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Discussed here are some important tips and methods that you can use to uninstall unwanted programs from Windows PCs.

Tip #1: Use Add or Remove Programs

The majority of software and Windows updates on your computer can be uninstalled using the Add or Remove Programs utility. Therefore, whenever you take up the activity to clean up the PC, this is the first tool that you must access.

To use the Add or Remove Programs tool and uninstall unwanted programs from your system, perform the following steps:

1. Click Start, click Control Panel, and then select Add or Remove Programs.
2. In the Add or Remove Program window, scroll down the Currently installed programs list, and identify the programs you want to remove.
3. Select one of these programs, and then click the Change/Remove or the Remove button, whichever is available.
4. Next, follow the screen instructions of the selected program’s uninstall utility to complete the removal process.
5. Restart the PC if prompted and then repeat the process for all programs you no longer need.
6. If certain Windows programs and updates are not visible in the Currently installed programs list, select the Show Updates check box located at the top of the Add or Remove Program window.
7. After the Windows updates are visible, you can uninstall the updates you don’t need in the same way you removed the other programs.
8. In case you want to remove unwanted Windows components, then in the Add or Remove Programs window, select the Add/Remove Windows Components button located on the left pane.
9. Next, in the Windows Components Wizard, clear the check boxes of the components you do not require.
10. To view the subcomponents, select a component and then click the Details (if available) button to view its subcomponents.
11. Clear the check boxes of the components you do not require and then click the OK button.
12. After you have cleared the check boxes of all components and subcomponents you do not require, then click the Next button and proceed with the removal process.
13. After the wizard completes the removal process, restart the system to remove all files related to the removed items.

Note: If you have upgraded to Windows XP from Window 98 or ME and have saved the uninstallation files during the upgrade, then, if required, you can restore your previous operating system by uninstalling Windows XP using the option available in the Add or Remove Programs list.

Tip # 2: Use Program Uninstall Shortcut

There are some programs that are not listed in the Add or Remove Programs list. These programs have their own uninstallers. You can launch these program uninstallers either from a shortcut with the name similar to Program Uninstallicon in the program’s folder in the Start menu or by navigating to the program’s folder in  Windows Explorer and then double-clicking on the program’s uninstall .exe file.

Tip #3: Use Program Uninstaller Utility

Many large programs such as Office 2007 and several Norton products cannot be removed completely using the Add or Remove Programs utility. To remove these programs, you can search for and download their uninstaller programs from the manufacturer’s Web site. These programs scan through the entire disk, including system folders and the registry, and weed out all information related to the programs to help you ensure complete removal.

Tip # 4: Use Third-Party Uninstallers

There are some programs, such as DirectX 9 that do not have any official uninstaller programs for them. To uninstall DirectX 9 and other such programs from your Windows XP, you may need to use a third-party uninstaller tool. These tools work by searching your entire system and creating a list of all programs installed on your computer. You can browse through this list and remove the programs you do not need.

Despite the method you choose, it is recommended that you follow up the program removal process with a registry clean up and defrag with the help of a reliable registry cleaner tool. This will not only help you ensure complete removal, but also enable you to further enhance the performance of your computer.