delete all traces of program?

[MidNiteMysT]

The add/remove programs thing is a joke. how do you really delete all traces of the program. when it installs, it installs more then what you uninstall by using add/remove programs. like lets say i wanted to install norton antivirus again fresh so i could have another years worth of updates, how can i find all traces of the prog and its registry entries?

so basically, how do you delete all traces of the prog and its registry's entrys.

btw, i know theres a prog that if you install the program through this prog, you will be able to uninstall all traces of the program, but its too late for that since i already installed it.

 

[drwngflies]

You will have to use the Search feature of Windows now, and search for: Norton, for all files left over, then run CCleaner:
http://downloads.guru3d.com/download.php?det=1077
and run all three tabs: Clean, Applications, and Issues
Then, Open regedit, use the "find" function for Norton and remove any entries, then, "find next" (again for Norton)
Then reinstall fresh.

 

[MrChad]

Originally posted by: MidNiteMysT
The add/remove programs thing is a joke. how do you really delete all traces of the program. when it installs, it installs more then what you uninstall by using add/remove programs. like lets say i wanted to install norton antivirus again fresh so i could have another years worth of updates, how can i find all traces of the prog and its registry entries?

so basically, how do you delete all traces of the prog and its registry's entrys.

btw, i know theres a prog that if you install the program through this prog, you will be able to uninstall all traces of the program, but its too late for that since i already installed it.

That's really the case of the manufacturer not building their uninstaller properly. A correctly built uninstaller should remove all traces. Also, many programs add files, folders and registry entries after they're installed. Often, these objects will remain after the program is uninstalled (because they were never part of the installation to begin with).

 

[nweaver]

doing a mass search/delete in the registry is bad, don't advise that, as you never know what they may find.

For the most part, the bits that remain after an uninstall are fairly minimal, and shouldn't hurt anything. if you are trying to eliminate all traces so you can violate license agreements, please don't.

 

[MidNiteMysT]

Originally posted by: drwngflies
You will have to use the Search feature of Windows now, and search for: Norton, for all files left over, then run CCleaner:
http://downloads.guru3d.com/download.php?det=1077
and run all three tabs: Clean, Applications, and Issues
Then, Open regedit, use the "find" function for Norton and remove any entries, then, "find next" (again for Norton)
Then reinstall fresh.

yep, thats exactly what i already did already before making my post and it didnt help.. like i mean i did EXACTLY what you said lol.

any other suggestions?

 

[JCKC]

Look in your registry for entries under both "Norton" and "Symantec". I believe you'll find most of your virus definition info under the Symantec heading.

 

[MidNiteMysT]

just to clue you guys in, i just used norton as an example. its not the actual prog im trying to get rid of. but i did do a search for the name of the prog, and its parent company already. im just wondering if theres like a secret place these companys put a tiny bit of info so they can tell if its been installed before.

 

[DaveSimmons]

Originally posted by: MidNiteMysT
just to clue you guys in, i just used norton as an example. its not the actual prog im trying to get rid of. but i did do a search for the name of the prog, and its parent company already. im just wondering if theres like a secret place these companys put a tiny bit of info so they can tell if its been installed before.

So you want to steal a different program, go you.

Use freeware or buy it, matey.

 

[corkyg]

After any "uninstall" operation, I always do a registry scrub with Norton Utilities' WinDoctor. That usually gets all the residue out. Once that is done, any thing else left in a folder can be manually deleted.

 

[nweaver]

I just apt-get uninstall program to get rid. It normally cleans all but my config files, and those are easy to delete

 

[MidNiteMysT]

Originally posted by: corkyg
After any "uninstall" operation, I always do a registry scrub with Norton Utilities' WinDoctor. That usually gets all the residue out. Once that is done, any thing else left in a folder can be manually deleted.

hmm... maybe ill give that windoctor thing a try.

I just apt-get uninstall program to get rid. It normally cleans all but my config files, and those are easy to delete

what do you mean "i just apt-get uninstall program" which program do you use?

 

[Alex]

use uninstall tool, run crapcleaner, manually delete program folder if still there and then run Macecraft RegCleaner just for good measure.
AFAIK this is more than enough!

 

[yosuke188]

reformat