This article explains how to manually remove an application when the uninstaller will not remove it. For example, if an installation program won't install because it says a version is already installed but that version does not show in the Programs and Features, then use these steps.
- Remove the application from the registry.
Be careful when editing the registry as you could corrupt the user's system. Therefore, it is a good idea to create a system restore point and possibly a system backup before editing the registry. Then, if something goes wrong during the editing process, you can restore their system.
a. Run regedit.exe
b. Remove the application's key from the following root keys. The root key location depends on whether the application is a 32-bit application on a 64-bit OS or not (see below).
Keys for 32-bit on a 64-bit OS:
There are two root keys from which entries need to be deleted.
Root key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
Root key: HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Installer\Products\
Figure out the right application keys to delete from under the root keys by searching for the name of the application (e.g. Foray Chromatic FFT Filter) under the root keys. The application keys may be different for each root key.
There may be more than one application key so search until no more entries for the application are found under each root key.
Keys for 32-bit on a 32-bit OS and 64-bit on a 64-bit OS:
Root key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\
Figure out the right application key(s) to delete from under the root key by searching for the name of the application (e.g. Foray Chromatic FFT Filter) under the root key.
There may be more than one application key so search until no more entries for the application are found under the root key.
c. For each application guid found, right click on the application's guid under the root key and select Delete.
2. Delete the files from the installation directory.
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