If you want to remove a program from your hard drive, it is well to know that generally programs will install files to other parts of the hard drive than just the folder for the main executable. To remove the program properly, you should not just delete the main folder, but instead, follow the following:Procedure:
Most properly configured program installations include a special uninstall script file that directs a specific uninstall process that will remove just the right files and Registry entries - no more and no less. The uninstall script may be accessible in the Add/Remove Programs section of the Control Panel, or in the program's menu listing.Just deleting an application that has been installed in Windows can leave a lot of loose ends behind in the file system and Windows' Registry.
As you've probably discovered, the things that the uninstall processes cannot remove are the stored game or other data files that were created by the program during use, but are not known to either the installation
or uninstall process. If these are left behind and are not needed for anything else, it is safe to simply delete them and the folders they are in.Uninstall processes can go wrong at times - removing one or more shared files that are used by other applications can cause missing - file and function errors in those other applications. The program vendor's
support team needs to be told about these situations when you encounter them so that the developers can fix the product. Installation processes can also be broken, resulting in the copying of older files over newer
ones, yielding similar invalid or missing function errors in other applications.
Summary:
Do not delete except as a last resort.Check the application folder for uninstall files such as UNWISE.EXE, UNINSTALLER.EXE, UNINSTALL.EXE. If these exist, then double clicking on them will start the uninstall process. It will usually require a confirmation that you do want to take out the program. If there is no uninstall utility in the folder (or in the Start, Programs, <program name>), then:
Use the Control Panel | Add/remove software to remove the application. This procedure through the windows install/uninstall will only remove the original files. It will leave the files which are created after the installation such as data, email, configurations, etc. These can be deleted directly.
If neither is available, then direct deletion of the folder containing the application is the only way to remove it. When this route is used, it may become necessary to search the registry to remove any reference to the application. This can be needed if, when booting or running another application, the error message referring to the registry or other windows configuration files occurs in a popup.
Thanks to Elaine and http://www.computeruser.com