Question:

How can I completely uninstall a program and delete its residual files from my system?

I have tried to uninstall a program using the standard procedure, but when I search for the program name in the control panel, I still see a file or some other component related to the program. This is the screenshot of what I see:

Answer:

How to Completely Uninstall a Program and Delete Its Residual Files from Your System

Sometimes, when you uninstall a program from your computer, it may leave behind some files or registry entries that are not removed by the standard uninstallation process. These residual files can take up space on your hard drive, cause conflicts with other programs, or affect your system performance. In this article, we will show you how to completely uninstall a program and delete its residual files from your system using different methods.

Some programs come with their own uninstaller that can remove all the files and settings associated with the program. To use this method, follow these steps:

• Open the Start menu and type the name of the program you want to uninstall in the search box.
• Right-click on the program and select Uninstall or Change.
• Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the uninstallation process.
• Restart your computer if prompted.

Method 2: Use a Third-party Uninstaller

If the program does not have a built-in uninstaller, or if the built-in uninstaller fails to remove all the residual files, you can use a third-party uninstaller to do the job. A third-party uninstaller is a software that can scan your system for all the files and registry entries related to the program and delete them automatically. Some examples of third-party uninstallers are Revo Uninstaller, IObit Uninstaller, and Geek Uninstaller. To use this method, follow these steps:

• Download and install a third-party uninstaller of your choice from a trusted source.
• Launch the uninstaller and select the program you want to uninstall from the list of installed programs.
• Click on Uninstall and choose the Advanced or Deep scan option to find and remove all the residual files.
• Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the uninstallation process.
• Restart your computer if prompted.

Method 3: Manually Delete the Residual Files

If you prefer to manually delete the residual files, you can use the File Explorer and the Registry Editor to do so. However, this method requires more caution and technical knowledge, as deleting the wrong files or registry entries can damage your system or other programs. To use this method, follow these steps:

• Open the File Explorer and navigate to the folder where the program was installed. Usually, this is in the C:\Program Files or C:\Program Files (x86) directory. If you are not sure, you can search for the program name in the File Explorer.
• Delete the folder of the program and any subfolders or files related to it. You may need to enable the Show hidden files, folders, and drives option in the View tab of the File Explorer to see some of the files.
• Open the Registry Editor by pressing Windows + R keys and typing regedit in the Run dialog box. Click OK or press Enter.
• In the Registry Editor, press Ctrl + F keys and type the name of the program in the Find dialog box. Click Find Next or press Enter.
• Delete any registry entries or keys that match the program name or are related to it. Be careful not to delete any entries or keys that belong to other programs or the system.
• Repeat the previous step until you find no more matches in the registry.
• Restart your computer to apply the changes.

Conclusion

In

this article, we have shown you how to completely uninstall a program and delete its residual files from your system using different methods. You can choose the method that suits your preference and skill level. However, before you uninstall any program, make sure you have a backup of your important data and a system restore point in case something goes wrong. We hope this article was helpful and informative. Thank you for reading.