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Tough Uninstalls, if an uninstall becomes problematic...

If an uninstall becomes problematic, such as no uninstaller is listed or you get an error message that the install.log cannot be found, or the uninstall hangs up, you have options:

You can try re-installing the application, and then try uninstalling again. If that simple handling doesn't work, you can use the Windows Installer Cleanup Utility to remove the native uninstaller, then re-install the application and then again try uninstalling it. Essentially with these methods you are repairing the application's uninstaller so it will work properly.

By the way, make sure that you first check in the Start Menu, under Programs, to look for an uninstaller for the application if it is simply not listed in the Add or Remove Programs Applet. You can also look in the program file, (typically at C:\Programs Files), open the folder for the application you want to uninstall, and see if you find a file called (usually) unins000.exe or uninst.exe, doubleclick on it and you start the uninstaller, you'll get the dialog box "Are you sure you want to completely remove..."

You can also use System Mechanic and specify a manual uninstall by program file or main executable, System Mechanic will hunt down all the files, folders, shortcuts, registry and system configuration entries associated with the program, give you a full report on what it found with options for removal. The System Mechanic method is handy and clean but slow.

You can perform your own manual 'uninstall' by deleting the application's Program file (found typically at C:\Programs Files), then use a registry cleaner that specializes in cleaning up leftover software entries, such as RegSupreme Pro, to delete the registry items associated with the application (just run RegSupreme Pro and when you explore the list of registry items for removal you'll see included items associated with the application whose program file you just deleted). This last method is sloppy since if you know where to look you can find leftover files associated with the application (for example, look in 'C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data' or 'C:\Documents and Settings\your user name\Application Data', there are a number of such locations where application data can be found). On the other hand, many application uninstallers are themselves sloppy and leave these same items behind.

One other suggestion/caution, if you are uninstalling an anti-virus program or a firewall or any sophisticated security or drive imaging software, you are best advised to take the time to use the Windows Installer Cleanup Utility, reinstall the application, then cleanly uninstall it - for example, anti-virus applications often install LSP's and generally interact with your system at a deep level, if such code is left behind, trouble, lost internet connectivity in the case of broken LSP's, can result.

And finally, if you are trying to do an uninstall because you are having difficulty with an application, and you want to then re-install the application (this can happen if a key piece of code becomes corrupted and the application just hangs or crashes, won't install or uninstall properly, usually with error messages), consult the help and support section at the website for that particular application, typically through help and support or worst case scenerio a phone call to support, they can advise on how to do a clean uninstall for the application, sometimes this involves a utility they provide free of charge to fully remove the application and any stray corrupt code.

Good luck and good computing.

INFORMATION: Zone Alarm Install Uninstall Problem