Re: What is this folder?
Sudy Nim wrote:
| "PCR" <pcrrcp@netzero.net> wrote in message
| news:OrSsJRTDIHA.464@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
|> thanatoid wrote:
|> | "PCR" <pcrrcp@netzero.net> wrote in
|> | news:eQjkf6FDIHA.4584@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl:
|> |
|> |> Sudy Nim wrote:
|> |>| "thanatoid" <waiting@the.exit.invalid> wrote in message
|> |>| news:Xns99C5D571D745Athanexit@66.250.146.158...
|> |>|> "PCR" <pcrrcp@netzero.net> wrote in
|> |>|> news:Onhfn#4CIHA.464@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl:
|> |
|> | <SNIP>
|> |
|> |> Well, I really don't know, but to me it STILL looks
|> |> dangerous to just delete the folder. You might have to go
|> |> after the Registry keys too! Who knows whether an attempt
|> |> to uninstall one of the programs in that folder wouldn't
|> |> crash the computer otherwise!
|> |>
|> |> Also -- even if you delete both the folder & the Registry
|> |> keys -- who knows whether you'd crash, anyhow, when trying
|> |> to uninstall one of the particular programs you've got in
|> |> there (& you've got more than me). And, even if you don't
|> |> crash, who knows whether you'd be able to uninstall it at
|> |> all? Or -- even if the uninstall does work -- will the
|> |> machine have been put into the same shape it was before the
|> |> original install?
|> |
|> | Well, unless you use InCtrl or something like it and check
|> | everything manually, that will NEVER be the case. I just tried
|> | several worthless programs I dl'd last night and of the 5 or 6,
|> | only ONE uninstalled itself ENTIRELY. On ALL other cases, at the
|> | *very* least, the manufacturer name branch was left in the
|> | registry. It was usually worse.
|>
|> I believe that. It's best to use InCtrl5 or some such to track an
|> install. Then, use the program's uninstall routine, if you want to
|> get rid of it. That routine may not only remove itself-- but it may
|> reinstall a prior version or otherwise replace something that was
|> removed. After letting the uninstall routine do what it will-- yes,
|> indeed -- go ahead and verify it with InCtrl5's report & make manual
|> adjustments, just as you said.
|
| I have used InCtrl in the past but removed it for some forgotten
| reason.
Well, could be you noticed its reports are sometimes so huge it could
take 3 years to manually undo an install. (Chauvin uses something that's
quicker-- Total Uninstall, I think.) HOWEVER, I do like InCtrl5 for the
information it provides on what has been changed in the Registry or in
files. It can be used, for instance, to detect what files are updated by
a new set of virus definitions. Then-- just those files can manually be
copied occasionally to my full system backup. That was more important to
do when I ran McAfee, (instead of avast!). Also, it can be used to
detect what some Windows setting might change in a Registry key.
|> My main concerns are...
|>
|> (1) Will deleting the "C:\Program Files\Uninstall Information" folder
|> have an ill effect on the program's own uninstall doings?
|
| A good point, glad you mentioned it.
Yea. Also, it could be Windows Update needs these folders to exist to
work. It may use the information in these folders, even when we haven't
initiated an uninstall ourself. ???.
|> (2) Will deleting the folder, but leaving the Registry keys behind,
|> cause trouble too?
|
| This is a reasonable supposition and it got me re-thinking.
Uhuh. What would happen, if ever the Registry lines that reference those
deleted folders wanted to execute?
|> For stuff already installed -- especially never having run InCtrl5 on
|> them -- I think it best to let it all be! The first three items in my
|> folder are...
|> 896358, 908519, & 918547. These are criticals that Windows Update
|> put in here!
|
| I have those first three and you convinced me to leave this folder as
| is. Thank you for sharing your expertise and for stopping me from
| making
| a problem for myself.
You are welcome. I'm sure, after a great deal of research, it may be
possible to risk deleting some of it & their Registry keys. But you
might never be able to go to Windows Update again. Also, the folder may
be used for other system purposes as well apart from Windows Update,
although everything in mine seems like it might relate to just that.
| Sudy Nim
|
|> | We all have to find our own way in this hellish maze of 0's and
|> | 1's. Let Sudy worry about his way. I have no further comments.
|> |
|>
|>
. I'll stay in the thread-- but I know nothing more!
--
Thanks or Good Luck,
There may be humor in this post, and,
Naturally, you will not sue,
Should things get worse after this,
PCR
pcrrcp@netzero.net