skip to main content

How to Remove Programs on Desktop

18 years ago

I have a lot of programs on my desktop that I didn't download. I'm not sure how they got there. Anyway, when I try to put them in the Recycle Bin, I get a message that I have to go to the "Add or Remove Programs" to remove them. However, they're NOT listed on there. How do I get rid of them?

Some of them are: Easy Internet Signup, AOL Latino 3 Meses, Inc, Quicken 2006 New User, V Home, and others.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (9)

zep516
18 years ago
blueheron,

Look in your programs list, Start>programs see if there listed there put your mouse over them you may see the un-install feature, those things on the desk top are short cuts to the program let us know if that works.
jean001
18 years ago
Icons on the desktop can represents shortcuts OR programs.

It sounds like the programs blueheron listed probably came with the computer as "freebies." They let you sign up for trial offers, and the like.

To uninstall such programs, go to Start, Control Panel, Add/Remove Programs.

Scroll down the list for the program you want to delete, then Click on Uninstall and follow the directions.
Related Discussions
Removing desktop items
Q
Comments (5)
Could it be as simple as clicking the Desktop icon in the Quick launch bar? I cannot test it because I always delete that icon when setting my computes up. I had a young woman's computer here and she had no icons showing and I was concerned because all her security icons had been placed on the desktop by me when setting her computer up for her. Respecting other people's privacy I never search around a computer I am fixing. But as I installed AdAware I found it was already there, she had not removed the icon or program but by clicking the desktop icon she had placed al the icons underneath and out of view.
...See More
How do I remove failed program?
Q
Comments (2)
AVG has a removal tool just to remove their programs I would suggest first trying that. This is a link to Corrine's blog where she has listed the various links to removal tools, follow the link for your AVG product. Antivirus Product Removal Tools If you still have problems there is a very good program that is free called REVO uninstaller many have used it with good success. Revo Uninstaller
...See More
Add/Remove programs
Q
Comments (2)
Don't clean up to much! When in doubt don't do anything. I have seen a lot of problems when cleaning up too much. Leave all those programs listed there as is. The only thing you need to do is run TFC, CCleaner, ATF. Then do a defrag. Then check out what's starting up with windows and get a hold of the unnecessary start ups. Startuplite is a good program to use for that from Malwarebytes. Once the computer is running good , flush out the System Restore points by turning system restore off and back on. This will free up space and clear out any possible bad restore points. Here is a link that might be useful: Start up lite
...See More
How do I get an ad on my desktop?
Q
Comments (6)
More info. I just looked at this file on my desktop in task manager again. I was able to right click and click on Go To Process, this highlighted for me where that is coming from. The program is realevent.exe. I did a search of my computer for that file and there are two files on my computer's hard drive. One is titled Realevent.exe-075FAD3E.pf. It seems to be in it's own folder titled Windows/Prefetch. It is 64 KB and is a PF File. According to this, it was created back in November of 2006. Huh? How the heck did this get here for that long? The second one shows an icon that I recognize as one that is on the border of the message that keeps coming up on my desktop, followed by reaevent. It is in Program Files/Common Files/Real/Update_OB. It is 53 KB and is an application file and according to this it was created in 2003! Oh my gosh! So, I can't believe that all this time, I was just closing it and never knew I could track where it was coming from on the computer through the task manager. So now that I have found where it is, should I just delete both these files? Is there any way of knowing where this program came from and what it was programed to do? If they could put it on my hard drive then, what else could it have done?
...See More
bob414
18 years ago
If no luck so far you might want to try this: Download and install CCleaner. Click on the 'tools' button and see if they are on the list CCleaner can uninstall.
DA_Mccoy
18 years ago
I am going to go out on a limb here and predict you will have to manually delete them.

Write the applications down and do a Start>Search for each one. Any appearing entry which you are comfortable with as pertaining to the ones in question right click and select delete.

When you are done use CCleaner's Registry Tool to scan and fix any issues. (It creates a backup if you so desire.)

DA
blueheron
Original Author
18 years ago
jean, I did that, as I said in my post, and couldn't find some of them, like blockbuster video.

damcoy, when I tried to search for them, the computer couldn't find them either. The Search option didn't list desktop programs, so I wasn't sure where to look. It listed, "Pictures, music, or video", "Documents," "All files and folders," and "Computers or People." None seemed to be the one for desktop. I searched "Documents" and "Files and Folders" and came up empty.
DA_Mccoy
18 years ago
Look in all of C

Type in the search just as they appear on your Desktop,Easy Internet, AOL, Latino Quicken, V Home, and the others.

DA
mikie_gw
18 years ago
If shortcuts
you can right click it and choose Properties. It will show the path and you can even Find Target which will open the folder its in then poke its unwise or uninstall, if you're lucky.
blueheron
Original Author
18 years ago
Oh, thank you, Mikie! Your suggestion worked. Hooray, I am rid of those dumb programs! Kudos to you.
lexiiecottingham_hotmail_co_uk
15 years ago
i am stuck trying to remove avast free security from my laptop carn't find it in add/remove have tried to download removal tool but won't work as it says its protected have removed protection but still no joy i have also tried to open the file while in window safe mode but carn't get internet whilst in that mode i have also tried to remove it by using properties and target and have clicked on from all programmes but no uninstall available PLEASE CAN ANYONE HELP

Related Stories

COFFEE WITH AN ARCHITECT 12-Step Program for Architecture

By Jody Brown Architecture, pllc

Addicted to architecture? We understand. Here's something that may help ... or not

GREEN BUILDING What's LEED All About, Anyway?

By Mariana Pickering (Emu Building Science)

If you're looking for a sustainable, energy-efficient home, look into LEED certification. Learn about the program and its rating system here

HOME TECH Hello, It's Your Houseplant Calling

Or even tweeting. Today's apps and gadgets let plants communicate in better ways than with a show of withered leaves

SAVING WATER 11 Ways to Save Water at Home

By Carol Crotta

Whether you live in a drought-stricken area or just want to help preserve a precious resource, here are things you can do to use less water

LANDSCAPE DESIGN How to Design Your Landscape to Slow Down Water

By Falon Mihalic

Putting the brakes on stormwater runoff is the first step in sustainable water design

LANDSCAPE DESIGN California Says Goodbye to the Sprawling Ornamental Lawn

By Annie Thornton

New state rules will effectively limit turfgrass to 25 percent of the landscape in most new and renovated yards

GREEN BUILDING How to Harvest Rainwater for Your Garden

By Mariana Pickering (Emu Building Science)

Conserve a vital resource and save money by collecting stormwater for irrigation in a barrel or tank

KITCHEN DESIGN The Cure for Houzz Envy: Kitchen Touches Anyone Can Do

By Becky Harris

Take your kitchen up a notch even if it will never reach top-of-the-line, with these cheap and easy decorating ideas

MORE ROOMS 8 Fantasy Dining Room Designs

By Vanessa Brunner

Get ideas for your own over-the-top dinner party from the creations at San Francisco's Dining By Design Event

GREEN DECORATING Bamboo Products — Earth Friend or Foe?

By Julia Pockett

The ecofriendliness of this grass for flooring, wall coverings and furniture isn't cut and dried. Get the facts here

Sponsored

Peabody Landscape Group

8 Reviews

Franklin County's Reliable Landscape Design & Contracting

More Discussions

Tired of MS Office 365 Monthly Fees?

1