Uninstall Programs the Right Way

Uninstall Programs the Right Way

If you have a program on your hard drive that you no longer need or want, it's tempting to just throw it in the recycling bin and be done with it. But programs can be made up of a number of different files all over your hard drive. Just trashing the .exe file won't erase the whole program. In fact, it may lead to problems down the road.

How to Uninstall Programs Properly

The proper way to rid your computer of all files related to a program is to use the Add/Remove Programs control panel. Here's how to find it:

1. From your Start menu, choose Settings, then Control Panel.
2. Click on the Add/Remove Programs icon.
3. Choose the Install/Uninstall tab.
4. Now look for the program you want to dispose of, select it, and click the Add/Remove button.

If you couldn't find the program in the uninstall list, you need to get a separate uninstall utility. One program would be Norton CleanSweep another would be CyberMedia UnInstaller. Not only does it allow you to remove programs safely and completely, but reclaims space. It will also remove or store duplicate files and any other files you don't really need.

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