Uninstall Unused Programs

Uninstall Unused Programs

It is smart to go through your unused programs every once and a while. I go through and remove any unused or unwanted programs at least once a month. Most of time, we download a program and then a month or so later, we forget all about it. Your computer doesn’t feel the same. That unused program just sits on your computer’s hard drive taking up space. Once you remove the program, it opens up that space and helps your computer’s speed.

Let’s get started. Removing these old programs is easy! If you are using Windows XP then just go to your Start Menu -> Control Panel and select Add or Remove Programs. A list of all the programs installed on your computer will appear. This list shows when you last used each program and how often you use it, to help you better determine which programs can go. Go through the list and click the Remove or Change button on any listing that you wish to uninstall. Most programs that you select have their own uninstall wizard that will guide you through the steps to fully uninstall that program once you click the Remove or Change button. Please remember, do NOT uninstall your anti-virus or firewall software. Also, a few things NOT to uninstall are Quicktime, Microsoft Updates, Microsoft Office, your e-mail service, photo service and more. Many of those will lead to issues once uninstalled. For instance, Quicktime may note that you rarely use the program, but it usually is necessary to use an alternate program.

Removing programs is very similar on a Windows Vista machine, just getting there is a little different. Go to the Start button and select the Control Panel. In the Control Panel, select Uninstall a Program under the Programs listing. Again, a list of programs will appear. Now, in Windows Vista, you have the option to change your views. If you know exactly what program(s) you wish to uninstall than maybe the List View would better suite you. If, however, you are doing a routine check to remove unwanted programs I would suggest using the Details View. This lists each program tile, along with a picture icon, the date installed and the size of the program. You can select a program listing and click Uninstall along the top of the window are simply double-click a listing to uninstall it.