Uninstalling Software

When you’ve had enough of a certain program and want to reclaim the disk space it occupies, don’t just delete its folder. The typical application installer tosses its software components like birdseed all over your hard drive; therefore, only some of the program is actually in the program’s folder.

To vaporize a program, click its name to reveal the toolbar, as shown here, and then click Uninstall. Here’s a tip—right-click the column headings to add or remove columns. If you choose More, you see some really useful columns, like Last Used On (shows you the last date you ran this program) and Used (how often you’ve run it).

Figure 10-17. To vaporize a program, click its name to reveal the toolbar, as shown here, and then click Uninstall. Here’s a tip—right-click the column headings to add or remove columns. If you choose More, you see some really useful columns, like Last Used On (shows you the last date you ran this program) and Used (how often you’ve run it).

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTION: This File Is in Use

Hey, I tried to uninstall a program using Programs and Features, like you said. But during the process, I got this scary message saying that one of the deleted program’s files is also needed by other programs. It asked me if I was sure I wanted to delete it! Heck, I wouldn’t have the faintest idea. What should I do?

Don’t delete the file. Leaving it behind does no harm, but deleting it might render one of your other applications nonfunctional.

Instead, ditch software you no longer need using the Programs and Features program. (Open the Start screen. Type programs and select Settings under the search box. In the search results, click Programs and Features.)

Now your master list of installed ...

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