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How do I remove a program from the Add/Remove programs list?

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Summary: Removing a program from the Add/Remove programs can be done by accessing your Control Panel.

I have a program called PC Forest StartMan 1.3.96. I installed it and then deleted it, but it stays in my list of programs when i go to uninstall. Do you know the registry setting to get rid of this or how else can I get it off the list of programs installed in the "add/delete programs" from my control panel?

This has actually gotten better over time. In older versions of Windows you were kinda screwed in this situation. Yes, there were ways to grovel around in the registry, but ultimately the lesson learned was: use control panel to uninstall programs and don't just delete them from your hard drive.

However if you're running Windows XP, things get better.

If you're running Windows XP, just use control panel to try and uninstall it anyway. If Control Panel finds that the files aren't there, it will ask if you want to remove it from the list.

Answer yes, and it should be gone.

Related:

Article C2196 - October 6, 2004

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Recent Comments
29 Comments

i want to delete something on remove/add list but i cant see it please help me?

Posted by: bill at June 15, 2008 9:28 AM

how do I unistall a program that says error insetup.exe

Posted by: loren at November 22, 2008 12:16 PM

I am attempting to re-install a program on my computer...Windows XP". When I tried to install it, I got the message that the program was already installed on my computer. The program is NOT installed...but the folder for it is still on my computer...and I am totally unable to remove it. It also appears in the add/remove program in the control panel. When I attempt to remove it from there, I get a pop up box that says, "setup resource not found." Is there anyone that has a clue how I can get this empty folder from my computer...so that I can install the program?
Thanks! K

Posted by: khiara at November 25, 2008 12:47 AM

No matter what I do I still can't remove a program from my computer. it's an old Quickcam programme.

Posted by: Roger Payne at March 7, 2009 11:11 PM

I removed MS office 2007 from the add/remove because it was just the trail part of it, when I did this it removed my old version of MS office and everything that comes with it, is there a way to get my old version restored. What should I do?

Posted by: Melanie Anderson at March 10, 2009 7:04 AM

how to remove a deleted program file in the add/remove program list?? the program in my list cant be remove, how can i remove that??

Posted by: jay at March 15, 2009 4:10 AM

How do I remove a deleted program file in the add/remove program list? The program in my list cant be remove. I have vista and it is not asking me if I want to remove it from the list when I try to uninstall it like XP does.

Posted by: Dylan at March 26, 2009 9:08 PM

how can I remove itunes from my computer it says error creating a temporary file that is needed. I tried to override it by installing another version but it says that an newer version is already on computer and doesnt give me the option to replace it

Posted by: Kimberly Clark at May 10, 2009 10:12 AM

If you want to remove a deleted program from add/remove program list .. just do this...
1. press windows+R
2. type regedit
3. expand the HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT
4. then the find the Installer title and expand it
5. next the Products title
- in the list of products. search the title of the program you want to remove * you can verify that program by their productname
6. after you have found the programs just delete it in the products list.. XD

Posted by: Mr.Carrot at September 20, 2009 10:36 PM

i downloaded the ALPHA ANTIVIRUS accidently and now im unable to remove. it says the removal feature is disable. what can i do?

Posted by: tmvr at November 14, 2009 12:04 AM

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