Uninstall Troubleshooting

Reader Question:
“Hi Wally, I am having problems with Uninstall and wondering how to fix it?” - Carlos M., USA

Before addressing any computer issue, I always recommend scanning and repairing any underlying problems affecting your PC health and performance:

Step 1 : Download PC Repair & Optimizer Tool (WinThruster for Win 10, 8, 7, Vista, XP and 2000 – Microsoft Gold Certified).
Step 2 : Click “Start Scan” to find Windows registry issues that could be causing PC problems.
Step 3 : Click “Repair All” to fix all issues.

Setting up weekly (or daily) automatic scans will help prevent system problems and keep your PC running fast and trouble-free.

Wally’s Answer:

Overview of Uninstall

Most new computers usually come supplied with pre-existing software that is usually installed by the manufacturer that carries out most of these required tasks. However, there eventually comes a time when we must install programs that will suit our personal needs.

We install different programs in order to carry out different tasks. As our needs change, we add and remove software frequently to meet our most current requirements, and preserve valuable hard disk space.

The process of removing software from your operating system is known as “uninstalling”. When you Uninstall, it is because you may not need it anymore, or maybe you want to install a newer version to replace the current one. It is a good policy to keep only the software that is useful and uninstall the rest because installing too much software can put a strain on the performance of your computer. Thus, this can subsequently cause your system to slow down, or even crash in more severe cases.

Most modern computer software usually comes with files that can facilitate the removal of the program. These “uninstaller” programs are usually bundled with the primary software.

What Problems are Associated with Uninstall?

The process of uninstalling software is quite simple in most cases. In the cases where the software does not include its own “uninstaller”, computer users can perform this task manually on their own using a built-in Windows function: “Add/Remove Programs”. This can be found under “Start”, “Control Panel” menu, then select “Add/ Remove Program”.

The process of uninstalling software can be complicated sometimes and become a major problem to remove. It is usually very frustrating to try to remove software that was not programmed correctly by the software publisher to uninstall itself from your system.

One of the most common errors that you might experience while trying to uninstall a program is “Program is unable to install”. This is a common and annoying error message that usually appears when the software fails to uninstall, even after the user has attempted to remove the software through “Add/Remove Programs”.

In most cases, this error is usually caused when the software you are trying to uninstall is damaged in some way, preventing the uninstall process from proceeding. In this case, the files necessary to perform a software removal may be corrupt or missing, therefore making it impossible for a program to be removed from the system.

However, it is important to note that this problem can be fixed if the program to be uninstalled was supplied with an installation disc. In these cases, you can usually use an installation disc to repair the installation, and subsequently, have the software removed from the system.

Another more complicated option (advanced users only), is the use of the registry editor (regedit), where the program can be manually removed. Only a highly skilled user should carry out this process, preferably an IT professional since it involves deleting software files from the computer registry. This process is effective but can cause serious system problems if important system files are deleted.

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Is Your PC Healthy?

I always recommend to my readers to regularly use a trusted registry cleaner and optimizer such as WinThruster or CCleaner. Many problems that you encounter can be attributed to a corrupt and bloated registry.

Happy Computing!

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About the Author

Wally PhillipsWindows Wally is a helpful guy. It’s just in his nature. It’s why he started a blog in the first place. He heard over and over how hard it was to find simple, plain-English solutions to Windows troubleshooting problems on the Internet. Enter: Windows Wally. Ask away, and he will answer.