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The LangaList
Standard Edition

2004-06-03

A Free Email Newsletter from Fred Langa
That Helps You Get More From Your Hardware, 
Software, and Time Online

Please visit our sponsors and help keep the LangaList S.E. free!

1) Remove *Any* Software

This question targets one piece of software, but the answer's general, and can work on any software that just won't uninstall properly.

Dear Fred, Add/Remove doesn't want to remove Spybot.  It's listed there as 1.1 but the program itself says it's 1.2.  How do I get rid of it so I can download and install the 1.3 version?  Thanks. ---Chris Aichelman

Sometimes, old software won't uninstall properly. Other times, it does uninstall, but the "Add/Remove Software" list doesn't refresh: the software shows as installed, when it's not. Both problems aren't that hard to fix.

If you've been unable to uninstall via Control Panel's "Add/Remove Software" list, or via the program's own Uninstall applet, start by making a backup or (even better) an image of your hard drive.

Next, do a full search of your hard drive for any files or folders relating to the software in question: For example, search for anything containing the program's name or the owners/publisher's name. In the case of Spybot, it's easy: A search for any file or folder with "Spybot" in its name will turn up Spybot's folders and main files.

When you've found where the target files/folders are located, delete them all.

Next, use your Registry tool (eg Regedit) and search the Registry for any entries relating to the software in question. Again, you usually can find these by searching for anything containing the program's name and/or the owners/publisher's name. Delete any entries relating to the target software.

Reboot, so any in-use files will be released. Watch for any error messages at reboot: If they occur, they may contain clues as to the names and locations of any scattered files or settings you may have missed in the previous steps. Delete any such files you find this way, and/or change the affected settings (eg via Start/Run/MSCONFIG) that refer to the deleted files.

If you're being extremely thorough, do a second search of the drive and Registry to make sure that you really got everything the first time.

Run your favorite Registry-checker--- jv16, WinDoctor, or whatnot ( http://www.google.com/search?q=registry+check+repair ) to detect and repair any entries orphaned by your manual deletions.

The software should now be fully gone, but it's possible that there'll still be a ghost entry listed under Control Panel's "Add/Remove Software" list. If this happens, navigate to this Registry key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall

You can remove any item listed in the "Add/Remove" tool on Control Panel simply by deleting the appropriate subkey in the above. In the subkeys, "DisplayName" is the name you see listed in the Add/Remove Programs tool, and "UninstallString" is where the uninstall program is supposed to reside.

If you delete something this way, make a note to see where the Uninstall program is supposed to be: Check to make sure you deleted that file/folder, too.

When you're done, your system should be free of the files you were trying to delete, as well as any references to those files. This way, you should be able to remove even the most stubborn, deep-rooted software!

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2) Multi-Itemed Taskbar

Hi, Fred! While inspecting the screen shots in your article on "Virtual PC" http://www.informationweek.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=18600449 I noticed that your Quick Start menu had seventeen (17!) icons. I run Windows XP Professional with the Classic desktop and menus, but my Quick Start menu shows only three icons with the rest accessible from the double-chevron. I also use the Office Toolbar, but it's well known to be a memory hog, so I'd like to expand my Quick Start menu and place all my Office Toolbar items there (I don't use any of the default Office icons there, just shortcuts to Norton, Diskeeper, Quicken, etc.). What's your secret? ---Bob Johnson

Right click on an empty spot on the Taskbar/Quick Start area, click on "unlock the taskbar." You then get a slider to re-size the visible portion of the taskbar; you'll also have the double-chevron available when the Taskbar/Quick Start is too small to display all icons. If you wish, you can leave the sliders visible for easy size adjustments of the Taskbar/Quick Start areas; or re-lock them in whatever position you desire.

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3) Automatic Windows Setup

Dear Fred, First and foremost, I would like to congratulate you for your excellent newsletter that  you produce.  I am a Plus subscriber.

I am totally blind computer user from Malta, and as a screen reader I am using Window Eyes Professional V4.5 (from http://www.gwmicro.com ). One of my job duties is to train blind and visually impaired persons how to make use of their computers. Now here is my main difficulty.

Most of my clients are on a pension or low income and as you know the computer from time to time it needs that the hard disk to be formatted and the windows to be re-installed from scratch.  For me as a totally knowledgeable blind pc user I couldn't install a windows based OS without sighted assistance. In the DOS era I can perform this task totally independently, but windows OS changes everything.  I wish to be able to install a windows based OS so I can help my friends to save some bucks, just to pay a technician for just a simple OS installation.

Now I know that there is the possibility to connect two computers together and one of them serves as a terminal so you can install windows on the other computer without any assistance.  If someone knows how this type of setup works, I really appreciate if he or she would write me with the details. Thanks in advance for your assistance in this matter. Michael Micallef, blind computer instructor, http://userpages.nextgen.net.mt/micam

With so many possible variables in the mix, it's hard to produce a "one size fits all" setup process that would work every time, all the time. But you might start with a trick used in many business settings when they need to roll out Windows onto many systems without having to sit at each PC , one by one, to perform the task. It's called an "unattended installation," and it's based on a script you produce (once) that contains the answers to all or most of the questions normally asked by the Windows setup routine. Instead of having to type in the answers, the setup uses the info stored in the script. Lots more info:
http://www.google.com/search?q=automated+install+windows+unattended

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4) Free Partitioner/Imager

Fred, There are a couple of freeware programs for changing partition sizes.  But here is the ONLY freeware program I've found which makes and restores an image of a drive or a partition: Partition Saving, at -- where else? -- http://www.partition-saving.com.  The owner is Damien Guibouret, who is to be highly commended for his work.  He regularly improves it, and it's now up to version 2.80.

In the FAQ page, he even gives graphs which show the effect of higher or lower compression, and CPU speed, on the time to run the program.

I have tested it, and can vouch for its reliability. Best wishes, Fred! ---Bruce Fraser

Thanks, Bruce. That's one that'll be worth checking out,. for sure!

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5) Free Image Resizer, and Fix

Hi Fred, I have used the handy Windows XP power tool, Image Resizer ( http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/downloads/powertoys.asp ), for a long time on my laptop.  It's much more convenient and faster than opening PaintShopPro or one of the other giant photo programs I have for other, more intense image processing. 

I recently bought a new desktop and downloaded Image Resizer, but when I'd right-click on a photo, the resize option didn't show up.  I found this fix online:

If Image Resizer doesn't work, go to the command prompt and type in:
REGSVR32 SHIMGVW.DLL

After doing the above, Image Resizer now works like a charm! ---Mary Grabanski

Thanks, Mary!

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6) Three More Winners!

Yvr2yeg, chris and johnscott each won a FREE full one-year subscription to the LangaList Plus! edition by using the "Recommend To A Friend" form at http://www.langa.com/recommend.htm .

You see, each month I choose three winners of a new FREE ONE YEAR SUBSCRIPTION to the LangaList Plus! edition. (Existing Plus! subscribers get their current subscription extended by a full year.) To have a shot at winning, just use the following link to recommend the LangaList to a friend. Your friend just may find a new source of useful information; I just may gain a new subscriber; and you just may win! (Full details also available via this link:

http://www.langa.com/recommend.htm

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7) Forced Unlock/Deletions

Sometimes you run into a wall when you try to delete a file that's in use or otherwise "locked" by the OS. In Win9x-based systems, you could drop to DOS and delete the file that way, but it's harder do in NT/2000/XP. At the least, you have to install the Recovery Console ( http://langa.com/u/4z.htm ) or boot to a separate NTFS-capable OS. It's a hassle.

Well, it was, until these tools became available:

Hi Fred, First of all thanks for a great newsletter- I almost always learn something new from it. I ran into a problem recently with some files I was down loading- they became locked and I couldn't delete them. Thought your readers might be interested in this page which describes how to identify which process locked the file [so you can kill the process and thus unlock/delete the file]:
http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k/processlock.htm

or this page which has an app that can delete locked files:
http://www.codeguru.com/Cpp/W-P/files/fileio/article.php/c1287

John -CaptNemo

Thanks, John. Forced deletion is always a last resort, but it's still a good resort to have, if or when you really need it.

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8) They Just Keep Coming And Coming...

Well over 3,000 of your fellow readers have "loaded the code." Have you? Check out http://www.langa.com/code.htm for the details. Here's another eclectic sample of reader sites--- some professional, some very personal:

View A Randomly-Chosen Reader Site
http://www.langa.com/randomlink.htm

Manually Browse All Posted-to-Date Sites Starting At
http://www.langa.com/readersites.htm

Personal Site
http://panic54.tripod.com/

Luigi Martin
http://members.optusnet.com.au/luigimm/index.html

Rock & Roll Photos
http://4bz.netfirms.com/

Condition Red Web Design
http://www.conditionred.net/

Allen & Allen CPS
http://www.allentaxes.com/id6.html

Stu and Linda
http://www.stulin.com/

Miniature Firearms
http://www.waynedriskillminiatures.com/

Justin Rocque
http://www.justinrocque.com/

Financial Site
http://geocities.com/HARRYHENRY4/

Mysterious Island
http://home.comcast.net/~arnold240/wsb/html/view.cgi-home.html-.html

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9) About That NUM Lock...

The "Bypass The Recycle Bin" item in the last issue ( http://langa.com/newsletters/2004/2004-05-31.htm#4 ) generated a *lot* of mails like this:

Hi Fred, In the 5-31 LangaList, you said in Item #4: "Anytime you don't want the Recycle Bin to temporarily store a file for possible later recovery, just press and hold the shift key when you make the deletion. (The NUM Lock must be off for this to work.)"
 
I've been using that shortcut for years, and my computers have always had NUM Lock on. I just tried it right now (on WinXP SP1) and it works fine with NUM Lock on.... Regards, Kevin Schumacher

Yes, in newer Windows, that's true. But older Windows are sensitive to the NUM lock. I was trying to phrase the tip in a way that would work for any version of Windows (it *always* works with the NUM lock off), but I ended up causing more confusion than clarity. My apologies.

So sure: Try it with the NUM lock on, if you wish. If it doesn't work, then you'll know you're one of the ones with older Windows affected by the NUM lock limitation. See
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=132579

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10) Just For Grins

"Colossus" was an early vacuum tube ("valve") based electronic computer built by the British during WWII to crack German ciphers via statistical analysis--- the first such use of a computer.

One of its greatest successes was to break the "Lorenz" cipher used by Hitler to send coded orders to his generals.

Now, in time for this year's D-Day commemoration, Colossus has been rebuilt
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/3754887.stm

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--- ( Your Clicks On Ad Links Help Keep The LangaList S.E. Free! ) ---

"Mr. Langa, Your 'Plus' is the ONLY newsletter that I have found to be
worth more than the subscription fee... I have signed up a friend
as a gift to him, and he is, also, extremely impressed." ---Michael Ludlum

Thank you, Michael!

The LangaList Plus! Edition comes with a MONEY BACK guarantee
from Fred, and is ad-free, spam-proof,
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11) Plus! Edition Highlights:

• Free Monitor Gamma Tools, And More
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The Plus! edition is only pennies per issue, and comes with a MONEY BACK GUARANTEE from Fred. How can you lose? Check out the details: http://www.langa.com/plus.htm

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(Give a gift subscription to the LangaList Plus edition!
Click <a href= " http://www.langa.com/plus_gift.htm ">here</a>)

See you next issue, 2004-06-07!

Best,

Fred
( Editor@Langa.Com )

Please recommend the LangaList to a friend! (And maybe win a prize!)

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