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How to find unwanted programs on your computer. How to clean your computer from unnecessary files and programs. Remove unnecessary programs from startup

If your computer is running slowly and the space hard drive overloaded, clean it of unnecessary programs and components, and also disable unnecessary processes and services. This can be done using standard using Windows either with the help third party programs.

Where do unnecessary programs come from?

What programs and processes can be removed in Windows 7

In Windows 7, there are three categories of data that load the system - programs, processes and services. The program is installed on the computer to perform the function, required by the user. The process may be systemic, necessary for correct Windows operation 7, and a user one, launched along with the program. Services on the system start by default and are disabled through Computer Management.

Processes can be disabled through the “Task Manager” (instructions are given below).

Table: which processes can be disabled without harm to the system

Process Description
officeResponsible for the operation of Open Office.
reader_slAdobe Reader Accelerator.
hkcmdIntel process, accompanies Hardware computer.
adobeARMChecks Adobe updates Reader.
RAVCpl64Audio manager from Realteck.
CCCControl center for ATI video cards, only needed if you play games.
neroCheckLooks for conflicting drivers.
jqsSpeeds up Java programs.
juicyLooking for updates for Java.
wmpnetwkSystem Windows search Media Player.
osppsvcProtection of MS Office 2010 programs.
sidebarResponsible for the work Windows gadgets 7.
nwizResponsible for nVidia NView actions.
atiptaxxProvides access to the settings of ATI video cards.

Do not disable the Explorer.exe process - stopping it will remove desktop icons and the Windows taskbar.

Table: processes that cannot be disabled

Process Description
taskshotHost file.
msdtcTransaction coordinator for network systems.
smssWindows session management.
wininitAutorun programs.
winlogonLogin to Windows.
servicesStarting Windows services.
explorerDesktop, shortcuts.
spoolsySupports a print queue.
lsmManages the state of sessions.
taskmgrResponsible for the operation of the task manager.
searchindexerSearch indexing.
csrssResponsible for console applications.
sppsvcWindows platform protection.
svhostResponsible for network communication.
conhostFor processing console windows.
lsassSaves local security users.

If you are unsure whether the process can be terminated, open the location executable file. If it is in the system Windows folder, don't stop him.

Windows 7 prevents the user from completing some particularly important processes. When you reboot, the system starts them again.

In addition to the processes Windows system services are running, some of which can be closed using the Computer Management menu without compromising the security of the PC. List of services that can be stopped:

  • Fax;
  • Windows remote control;
  • remote registry;
  • remote desktops;
  • Bluetooth support;
  • remote desktop server;
  • secondary login;
  • smart card;
  • remote access auto connection manager;
  • distributed transaction coordinator (DTC);
  • ktmrm for KRT.

If you are not using a local network, disable the NetBIOS Support Module service and switch the Computer Browser service to manual mode.

The image download service cannot be disabled if a scanner or webcam is connected.

How to erase programs and stop processes on Windows 7

You can remove utilities and stop processes in several ways: through the Start menu, using the Control Panel and Task Manager, as well as using specially designed programs.

How to Uninstall Programs and Disable Services from the Start Menu

By opening Start, you can view the list of programs and remove some:

The disadvantage of this method is that after erasing a program using Windows, its files and residual entries in the registry are saved.

You can also stop services from the Start menu. For this:


Do not disable all services in a row - some of them are responsible for the correct operation of Windows.

Video: disabling unnecessary processes and services

How to erase an application from the Control Panel

To uninstall the utility, it is not enough to erase the folder where it is located or the icon from the desktop. From standard means Windows can use the uninstaller.

  1. Click on Start and select Control Panel.
  2. Open "Uninstall a program".
  3. The computer will open a list of programs running on the computer, in alphabetical order.
  4. Click on the name of the utility that you will uninstall and click “Uninstall/Change” at the top of the window.
  5. Confirm the deletion in the pop-up window.

After uninstallation is complete, you may need to restart your computer.

Video: uninstallation from Control Panel

How to stop processes through Task Manager

To stop processes running in Windows, launch Task Manager by pressing Ctrl+Alt+Del.


When you restart your computer, some processes and services start automatically. Therefore, to permanently disable it, remove the program that uses the process from startup (Task Manager, Startup tab) and disable the corresponding service.

The "Startup" tab displays full list programs that start automatically when Windows 7 starts. Select the programs you don't want open and uncheck the boxes next to them, then click OK. After restarting the computer, autorun will be disabled.

Other options for removing unused programs

Almost all installers prompt users to select a folder where the program files will be placed. By default, they install to the C:\Program files folder. When you open a folder, you will see folders with software. To uninstall the program directly:

  1. Go to the folder of the utility that you will erase.
  2. Inside, find the Uninstall.exe file.
  3. Double click on the file with your mouse.
  4. An uninstaller window will open. Confirm the deletion and wait until the process completes.

A more complex method is to uninstall applications from the command line. To delete:

  1. Go to command line. To do this, press Win+R and enter cmd in the “Run” window. Click OK.
  2. Enter the WMIC command and press Enter. You will see the inscription: wmic: root\cli.
  3. Enter the product get name request. After a while you will see a list installed programs.
  4. Write: product where name = “exact name of the program” call uninstall. When writing the program name, be careful about case. If the name is entered incorrectly, pressing Enter will display error information.
  5. Press “Y” to confirm the procedure and wait until Method Execution successful appears.

Third-party programs to remove unnecessary files

Using Windows tools, erasing a program without “tails” is difficult. And the developers come up with third party applications- uninstallers. Instructions for working with some of them are given below.

PC Decrapifier

  1. Click Check for updates.
  2. In the window that opens you will see the question “Are you using new computer"? Answer without embellishment.
  3. Create a label for Windows recovery and click “Next”.
  4. The program will do automatic search unused applications and present them in a list.
  5. Select the checkboxes of the programs to be removed and click the Remove button.
  6. PC Decrapifier will prompt you to uninstall other programs manually. Perform as necessary.
  7. In the last window, uncheck the “Submit feedback” option and click “Finish”.

PC Decrapifier copes well with third-party software, toolbars and applications imposed when loading other programs.

Video: PC Decrepifier review

CCleaner - comprehensive cleaning

The program cleanses hard disk space and the Windows registry. Functionality is provided to control startup and remove previously installed software. Additional functionality located in the “Service” menu.

CCleaner finds more installed applications than the standard Windows 7 uninstaller. And after uninstallation, it “cleans up” residual files and registry entries. To remove a program:

  1. Launch CCleaner.
  2. On the left, select “Service”.
  3. Find the “Uninstall programs” sub-item.
  4. From the list, select the program to remove and click “Uninstall”. The “Delete” button is required to remove the name of the utility only from the list - it will not be possible to uninstall the application from the PC.

To disable/enable startup programs:

  1. Information about programs that start automatically with Windows will open.
  2. Select the program for which you want to disable startup and click “Turn off.”

CCleaner allows you to manage startup not only for Windows, but also for browser add-ons.

Video: CCleaner review

IObit Uninstaller

IObit Uninstaller is the simplest program uninstaller with a registry cleaning function. The utility offers the user a list of applications to uninstall. It is divided into categories, which you can switch between in the left menu. IObit Uninstaller works in two modes - standard and forced removal.

To uninstall the utility from IObit in standard mode:

  1. Select it from the list.
  2. Click "Delete" at the bottom of the window.
  3. The program will create a restore point, remove unnecessary applications, and then scan the system and registry for residual files and entries.
  4. After scanning, you will see a list of found components and can remove them permanently.

How to uninstall a program in forced mode (required when files are protected from deletion):

  1. Select an application that cannot be uninstalled in standard mode and click Forced Uninstall.
  2. Confirm uninstallation.

Forced uninstall mode can be used for any files. But be careful! After deleting a file, the program will check the folder in which it was located and clear it of other files.

Video: IObit Uninstaller review

Revo Uninstaller

Revo Uninstaller is a program that allows you to erase software from your computer without leaving any residue. To uninstall the application:

  1. Enable Revo Uninstaller.
  2. Select the unwanted program and click on the “Delete” icon.
  3. In the action confirmation window, select “Yes”.
  4. Select the program uninstallation method: built-in, secure, medium or advanced. Experienced users should use the advanced method.
  5. Click Next. Revo Uninstaller will remove the program and scan Windows.
  6. The window that opens will display the entries remaining in the registry. Check them and click “Delete”.
  7. The next window will display a list of folders and files saved after uninstallation. Mark the ones you don't need and click "Delete".

Content

Over time, some applications and games become unnecessary for the owner. To uninstall them correctly, you need to know how to remove a program from your computer without leaving anything in the registry. necessary files. The rules are the same for both laptops and desktop PCs. You can uninstall using the tools built into Windows or third-party utilities.

How to completely remove a program from your computer

Some users think that they just need to press the delete button on the desktop shortcut, but this is not true. Removing programs from your computer can be done in several ways, some of them leave invisible files on the system, others completely erase all data. If you don't know how to remove unnecessary applications, over time, you will accumulate so much “garbage” that problems with memory or system operation will begin.

Correct uninstallation manually or using third-party programs will help to avoid this. The most common utilities for these needs are the following:

  • Uninstall file;
  • Your uninstaller;
  • CCleaner;
  • Revo uninstaller;
  • built-in Windows tools.

Uninstalling programs in Windows 7

One of the common versions of this operating system has all the necessary resources to completely uninstall files. You don't need to download additional software to remove all unnecessary applications and games. You just need such an item as installing and removing programs in Windows 7. The algorithm of actions is as follows:

  • click on the “Start” button;
  • select “Control Panel” from the menu;
  • inside you need to find the “Install and Uninstall” section;
  • select from the list the application that should be uninstalled;
  • click on it and click on “Delete”;
  • wait until the procedure is completed.

Uninstall file

All official developers leave the option for the user to special problems, simply and quickly remove their product. There is a native uninstaller in the program, which, as a rule, is located along with all other files after installation and is called Uninstall. You just need to click on it, agree to uninstall and the file itself will perform all the actions without leaving hidden documents on the computer.

Utilities for completely removing programs

There is also special software that is designed to erase data from a computer, clean registries, complete removal all components from the PC. Utilities will help you get rid of all hidden, inaccessible files. You can use the following software to remove programs:

  • CCleaner;
  • Uninstall tool;
  • Revo Uninstaller;
  • Unlocker.

How to remove an unnecessary program from your computer

Various options have been described above on how to get rid of unused applications. You yourself can choose any of the methods to remove unnecessary programs from your computer. The uninstallation option via the “Start” button is the simplest, but there are also more advanced utilities that open up more opportunities for experienced users. You can not only remove unnecessary programs from your computer, but also work with the registry. Keep in mind that you can only perform these actions if you understand what you are doing. Otherwise, there is a risk of erasing the necessary documents.

Free Uninstall tool

This is a lightweight, simple utility that is distributed freely on the Internet. The Uninstall tool can be used without purchasing a license. During installation, in addition to the main folder, hidden ones appear in other places on the PC, and registry entries are added. Removing them manually becomes difficult because the search does not always find them by name. The utility in question will help you in this matter; it detects all the “tails” that were created during installation. You need to do the following:

  1. Install the software.
  2. The application will launch and the “Uninstaller” menu will open in front of you in the first window.
  3. Select the unnecessary application from the list in the window.
  4. Information about the file will appear, it is possible to force it to be deleted.

How to remove a program using CCleaner

This is a powerful tool for working with the registry, all installed applications, and games. Cleaning your computer with CCleaner can be done automatically or manually. The utility is capable of collecting data from the entire PC and offering to erase specific files. Externally, the main program window looks like standard tool Windows. To get rid of unwanted documents, you must do the following:

  1. Install and open the application.
  2. Select the "Service" tab.
  3. The first item in the menu will be “Delete”; you need to select the required line in the list.
  4. Click on the “Uninstall” button, the software itself will perform all the necessary actions and guide the user through the necessary steps.
  5. Please note that you need to click on the button indicated above, and not on “Delete”. This feature erases data from the registry, not the application itself.
  6. Then go to the “Registry” window and start scanning.
  7. Clear all unnecessary entries, which Ccleaner finds.

Revo uninstaller

A powerful utility that simplifies the process of erasing data. With its help, you can solve all the problems that may arise in this process. Revo uninstaller programs are removed like this:

  1. Launch the software, find in the main menu the icon of the document you want to erase. Right-click on the line and select “Delete”.
  2. First, a preliminary analysis will take place, then the uninstaller will be launched.
  3. The uninstallation wizard will guide you through several steps, follow the necessary steps by selecting the desired uninstallation options.
  4. There might be some “tails” left, so go to the “Advanced” section and run a scan.
  5. The report must include all registry entries after the deletion took place.
  6. Click on “Select All” and then again on “Delete”. You don’t have to worry about the performance of Windows; only unnecessary data is removed from the registry.
  7. Do the same in the “Remaining files...” section.

What to do if the program is not uninstalled

Sometimes users may encounter a situation where a file or folder that cannot be deleted appears on their PC. In this case, you will need special applications that remove the ban. Utilities for unlocking files LockHunter or Unlocker are considered popular. These options help you remove the lock from the desired element, which gives you the message “The file cannot be deleted.” Instructions on how to remove an uninstallable program:

  1. Download, install Unlocker, it will immediately appear in the OS context menu so you don't have to look for it.
  2. Right-click on the document that voluntarily does not want to go into the trash.
  3. In the window that appears, click on “Delete” and click “Ok”.

LockHunter works on the same principle. When you install it, when you right-click on any document, there will be a new line in the menu “What is locking this file?”. When you activate the item, a note will appear in which the path to the document and the processes that prevent it from being erased will be written. To get rid of a document, you just need to click on the “Delete it!” option.

How to remove a program from a remote computer

Sometimes it’s easier to do everything yourself than to explain to a person who doesn’t understand the issue. You can remove programs from remote computer. Only users who have experience in handling computers will be able to do this. local network. Use of another PC must be approved by the owner. To work you will need the built-in WMI utility, you need to do the following:

  1. Press Win+R keyboard shortcut, write cmd.exe to launch the command line.
  2. Next, enter wmic.
  3. Next, you need to get a list of what is installed on the remote machine. Write the following: node: computer name product get name – and confirm the action with the enter button.
  4. You will receive a list and, for example, you need to erase the game “Klondike”.
  5. Again, type the following from the wmic utility: node: PcName product where name = “Klondike” call uninstall.
  6. Confirm your decision with the "Y" button.
  7. A message about deletion will appear on the screen and additional options will be indicated.

How to remove portable programs

There are utilities that do not require installation. They are simply copied to HDD and run from the executable file. Removing portable programs is completely done with a simple key combination Shift+Delete. If you want to send the folder to the trash, then simply Delete will suffice (this will leave you the opportunity to restore the data if necessary). Such cases do not require additional cleaning of the registry.

What programs cannot be removed from your computer

The main thing in this process is not to get carried away, because you can erase something truly important. There is a list of folders that should not be affected by the complete removal of programs. Some data is responsible for the operation of the entire operating system and overwriting it will lead to the computer not working. You cannot delete anything from the following folders:

  • ProgramData – if you don’t know what the folder is responsible for, then you shouldn’t erase anything from it;
  • Windows is the main folder of the OS, all components of the system are located here;
  • Program Files– installed software, only if you understand what the folder is responsible for can it be erased;
  • Users – user data;
  • Boot – system boot files.

Video: Ways to remove programs

Found an error in the text? Select it, press Ctrl + Enter and we will fix everything!

Working on a computer involves installing various different programs. Some of them are used constantly, while others are installed for one-time use. But do not forget that any program takes up a certain space in the computer’s memory, and a device filled with many unnecessary programs works slower. Therefore, it is important to periodically clean your computer of unnecessary programs.

What programs need to be removed

First, you need to decide which programs can and should be removed:
  1. Automatically installed apps with really useful programs– browsers, file managers. These applications often not only take up disk space, but are also set to autorun. This significantly slows down the computer's startup and operation.
  2. Programs whose license has expired . Majority specialized programs has a limited license period or is free trial period. After a certain period, the program will no longer work, therefore, you need to either purchase a license again or delete the program. If you are not going to use it in the next few months, the second option is preferable.
  3. Unused programs downloaded previously to perform one or two tasks . Often this file converters, various photo editors, players. In some cases - learning programs and applications.
It is worth remembering that it is not worth deleting programs whose purpose you do not know and which you did not install. The application may be necessary for the full operation of your operating system. In such a situation, you need to enter the name of the application into the search engine and read its description.

Try to check your computer every 2-3 months for unnecessary programs and remove them.


A fairly easy and quick way to clean your computer. To remove programs this way, you must follow these steps:

  1. Open the “Start” menu using a special icon in the lower left corner or using the “Win” button (sometimes the Windows logo is shown on the button instead of an inscription).
  2. Find and launch “Control Panel”.
  3. Select “Programs” – “Uninstall programs” when viewing in “Category” view. In viewing mode " Large icons" or "Small icons" - "Programs and Features".
  4. Select the required program from the list and click on the “Delete/Change” button, which is located at the top of the table.
  5. Next, you will be asked to confirm the removal of the program. In some cases, a reboot will be necessary to complete the process. You can confirm the deletion or postpone.

Removing using special shortcuts

More the hard way, which involves opening the program’s working folder. Each program places its executable files and other documentation in special folders on hard drives. Often this folder contains the “Uninstall” executable file. By running it, you can remove this or that program.

Find this file can be done in two ways:

  1. Open “Start” and find the folder of the required program. Open it, find and run the “Uninstall” file. Confirm deletion and, if necessary, restart the computer.
  2. Click on the shortcut and call context menu using the right button. Select "Properties" from the menu. Then go to the “Shortcut” tab and look at the “ Work folder" Open the folder by specified address, which contains the “Uninstall” file.

Cleaning using uninstallers

Today there are many free applications, which not only completely remove the program, but also clean the computer registry of changes made by it.

CCleaner

CCleaner is considered one of the most popular utilities. With its help, you can not only delete unnecessary files and applications, but also temporary files, clean the system cache and registry.

To work, you need to launch CCleaner and select “Tools” in the menu on the left. Then you just have to look through the list of programs installed on your computer and select the one you need. In the menu on the right, select “Uninstall” and then confirm the removal of the program.


CCleaner free program, which does not take up much space on the computer.

Revo Uninstaller

Another free file removal program is Revo Uninstaller. Its peculiarity is that it allows you to remove even hard-to-remove programs that contain errors in the code or are infected with viruses. The application is distributed free of charge.


Working with this application involves the following actions:
  1. Open Revo Uninstaller.
  2. In the dialog box provided, find the program you want to remove and right-click on it.
  3. Then select "Delete".
  4. The program will begin analyzing the program, after which the application uninstaller will start working.
  5. In the “Uninstall a program” dialog, select the necessary actions with the application. If you are prompted to restart your computer, refuse it by clicking on the “Restart later” button. Why reject the reboot? So that Revo Uninstaller can scan the system and find the files remaining after uninstalling the program.
  6. After removal, select the scanning mode, preferably in the “Advanced” mode.
  7. Wait until the scan finishes. It may take from 5 minutes to half an hour, depending on the amount of memory on your computer.
  8. When the scan is complete, look at the results displayed in the "Remaining Registry Entries Found" window.
  9. Mark all entries and click "Delete".
  10. Check and delete entries in the Found Remaining Files window.
After this, the program will be completely removed from your personal computer.

Other popular applications

You can also remove unnecessary programs using the following applications:
  • IObit Uninstaller;
  • Uninstall Tool;
  • ZSoft Uninstaller;
  • Absolute Uninstaller;
  • Advanced Uninstaller PRO.
All of them are distributed free of charge, take up minimal space and have an easy and intuitive interface.

How to properly remove programs? (video)

Find out where the programs installed on your computer are located and how to properly remove them using the Control Panel, as well as using the program’s working folders in the following video:

We'll have a lot of work to do in this lesson! We will get rid of unnecessary - unnecessary programs.

If you have been using a computer for a long time, have installed different programs, or if someone has installed programs for you, then this lesson will help you put things in order when it comes to different programs.

In the last lesson, we talked about the need to clean the computer from various “garbage”, i.e. from accumulated unnecessary files and records. The same applies to programs. Many users may have a bunch of programs installed on their computer that are either very rarely or never used.

Or maybe several are installed similar programs, for example, several video or audio players, which means some of them are not necessary at all.

For low-power computers and (or) for computers with little free space, getting rid of unnecessary programs will be very useful. And in this lesson we'll do that.

First there will be theory. Then, as always, a practical task.

Theoretical part

Many novice users use incorrect removal of programs from their computer. They understand where a program was installed on the computer (for example, by default in the folder Program Files on system disk, which was mentioned in the first lesson) and when some program is no longer needed, simply find the folder with the files of this program and delete it:

Of course, this way most of the files of this uninstalled program will be deleted. But, at the same time, there may still be some files on the computer that were placed in other places on the computer when installing the program (in addition to the Program Files folder). And if they are not removed too, then they can interfere proper operation computer.

For example, this can visibly affect the performance of the computer when many programs have been uninstalled incorrectly.

So in this tutorial we will first talk about correct removal programs from a computer. Let's look at removing programs first. using standard methods, available without installing additional tools for correct program removal.

And then let's talk about even more reliable and convenient way uninstalling programs using the CCleaner program you already have, which we used in the last lesson.

Removalprograms through the Start menu

If, when installing a program, it was specified in the installation settings that shortcuts for launching the program and its uninstallation (removal) should also be placed in the Start menu, then you can uninstall the program through the uninstall shortcut (if it is present there).

As an example, let's take a look at the shortcuts in the Start menu of some installed programs. Note that some programs ( AIMP3 And Any Video Converter) there are uninstallation files Uninstall. When you click on this uninstall shortcut, the removal of the selected program will begin, and you just need to follow the suggested steps:

But we also see that some programs ( 7-Zip And avast! Free Antivirus ) there are no shortcuts for removing them from the computer.

Therefore, you need to use some other way to remove programs.

Let's move on to consider the second method of removing programs from a computer - through Program Files.

Removalprograms through the Program Files folder

Programs are installed where we specify them during installation, and usually this is in the folder Program Files on the system disk, i.e. on the disk where the operating system is installed.

Let's find, for example, a folder with files 7-Zip archiver. IN in this case The file that triggers the removal of this program from the computer is designated as: uninstall.exe:

Other programs may have something similar: uninstal.exe, uninst.exeunins.exe or something similar where there is a mention of uninstallation ( uninstall) with an extension added at the end .exe.

To delete not the desired program, just click on this file and follow the suggested removal steps, usually you just need to confirm that you want to remove this program.

As we can see from the example of this 7-Zip program, we did not find the option to delete it in the Start menu, but in the folder Program Files she is.

But for some programs, even in this folder we may not find the option to delete them. So, for example, at avast! Free Antivirus we do not find either the uninstall shortcut in the Start menu or the uninstal file in the folder Program Files.

How then to remove such programs?

For example, this can be done using special Windows tools for removing programs.

Removalprograms via Control Panel

Go through the Start menu to Control Panel:

After this, a list of programs installed on the computer will be provided, in which we can select the program that we want to remove and click on the link Delete/Change, and then confirm the deletion:

As you can see, in this case we have already found how to remove a program when it is not possible to remove it using one of the first two methods described above.

We used all these three methods without installation on the computer. additional applications. And any of these methods is, of course, better than simply deleting the folder with all installed files programs, like this:

In general, I’ll mention again that it’s wrong to delete it this way! It is better to use one of the above methods. But, even better (more convenient and efficient), remove programs using special programs, which we’ll talk about next.

Freeprogram for uninstalling programs

According to some experienced users, standard deletion in the above methods, it is still not sufficient to completely remove all files related to the program being deleted. Therefore, it is recommended to use special programs (free) such as CCleaner or Revo Uninstaller.

Revo Uninstaller is a little more difficult to use for novice users than CCleaner. And since you already have CCleaner installed, all that remains is to consider how to remove programs using it.

In CCleaner, go to the section Service -> Uninstalling programs, select the program you want to remove, click on Uninstallation and confirm the deletion:

Please note that there is also a button Delete. This function deletes the selected program only from this list installed programs, but the program itself still remains on the computer. So, to remove a program from your computer, use only the button Uninstallation.

Uninstalling programs this way (using CCleaner) is more convenient and effective than the above methods. But it’s still useful to know about them.

What can be deleted and what cannot?

Of course, some people may have doubts about some programs whether to delete them or not. Someone will definitely think: “Now I’ll delete something and suddenly something will happen to the computer, for example, it will stop working normally.”

Indeed, this can happen, but only in cases where the user deletes something he doesn’t know! So here's a simple rule:

Never delete something you are not sure about!

How then do you know what can be deleted and what cannot?

Since there are a huge variety of different programs and everyone may have their own need for using certain programs, therefore there is no standard solution, which means that you need to analyze your installed programs.

How to do it?

As mentioned earlier in the program CCleaner In chapter Service -> Uninstalling programs, a list of installed programs is displayed. There, programs installed on your computer can be organized by Name, To the publisher, Installation date And Size, which the program occupies on the computer.

For example, click on installation date and the entire list was sorted by the order in which the programs were installed from the very beginning to the end. Click on it again, and the programs that were most recently installed will go first:


These parameters can help determine what to delete and what not to delete.

  1. By name(Installed programs). Everything is simple here - by the names of the programs and the icons of these programs, you yourself can see the programs you are familiar with and decide whether you need them or not.
  2. Information from the column Publisher can also tell you for some programs what kind of program it is. For example, if the publisher is Microsoft Corporation, then you should pay attention to these programs, as they may be important (but not necessarily).
  3. Order by column installation date can help draw conclusions about when a particular program was installed. If it was installed recently, it means that the computer worked without it before. Or vice versa, if some programs are installed at the very beginning (immediately after installing the operating system), then they can be very important. For example, these can be programs related to the video card, sound card, webcam.
  4. And ordering to size It can also help to pay attention first to those programs that take up a lot of space.

Let's look at an example:


Let's say you bought a laptop secondhand and want to put things in order with regard to installed programs.

You also have your own printer, well, say, from Samsung. You no longer have any printers or scanners.

In the list of installed programs, did you notice that there is installed applications different devices manufacturer Canon. And thus, you understand that the person from whom you bought the laptop used one or more devices from Canon.

And since you don’t have these devices, you don’t need these programs. This means that you can safely get rid of them by deleting, i.e. uninstalling each one in turn:


If the system displays a message that to completely remove a program you need to restart the computer, you can agree to restart, that’s normal!

But what if some programs are not familiar to you?

In this case, you can simply use the search function in any browser and look on the Internet what programs you have installed on your computer and how important they are to you.

To do this, click on the program name right mouse button and select:


An additional window will appear with the program name highlighted. Right-click on it and select. The copied name will be in the Clipboard (in the temporary memory of the computer). Since we didn’t rename anything, we click Cancel:


Now we go to any browser that we use to view sites and in the search simply paste the copied name of the program ( right click ->Insert) and carry out a search.

The search engine will give you the answer and you can go to the very first answers and read what kind of program it is in order to have an idea whether you need it or not.

As a rule, in search engine already in the first issues of requests in brief description (1 ) it will be written what kind of program it is. If this information is not enough, you can follow the links provided ( 2 ) for more details:


Of course, if many programs are not familiar to you, then researching what each program means may take you a lot of time for the first time. But, on the other hand, you will know what programs are installed on your computer and will be able to get rid of unnecessary things with understanding.

Practical task for this lesson

Using the program CCleaner -> Service -> Uninstalling programs, analyze which programs you don’t need and remove them, i.e. uninstall their.

Once again I want to emphasize that if you doubt any action, then it is better not to do it.

If you don’t find out what kind of program it is, don’t delete it!

The information in this tutorial provides just the necessary knowledge and guidance on how you can figure out the purpose of any program and remove it correctly. And now further decisions about the removal of certain programs - you decide personally!

Your report on this lesson

After completing the lesson, write about your results:

— How many programs have you gotten rid of?
— How easy/difficult was this lesson for you?

If there are serious doubts about certain programs about whether to remove them or not, i.e. if after research you couldn’t figure it out yourself, you can indicate them. Perhaps I know, or if I don’t know, then I’ll look for information about these programs myself and answer what they are intended for, so that you can decide whether they should be deleted or not.

But please indicate no more than 3 programs. After all, this is a training in which the main task is to teach you how to do everything yourself!

Does your computer not work as fast as before, takes a long time to think, or slows down?
The reasons for this may be different, but the most common of them is the lack of free space on the hard drive.
If this is indeed the case, then it’s time to clean your computer of unnecessary programs.

How to determine which programs are unnecessary?

Many programs that we do not use can be called unnecessary.
However, among them there are also those that are harmful - those that are loaded with Windows and use RAM And free place on your hard drive

For novice users, it is better to remove only those programs whose names and their purpose are well known.
Let's leave the standard ones alone utilities, archivers, players, antiviruses - everything without which normal user work on a computer is impossible.
Let's look for programs that have not been used for two or three months, and components that are installed along with the necessary applications, but which we can completely do without: [email protected], Yandex.Bar, as well as everything unnecessary that hangs in the tray. Removing these programs will not affect the operation of the operating system; on the contrary, it will increase its performance.

There are several known ways to correctly remove unnecessary programs.

1.1. The easiest way is to remove it using an uninstaller, which, as a rule, is automatically created when installing the program.
It may look different:


(Picture 1)


(Figure 2)
1.2. Finding the uninstaller is quite simple: “Start / All programs / Folder with the name of the program.”
By clicking on the delete icon, you just need to follow the prompts that appear on the monitor in the form of windows and click “Next”.

2.1. If the uninstall shortcut is missing, you need to use the built-in “Add or Remove Programs” function: for Windows XP “Start / Control Panel / Add or Remove Programs” and in Windows 7 “Start / Control Panel / Programs / Programs and Features”.

2.2. All that remains is to find the one you need in the proposed list of programs and click the “Delete” button.


(Figure 3)

3.1. You can also clean your computer of unnecessary programs using special uninstaller programs: Revo Uninstaller, MyUninstaller, AppTrap, etc.


(Figure 4)

3.2. Having completed the removal, uninstaller programs usually offer to clean the registry of any remaining unnecessary files:


(Figure 5)

What should I do if errors occur during deletion?
It happens that error messages appear when uninstalling unnecessary programs. The reason may be the absence of files to be deleted or errors in the registry.
In this case, you need to remember how to clean your computer of unnecessary programs correctly, and entrust the removal to an uninstaller program.
I hope that in most cases, you will not have to resort to additional programs.



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