. Unless you have a pointed, specific reason to remove the file, click No.įigure 12-5: Always click No when asked if you want to remove shared files. You want to know that in a moment.ĥ, Inevitably, Windows asks if you want to remove shared files (see Figure 12-5). Windows asks if you’re sure you want to remove the program.Īlmost all programs that aren’t from Microsoft use unlnstallShield or the Wise Uninstaller, called Unwise. In the latest versions of Office, the Repair option works reasonably well.įigure 12-4: When given the option in a major Microsoft product, run a repair instead of removing and reinstalling. A repair takes much less time than a removal followed by a reinstall. Try the Repair option before removing the program completely. If you’re uninstalling a Microsoft program (see Figure 12-4), you get the option to repair it. No matter what the label, removing the program is always an option.įigure 12-3: Typical contact information for support, if you aren’t yet ready to remove the program. Give it a try.ģ, If you’re certain that you want to remove the program, click Remove in the Add or Remove Programs dialog box.ĭifferent programs label their buttons differently: Some say Remove, others Change/ Remove, others Change. If the repair works, it’s much less time-consuming (and hair-raising) than a complete Removal/Reinstall. Sometimes running a repair at this point can fix a problem. Microsoft Office components give you a Repair option in the Support Info dialog box. The program responds with a list of help resources, similar to that in Figure 12-3. If you want to try something less drastic than removing the program, click the Click Here for Support Information link (if it’s available).
Make sure to click Change or Remove Programs on the left then click the program you want to remove. Windows shows you the Add or Remove Programs dialog box in Figure 12-2.įigure 12-2: All well-behaved installers leave an entry here.Ģ. Choose Start Control Panel Add or Remove Programs.
To truly remove a program, follow these steps:ħ. You can use a few tricks to save yourself a bunch of time. Sometimes you just want to get rid of the stupid thing - forever. Sometimes, the only way you can get a program to work again is by removing and then reinstalling it.