Tip: Manual Windows program removal made EASY

Manually removing a program from Windows with regedit and sysrestore.

Author: Neil Patterson :: 2024 Expertek
Views: 2476 - Updated 7/3/2016 5:36 pm Print this tip

So, the program is broken and it won't uninstall. No need to freak out, you can remove it manually using regedit and system restore.

  1. Determine which folder in the program files the program is installed in. This is the target folder that you want to delete.
  2. Next, open regedit, and press F3 to search for that folder. Be sure to include proceeding and trailing backslashes. IE. \AVG\
    • (as you find each entry referencing the files in that folder, delete the reference. Press f3 to search again. Repeat this process until the registry is cleared of all references to that folder.)
  3. Reboot, then delete the folder in question, permanently. (Clear the recycle bin, or bypass it entirely)
  4. Now, try the system, is everything working ok? Great, you're done!
  5. Wait, something's not working right?
    • Open system restore and restore the registry files to the very last date available.
  6. After the restore boot, run ccleaner registry clean to remove those pesky orphans. Now reboot once more.

Should be nearly perfect.

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