Tips on Uninstalling in Windows 95/98 Applications All Staff
Check Out System Files
Your uninstall won't be complete until you check for stray commands in CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT. Make copies of them under another name, then edit the originals from Windows by using SYSEDIT.EXE. In both files, look for references to programs in the directory in which your application resides. In AUTOEXEC.BAT, see if that directory is in the PATH command. Delete the references, save the files and reboot the computer immediately. Restore your backups if you see any error messages or experience any difficulty rebooting.
Clean WIN.INI ... Carefully
You can eradicate all traces of an application from your WIN.INI file without much difficulty. First, create a copy of WIN.INI under a different name. Don't rename or move the original. In Program Manager, select File/Run and type SYSEDIT.EXE. Look for a section in WIN.INI with the same name as your program. If you find one, delete the entire section. Save WIN.INI and reboot your computer. If you have any problems, revert to the old copy.
Directory Hunt
You can find the directory associated with a program by entering Program Manager, selecting the program's icon, then selecting File/Properties. You'll see a dialog box that contains the command line and the working directory.
Ferreting Out Files
If your program placed files in the WINDOWS and WINDOWS/SYSTEM directories, there are a couple of good ways to find them. Open File Manager (Run | Winfile). Select View/Sort by Name. Look for files with names similar to that of your application. Don't delete the files; move them first, to be sure that you haven't eliminated a file shared by other applications. If you find a file that you know belongs to the deleted program, select View/Sort by Date and look for other files with the same date and time.
Finish the Job
If you're removing a program, don't forget to delete its icon. Choose the icon and select File/Delete in Program Manager. Click on OK. After you have deleted the last icon, selecting File/Delete again will produce a dialog box asking if you want to delete the group. If you do, click on OK.
Hold Everything
If you're thinking of deleting a file or directory, first back it up, then either rename it or move it. Never delete immediately. Power down your computer and reboot it to see if your changes have any unintended effects. Try several of your most important applications. If you're not tight for space, hold onto the deleted files and directories for at least a month to ensure that you haven't munged some rarely used application.
No Walk in the Park!
Be thorough when uninstalling Windows applications. Windows programs typically place parts of themselves in their own directory, the Windows directory and the Windows/System directory--not to mention lines added to WIN.INI, SYSTEM.INI, CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT. Be vigilant about getting rid of every last part of old applications.
Properties May Help
Determine if a file works with your application by examining its Version Information. Highlight a file in File Manager and select File/Properties. In Windows for Workgroups 3.11, File Manager will display the Version Information (if any), including the vendor and product names and a brief description of the file.
Use Your Word Processor
Use the document comparison function in your word processor to help with future uninstallations. Copy SYSTEM.INI, WIN.INI, CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT under different names. The next time you install a new program, use the comparison function to compare the new contents of these four files; create a file containing the changes and save it. This will make uninstalling the program much easier.
You Read It Here First
When you decide you don't want a Windows application on your system anymore, consult the documentation. Often, you can find step-by-step uninstall instructions under "Uninstall," "Deinstall" or "Remove."
