We
all install programs, use them for a while, and then wish we were never
introduced to them. Some programs that you install you will forget you
even have. Some software that you remove will leave little bits and
pieces behind that you may not even know about.
Add Or Remove Programs.....Not Enough
The
easiest way to remove programs is from the Add Or Remove Programs
applet. You simply select the program you wish to remove and click to
remove it. This generally removes a majority of the application from
your computer
However,
a good portion of the time this method of removal does not remove every
file that is related to the program. Often there will be scattered
files, DLLs (dynamic link libraries), temporary files, and more that may
be left on your computer. To ensure maximum optimization of your
computer, as much of this clutter should be removed as possible.
Why are some files left behind?
When
you install a program, the installer makes a log of all of the files it
installs. when you remove the program, the uninstaller reads that log
file and removes only the files listed. This sounds great, but if the
uninstaller is flawed or the initial installation was inconsistent, the
program can't be removed properly. If additional files have been added
to the program's folders, those files and the folders they live in will
not be removed either.
Where are files normally stored?
Many
files are normally stored in you My Documents folder. Normally this
folder is on the desktop of your computer or in your Start menu. Many of
these files are created by programs for use by you. If you installed a
trial of something and it creates a file or folder in you My Documents
folder. That file or folder will not usually be removed when you
uninstall the software.
Another
place files are stored are in the temporary folders on your computer.
In the old days of computing it was very easy to find and delete
temporary files. However, today there are several different Temp
folders:
C:Temp
C:WindowsTemp
C:Documents and SettingsYourNameLocal SettingsTemp
*Warning:
It is not recommended to remove shared files. Deleting the wrong file
while trying to free up some hard disk space could bring your system to a
screeching halt.
Another
place programs place data is in the Registry. The Registry is where
most of the system information, preferences, and settings for your
computer and software are stored. If software is removed improperly,
information pertaining to the program will remain in the Registry.
Removing these orphaned keys can make your system faster and more
stable.
The
registry is the favorite hiding place for spyware. Visit Secure
Computer Networks for more information on spyware:
http://www.securecomputernetworks.com/resources/security/spyware.htm
*Warning:
Modifying the Registry could possibly crash your computer or software.
Always remember to back your computer up before every changing anything
Do not remove Registry entries for anything unless you are sure that
they are not needed.
With
a little detective work, you can find and remove unwanted files from
your computer. You will end up with more free disk space and perhaps a
more reliable and faster computer.
Of
course, you must always be careful when removing files from your
computer. If you mistakenly remove files that a program still uses, the
program may not start again until you reinstall it. If you remove files
that your operating system uses, you could potentially have a computer
that will not start fully.
Secure
Computer Networks has specialists on staff that can help you with this
task. They have mobile techs located throughout Texas and also offer
phone support provided by QUALIFIED technicians. A majority of the time
after a Complete PC Clean-Up, your computer will run better, launch
programs faster, crash less often, and receive fewer pop-ups while
surfing the internet. Constant Pop-ups are a sign of a virus or spyware
that has found it's way into your computer.
- Blogger Comment
Subscribe to:
Post Comments
(
Atom
)
0 comments:
Post a Comment