Uninstall Programs The Proper Way
If you have a program on your hard drive that you no longer need, it can be tempting to just throw it in the recycling bin and be done with it.
But programs can be made up of a number of different files all over your hard drive. Just trashing the .exe file won't erase the whole program.
In fact, it may lead to problems down the road.
First Thing to Check
Some programs, like Star Office, must be removed using the Uninstaller Software they provide. There will be an entry in your START | PROGRAMS menu if this is the case. Use their Uninstaller if it is provided, otherwise use the guidance below.
How to Uninstall Programs Properly
The proper way to rid your computer of all files related to a program is to use the Add/Remove Programs control panel. Here's how to find it:
> From your Start menu, choose Settings, then Control Panel. > Click on the Add/Remove Programs icon. > Choose the Install/Uninstall tab. > Now look for the program you want to dispose of, select it, and click the Add/Remove button.
If you could not find the program in the uninstall list, you may need to get a separate uninstall utility. There is an article from Family PC called Uninstall Software The Right Way that promotes the use of CleanSweep and Uninstaller. The article states that these programs perform better than Windows Add/Remove.
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