Uninstalling applications is never as seamless a process as installing them. Although Windows PCs come with a built-in utility, the Add or Remove Programs utility, that allows users to easily uninstall various applications and software, it usually fails to do the required job when you need to uninstall certain applications, such as McAfee Antivirus suite or DirectX.

Incomplete uninstallation may cause errors and complications on the system. Leftover processes of a previously installed program may interfere with other running processes and cause application errors, as well as performance related issues, such as frequent software crashes and system slow downs. This is why it is absolutely essential that when you remove a program you ensure that all its associated processes, files, and registry entries are also permanently deleted.

With the help of two examples, McAfee antivirus suite and DirectX we discuss how to uninstall programs that may not get completely removed using the Add or Remove Programs utility.

Before we discuss this, let’s see how to use the Add or Remove Programs utility to uninstall applications, such as Microsoft Office 2007.

Uninstall Office 2007 using Add or Remove Programs

Uninstalling programs using the Add or Remove Programs utility is simple, as this example shows.

1. Click Start and then click Control Panel to open its corresponding window.
2. Double-click Add or Remove Programs.
3. Locate and select Office 2007.
4. Click Uninstall.

In the following section, we discuss how to completely uninstall applications, such as McAfee Antivirus and DirectX that the Add or Remove Programs utility may fail to remove.

Uninstall McAfee

When it comes to removing antivirus suites, the Add or Remove Programs utility is often found to be wanting. This may be because of the fact that such programs place their files and entries deep into the system and the Add or Remove Programs utility fails to remove them completely.

Most Antivirus software manufacturers, therefore, release an uninstaller tool for their line of products. It is best to use such uninstaller tools – these tools are typically distributed from the software manufacturer’s website for free – to remove antivirus software. In case the software manufacturer does not provide an uninstaller tool, you may use a reliable professional uninstaller tool.

To remove McAfee, first remove the software using the Add or Remove Programs utility – the same way as you uninstall any other application. Next, visit McAfee’s official website and download MCPR.exe, which is the uninstaller tool for McAfee products. After you have downloaded the MCPR.exe file on to your desktop, double-click it to run the uninstaller tool.

Uninstall DirectX

DirectX is an application that is built-in to your Windows system. An attribute peculiar to DirectX is that it cannot be uninstalled using the Add or Remove Programs utility, as the application does not appear in your installed programs list.

If for some reason you need to remove the version of DirectX installed on your computer then simply remove the DirectX entry from the registry and Delete the DirectX folder.

Important: Before making any changes to the registry, always back up the registry first. You can make registry backups either manually or by using a reliable registry maintenance software.

1. Click Start, click Run, type regedit, and press Enter.
2. Browse to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\DirectX
3. Delete all the keys for DirectX.
4. Right-click the Directx folder in left-pane and click Delete.
5. Restart Windows.

Note: It is not possible to completely remove DirectX from the PC as it is an integral part of the operating system. The above steps uninstall the upgraded version of DirectX from the PC and reinstall the default DirectX version for your Windows operating system when the PC is restarted.

James Ricketts is a writer whose work can be seen at Instant-Registry-Fixes.org. To find out more about his work or to contact him, please visit Instant-Registry-Fixes.org.

Today, we rely on the Internet to carry out various functions and it is no fun when your web browser, such as Internet Explorer, develops an error and fails to load. In this article, we will discuss how to resolve common errors associated with Internet Explorer as well as the following topics:

• How to remove additional toolbars from Internet Explorer, such as the yahoo toolbar.
• How to resolve system error 5
• Essential PC maintenance activities that every Windows user should perform to prevent common Windows errors and issues from occurring.

Iexplore.exe Application Error

Iexplore.exe is the executable file of the popular web browser Internet Explorer. You may encounter the following error when you try to start Internet Explorer 6.0 on a Windows XP computer:

“Iexplore.exe has encountered a problem and needs to close. We are sorry for the inconvenience.”

Typically, the error occurs when the following conditions hold true:

• Browser Helper Objects (BHO), such as Morpheus, Morpheus Shopping Club, WURLD Shopping Community, or BuyersPort are installed.
• You are logged in to your computer with a limited user account.

The error occurs when the installed BHOs try to make changes to specific system files and registry entries but cannot do so because of limited access. You may perform either of the following tasks to fix the error:

• Log on to your computer as an administrator.
• Remove the BHOs from your computer.

Uninstall Yahoo Toolbar

To achieve this, perform the following steps:

1. Close any open Internet Explorer Window.
2. Click Start and then click Control Panel to open its corresponding window.
3. Next, double-click Add or Remove Programs.
4. Now, locate and select Yahoo Toolbar.
5. Click the Uninstall button.
6. Restart Internet Explorer.

System Error 5

This error occurs if there is a problem with permissions to access another Windows computer. For instance, you may receive the error while trying to access a Windows Vista computer on your network from a Windows XP computer using the Net View command. One of the common causes of this error is Time Synchronization issues. Assuming this is the cause the error, you can resolve the error by performing the following steps:

1. Click Start, click Run, type cmd, and press Enter.
2. At command prompt type NET TIME /QUERYSNTP and press Enter to execute the command.
3. In case an error is reported, type NET TIME /DOMAIN /SET /YES and press Enter.
4. Also, ensure that Time Zones are set correctly.

Essential PC maintenance activities

By regularly performing the following PC maintenance activities you can not only prevent various Window errors, but also resolve various PC performance related issues.

Run malware scans – Install a robust antimalware software, update it regularly, and perform regular malware scans on your entire computer to ensure your Windows PC remains safe from malicious programs.

Update Windows files – Keep the built-in Automatic Update feature enabled to ensure new Windows updates are automatically installed on your computer.

Update third-party drivers – Use a reliable driver update tool or manually update your third-party drivers regularly.

Clean the Windows registry – Clean your Windows registry regularly using a top-rated registry cleaner tool to ensure your registry remains healthy and error-free.

James Ricketts is a writer whose work can be seen at Instant-Registry-Fixes.org. To find out more about his work or to contact him, please visit Instant-Registry-Fixes.org.

Word has it that the people behind the screen savers did intend to add a settings menu to them, but never got around to it. Nevertheless, they all come with a few hidden settings that you can tweak.

And here’s how…

There are two ways to go about tweaking, one of which involves editing the registry. The other way requires downloading a set of Windows Scripts (HTA-files), made to tweak the registry for you. But first lets check out the registry settings for each. Also, when you open the Registry Editor you will notice that the screen savers have an intended option for dual monitor layout, though I have not tested this feature as of yet.

To change the settings, open the registry editor at the following location:

HKey Current User\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Screensavers\Ribbons and HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Screensavers\

Bubbles Screen Saver

There are three settings available for the Bubble Screen Saver: Background and Bubble transparency and Size.

Open the Bubbles Folder in the above location, and add the following DWORD KEYS

• MaterialGlass – Option ’0′ or ’1′, meaning transparent or not
• ShowBubbles - Option ’0′ or ’1′, I’m guessing you get this one
• Radius – There are four settings here that range from small to huge. A value of 1100000000 gives you Small bubbles, 1110000000 gives you Medium bubbles, 11200000000 gives you Large bubbles, and 1130000000 gives you even larger, or Huge, bubbles. The smaller the size, the more bubbles.
• ShowShadows – Option ’0′ or ’1′, whether or not the bubbles cast shadow.

Mystify Screen Saver

You can choose between 9 different widths and have up to 100 lines dancing around your screen. Open the Mystify-folder in the above location and add the following DWORD KEYS.

• LineWidth, Option 1 – 100
• NumLines, Option ranges from 1000000000 to 1080000000

Ribbons Screen Saver

The settings are almost equal to the Mystify Screen saver, tho you might experience the highest settings to distort your monitor, making the screen saver not working as intended. Open the Ribbons Folder in the above location, and add the following DWORD KEYS.

• NumRibbons, Option ranges from 1 to 100
• RibbonWidth, Option ranges from 1000000000  to 1050000000
• RibbonBlur, Option 0 or 1

The Blur Option might not look as intended on all monitors, and may appear as non-working.

Using tools

A very clever dude (Greg Shultz) have come up with a way to edit the registry settings using the Windows scripting language (HTA-files). The script files let you edit the settings (and test them) using an intuitive interface. Making it easier (and safer) for you.

You can download the hta-files from here

Hidden.zip

I recently learned that you can re-arrange the category arrangement, making it appear just as YOU think it should. It does involve editing the registry, but I’m sure that won’t scare you … much.

This tweak is generally for PRO and ULTIMATE users, but you may still be able to tweak some of the Control Panel Applets on lower versions.

Open RegEdit

1. In your registry editor, navigate to the following key:
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE|SOFTWARE|Microsoft|Windows|CurrentVersion|Control Panel|Extended Properties|{305CA226-D286-468e-B848-2B2E8E697B74}2
2. In the right pane, find the item that you want to re-categorize. Double click it to bring up its properties box.
   NOTE! Depending on your Windows version of choice, the number of items available in the list may vary – a lot.
3. Change the DWORD value to the number that corresponds to the category where you want to place it (See the list below)

Numbers for each category

• Other Control Panel Options – 0
• Appearance and Themes – 1
• Printers and other Hardware – 2
• Network and Internet Connections – 3
• Sounds, Speed and Audio Devices – 4
• Performance and Maintenance – 5
• Date, Time, Language and Regional Options – 6
• Accessibility Options – 7
• Add or Remove Programs – 8
• User Accounts – 9

Another solution might be this one:

Re-Enable v.2

Re-Enable is designed to be a one-click fix, to enable such features as:

• Windows Registry
• Command Line Tool
• Windows Task Manager
• System Restore Config
• Folder Options
• Run command
• My Computer
• Task Scheduler
• Right Click Context menu
• MsConfig (XP only)
• Control Panel
• Search

Re-Enable also let you Scan, Edit and Delete Autorun.inf files, Repair Desktop icons and Background, Edit Hosts, Services, Network, Protocol files, Reset File and Folder Attributes, Repair Explorer.exe startup problem, unhide hidden drives, Repair Safe mode even if the F8 safe mode menu is disabled and much more.

Even if you don’t have any problems at this point, this is a tool to keep in your ToolBox for later use. You never know, it might just come handy one day.

Download Re-Enable v.2

Download Re-Enable v.2

Windows Guides’ Rating	User Rating	Compatible with	System
4 out of 5	Note: There is a rating embedded within this post, please visit this post to rate it.

PROS: Provides comprehensive information on the components, software, and changes on your PC. CONS: The interface is a little ugly and the information isn’t helpful for casual users. VERDICT: Use this if a knowledgeable friend is helping you fix your PC or if you want to know and keep tabs on what’s going on with your PC. PRICE: Free VERSION REVIEWED: v2 DOWNLOAD: LookInMyPC

Download LookInMyPC

Download LookInMyPC (I recommend you use the portable version):

LookInMyPC Usage

LookInMyPC can collect all of the information listed below:

You can, optionally, email the report to a friend if they are helping you fix your PC:

Please note: Only send this information to someone you trust as some information can be used maliciously.

Click Generate Report to create an audit of your PC:

The output is similar to the one listed below:

A list of currently-running processes is captured (good if you’re looking for malware):

You can also see registry run entries:

Events (such as scheduled tasks) are listed:

System restore information checkpoints are displayed:

You can also compare reports to see system changes:

The report will show you the difference between two reports:

In conclusion, LookInMyPC is useful if you want to know a ton about your computer or if you know someone who needs data about your PC to help you fix it. If you frequently help others with their PCs, this tool could be invaluable to you.

Download LookInMyPC

Download LookInMyPC

jv16 PowerTools is the ultimate Windows optimization and tune-up utility suite. The bottom line is that it keeps your computer running smooth, fast and greatly improves its overall stability. If you’re still (gasp!) using our old RegCleaner program, or an older version of PowerTools, it’s time to wake up and pay attention! PROS: Fast. Lightweight, Easy to Use. CONS:Not Free VERDICT:Overall the most reliable “optimization and tune-up utility suite” I have ever encountered. No matter if you are an experienced user or not – JV16 PowerTools will become your best friend – ensuring your computer a long and healthy life. PRICE: From $29,95 VERSION REVIEWED: 2.0.0.986 DOWNLOAD: JV16 Power Tools 2010

jv16 PowerTools 2010 is here and it’s sweet!

I’ll make no effort hiding the fact that this Suite is one of my all time favourites. I first discovered the program back in 2008, when searching for a tool to clean (and fix) my cluttered computer. Almost every tool promising to solve my computer problems, would somehow mess it up further, or was unsuccessful at solving it all. The reason I discovered was often that most problems lay in the registry. If you remove too much data from it, something is bound to crash, and removing too little, well… You know what happens … nothing.

Suite of tools

JV16 PowerTools isn’t just a registry tool, it’s a complete set of tools, designed for every part of your computer. When you boot JV16 PowerTools the program will assess your computer, displaying the approximate health of the system. The suite support 4 main areas (with several useful tools for each):

• Registry Tools
• File Tools
• System Tools
• Privacy Tools

Some of the functions are Backup/Restore Registry, Speed up Computer, Check for Viruses and Malware, Uninstall and File Cleanup and StartUp Control.

Registry Tools

The Registry tools consists of a Registry manager, Search and Replace, Cleaner, monitor and Compactor. To me The Registry Compactor has proven the most valuable. As the name suggests it compacts the registry, without removing data.  This is done by reconstructing the entire registry structure from scratch, eliminating all the empty spaces and other unneeded data. A cluttered and fragmented Registry will cause slow performance.

Speed Up Your Computer

This feature let you tweak your Windows to increase performance. With the intuitive interface and well written information it is very easy to tweak your windows safely.

Clean and Fix My Computer

This is a new feature in the 2010 edition, which searches and repairs any problems it finds. It Scans the registry for registry errors, obsolete and leftover data, MRU and history data, unneeded and leftover files that may be deleted.

Verify my downloads are safe to run

Another new feature is the anti-virus and malware tool which primarily is made to scan your download folders. It can also be used to scan single files (by drag and drop) should you worry that it might be contaminated.

Fully remove software and leftovers

I truly hate it when an uninstaller only removes the main program files, leaving DLL’s temp-files and folders. This is especially annoying when finding empty folders in the Start-Menu. At a first glance the tool looks exactly like the Add/Remove Software feature of Windows Control Panel, or any other third party products. Don’t be fooled though! This tool does what you’d expect any uninstaller should do. No more left overs.

Other tools included in the suite

• File Finder
• File Recovery and cleaner
• File Organizer
• File Tool Duplicate and File Finder
• Directory Finder
• Startup Manager and Start Menu Tool
• Automation Tool
• Service Manager and System Optimizer
• History Cleaner
• System Cleaner and Disk Wiper

Overall verdict

jv16 PowerTools is a full Windows optimization utility suite containing 27 different main tools, and dozens of smaller tools. In my experience, JV16 PowerTools is all you’ll ever need and want.

Ease of use

Aside from the intuitive interface – the developers have put a lot of effort into making the system as easy to use as humanly possible. Whatever task you will get easy to understand help and labels, guiding you through every step. No matter if you are an experienced user or not – JV16 PowerTools will become your best friend – ensuring your computer a long and healthy life.

But don’t just take my word for it – Try it now free for 60 days

Download JV16 PowerTools

Please note: Only activate and use this account if you have a need to do so (i.e. tinkering with system files on a non-critical PC.)

Learn, in this guide, how to activate the hidden administrator account in Windows XP (Instructions for Windows Vista/7.)

Activate the Hidden Administrator Account

To active the administrator account, you should do the following (please note the administrator account is available in Safe Mode without registry editing.)

Open Regedit and navigate to:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Winlogon\SpecialAccounts\UserList

Create a new D-WORD value of Administrator with value of 1.

Now exit the Registry Editor.

Set a Password for the Administrator Account

The first thing you should do is set a password for the administrator account. To do this, click Start > Control Panel and double click User Accounts:

Click on the newly-created Administrator account:

Click Create a password:

Type a password and click Create Password:

Have fun and remember to make backups and only modify system files on a non critical PC/image.

In this guide, we talk more about Windows 7′s Resource Monitor. Previously, Angel Luis showed you how to determine if you need more RAM using Windows 7′s resource monitor. In this guide, we’ll show you what else you can monitor with Resource Monitor and help you interpret the data it gives.

Open Resource Monitor

To open Resource Monitor, either:

Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc and, when Windows Task Manager loads, click Resource Monitor…:

Or:

Click the Start button and click All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Resource Monitor.

View System Information with Resource Monitor

Resource monitor has five tabs:

1. Overview.
2. CPU.
3. Memory.
4. Disk.
5. Network.

In this guide, we’ll take a look at the information offered on the CPU, Memory, Disk, and Network tabs. The Overview is, surprisingly, an overview of these four tabs.

Resource Monitor CPU Tab

Much like Task Manager, the CPU tab gives detailed information on all processes using the CPU; however, the CPU tab also shows detailed information on the Associated Handles and Associated Modules of a process:

Associated Handles

Associated Modules

How do I interpret this data?

The key take home from this tab is to find processes that are using lots of CPU when you are low on CPU (or when CPU usage is abnormally high under idle usage.) Once identified, you can Kill the process (right click) and try opening it again. If the problem persists (and the usage is abnormally high), try reinstalling the software causing the high CPU usage or upgrading the latest (and in some cases a previous, less-bloated) version.

What’s a Handle?

A handle is a pointer to a system element such as a file, event, registry key etc.

What’s a Module?

Modules are programs or files used to support a process (like a .DLL — dynamic link library.)

Resource Monitor Memory Tab

If you’re running at 80%+ memory, you should identify and kill processes that are hogging up your system (running out of memory will slow down your computer a lot because you will start thrashing — storing data from memory on your hard disk to make more room for current processes.)

Here’s what the Memory tab looks like:

How do I interpret this data?

You should sort the data, by clicking the column heading, to find hard faults (a sign of failing memory) and by Working Set and Private to find the real memory hogs.

What is Working Set Memory?

Working set memory is the amount of physical memory currently being used by a process.

What is Private Memory?

Private memory is the amount of physical memory in use by a process that can’t be shared with other processes; thus, programs using lots of private memory can cause system problems as they require so much of your resources.

What if I see lots of hard faults?

If you see lots of hard faults, you should consider adding more memory as your system is writing current memory to the page file (due to low memory availability.) If you don’t see high memory usage but lots of hard faults, test your memory.

Resource Monitor Disk Tab

The Disk tab shows IO (input/output) activity on your hard disks. If your computer is slowing down, you may find it’s due to too much IO. A program you are using may be slowed down because it is waiting for information to be retrieved from disk (i.e. a photo album application that has to wait for photos to load) or because you are too low on memory and lots of the memory is being paged to your hard disk (see above for more information about memory thrashing.)

Here’s what the disk tab looks like:

How do I interpret this data?

Check the processes with disk activity and look for processes that stand out on disk reading and writing (i.e. the numbers are really high.) As you can see in the screenshot about, Snagit32.exe is reading and writing more than any other programs. In this case it makes sense because it was writing the screenshot I just took to disk. If, however, something like spambot.exe is reading lots of data, kill the process and run a virus scan!

Resource Monitor Network Tab

The final tab is the Network tab, which shows current network activity on your PC:

The Network Activity pane shows network connections and how much data is being sent. If you see a process on here that really shouldn’t be sending and receiving data (i.e. if Photoshop was sending data to Adobe servers, kill it and find out why it’s “phoning home” — yes, Adobe have done this before and were sending statistical data to Omniture.)

You can also see which programs have ports open. Notice the ports opened by Apple services. After investigating them, I found them all to be legitimate (if not a little invasive) connections.

How do I interpret this data?

Read the explanations above and look for either:

• Programs with abnormally high network activity.
• Programs with network activity that really shouldn’t be connecting to anything.

I’d then go to a search engine and find out why these programs are contacting other addresses through your network interface.

Well there you have it: a basic explanation of the goodness that comes from using Resource Monitor. What did I miss? For what purposes do you use Resource Monitor?

Are you one of those people who do not trust using simple password to enter on your PC ?  Read this article by Matt Smith on Make Use Of.

Two Unique Ways To Log Into Your Windows Computer Without Typing A Password

Do you ever wonder about the Windows Registry and how to use it? Check this article by v.laurie on Gizmo’s Software.

Learn How to Use the Windows Registry Editor (Regedit) in One Easy Lesson

Have you ever wondered how to check if a sender’s email is valid? Read this article by Tanmay on Tech Tips Geek.

How to Verify Fake or Invalid Email Addresses

Do you really want a fast hard drive? Check this article by Jackson Chung on Make Use Of.

Kingston SSDNow V+ Drive 256GB Review and Giveaway