How to Uninstall & Remove Applications The Easy Way

Problem
There are some cases where just using the Control Panel's Add/Remove Programs applet is not enough:

•  When you buy a new OEM Desktop PC or Laptop it comes with loads of crap software inside it. that includes Office and Antivirus Trial versions, Freewares like Java, Picasa and more.
• When you try to uninstall a software using it's uninstaller and it just breaks in the middle with an error.
• When you need a password to uninstall a security application like many Corporate Antiviruses.

Resolution
For cases like these we have some cool tools to deal with.


1. The PC Decrapifier: 
The PC Decrapifier is designed to remove a specific list unwanted software in an unattended fashion. it will clean you brand new OEM laptop from all it's crapware that came pre-installed from the vendor.


2. AppRemover:
AppRemover enables you to thoroughly uninstall security applications such as antivirus and antispyware from your computer. especially those that won't uninstall nicely.


3. Revo Uninstaller:
Revo Uninstaller helps you to uninstall software and remove unwanted programs installed on your computer even if you have problems uninstalling and cannot uninstall them from "Windows Add or Remove Programs" control panel applet.

Revo Uninstaller is a much faster and more powerful alternative to "Windows Add or Remove Programs" applet!


4. CCleaner
To complete the cleanup process we will use the great CCleaner utility.
CCleaner is a freeware system optimization, privacy and cleaning tool. It removes unused files from your system - allowing Windows to run faster and freeing up valuable hard disk space. It also cleans traces of your online activities such as your Internet history. Additionally it contains a fully featured registry cleaner.


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Fix: InstallShield Engine "Setup Is Unable To Find or Update IsScript.msi"

ERRORS

During installation, you may get an error message regarding the IsScript engine. The following are some of the common error messages encountered with the IsScript engine:

• "Setup Is Unable To Find or Update ISScript.msi"
• Cannot find IsScript.msi
• The version of IsScript.msi is old
• The feature you are trying to use is on a network resource that is unavailable. Click OK to try again, or enter an alternate path to a folder containing the installation package 'IsScript.Msi' in the box below.

FIX

To fix this issue, you need to determine the version number of the IsScript engine you need, download it, and install it.

1. Right-click on the installation file that you are trying to install and select Properties. 
   • The typical names for installation files are setup.exe, update.exe, installer.exe, etc.
   • Your installation file can be found on the CD where you are running the setup from.
2. In the Properties dialog, click on the Version tab.
   
3. Look at the File Version field to determine the version number of the IsScript engine you need:
   • If the file version number is 2.0x or less, download the IKernel engine and install it on your computer.
     • Delete the folder C:\Program Files\Common Files\InstallShield\engine from the machine.
     • Download IkernelUpdate.exe
     • Once downloaded, double-click it. This installs the IKernel engine, which should fix the issue.
   • If the file version number starts with 7, download the following ISScript.msi file and install it on your computer.
     • Delete the folder C:\Program Files\Common Files\InstallShield\Driver\7 from the machine.
     • Download IsScript7x.zip
     • Unzip the above file using the WinZip utility.
     • Double-click the IsScript.msi file. This installs the IsScript engine, which should fix the issue.
   • If the file version number starts with 8, download the following IsScript8.msi file and install it on your computer.
     • Delete the folder C:\Program Files\Common Files\InstallShield\Driver\8 from the machine.
     • Download IsScript8.zip
     • Unzip the above file using the WinZip utility.
     • Double-click the IsScript8.msi file. This installs the IsScript engine, which should fix the issue.
   • If the file version number starts with 9, download the following IsScript9.msi file and install it on your computer.
     • Delete the folder C:\Program Files\Common Files\InstallShield\Driver\9 from the machine.
     • Download IsScript9.zip
     • Unzip the above file using the WinZip utility.
     • Double-click the IsScript9.msi file. This installs the IsScript engine, which should fix the issue.
   • If the file version number starts with 9.5 , download the following IsScript10.msi file and install it on your computer.
     • Delete the folder C:\Program Files\Common Files\InstallShield\Driver\10 from the machine.
     • Download IsScript10.zip
     • Unzip the above file using the WinZip utility.
     • Double-click the IsScript9.msi file. This installs the IsScript engine, which should fix the issue.
   • If the file version number starts with 10 , download the following IsScript10.msi file and install it on your computer.
     • Delete the folder C:\Program Files\Common Files\InstallShield\Driver\10 from the machine.
     • Download IsScript101.zip
     • Unzip the above file using the WinZip utility.
     • Double-click the IsScript9.msi file. This installs the IsScript engine, which should fix the issue.
   • If the file version number starts with 10.5 , download the following IsScript1050.msi file and install it on your computer.
     • Delete the folder C:\Program Files\Common Files\InstallShield\Driver\1050 from the machine.
     • Download IsScript1050.zip
     • Unzip the above file using the WinZip utility.
     • Double-click the IsScript9.msi file. This installs the IsScript engine, which should fix the issue.
   • If the file version number starts with 11 , download the following IsScript11.msi file and install it on your computer.
     • Delete the folder C:\Program Files\Common Files\InstallShield\Driver\11 from the machine.
     • Download IsScript11.zip
     • Unzip the above file using the WinZip utility.
     • Double-click the IsScript9.msi file. This installs the IsScript engine, which should fix the issue.

More Information

Information on some more How To Fix InstallSheild Common Errors

Fix: Unable to Show Hidden Files and Folders in Folder Options

There are some viruses that prevents you from settings the Folder Options to Show Hidden Files and Folders.
The virus use this block as a protection to hide its files and prevents the healing process.
When you try to set the Show Hidden Files and Folders to Enabled it reverts back to Disabled after you click on OK. Sometimes you don't even have access to the Folder Options settings at all.

There are several ways to fix this problem. It depends on the complexity of the virus:

1. Use the tool DiskHeal from Computer-Realm to bypass the blocked Show Hidden Files and Folders.
    install the tool and run it. on the Fix Menu click on the button "Fix Folder Options inaccessibility".

2. Using Safe-Mode and Login as a different Administrator Account

   Most viruses does the blocking by using Windows own Local Group Policy. the policy is applied on the Current User Account and only on some cases on the Local Machine. Therefore by login-in as a different Administrator user you can bypass the block. Using Safe-Mode as a trouble-shooting environments is also wise because most group policy rules are not working in that mode.

you can also do a Virus Scan on Malware scan during the Safe-Mode session.

3. Cleanup using an external Boot CD

   You can use one of those custom Mini-XP boot CD's or Microsoft's ERD Commander to get access to the  system's Registry, Autorun settings and file system. Than you could delete the problematic virus files, either manually or using an anti-virus scanner. One of my favorites boot CD's is the Hiren's  BootCD. the latest 9.8 version includes a custom Mini-XP that runs from your CD and gives you a great Explorer shell to troubleshoot Windows. you can download Hiren's BootCD using this Torrent.