Uninstall or Change Programs in Windows 7

As with Windows Vista, Windows 7 doesn’t include an Add or Remove Programs applet. Instead, Windows 7 provides you with the Uninstall or Change a Program applet, which enables you to uninstall, change, or repair a program.

Uninstalling a program is analogous to what we called “removing” a program in earlier versions of Windows. Changing a program enables you to make changes to the functionality and features of the program, such as installing Microsoft Access from the Microsoft Office CD if you didn’t install that program previously. Repairing a program enables you to repair any problems you’re having with a program, such as a word processing program not saving files. You’ve probably noticed that not all programs show up in the Uninstall or Change a Program applet. They don’t appear because only programs that comply with the 32-bit Windows API standard for installation get their filenames and locations recorded in the system database, allowing them to be reliably erased without adversely affecting the operation of Windows. Many older or less-sophisticated applications simply install in their own way and don’t bother registering with the OS.

What’s more, the built-in uninstaller lets you make changes to applications, such as adding or removing suboptions (assuming that the application supports that feature).

Using the uninstall feature of the applet is simple:

1. Click Start, Control Panel, click Programs, Uninstall a Program.

2. Check the list of installed applications. Note that you can sort the applications by clicking the column heading.

3. Select the program you want to change or uninstall.

4. Click the Uninstall/Change button.

5. Answer any warnings about removing an application, as appropriate.

Some applications (for example, Microsoft Office) prompt you to insert the program CD when you attempt to change or remove the app. These prompts can be annoying, but what can you do? The setup, change, and uninstall programs for some large suites are stored on their CDs, not on your hard disk. Just insert the disc when prompted.