Windows programs are a complex set of instructions and routines that become part of your overall system. After installing a few programs, your computer will be as unique as you are. After only a few hours of use no two computers are 100% alike.

You have added and customized programs to suit your particular tastes. Suppose you want to do a little remodeling. You change your mind and want to remove some of these programs and try something else. Fortunately, Windows will allow you do that, but you should be careful to properly remove what you have already installed.

The proper procedure for removing software is to uninstall it. There are a variety of methods for uninstalling programs depending on the actual program involved. By all means try to use one of the methods that follows. Try to avoid simply deleting the program folder by itself.

Use the program’s own uninstall utility

If the program has an uninstall utility, by all means use it. The uninstall or remove program is usually accessed from your programs menu and is coupled with the appropriate programs normal program icon.

Examples of these might be:

• Quicken

• Adobe Acrobat Reader

• Norton Antivirus

Click on Start

• Programs

• Click on the appropriate program group

• Click on the uninstall icon for the specific program

Use Windows Control Panel/Add/Remove Programs Icon

If the program is listed in the Control Panel Add/Remove Programs list, highlight the appropriate program and click remove.

Click on Start

• Settings

• Control Panel

• Add/Remove Programs

• Highlight the appropriate program

• Click on Add/Remove to remove the program

There are many utility programs available that are designed to properly uninstall Windows programs.

• Save all work and close all active programs.

• Restart your computer to refresh memory lost during normal operations

• Disconnect from the internet

• Shut down as many active utility programs as possible

• Identify any personal stuff associated with the program to be removed.

• Do you need this information?

• Do you have a backup copy of this information in case it is removed along with the program?

• Deleting an icon from your desktop or Programs folder does not delete the program

• Some upgrade programs will truly upgrade by adding to and enhancing existing program information. Others will install an entire new program in another program folder, leaving the old version on your system. You can use both the old version and the new version. Once you know that the new version is working properly, you may uninstall the old version.

Some programs require that you install the original CD to uninstall their program. In this case the actual uninstall routine is located on the CD.