Windows 7: How to remove all uninstalled software "bits" ?

Hi,

I removed (?) all the bloatware and software I did not wanted to use that came with my Toshiba laptop! Ex: McAfee, Nero, etc...I removed via Control Panel/Uninstall programs! But I know that almost all the time, there are still "bits" of those sw that remain in the computer! My question: how can I remove all those "bits"?
For example I saw that somewhere in the Registry (via regedit) there was (still) some McAfee and Nero folders!!! Is it safe to delete those?

Thanks for reading and I will appreciate all the help

Cheers,
paulo

Yes, many times remnants or "orphan" files are left behind when uninstalling software by using control panel > programs and features. Many people recommend uninstall software like Revo or Advanced Uninstaller Pro. They claim to have more powerful searches that dig out those left over bits and pieces. Other people say the default setting for CCleaner will do no harm to the registry.

Revo Uninstaller Pro - Uninstall Software, Remove Programs easily, Forced Uninstall

Advanced Uninstaller PRO: A Swiss Army Knife for PC Users - Completely uninstall any program, even if it has no uninstaller of its own

CCleaner - PC Optimization and Cleaning - Free Download

Personal opinion FWIW: if you decide to use any product other than the native Windows 7 tools, make sure you have a current system image "just in case". Then you can experiment with different products until you find a solution that works for you.

Hi paulobao,

Neither Revo Uninstaller nor Advanced uninstaller is going to help you remove the leftover registry entries now. (You should have raised your query on decrapifying before uninstalling with the Windows uninstaller.)

Your best bet now will be to use a good registry cleaner - which is normally not recommended by many here - and pray that it removes the redundant entries.

I would recommend the registry cleaner in Glary Utilities which I occasionally use. ( So far I have not faced any problems.) Install the Slim - No Toolbar version from Glary Utilities Download - Free Utilities to Clean Registry, Fix PC Errors, Clean Privacy

Though the utility backs up the changes it did which you can restore in case of any problems, a system restore point before you run it will be in order.

If you are really paranoid about it, you can restore your system back to the factory condition and then decrapify it thoroughly using the standard decrapifying procedure. ( PC decrapifier, McAfee Consumer product Removal Tool etc.,)

1. McAfee you have to remove with their own uninstaller http://www.softpedia.com/get/Tweak/Uninstallers/McAfee-Consumer-Product-Removal-Tool.shtml

2. Most products come with .dlls. Those you cannot remove.

3. Else, everything that was said above applies.

Thanks!
I do not know much about this but I remember unistall Norton with their tools but at end I would need to remove manually "stuff norton related" in the registry (via regedit).
If I delete those "McAfee" bits in registry manually what could happen? Because I find McAffe folders in the registry!

Having those "bits" in the registry will hurt something?

paulo

From a Microsoft Answers forum thread:

Registry Cleaners. Windows 7 - Microsoft Answers

The general concensus is NOT to use registry cleaners. Those left over bits won't hurt anything. This is not Windows 98 where registry cleaners were needed. If you want to "clean" the registry, make sure you have everything backed up (system image) just in case.

Thanks a lot mars :-)
If those bits do not hurt the system, I do not need to care! I don't want to install software (those cleaners...)that, they too, may put some more "bits" in the system!

And I do not want programs running in the background (only the av), and schedulled things,...
What I really would like to have in my fresh laptop is a simple system running smoothly!
The main use for it is running specific sw for my hobbie: astronomy/astrophotography! There I've a huge amount of sw (all paid and licensed to me) that I know will never hurt my computer! They do not run anything in the background, only when I start them! (ok, all this was off-topic!)

Cheers,
paulo

A few dead registry entries will not hurt anything. In earlier Windows - XP or earlier - they might slow down the registry search. But that is no more the case since Vista.

I use Revo Pro and like it. But I notice it shows many ( 18 ) Microsoft Visual C+ programs. Do I need all of those? What if I uninstall them?

This Microsoft Answers forum thread may help explain all those C++ files (or not. )


Multiple Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable installs - Microsoft Answers


The general concensus is to leave them be. Different programs install their own C++ files. Removing them may cause those programs to crash. Even if there's what appears to be a duplicate C++ file, let it be. They don't take up all that much space on the hard drive.


Having said that, I also understand that a lot of people like to tinker, tweak and experiment with their computers to see what they can or cannot safely do. For anyone who falls into that category, make sure you have a good system image just in case you turn your computer into an expensive door stop.