How to clear ALL traces....

Sometimes I want to uninstall programs completely if they aren't working properly. For instance, my Vodafone connection utility is acting bananas in recording usage, so I want to completely remove it.

I uninstall it, look in a couple of "Software" sections in the registry along in the roaming AppData folder and delete anything that seems to do with the program and also run CCleaner to "clean" the registry........... but more often than not, when I reinstall, many of the previous settings and such are still there.

It's like I am missing a folder or location where some settings are saved...

So, how to completely remove ALL traces of prior installs of a program?

Thanks!!!

 

I use Revo uninstaller. Uninstalls the program then searches you hdd and registry or leftover files etc.

 

Appdata, ProgramData, Registry (Run>regedit)

Possibly Temp and Temorary Internet Files.

Check the Recyle Bin too.
I suggest Simple File Shredder as well, to really erase the data.

 

I've noticed even when uninstalling programs with revo in advanced mode CCleaner still comes up with old registry entries.

 

thats because you have to reboot ur system b4 it all goes away.

 

I don’t think you can completely remove all the registry entries inserted by a specific program without getting help from a cleaner program that uses before and after snapshots of your registry and file structure. Because some applications put entries without any references to themselves, therefore a cleaning program has no way of knowing whether such entries are already being used or not, some programs also might store user settings in files (instead of registry) that are located in shared or system directories. This type of things are usually done to stop people from misusing trial applications, they are intended to be hidden from registry/system cleaning programs.

 

To put it simply and to answer your thread title; the answer is manually. You have to do it manually. After using revo and ccleaner and etc. you can still find leftover reg. keys or folders.

 

Well, my question was more along the lines of where else can I look to find them....... ?

I have been looking at AppData/ProgramData and in the "software" bits of the registry.

Revo works pretty well actually, but sadly, this one POS program doesn't want to be completely removed and I can't find anywhere where it's located...

 

Then how do you know it is there?

Try Advanced Windows Search...

 

Because when i reinstall the program some of the settings i changed are still there.... or the fact that it tells me that I still have 23 days left on my trial.... it's not a "fresh" install.

 

Oh, ok.

Im not sure, alot of things are stored in AppData>Local>Temp. But you said you checked there.

Im not sure. Make sure you checked all the registry.

 

That's a BIG B!!!

lol... ya I don't know either.

Oh well. I give up.