Frustrating problem uninstalling software

[ken184]

I recently decided to uninstall my Epson scanner software bundle. The scanner driver went fine, but after I uninstalled the bloatware that comes on the install disc, the DVD drive stopped working. After exhausting all fix possibilities (that I know of) I was forced to hit a restore point to get the DVD working. Problem is the bloatware came right back and I was right back where I started. Anyone have any idea what I can do to get rid of that stuff without destroying the function of my DVD?

 

[margrave]

What's wrong with the bloatware? Just leave it there ... and don't run it!

 

[RolandJS]

Well, try uninstalling that stuff once more; then, immediately go to Control Panel, Device Manager, locate the CD/DVD player lines, delete the device; best to shutdown and coldboot, however, a Restart should be just fine; let the Windows and desktop come to "full green" -- in other words, allow Windows to search for, download, install cd-dvd drivers.

 

[ken184]

Margrave; there's really not a problem (that I know of) leaving it there, other than the fact that I don't want it there, and am rather annoyed that one of the "enhancement" programs has apparently made an unwanted change to the registry, which cannot be easily reversed. Roland; tried that and every MS solution without any success. I'm guessing that one of the "extras" made a registry change which causes the DVD driver to be dependent on its presence, and I really don't to use yet another restore, so short of an O.S. recovery, I may be stuck with the whole set on my computer.

 

[RolandJS]

I can relate! I have used Resplendence's Registrar Registry Manager to fix things from time to time. However, I keep my OS partition full images current because registry editing is a risk.

 

[indianacarnie]

Is the bloatware all in one file or can you install/delete the separate modules individually? I would go to your computer manufacturer and see what dvd drive you have installed (if you don't know already), see if they have drivers for it, (they should)and then download and save them to your desktop. Uninstall the bloatware package(s), then install the drivers for the device you have.

 

[ken184]

Assuming the driver itself has been corrupted, that might be a fix. Of course the only problem is that, if it doesn't help, I'd be stuck doing another restore. What I've decided to do is take the advice above and live with unwanted programs until I find the time to do a recovery and get a clean registry.