How to Get Rid of Programs Stuck on Windows Xp Colorado

Steps

1. Go to "My Computer", either through the START menu or on the desktop.
2. Click on "HDD (C:/)".
3. Click on "Program Files". A message may appear saying "This folder contains files that keep your computer working properly..." Ignore this, and click "Show the contents of this folder".
4. Find the program that you want rid of, right click, and select "Delete". When the pop up says "Are you sure you want to send this folder and all its contents to the recycle bin?" click yes.
5. If a message pops up and says you can't delete this program as it is used by another instance, check if the program is closed, and if it is, press Ctrl+Alt+Delete, open the Task Manager under the processes tab, and search if there is a process named like the program you want to delete. If there is, click it and then End Test and OK. Try to delete the folder again.
6. If a message pops and says the folder is a system folder or such, double check that it is safe to delete, and if you are sure, delete it.

Tips

• If the program still remains on your computer, click on search in the START menu. Then type in the name of the program you want to get rid of. Delete all files brought up. Be sure to check all of them to make sure they are not important.
• Think about whether you really want to delete it or not, as you might want it back again and have go through all the slow, downloading processes.
• If you accidentally delete a folder, get it out of the Recycle Bin.
• Try getting a force-deleter if the program is not running but windows is saying that it is.
• If you accidentally delete a wrong file there may still be hope. Get an un-deleter such as TuneUp utilities 2008 and follow the instructions. This may not always work as the program may have already overwritten some clusters in the disk that used to belong to the file. Thats why it is handy to have it already installed just in case.

Warnings

• Really check properly before deleting a folder, as it may share a similar name with what you're trying to delete, e.g. you delete 'Windows Media Player', instead of 'Windows Movie Maker', as they have a similar name, and you might delete the wrong one accidentally.
• Do not accidentally delete a folder that is important to your computer, i.e. the folder named 'WINDOWS'. Thoroughly check it.

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