But what do you do with installed software that you don’t need? You uninstall them, and move on to the next candidates. But the problem is, uninstallation under Windows often equals litter, small and non-functional files that will only hog and slow down your system. Completely uninstalling an unwanted application from Windows is not as easy as it sounds. Most of the time, you’ll need help from third-party uninstallers such as ZSoft Uninstaller.

Uninstalling & More

From the first time you open the application, you can tell that ZSoft Uninstaller is more than just a simple uninstaller. This app also offers other features like an “Analyze installation” and “Temp File Finder“. The main interface provides you with a search box and a list of installed applications.

To do a standard uninstallation, just pick one installed software from the list (or do a search), then click the “Uninstall” button.

ZSoft Uninstaller will analyze the application that you want to uninstall.

It will open the official uninstaller, or directly uninstall the app if the official uninstaller does not exist.

Then, ZSoft Uninstaller will display the list of uninstalled apps and ask you whether you want to search for leftovers from those programs.

Double-click one of the applications in the leftovers list, click next, and ZSoft will search your hard drive for the litter – usually in the form of registry and/or file system files. Check the ones that you want to eliminate and click the “Remove” button.

Please note that messing with the registry and file system is not recommended unless you really know what you are doing. Always do a backup before changing anything.

Analyze Installation

Maybe the safest method to do a clean uninstallation of any application is to use data from a monitored installation process. Assuming that nothing else happens during the installation, the differences in the hard drive before and after the process would be all of the installed components. Then, uninstalling would be as simple as removing these chunks of differences.

ZSoft Uninstaller provides users with an installation monitoring feature called “Analyze Installation“.

You should run this feature before installing anything. Choose the drive(s) where you want to install the application, and click “Before Installation“.

“Analyze Installation” will do a quick scan of your drive and log the result.

Before you click “After Installation” button, you should install the applications that you want to monitor.

After the installation is finished, press the “After Installation” button and “Analyze Installation” will re-scan the hard drive and store the result.

Give your recent installation a name. A recommended name is the application name.

Then the process is finished.

Should you want to uninstall the app later, all that you have to do is to double click the app from the list.

Check all the three boxes to confirm the terms and click “Uninstall“.

Then all traces of the uninstalled application are gone.

Other Features

Other than the uninstallation feature, ZSoft Uninstaller also comes with other tools such as “TMP File Searcher“.

This tool will search your hard drive for temporary files and let you decide what to do with the junk.

More tools can be found under the “Tools” menu.

There’s the “Empty Folders Finder“. I think the name explains what this feature does.

There’s also the “Startup Manager” which will help you to either “Disable” or “Delete” items from the start up list so they won’t boot up with your system.

If you install and uninstall applications a lot, you will find ZSoft Uninstaller to be very useful in keeping your system clean.

Have you tried ZSoft Uninstaller? Do you use a third-party uninstaller or do you prefer the standard Windows uninstaller? Do you know other alternative uninstallers? Share your thoughts and opinions using the comments below.

Image credit: Bonguri

Unfortunately, even though the latest version of Ubuntu is so much easier to use compared to earlier versions, most non-geeky computer users still find it a little bit intimidating. Many common daily computer tasks like downloading and installing applications often require users to deal with command lines. Maybe that’s why many Windows users that I know feel uncomfortable using Ubuntu and have decided to ditch it.

Uninstall Ubuntu?

The problem is, uninstalling Ubuntu is not as simple as installing it. Those who install Ubuntu from within a Windows environment using the WUBI installer are very lucky, because they can then easily uninstall it using the WUBI uninstaller – also from the Windows environment. The uninstaller is usually located inside the Ubuntu folder in drive C (the main hard drive).

But those who install Ubuntu alongside Windows (in a separate partition) are not that lucky. Making mistakes during the uninstallation process could render the whole system useless, and reviving the system from the dead is even more difficult. I’ve searched the web to find the easiest and safest way to uninstall Ubuntu under these circumstances, but everything that I found involves a heavy dose of command lines.

But at least I got something out of my search. I began to understand that there are at least two main obstacles that we have to overcome to be able to safely remove Ubuntu. The first is finding the location of the installation before we can remove it.

The second obstacle is restoring the boot loader so that the computer will boot directly into Windows after we remove Ubuntu.

As Easy As BCD

Let’s start from the second problem as I think this is the most important one. During the installation, Ubuntu will replace your computer’s bootloader with Linux’s GRUB. But when you delete Ubuntu, the boot reference is not restored to the original. This will cause your system to be unable to boot.

To prevent this problem from happening, we will use the help of a free utility called EasyBCD from NeoSmart Technologies. This tool will help users modify and manage their computer’s bootloader. We will use EasyBCD to overwrite GRUB so the computer will boot directly to Windows again.

• Open EasyBCD and click the “Add New Entry” button in the sidebar. Select the Windows tab under the “Operating Systems” tab, choose your Windows version and the drive where it’s installed, then click “Add Entry“.

• Then go to “Bootloader Setup“, choose the partition that you want to boot from and click “Install BCD“. Continue by choosing your version of Windows under “MBR Configuration Options” and click “Write MBR“.

• Try to boot your system just to make sure that it’s going directly to Windows without any interference from GRUB. If everything is OK, let’s continue to the next step.

Playing With The Partition

The second tool that we are going to use is EASEUS Partition Master. We will use the tool to remove the Ubuntu installation. If you install Ubuntu alongside Windows, Ubuntu will create its own partition in your hard drive and install itself there. To remove Ubuntu, all we have to do is to delete its partition. Then we can reclaim the free space back.

• Open the app and you will see all the available partitions. Your Windows partition should be labeled FAT or NTFS, and Ubuntu’s partition is described as “(Other)“. Deleting the partition is as simple as selecting it and clicking the “Delete” button.

• Click “OK” to confirm the deletion and continue to delete other partitions that you don’t need. Be careful not to delete your Windows partition (or your data storage)!

• All the deleted partitions will be labeled “Unallocated“. To claim the free space, slide the edge of your main partition to replace the unallocated space.

• Click the “Apply” button and restart your system to apply all the changes that you’ve made.

• The process will take place during the booting. After it’s finished, your system will boot to Windows.

Congratulations! You’ve just safely removed your Ubuntu installation without touching a single command line.

Please note that if you have important data inside your Ubuntu installation, you should back up your data first before removing everything.

Have you ever tried to remove your Ubuntu installation? Do you know other easy methods to do it? Please share using the comments below.

Most people who have Norton or McAfee found the software on their computer when they bought it. That’s not necessarily a bad thing – it’s important to get a working anti-virus onto a new computer as quickly as possible – but the default software on your computer isn’t necessarily the best. Just ask any former IE user who today uses Google Chrome or Firefox.

Removing Norton and McAfee’s products has a tendency to leave a lot of crap behind, even if you go through the proper channels offered in your control panel. Both companies acknowledge this, and both offer removal tools for the complete uninstallation. If you’re looking to learn how to remove Norton or McAfee and replace them with something free and effective, you’ve found the right article.

Before you do anything you should probably disconnect from the Internet. Leaving a Windows computer connected to the web without protection can be dangerous. That’s why I recommend you read through the guide, download what you need to download and then follow the steps below.

Getting Started

Both Norton and McAfee recommend that you remove your program through the control panel before running their tools. I’ve found that simply running the tool is enough, but if you like playing by the rules you might as well do this first.

• Click your start button, then click “Control Panel“. Click “Add or Remove Programs” if you run XP, or “Uninstall a Program” if you’re using Vista/7. Find the program(s) you need to remove, then uninstall it!

• This may take a while, or in some cases may fail completely. Don’t panic; we’re only halfway through the process.

Completely Remove Norton

Are you a soon-to-be-ex-Norton-user? Congratulations! What you need now is the Norton Removal tool. The best product Norton offers, this program will completely remove all Norton-related software from your computer (including shortcuts and annoying toolbars).

Click here to download the Norton removal tool, then run the executable. You’ll see something that looks like this:

Follow the on-screen directions, mostly clicking “next“, to rid yourself forever of all Norton leftovers. You may have to prove you’re human by typing a few lines of text, but for the most part this is painless. Best of all: when you’re done there’s no sign left on your computer of Norton’s existence.

Completely Remove McAfee

If you’re trying to remove McAfee you’re going to need a different piece of software: the McAfee Cleanup Tool. This program will remove everything to do with McAfee from your computer, and is by far the best product they offer. It does exactly what it says it will do.

Go ahead and click here to download the McAfee removal tool. Run this executable and it will take care of the rest!

Install Something Better

Looking for a better piece of anti-virus software? I myself really love Microsoft Security Essentials, for three reasons: first, it offers great protection; second, it features a really clean and simple user interface; third, it will never ever ask you for money.

But read the comments below and you’ll quickly discover not everyone agrees with me. Check out their recommendations, and be sure to check out our list of the top ten free anti-virus programs if you still need ideas.

Can anyone offer links to tools for completely removing other annoying bits of software?  If so, please share them below.

The update creates a full-text index of all the files on your local drive, but unfortunately does not extend to any network drives you have access to. In Windows 7 and Vista have this technology built in, on XP you’ll have had to install it as an add-on.

You can disable Windows Desktop Search but if you’d rather get rid of it altogether, you’re in the right place.

Removal Instructions

The first (and probably most obvious) removal procedure is via the Add/Remove Programs interface in Control Panel. For quick access, hit Start then Run and type appwiz.cpl before hitting Enter.

Once Windows has populated the list, make sure the Show Updates checkbox is ticked and keep an eye out for Windows Desktop Search and your version number. Click Remove and follow the prompts to get rid of the offending article.

That wasn’t so hard was it?

However, a quick internet search will reveal that many users were unable to use Add/Remove Programs to uninstall Windows Desktop Search. The entry simply doesn’t appear, and this makes it that little bit harder to uninstall.

If you happened to install the MSN Toolbar (which installs WDS on your system) then removing this may work, but you’ll have to sacrifice the toolbar in the process.

Sometimes the uninstaller will run, yet this simply removes the entry from your installed programs list, meaning the service is still present.

All is not lost however, and there are a few other things you can try if you’re still determined to ditch the update.

Further Reading

The first thing you’re going to need to do is take note of your Windows Desktop Search version. You can do this by opening Windows Update (which usually resides at the top of your Start menu) and perusing your Update History.

Once you’ve found out your version, you’ll need to run the hidden uninstaller that lives in your Windows folder. Click Start then Run and type in cmd before hitting Enter.

You’ll then need to paste the command for your particular version into the command prompt:

Version 4 (known as Windows Search)

%systemroot%\$NtUninstallKB940157$\spuninst\spuninst.exe

Version 3.01

%systemroot%\$NtUninstallKB917013$\spuninst\spuninst.exe

Version 2.6.5 Beta

%systemroot%\$NtUninstallKB911993$\spuninst\spuninst.exe

Version 2.6.0.2083

%systemroot%\$NtUninstallKB907371-V2$\spuninst\spuninst.exe

Version 2.6.0.2057

%systemroot%\$NtUninstallKB907371$\spuninst\spuninst.exe

Once you’ve pasted the corresponding command into that window and hit Enter the hidden uninstaller should run, removing WDS from your system. There is of course, the chance that you’ll see this screen:

The Final Straw

If you’re still having trouble and have tried all of the above then help may come from blogger David Arno, who has packaged the uninstaller into a handy little ZIP file. This will only work for version 4.0, aka Windows Search.

Download [direct link] the file and unzip the $NtUninstallKB940157$ folder it to your Windows directory (probably C:\Windows) and open another command prompt.

Copy and paste the following into the window you just opened:

%systemroot%\$NtUninstallKB940157$\spuninst\spuninst.exe

This should initialize the uninstaller and Windows (Desktop) Search should now have been removed from your PC.

Conclusion

If you’re determined to claw back some performance, or are just taking a hardline approach to unwanted software then getting rid of WDS is a start. You might also want to read about removing Windows Genuine Advantage from Windows XP, another optional-turned-mandatory update that can now be overlooked.

Lastly, there’s a myriad of lightweight Linux installs to consider if you’re that way inclined. Check out Ubuntu’s full range as well as Linux Mint and don’t miss our excellent 2010 Linux pack.

There’s nothing wrong with still using XP, a number of staff here at MakeUseOf have yet to budge in fact. If you’ve got an old PC that doesn’t need the bells, whistles and expensive licence that comes with Windows 7 then XP is still a viable alternative.

In this guide I will show you how to remove the WGA notifications should you want to, after which you’ll not be able to download non-critical updates but will still receive the critical fixes that really matter.

Why Remove WGA?

If you bought Windows XP and have been unlucky enough to fail the validation (which isn’t uncommon) then you might just want to remove it altogether. If you’re a raging software pirate then I’m going to have a tougher job convincing you to keep it.

WGA is a non-vital Windows component, which means that without it your copy of Windows XP will continue to work. If you’re using something like VLC for your media needs and swear by Chrome or Firefox then you probably won’t miss updates for Internet Explorer and Media Player all that much.

Data is also collected about your system, this includes your BIOS checksum, MAC address, hard drive serial number, and even your PC’s manufacturer and model. If you’re tight on privacy, this might be another reason to ditch WGA.

I’ve provided two methods of removing WGA manually. I’d recommend you try the first set of instructions to begin with, the second set is provided in case you can’t get the first working. There are also a few applications that will attempt to remove WGA for you (more on those later).

It is worth mentioning if you’ve re-installed XP lately and downloaded WGA in a recent update then a simple System Restore to the point before you downloaded the update will remove it. Just remember not to re-download it again afterwards.

Assuming you’ve had WGA on your machine for a while, the instructions below should remove it.

Removing WGA Via The Command Line

Restart your PC and boot into Safe Mode, usually by pressing F8 whilst your computer boots. Once your PC has booted open a command prompt by clicking Start then Run and typing cmd into the box before clicking OK.

Change directory to your System32 folder with the following command:

cd \windows\system32

Next you’re going to need to copy the following lines to the clipboard, in order to paste them into the command prompt quickly. This is necessary to kill the WgaTray.exe process and delete the file before Windows has a chance to launch it again:

taskkill -IM wgatray.exe
del wgatray.exe
del wgalogon.old

If all the commands executed correctly you should have killed and deleted WgaTray.exe as well as WgaLogon.dll. You might also want to have a look for any WGA-related files (WgaTray.exe, WgaLogon.dll, WgaSetup.exe etc”¦) in \Windows\System32\dllcache and delete them, just in case.

Restart your PC to see if the changes have taken effect, if the WGA notifications are still there then you’ll want to continue reading this next bit, otherwise you’re done.

Removing WGA With Registry Editor & Windows Explorer

If you’re still reading then that probably didn’t work. Boot normally and once Windows is back click Start, Run and type regedit before clicking OK.

Navigate your way to: My Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\Notify and delete the folder called WgaLogon and any content associated with it.

Restart your PC and if all has gone well, your WGA notifications shouldn’t be visible. These next steps will delete the files for good.

Navigate to your Windows\System32 folder and  at the top of the window click Tools, Folder Options and click on the View tab. Check Show hidden and protected Windows files so that you can see all of the offending items.

Next you’re going to need to locate all WGA-related files within your \Windows\System32 and \Windows\System32\dllcache folders. Running a simple search is the best way, so hit Start, Search and choose All files and folders.

Run a search for Wga*.*, and delete any WGA related results you find in these folders including WgaTray.exe, WgaLogon.dll and WgaSetup.exe. Restart your PC once you’ve done, and your copy of Windows should be “genuine” again.

Removing WGA With Software

If you’re still having trouble then there are a number of third-party tools that will attempt to do this for you. I personally prefer tinkering with my System32 folder myself rather than getting an application to do it, though there’s plenty of people claiming these work just fine.

RemoveWGA is a simple run and reboot process, by the time you’ve restarted WGA notifications should be gone. MUBlinder is another solution, just make sure you have the Microsoft .NET Framework before running it or it won’t work.

If one of these methods worked for you then you might want to change your preferences for Automatic Updates in Control Panel so that WGA doesn’t make its way back onto your system. I’d recommend allowing Windows to notify you when updates are available, but then manually selecting them yourself.

Don’t forget to keep up-to-date with your critical updates, this is vital to keep your machine patched up and secure.

Have you removed Windows Genuine Advantage or did your copy of XP validate ok? Any reasons you’re still using XP? Let us know in the comments.

While doing the research for my previous article about a Mac updater and uninstaller, I found a Windows alternative to uninstaller apps called IObit Uninstaller. After a quick experiment using the free software, I found out that this one has a few unique personalities worth sharing – even though they are a bit different to Revo Uninstaller which I usually use.

To Uninstall Without The Need To Install

The first thing that I noticed about this uninstaller is the size. This one is so small – only around 600KB – that you can download it virtually in a blink of an eye. Keeping it will cost you almost no storage space.

The second noticable fact is that this app can be categorized as a portable uninstaller. It means that you can use the app in its full functionality to force uninstall programs without having to install the app itself. This also means that you can put the app on the thumb drive (or even Dropbox folder) and use it everywhere.

In my opinion, IObit Uninstaller’s interface is friendlier than the standard Windows Add/Remove Programs. It categorizes the installed items into several categories. They are: All Programs, Toolbars, Recently Installed, Large Programs, Rarely Used and Windows Updates.

As the name shows, “All Programs” lists down every installed application on the hard drive. Nothing special. But once you browse through the other categories, you’ll see how easy the task to force uninstall programs has become.

For example, the “Toolbar” category lists down all the installed toolbar(s) on your system. Some applications ‘trick’ users into installing useless toolbars. This category helps you to get rid of them.

Or if you want to hunt down and get rid of programs based on how much space it hogs your system, you can choose the “Large Programs” category.

The app allows users to do uninstallation in bulk. After choosing which items you want to uninstall by checking the boxes next to them, you can continue the uninstallation process by clicking the “Uninstall” button on the toolbar.

There are two modes of uninstallation provided by this app: Standard and Advanced. The latter is chosen by default.

Click “Uninstall” and the app will ask for your confirmation.

Click “Yes” and then the uninstallation process will begin.

While some apps require you to reboot after uninstalling them to complete the process, you can always reboot your system at later time.

In “Advanced” mode, IObit Uninstaller will offer users to do a “Powerful Scan” to go deeper and find leftovers. The search could take some time depending on the number of items being uninstalled and the “strength” of your system.

After the search, users can choose to delete or keep the leftovers.

If you click the “Delete” button, a warning pop up will appear.

Sometimes, there are applications that “refuse” to be uninstalled. If you’ve ever encountered this sign (or other similar signs), you can use the “Forced Uninstall” option on the toolbar.

Another unique ability of this app is the “Export Application List” feature under “Manage“. This feature is useful for those who want to re-install, upgrade or change their system and want to make sure that they have all of their favorite applications reinstalled.

All you have to do is to decide where the list – in text form – will be saved, decide on the name, and hit “Save“.

To be honest, I was expecting a simple list of names as the result. But IObit Uninstaller gave me a very complete list. Too complete I may add.

While uninstallers are the kind of applications that ordinary users won’t use every day, this type of app becomes very handy when they are needed. IObit Uninstaller is one of the alternatives that you can count on. In general, I think the app delivers what it promises: thorough uninstallation. The performance alone makes this little app worth keeping.

Have you tried IObit Uninstaller? What kind of uninstaller do you use to force uninstall programs?  Please share using the comments below.