OT: how to get rid of annoying software...

PDB wrote on 6/1/2003, 12:31 PM
Sorry for this very "off topic" but for some reason my XP home edition refuses to get rid of MGI VideoWave 4 from its HD!! Very odd: no "uninstall" option in programme file and when I try to be rid of it through Control Pannel, Videowave prostests vociferously asking me to insert its CD and even if I do so, it still refuses to move on...

any ideas?

Thanks!

Paul.

Comments

Spot|DSE wrote on 6/1/2003, 12:39 PM
You need a tool like System Mechanic from www.iolo.com This tool is great for getting rid of pesky registry junk, and is a fantastic maintenance tool. cost is around 40.00 or so, there is a 30 day trial as well. I use it religiously on the VASST tours.
kameronj wrote on 6/1/2003, 2:25 PM
On the heels of what Spot said...there are great applications that can help you get rid of stuff you no longer want.

But...depending on the OS you have - there ae some other ways of doing it that are easy (and free).

Assuming you are running (at least) Win98....you could go the registry route and remove the keys yourself. Do a search for the application name and then delete all the keys it finds. This of course is after you delete the program files directory holding the program files for the applicatioin - make sure nothing is in the start up folder for that application - and do a back up of your registry just in case something gets fubared in the process.

But...don't do this unless you are comfortable playing in the registery. I have been working on boxes for years - and my comfort level in the registry is still shakey (at best). I did make a mistake in the registry once (without backing it up) and it caused a world of problems.

But it's possible to do yourself (if you are up to the challenge).
craftech wrote on 6/1/2003, 2:29 PM
I have been using the freeware....RegCleaner for years and it works very well:

http://www.vtoy.fi/jv16/shtml/regcleaner.shtml

John
kameronj wrote on 6/1/2003, 2:56 PM
http://www.vtoy.fi/jv16/shtml/regcleaner.shtml

Neat little program. Thanks for the tip.
PDB wrote on 6/2/2003, 1:25 PM
Thanks everyone! I'll give those a try and keep my fingers crossed: with a bit of luck, all will be the merrier afterwards!. - not at all comfortable with playing around with the reg files- don't even know where to find them!!!

regards,

Paul