I have a program that failed to uninstall, and has left fragments of code in my registry that prevent the program's reinstallation. I've deleted all remaining program files, which have somehow remained in my system as 0.0mb "files" with no origin that cannot be deleted. I've looked into the forums, and I know that registry cleaners are not only unreliable, they can be dangerous to a system. I'm not skilled enough to go into the registry and determine which codes I'd have to delete. Is there another way to rid myself of these remnant files, or since I only have one program's files I want to delete should I go with the registry cleaner? Help me!

Contact the Technical Support of the company that wrote the program as many of them have utilities just for this type of situation. Nero, DisKeeper, and several other programs have these utilities available from their Technical Support.Please remember to click Mark as Answer on the post that helps you, and to click Unmark as Answer if a marked post does not actually answer your question. This can be beneficial to other community members reading the thread.

Thank you for your reply, but I've already contacted them and their recommendation was to use a registry cleaner whose perameters can be altered to only erase the codes attached to the program. Again, I have more than a few reservations about such a course of action hence my posting here. Do you have any other suggestions?

Not know anything about the program and what it is looking for when it tells you it's already installed it makes it virtually impossible to tell you what to do. That it the job of the publishers Technical Support since they should know wht the installer is looking for. Yes, the problem affects what you are trying to do in Windows, but this is not a Windows problem. This is the fault of a poorly written program if it did not uninstall itself properly. If the publishers Technical Support won't help you, then search the internet for others with the same program and see if they offer you a solution. This is not a Microsoft Windows problem and I will not make any suggestions that might cause more problems. Please remember to click Mark as Answer on the post that helps you, and to click Unmark as Answer if a marked post does not actually answer your question. This can be beneficial to other community members reading the thread.

I would avoid registry cleaners at least without a full backup first. I'm doubtful it would fix the issue in any case. Here are two possibilities. If you would specify what program this is, someone might have some more specific information. 1 Revo Uninstaller http://www.revouninstaller.com/index.html Use the most aggressive mode and see if it can root out the program. 2, Windows Installer CleanUp Utility http://www.softpedia.com/dyn-postdownload.php?p=18442&t=4&i=1 This program was made for this kind of situation where a program cannot be uninstalled nor reinstalled. HOWEVER, Microsoft has discontinued support for it because it can cause problems. Basically. MS does not want to deal with problems for 3rd party software and had made other fixes available for it's own apps only. The version at softpedia is the last released. As a technician, I have found it extremely useful over the years and have not had problems with it if used carefully. If run and it does specifically list the application in question removing that entry is likely to work. USE AT YOUR OWN RISK and DO A BACKUP FIRST. -- "ssudd387" wrote in message news:c5e0396f-50ce-4b7a-be3b-6cdc7f99b543@communitybridge.codeplex.com... I have a program that failed to uninstall, and has left fragments of code in my registry that prevent the program's reinstallation. I've deleted all remaining program files, which have somehow remained in my system as 0.0mb "files" with no origin that cannot be deleted. I've looked into the forums, and I know that registry cleaners are not only unreliable, they can be dangerous to a system. I'm not skilled enough to go into the registry and determine which codes I'd have to delete. Is there another way to rid myself of these remnant files, or since I only have one program's files I want to delete should I go with the registry cleaner? Help me!

On Mon, 21 Feb 2011 16:27:00 +0000, GTS-NJ wrote: I would avoid registry cleaners at least without a full backup first.  And I'll add my agreement with that sentence, but with one additional caveat: a potential issue with a registry cleaner is that it can leave you with an unbootable system; if that's the result, a registry backup isn't of much use. I'm doubtful it would fix the issue in any case.  Here are two possibilities. If you would specify what program this is, someone might have some more specific information. 1  Revo Uninstaller http://www.revouninstaller.com/index.html   Use the most aggressive mode and see if it can root out the program. 2, Windows Installer CleanUp Utility http://www.softpedia.com/dyn-postdownload.php?p=18442&t=4&i=1 This program was made for this kind of situation where a program cannot be uninstalled nor reinstalled.  HOWEVER, Microsoft has discontinued support for it because it can cause problems.   Basically. MS does not want to deal with problems for 3rd party software and had made other fixes available for it's own apps only.    The version at softpedia is the last released.  As a technician, I have found it extremely useful over the years and have not had problems with it if used carefully.   If run and it does specifically list the application in question removing that entry is likely to work.    USE AT YOUR OWN RISK and DO A BACKUP FIRST. -- "ssudd387" wrote in message news:c5e0396f-50ce-4b7a-be3b-6cdc7f99b543@communitybridge.codeplex.com... I have a program that failed to uninstall, and has left fragments of code in my registry that prevent the program's reinstallation. I've deleted all remaining program files, which have somehow remained in my system as 0.0mb "files" with no origin that cannot be deleted. I've looked into the forums, and I know that registry cleaners are not only unreliable, they can be dangerous to a system. I'm not skilled enough to go into the registry and determine which codes I'd have to delete. Is there another way to rid myself of these remnant files, or since I only have one program's files I want to delete should I go with the registry cleaner? Help me! Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP

Thank you all for your replies. You have been very helpful. The situation has been rectified. The Revo Uninstaller did the trick. Again, thank you for your time and suggestions. -Scott

"K Blake [MVP]" wrote in message news:281e625e-6d11-4447-a1d7-3698a9ac8d14@communitybridge.codeplex.com... On Mon, 21 Feb 2011 16:27:00 +0000, GTS-NJ wrote: I would avoid registry cleaners at least without a full backup first. And I'll add my agreement with that sentence, but with one additional caveat: a potential issue with a registry cleaner is that it can leave you with an unbootable system; if that's the result, a registry backup isn't of much use. Full backup means (at least to me) a full system backup.... doesnt hurt to make doubly sure that it's clear for the OP though. -- Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP

You're welcome. -- "ssudd387" wrote in message news:a261abce-0792-482d-a53c-7d954a5a0d8a@communitybridge.codeplex.com... Thank you all for your replies. You have been very helpful. The situation has been rectified. The Revo Uninstaller did the trick. Again, thank you for your time and suggestions. -Scott

On Tue, 22 Feb 2011 03:42:48 +0000, GTS-NJ wrote: "K Blake [MVP]" wrote in message news:281e625e-6d11-4447-a1d7-3698a9ac8d14@communitybridge.codeplex.com... On Mon, 21 Feb 2011 16:27:00 +0000, GTS-NJ wrote: I would avoid registry cleaners at least without a full backup first. And I'll add my agreement with that sentence, but with one additional caveat: a potential issue with a  registry cleaner is that it can leave you with an unbootable system; if that's the result, a registry backup isn't of much use. Full backup means (at least to me) a full system backup....  doesn?t hurt to make doubly sure that it's clear for the OP though. Thanks for the clarification. I thought there was at least a possibility that you meant that, but I wanted to make my point anyway, just so it was clear to the OP. Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP