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How to delete unwanted programs

March 1, 2004 › Sandy McMurray | comment

One of the best ways to free up space on your computer is to deleted unused and unwanted programs. This is easy to do; in fact, Windows provides a control panel that automates the process.

Note that you can't simply drag unwanted programs to the Recycle Bin. This leaves traces of the program behind, and may even cause Windows to become confused later.

The Add/Remove Programs control panel is the "official" way to remove unwanted programs from Windows. Here's how it works:

1. Click on the Windows Start button.
2. Select Settings, then Control Panels.
3. Click on Add/Remove Programs.
4. Locate and select the program you want to delete.
5. Click the button for Change or Remove.
6. Follow the on-screen instructions.

You may need to restart Windows to complete the process.

Add/Remove Programs is the only safe way to remove most Windows programs. If you drag the program folder to the Recycle Bin, it leaves bits of the program behind, taking up space and confusing Windows. (Is it gone or not? Hmmm...)

This is a Windows shortcut icon Note, however, that you can safely delete "shortcut" icons (the little pictures you double-click on to start programs from the desktop). Shortcut icons usually have little arrows to show that they're pointers to programs and not the programs themselves.

You can safely drag a shortcut to the Recycle Bin (or just right-click and select "Delete" from the pop-up menu). Since shortcuts are just pointers to programs, you can safely delete them without hurting anything.

Update: You may encounter an error using Add-Remove Programs if part of the program has been removed manually -- if you dragged the program folder to the Recycle Bin, for example. See this page for details.

March 1, 2004 › Sandy McMurray | comment on this item