If a Windows program is giving you problems, one common troubleshooting tactic is to uninstall it, using the Add or Remove Programs option in Control Panel. What should you do if the pesky program isn’t in the list of installed programs? Although it sounds paradoxical, sometimes the best solution is to reinstall the program. After completing the program setup, check the Add or Remove Programs option again; you may discover that now you can uninstall it.
Tip of the day: Cope with uninstall problems
Published
Ed Bott 
The Windows Installer Cleanup Utility can also be helpful. After upgrading to Office 2003, my machine kept asking for CAB files involved with patches to Office XP (I can’t figure it out either!). The Cleanup Utility fixed the problem for me.
It’s available here:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;290301
OR you could avoid the issue altogether with a Macintosh. No more DLL conflicts, no more wondering where an application’s files are, no more cursing as an uninstall fails with a cryptic error involvind registry keys…
Just open the applications folder, choose the application, and move it to the trash. That’s it.
Of course, if you’re on a Mac you won’t be able to commiserate with your Windows-using family, friends and co-workers as they tell you about the latest virus, worm or bit of spyware that’s been harrassing them, but sometimes you’ve just got to be different…
Sorry Ed. I know you’ll probably think I’m trolling here (hence the name) but it’s all true.
I will say this much for Windows: Solitaire and Free Cell are a good way to kill time. I wish Apple would include a few goodies like them.
Yes Tom, because it is entirely reasonable to suggest that someone spend in the ballpark of $1000 to solve the problem of failed program installation.
My house is dirty, you know. I think I should move out and buy a new house.
Come on, man. You’re not on commission. You don’t need to sell Apple computers on various weblogs. Let the man give out his useful tips.
One note on this tip. Make sure you install to the same directory. If you don’t you will simply have another copy of the program floating around.
I vote for the Apple-promoting guy.
I have two XP media computers simply because I found it impossible to find a computer with xp home or pro only installed on it. I didn’t need bells and whistled forced on me, but alas I gave up. Like, what do I need with TWO computers with XP MEDIA on ’em??
Anyway, I now am having trouble with both the laptop(HP dv5029) and the desktop (gateway dual core)(4 months old) (not networked). lots of money spent, thinking I was saving money because I needed both types. Wish I had spent that $2300+ and used it toward ONE GOOD APPLE instead of two bad apples…
Like most of us non-techies, I’m tired of dodging bullets and watching Microsoft plug the dike with “fixes”.
By the by, the HP laptop has crashed or malfunctioned 4 times since i opened the box. I don’t even surf much anymore for fear of more viruses that NO PROGRAM can find.
Their exported customer support (bah) is useless unles you luck up and get Vancouver.
Unfortunately, 99 times our of 100 you get somewhere in the dark depths of Dehli or Baktoor.
(here’s a typical example)
(I say) “Problem: I can’t get online”
By interpreting an almost indecipherably thick Indian accent, I figure out what the HP customer service guy’s saying:
“OK,(says my name) I will certainly be fixing that for you (says my name again) Now,(says my name a 3rd time),will you please for me to just log onto the internet, (inserts my name a 4th time)?”
Gotta say Gateway’s NON TOLL FREE NUMBER-support shocked me.
But of the two, Gateway gets my vote. At least it works fast.
Did you know that allowing remote access is the DEFAULT setting on the HP laptop?
That is a wonderful asset to someone who’s been targeted by a hacker. Like me. Or anyone. We’re all targets.
What WERE they thinking?