Software Surgery

Happy Canada Day
to our Canadian viewers!
Happy July 4th
to our U.S. viewers!
- Majority of software will have a uninstaller application, that can be used to remove the program from your system.
- Minority of software are "self-protecting", meaning they don't wish to be uninstalled at any point.
- For more information on backing up your data check out episode 73.

- Four Main Locations Where Installers Place Data:

• Registry


• Start Menu


• Program Files [C:\Program Files\]


• Application Settings [Windows Vista C:\Users\App Data\         Windows XP C:\Documents and Settings\USER\Application Data\]

- Area's to remove most applications manually:

• Task Manager: accessable by using the three finger solute. [Ctrl, Alt, Delete]


• MSConfig: built-in system configuration utility. Access it by click "Start [i.e. Windows key], click Run, type "msconfig" and click OK [or Enter on the keyboard]


• Registry: access it by click "Start [i.e. Windows key], click Run, type "regedit" and click OK [or Enter on the keyboard]

- Usually during installation you're allowed to choose another directory.
- To see hidden system files, go into your Folder Options, next click on the view tab, and select "Show hidden files and folders", followed by clicking Apply and then Ok.
- For security reasons Sean recommends unchecking the box that states "Hide extensions of known file types".
- Process Library is a good place to research items that run in memory.
- MoveOnBoot marks files and folders to be deleted or moved on the next boot up.
- AutoRuns MSConfig on steroids.