What to do when a program is not working and blocking you from deleting it on Windows 10

Question:

A possible way to rephrase your question in a more concise and professional way is:

How can I uninstall a program that is not working properly and is preventing me from deleting it?

I downloaded a program called repaper to set a moving background on my Windows 10 laptop, but it did not work as expected and it gave me a warning message when I tried to delete it. It said that it was open in another file, but I could not find any evidence of that. I am worried that it might be malware or a virus. How can I safely remove it from my laptop?

Answer:

Sometimes, you may encounter a situation where you want to uninstall a program from your Windows 10 laptop, but it refuses to cooperate. It may give you an error message saying that it is open in another file, or it may not show up in the list of installed programs. This can be frustrating and worrisome, especially if you suspect that the program might be malware or a virus. Fortunately, there are some steps you can take to safely remove such a program from your laptop. Here are some of them:

  • Restart your laptop. Sometimes, a simple reboot can solve the problem. Restarting your laptop can close any background processes that might be using the program, and free up the resources needed to uninstall it. After restarting, try to uninstall the program again and see if it works.
  • Use the Program Install and Uninstall troubleshooter. This is a tool provided by Microsoft that can help you fix problems with installing or uninstalling programs. You can download it from [here](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/fix-problems-that-block-programs-from-being-installed-or-removed-cca7d1b6-65a9-3d98-426b-e9f927e1eb4d). Run the troubleshooter and follow the instructions. It will scan your laptop for any issues and try to fix them automatically. It will also give you the option to uninstall the program that is causing trouble.
  • Use a third-party uninstaller. If the previous methods do not work, you can try using a third-party uninstaller program that can remove stubborn programs more effectively. There are many such programs available online, but make sure you download them from reputable sources and scan them for viruses before using them. Some examples of popular uninstaller programs are Revo Uninstaller, IObit Uninstaller, and Geek Uninstaller. These programs can scan your laptop for any traces of the program you want to uninstall, and delete them completely. They can also remove any leftover files, folders, or registry entries that the program may have created.
  • Delete the program manually. This is the last resort, and should only be done if you are confident in your technical skills and have backed up your important data. Deleting the program manually involves finding the program folder and deleting it, as well as removing any associated files, folders, or registry entries. This can be risky, as you may accidentally delete something that is needed by your system or other programs. To delete the program manually, follow these steps:
  • Open File Explorer and navigate to the location where the program is installed. Usually, this is in the C:\Program Files or C:\Program Files (x86) folder. Look for the folder with the name of the program or the developer, and delete it. If you are prompted for administrator permission, click Yes.
  • Open the Run dialog box by pressing Windows + R keys. Type regedit and click OK. This will open the Registry Editor, where you can edit the registry entries of your system. Be careful not to modify anything else, as this can cause serious problems. In the Registry Editor, press Ctrl + F keys to open the Find dialog box. Type the name of the program or the developer, and click Find Next. Delete any registry entries that match the search term. Repeat this process until you have deleted all the relevant registry entries.
  • Restart your laptop and check if the program is gone.
  • Conclusion

    Uninstalling

a program that is not working properly and is preventing you from deleting it can be a challenging task, but not impossible. By following the steps above, you can safely remove such a program from your Windows 10 laptop. However, before you install any new program, make sure you read the reviews, check the ratings, and scan it for viruses. This can prevent you from installing unwanted or harmful programs in the future.

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