Windows 7: Using regedit

A quick and hopefully simple query

I was cleaning an old machine the other day and was using Revo free but then found that programs were still listed in Programs, and in the "Computer" program lists.

Now I opened regedit out of curiosity and found that some of the "deleted" apps were still listed in the reg. An old installation entry of an Epson printer was one that comes to mind.

Now just for an example in the pic I have picked out the Canon entries and what I want to know is if I delete the total Canon entry will it take out all the sub entries and also will it affect the system or OS in any way.

I only want to know if I can do this for named apps that I want removed via this method and have no intention of going anywhere near the system, OS or entries I have no idea about when doing this.

You can delete the top level entry in registry for the example for "Canon" and all the sub level entries below "Canon" shall be deleted. But you may have to delete all the Canon entries after searching with F3 key in regedit. This should take out all the printer references from registry and it is not going to affect the OS.

But take care not to delete other keys except the ones you wish to delete. It is always better to take a backup of registry before you venture out, with a program like ERUNT. This way you can always restore back the original registry in case of problems. Or before deleting any keys, export them to a .reg file.

Thanks rraod I thought that would be the case I just wanted to make sure with someone that I am going to do the right thing.

Now it is going to be easier with those stubborn ones like some Ashampoo stuff I had years ago in an old Dell but that was before I was any where like a tiny bit savvy

Yeah mate I have backed up via export all the regs and funnily enough my best pal told me about the F3 this am and I will get that Erunt on board too.

So very much appreciated

Most programs after uninstallation, even with the best Uninstallers, leave behind orphans in the Registry and even elsewhere. This is quite natural. You can safely but carefully delete these orphan entries in the Registry and elsewhere.

Thanks wanchoo this will make life so much easier.