Removing a uncompatiable program

[tango71]

This is really stupid of me but I installed a program that wasn't
compatible with the current OS that I was running at the time. The
program is XP icons from campath I didn't read the readme file that
came with the program and just presumed that the program was
compatible because of the name. When I tried to run the program it
told me that this version was not compatible with current windows
version!

I tried removing it using the programs uninstall feature but it
didn't work. It gave me this window stating that the program is
currently running on system tray and that I should close it frist
before uninstalling but it isn't even running! I tried using windows
add/remove but I can't see the program listed.

Is there a way I can manully remove this program safely from my PC?


All responses are greatly appreciated. Thank you!

tango

[corosus]

what is you os?? i assume it's xp??
try using the add/remove software feature you can find in the controle pannel.
if this does not work try booting into safe mode use the add/remove programs feature.

[reboot]

Hit CTRL+ALT+DEL and End Task on the program, then uninstall/delete it.

[tango71]

CTRL+ALT+DEL brings up the windows taks manager. The problem is that I dont see XPIcons.exe to end the program and therefore delete. I found the file extention by clicking on the properties of the program. I'm not sure if this is right but it does make sense if you want to end a certain program.

[KHT]

Try either starting in safe mode and try to uninstall or boot normally and run msconfig and check if XPIcons.exe are in your startup tab. If so clear the check box.

If you don`t see it in your start up tab and it does start automatically, run regedit and search "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\WindowsNT\CurrentVersion\Windows". delete the entry in "load REG_SZ" and \or "runREG_SZ"

After this it shouldn`t load automatically and you should be able to uninstall through Add\Remove programs.

[reboot]

If it's not listed on the Applications tab, it will be listed in the Processes tab.

[tango71]

I tried booting normally and ran msconfig. I saw XPIcons.exe in the startup tab cleared the box and used the uninstall feature that came with the program but that didn't work. I ran regedit and searched for "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\WindowsNT\CurrentVersion\Windows" found it and deleted "load REG_SZ" but when I checked Add\Remove XPIcons.exe was not listed. I found out that the program folder resided in my C: drive which is running 98, when I checked the D: (running XP) program files that folder was not found. What if I delete it using dos? Will that work?

[KHT]

The danger with simply deleting programs is that you may delete *.dll files which are shared with other programs. I have done this before without a prob but it does have it`s risks.

Since you have a dual boot system, I would boot to W98. If you are unable to remove it with add\remove programs there, then try to delete the contents of the directory it is in and when you get a message stating that a .dll may be shared, chose not to delete that file. Once everything is deleted you could move the remaining .dll files to another directory in case another app needs it you will be able to restore easily. If after time you have no probs that directory can be deleted.

If you are unable to delete XPI because it states it`s running, then go ahead and try to either delete XPI.exe in dos, or rename it XPI.old so it won`t run in Windows which will allow you to delete it using the Windows interface.

After everything is deleted\moved in C:\ you can download regcleaner http://www.vtoy.fi/jv16/shtml/regcleaner.shtml to remove cleanup the registry. Much easier than editing manually. Run regcleaner in W98 as well as XP.

[tango71]

Thanks KHT. I found jv16 PowerTools yesterday by searching the web and used it to edit the registry! It was a great tool. It allowed me remove that program without any problems. Thanks for the tip!