Windows 7: Control panel, uninstall programs

I am wondering why some of my installed programs do not show up in control panel, uninstall programs, am also wondering if there is away to make the list of programs in unistall programs show up in alphabetical order.



Also if I cannot uninstall programs any other way does it create any potential problems if I just delete the folder(s) containing the program?

Depends. The program may not have been written for Windows 7 or they may be written such that they dont enter the requisite info in the registry. Many such progs will have their own uininstallers accessible via the Start menu or the programfiles directory. Windows components can be found under Turn windows features on or off. See this also.

Programs and Features - Uninstall or Change a Program

If you need to uninstall manually, find the install log. Its usually located in the application folder and tells you what files where installed where and what registry keys were created. However, it may not be smooth going. E.g., there could be shared system files or the install may be very complicated. Where theres absolutely no go I guess you could just delete the folders and clean up afterwards with CCleaner.

Some programs are "hidden", but these are not programs you should tamper with.

Some programs are not "installed" as such, they may be on the machine but not in the "installed list", Portable programs which do not require an installation for instance. Not all programs provide sensible uninstallers ( which the system uses to uninstall them).

You should not delete folders if you can avoid it. Deleting folders wont uninstall "installed"software.

To sort the programs in your list, right click on on a program in the list;



You may find this helpful;

MyUninstaller: Alternative uninstaller to the standard Windows Add / Remove module Freeware

Or, depending on your system ( The freeware only uninstalls 32 BIT programs );

Download Revo Uninstaller Freeware - Free and Full Download - Uninstall software, remove programs, solve uninstall problems

Regards....Mike Connor

I'd suggest installing Revo Uninstaller (you can find it in the great free software thread). It runs the app's uninstaller then scans for leftover files/folders/reg entries and gives you the option to delete them.

Revo works quite well for me but also can't find some programs. I also have used the uninstall programs in Ccleaner. It found programs the others didn't. Then I run Search Everything to see if everything is gone.