uninstall ALL games that came with Windows 7?

[StickMaker]

In C: I have folder "Microsoft Games" which contains 10 folders of games. I don't see them in the START list and don't see them in Control Panel/Uninstall or change a program.

How best to get rid of ALL of them; I tried to Delete the main folder but got stuck with "You require permission from SYSTEM to make changes to this folder" whatever that means.

thanks!

 

[Infinite]

Your close. Control Panel > Programs and Features > Turn Windows features on or off.

In the dialogue that opens, deselect Games. Click OK and a loading dialogue will open. Wait for it to finish. It may or may not say restart.

It will remove the Default ones but not the ones that you installed yourself (games that didn't already come with Win7). So stuff like Solitare, Purble Place, Minesweeper, etc will be removed.

 

[StickMaker]

THAT was fast, Infinite! Thanks. They are GONE from Windows Explorer. I assume that they are OUT of the computer and I have salvaged 142Mb of much-needed space?

 

[Infinite]

Yes it will remove them from the System, you can however always enable it again by going back to Programs and Features and selecting it again.

If your looking for Space. I suggest Downloading CCleaner and CCEnhancer to clear some junk out of your System But don't use it's built in Registry Cleaner.

CCleaner
CCEnhancer

To install CCEnhancer you must have .NET Framework.

Check what you select in CCleaner, you might need your Browsers history for example.

Also you use Disk Cleanup and Advanced Disk Cleanup
Disk Cleanup

To Enable Advanced Disk Cleanup:
Right Click Desktop - New > Shortcut. Copy and paste this %SystemRoot%\System32\Cmd.exe /c Cleanmgr /sageset:65535 & Cleanmgr /sagerun:65535

 

[StickMaker]

If I can do that, then they are still in my computer and I have not freed-up any space on my HD, have I?

 

[Infinite]

It is not suggested to remove them completely. If you need to free Disk Space, my post has been updated.

This is also a good read:
PC World | How to reclaim Hard Drive Space

 

[StickMaker]

I see. I do need that space and know I'll NEVER want any of those games. Can I get RID of them?

 

[Infinite]

I'll have a look, but I am not responsible for any damage done to your computer.

 

[StickMaker]

thanks

 

[Infinite]

You will need to Enable it through Programs and Features otherwise it won't show up in program files

Ok. Download the Take Ownership Shortcut:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1911-take-ownership-shortcut.html

Head over to C:\Program Files and Right Click on Microsoft Games and click Take Ownership, select Yes to the UAC Prompt.

Now Right Click and delete. Then you can remove it from the Recycle Bin

 

[StickMaker]

Hmmmm; I *already* have "Take Ownership" in my "right-click menu" so I right-clicked "Microsoft Games" in Windows Explorer and that menu disappeared so I right-clicked it again and chose "Delete" but same problem as originally.

 

[Infinite]

It's working for me, you must be doing something wrong.

You will need to click Take Ownership otherwise it won't work, regardless if you see it or not. After clicking Take Ownership you can then delete.

Try using the Unlocker tool.

 

[StickMaker]

Hmm; if Windows makes it this difficult, maybe your earlier "warning" was not in vain. I'm starting to think I am forced to LEAVE the games to waste space on my shrinking Hard Drive.

Thanks for trying, Infinite.

 

[StickMaker]

Infinite, I found at How do you get rid of games in your games list? - Microsoft Answers that you cannot delete them.

 

[Infinite]

Yes they can, I did it to my PC. But since I wanted to keep them, I restored them from Recycle Bin.

You would also need to remove them from regedit if you want them removed alltogether.

 

[StickMaker]

Best I leave it, Infinite. Thanks.