Deleting stubborn program !
 

Hi I have tried to uninstall an older security program cos it was conflicting with a new program. I opted to uninnstall it but it wouldn't completely uninnstall. So , opened add/remove clicked on remove but it won't open the window for me to complete the removal of it. I have re-installed the other program etc but the conflict exists because I can't remove the older program and.... (takes breath). ..... Because it wasn't completely removed it also means it conflicts with a re-installation to then go through the removal process again.


I think there are programs that rip programs off your drive even if locked.


Any helpful suggestions appreciated.

The names of the said programs may help others... operating system etc.

Which version of Windows are you running. Windows XP will let you remove stubborn files in Safe Mode. Vista and Windows 7 monitor installations more closely and can generally remove most applications in normal running mode.

How to get into Safe Mode

If that doesn't work, there is a program called Revo which I have used to remove PITA security software from Windows XP. The free version can be downloaded from here

Revo will bring up all the details of the registry entries as well. Often they cause problems later on with other security software.

There are some antivirus programs that have special removal tools that you might need - so the name of the software will help.

XP and it is Avast I am trying to delete. It didn't fully delete a while back but wasn't causing an issue then it is now.

I will try it again manually in safe mode as well. Thanks both of you and I shall report back on my findings. The language might be colourful but!

Avast have a removal tool. It can be downloaded from here

You aren't obliged to answer the survey questions to download the tool. But read the instructions for using it.

back after a safe mode thingo then

I will try that action again. I got into a restart loop there for a while. I thought it would be wise to just restore what was in the recycle bin and fortunately got me back up and operational. Have run a registry clean and a MS disk scan to see if any files had been truncated and stuff.

Still displaying conflicts.


Will repeat the steps bar one extra one and see if that makes a difference this time.

It didn't fully delete a while back but wasn't causing an issue then it is now. I should probably have asked before. What is the issue it's causing?

There was a code displaying and a prompt from MS regarding the newer program not running due to a configuration issue. The recommendation was to do a re-install but because of a conflict with the other program not being fully uninstalled it wouldn't allow me to either remove the remnants of the older program or fix the newer one.


But .... *drum roll*.

It is all fixed now. Fully functioning and I also sucessfully removed an even older program that had just been sitting on my PC taking up space. That program , which the newer program of the same company identified as a conflict potential as well.


Thank you.

:-)

I felt impressed that I solved the re-start loop here by myself.