question about difficulty in uninstalling file

[jimdagys]

I got an ad for a free trial Usenext account. But when I tried to install the client , it seemed that the provided login name and password were no good. Then I tried to uninstall the program using the Windows uninstaller but it said that something was missing and could not uninstall the program. Likewise, when I went to the Program files folder, I was unable to use the uninstaller to uninstall the program. (A quick search in Google showed that other people had th e same problem.)
Question #1: what does one do in these circumstances? Is it a good idea just to delete the program folder? My understanding is that it is not good to do that.
Then I decided to download another Usenet client from another source (possibly a dubious source, but I wanted a slightly different version of client that might allow me to uninstall the original program).
So I downloaded this second client and installed it. It appeared to install over top of the original client. There also was some problem about getting it registered, but this time I was able to use the Windows uninstaller and start the uninstall process
Question #2: why was I able to start the uninstall process on the second client but not the first? I did see that the second client installed in the same folder as the original client, so I was happy that I might be successful to get rid of the whole thing.
Then, before the uninstall completed, I was taken to a Usenext web site where I had to answer a few questions. After I did that, the uninstall process appeared to complete properly and it appears that the whole program is off the computer
Question #3 How can the Windows uninstall process be delayed by first forcing me to answer some questions on a web site? That seems pretty amazing to me.

[poisondeathray]

UhOh. Sounds like it might be a scam.

I would run a few virus scans, trojan scans, spyware scans

[edong]

Google Revo Uninstaller. Might do the trick

[Krispy Kritter]

1) When a programs uninstall routine and/or Windows Add/Remove programs can't remove a program, then your only option is a manual uninstall. Simply delete the installation folder and then scan the registry with registry cleanup tool. As an alternative, you could also manually scan the registy for all references to the program name.

2) The second program worked simply because a) the program installed correctly and the uninstall routine could find all of the components or b) simply because it was a better written program.

3) Most uninstall routines used by Windows (ie: from Add/Remove Programs) are not part of windows. Part of the install process for a properly written application includes a script for uninstallation. Windows simply runs the script.


Even programs that can be properly uninstalled leave garbage behind on your system. Sometimes actual files on the HDD and almost always registry entries. You should be performing regular maintainance with a few basic tools to help keep your system healthy.