deleating all traces of a program

[franktee]

Hi all
When deleting a program, (in this case an AV expired and unrenewed
subscription), how can one be sure ALL TRACES of the program are also deleted.
Thanks for any helpful info.
Franktee

 

[Shenan Stanley]

franktee wrote:
> When deleting a program, (in this case an AV expired and unrenewed
> subscription), how can one be sure ALL TRACES of the program are
> also deleted. Thanks for any helpful info.

100% sure?

(1)
- Backup your personal data only...
- Using a freeware wipe utility boot disk/cd - boot and wipe the drive (zero
write 14+ times.)
- Install Windows XP fresh.
- Install the patches/updates/drivers for Windows XP.
- Install JUST the AV you want - not the old expired one.

(2)
See if the manufacturer of the original AV has a set of manual uninstall
instructions... Or an applications to do the cleanup after their
application.

(3) Manually search the registry and all files for any traces and remove
them manually.

Is there some issue with the old AV that you are this concerned with it
(that the normal method of removal would fail and/or be snooping on you or
something?)

--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

 

[franktee]

Thanks for your response,
I did use the manufacturers uninstall program and it seemed to have worked
well. No there was no concern, but just to clear any remnants out as much as
possible.
Thanks again.
franktee

"Shenan Stanley" wrote:

> franktee wrote:
> > When deleting a program, (in this case an AV expired and unrenewed
> > subscription), how can one be sure ALL TRACES of the program are
> > also deleted. Thanks for any helpful info.
>
> 100% sure?
>
> (1)
> - Backup your personal data only...
> - Using a freeware wipe utility boot disk/cd - boot and wipe the drive (zero
> write 14+ times.)
> - Install Windows XP fresh.
> - Install the patches/updates/drivers for Windows XP.
> - Install JUST the AV you want - not the old expired one.
>
> (2)
> See if the manufacturer of the original AV has a set of manual uninstall
> instructions... Or an applications to do the cleanup after their
> application.
>
> (3) Manually search the registry and all files for any traces and remove
> them manually.
>
> Is there some issue with the old AV that you are this concerned with it
> (that the normal method of removal would fail and/or be snooping on you or
> something?)
>
> --
> Shenan Stanley
> MS-MVP
> --
> How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
> http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
>
>
>

 

[Curt Christianson]

Franktee,

Glad to hear you got it cleaned OK, *and* (I'm sure Shenan will agree) you
didn't use a "registry cleaner".

--
HTH,
Curt

Windows Support Center
www.aumha.org
Practically Nerded,...
http://dundats.mvps.org/Index.htm

"franktee" <franktee@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:514D083F-ABFE-498B-8622-C19DE0BED673@microsoft.com...
| Thanks for your response,
| I did use the manufacturers uninstall program and it seemed to have worked
| well. No there was no concern, but just to clear any remnants out as much
as
| possible.
| Thanks again.
| franktee
|
| "Shenan Stanley" wrote:
|
| > franktee wrote:
| > > When deleting a program, (in this case an AV expired and unrenewed
| > > subscription), how can one be sure ALL TRACES of the program are
| > > also deleted. Thanks for any helpful info.
| >
| > 100% sure?
| >
| > (1)
| > - Backup your personal data only...
| > - Using a freeware wipe utility boot disk/cd - boot and wipe the drive
(zero
| > write 14+ times.)
| > - Install Windows XP fresh.
| > - Install the patches/updates/drivers for Windows XP.
| > - Install JUST the AV you want - not the old expired one.
| >
| > (2)
| > See if the manufacturer of the original AV has a set of manual uninstall
| > instructions... Or an applications to do the cleanup after their
| > application.
| >
| > (3) Manually search the registry and all files for any traces and remove
| > them manually.
| >
| > Is there some issue with the old AV that you are this concerned with it
| > (that the normal method of removal would fail and/or be snooping on you
or
| > something?)
| >
| > --
| > Shenan Stanley
| > MS-MVP
| > --
| > How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
| > http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
| >
| >
| >

 

[franktee]

No.
I tend to shy away from anything that has to do with the registry.


"Curt Christianson" wrote:

> Franktee,
>
> Glad to hear you got it cleaned OK, *and* (I'm sure Shenan will agree) you
> didn't use a "registry cleaner".
>
> --
> HTH,
> Curt
>
> Windows Support Center
> www.aumha.org
> Practically Nerded,...
> http://dundats.mvps.org/Index.htm
>
> "franktee" <franktee@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:514D083F-ABFE-498B-8622-C19DE0BED673@microsoft.com...
> | Thanks for your response,
> | I did use the manufacturers uninstall program and it seemed to have worked
> | well. No there was no concern, but just to clear any remnants out as much
> as
> | possible.
> | Thanks again.
> | franktee
> |
> | "Shenan Stanley" wrote:
> |
> | > franktee wrote:
> | > > When deleting a program, (in this case an AV expired and unrenewed
> | > > subscription), how can one be sure ALL TRACES of the program are
> | > > also deleted. Thanks for any helpful info.
> | >
> | > 100% sure?
> | >
> | > (1)
> | > - Backup your personal data only...
> | > - Using a freeware wipe utility boot disk/cd - boot and wipe the drive
> (zero
> | > write 14+ times.)
> | > - Install Windows XP fresh.
> | > - Install the patches/updates/drivers for Windows XP.
> | > - Install JUST the AV you want - not the old expired one.
> | >
> | > (2)
> | > See if the manufacturer of the original AV has a set of manual uninstall
> | > instructions... Or an applications to do the cleanup after their
> | > application.
> | >
> | > (3) Manually search the registry and all files for any traces and remove
> | > them manually.
> | >
> | > Is there some issue with the old AV that you are this concerned with it
> | > (that the normal method of removal would fail and/or be snooping on you
> or
> | > something?)
> | >
> | > --
> | > Shenan Stanley
> | > MS-MVP
> | > --
> | > How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
> | > http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
> | >
> | >
> | >
>
>
>

 

[Lil' Dave]

Then, you are in for a surprise. That's where most of the garbage is.
Dave
"franktee" <franktee@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:AAFCB065-B9EE-4C34-ACDA-22C6A7A16990@microsoft.com...
> No.
> I tend to shy away from anything that has to do with the registry.
>
>
> "Curt Christianson" wrote:
>
>> Franktee,
>>
>> Glad to hear you got it cleaned OK, *and* (I'm sure Shenan will agree)
>> you
>> didn't use a "registry cleaner".
>>
>> --
>> HTH,
>> Curt
>>
>> Windows Support Center
>> www.aumha.org
>> Practically Nerded,...
>> http://dundats.mvps.org/Index.htm
>>
>> "franktee" <franktee@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> news:514D083F-ABFE-498B-8622-C19DE0BED673@microsoft.com...
>> | Thanks for your response,
>> | I did use the manufacturers uninstall program and it seemed to have
>> worked
>> | well. No there was no concern, but just to clear any remnants out as
>> much
>> as
>> | possible.
>> | Thanks again.
>> | franktee
>> |
>> | "Shenan Stanley" wrote:
>> |
>> | > franktee wrote:
>> | > > When deleting a program, (in this case an AV expired and unrenewed
>> | > > subscription), how can one be sure ALL TRACES of the program are
>> | > > also deleted. Thanks for any helpful info.
>> | >
>> | > 100% sure?
>> | >
>> | > (1)
>> | > - Backup your personal data only...
>> | > - Using a freeware wipe utility boot disk/cd - boot and wipe the
>> drive
>> (zero
>> | > write 14+ times.)
>> | > - Install Windows XP fresh.
>> | > - Install the patches/updates/drivers for Windows XP.
>> | > - Install JUST the AV you want - not the old expired one.
>> | >
>> | > (2)
>> | > See if the manufacturer of the original AV has a set of manual
>> uninstall
>> | > instructions... Or an applications to do the cleanup after their
>> | > application.
>> | >
>> | > (3) Manually search the registry and all files for any traces and
>> remove
>> | > them manually.
>> | >
>> | > Is there some issue with the old AV that you are this concerned with
>> it
>> | > (that the normal method of removal would fail and/or be snooping on
>> you
>> or
>> | > something?)
>> | >
>> | > --
>> | > Shenan Stanley
>> | > MS-MVP
>> | > --
>> | > How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
>> | > http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
>> | >
>> | >
>> | >
>>
>>
>>