HowTo: Completely Uninstall iTunes & Remove Any Traces/Leftovers

The Problem:
At first iTunes don't behave nicely. You first try to uninstall & re-install, but it doesn't help...

The Solution:
1. iTunes removal process should be done with care by following these instructions:
   Removing and Reinstalling iTunes for Windows XP
   Removing and Reinstalling iTunes for Windows Vista or Windows 7

2. Use a removal tool to cleanup after iTunes:
    download ByeTunes from here.

3. After these steps:
   - Restart Windows
   - Download a fresh version of iTunes from apple
   - Try to install iTunes and wish for good :)

Tool: How to Remove Office 2003/2007/2010 If It's Impossible Using Control Panel's Add/Remove Applet

In cases where Microsoft Office suite is missing from the Add/Remove Application list, or it is impossible to remove it using the normal uninstalling method. You now have an easy way to remove Office using "Fix It" tools from Microsoft: Link

To Uninstall Office 2003: Download Tool

To Uninstall Office 2007: Download Tool

To Uninstall Office 2010: Download Tool

Fix: NOD32 Antivirus "Failed to read firewall configuration" Error

Symptoms:

You install ESET NOD32 antivirus on a Windows system and keep getting 

error messages saying:

 "Failed to read firewall configuration"

Even if you try to uninstall and re-install, the error remains..

How to Fix:

follow these steps for full cleanup of the NOD32 leftovers and a successful installation:

Uninstall ESET and then do the following: (please note: some of these files/folders/drivers/ may not be there, which is OK)

Boot into Safe mode

1. Delete files and folder

Folders:
C:\Program Files\ESET
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\ESET
C:\ProgamData\ESET (vista)

Registry keys:
-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\ESET
-HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\ESET

2. Go to Window's Services and disable ESET Services
a. ESET Service
b. ESET Http Server

3. Go to Device Manager and disable drivers for ESET.

a. In Device Manager, go to View on the menu bar and select "Show Hidden devices". This opens up "Non-Pug and Play Drivers" in devices manager .
b. Disable "ehdrv" and "epfwtdir" drivers.

Boot back into normal mode and download "Windows Installer Cleanup Utility":
http://support.microsoft.com/default...b;en-us;290301

Run this program and make sure ESET is gone from the list.

Make sure you have the latest Windows Update and any other anti-virus program removed.

Reinstall ESET.


Note:
It is recommended to install SP1 or SP2 for a Vista system.
Also, always make sure you try to install the latest version of the antivirus from ESET.

KB971033: How to Block Or Uninstall Windows 7 Activation Update

Microsoft has pushed their latest Windows 7 Activation Update checker which checks whether Windows 7 is activated legally through Microsoft or it has been cracked using several activation methods. Installing this update creates a process that checks for activation method of the Windows every now and then to see if the Windows is legal.

In some cases even legit licenses suffer from these genuine validation warnings.

Fortunately Microsoft has made it easy for the people who don’t want this update to uninstall it. If you haven’t downloaded and installed this update then you can disable it using the following method:

Block Windows 7 Activation Update KB971033 Installation

1. Go to Start Menu and write Windows Update in the Start Menu Search
2. Select Windows Update to go to Windows Update program
3. Select Optional Updates
4. Search for the update labeled “Update for Windows 7 (KB971033)”
5. Right click it and select Hide Update

This will disable this update from automatically installing into your system.

Uninstall Windows 7 Activation Update KB971033

If you have already installed this update. Follow these steps to uninstall this update the safer way.

1. Go to Control Panel –> Programs –> View installed Updates
2. Search for “Update for Windows 7 (KB971033)”
3. Right click it and select Uninstall.
4. It is now advised to block the updated as described above to prevent it from reinstalling itself.

Disable the Windows 7 Activation Update KB971033

If the update is already installed and you don't want to remove it completely, you can just prevent it from running using a "Software Restriction Policy". 

This procedure will work on Windows 7 Professional/Enterprise only, because Home versions don't include the Local Security Policy tool needed for the job.

Open Control Panel > All Control Panel Items > Administrative Tools > Local Security policy
Right click on Software Restriction Policies and create new Policy
Go to Additional Rules and right-click for more options.
Create two New Hash Rules and on each rule browse and choose one of these files:

C:\Windows\System32\Wat\WatAdminSvc.exe
C:\Windows\System32\Wat\WatUX.exe

Apply, close & Restart Windows.
The update was installed but the operating system is now blocking it from ever running.

Tip: How To Remove Office 2007 if you can't Uninstall

On older versions of office we could use the Windows Installer Cleanup Utility to remove failed Office installations.

but Office 2007/2010 is not supported by this tool and using it can cause nothing but trouble.

Instead, there are a few other methods to remove Office 2007 or Office 2010 if the regular uninstall procedure fails.

1. The Microsoft Manual Removal Instructions:

follow Microsoft's step-by-step guide to remove any trace of office in the registry and file-system.

Article source: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/928218

2. Office 2007 Registry Cleanup Tool: download the tool from here.

Article source

3. Suffer's Office 2007 Uninstaller Tool: download the tool from here.

The tool strip out Microsoft Office 2007 when the standard uninstall process wont work

Fix: How To Remove Office Genuine Notification (OGA Update)

Office Genuine Advantage (OGA) is another initiative by Microsoft to stem the piracy and counterfeit copy of Microsoft Office business producitivity suite and applications. Since April 15, 2008,Office Genuine Advantage (OGA) Notifications was pushed to client computers installed with Microsoft Office XP, Office 2003 or Office 2007 as “Important” or “Needed” update, and is not removable or uninstallable after installed.

After installed, OGA validation component will perform a check on install Office software, and OGA Notifications notifier component will display various “This copy of Microsoft Office is not genuine” message if the Office software is determined as not genuine or not legitimate.

Although officially Microsoft prevents and disallows end-users from removing OGA Notifications (KB949810), there are several workarounds or hacks to remove Office Genuine Advantage Notifications. In fact, as it’s a MSI (Windows Installer) package which installed the OGA, the KB949810 OGA update can be removed and completely uninstalled properly and completely by using MSI uninstall string.

How to Uninstall Office Genuine Advantage Notifications (KB949810)

Open an command prompt window with elevated privileges.

Depending on the version of OGA (Office Genuine Advantage) installed (can be view from properties of %SystemDrive%\Windows\System32\OGAAddin.dll or DEL %SystemDrive%\Windows\System32\OGACheckControl.dll), run following commands below (see Tip below if you only want to run one command):

MsiExec /X {049F2E8F-D5EC-4133-87FA-8E94837D8D0C} /QN /NORESTART ALLUSERS=1
MsiExec /X {B148AB4B-C8FA-474B-B981-F2943C5B5BCD} /QN /NORESTART ALLUSERS=1
MsiExec /X {DB427EF6-F13E-4AA6-9D40-5D962394774F} /QN /NORESTART ALLUSERS=1
MsiExec /X {B2544A03-10D0-4E5E-BA69-0362FFC20D18} /QN /NORESTART ALLUSERS=1

Note that the GUID identifier for OGA application may vary from system to system, depending on version and language installed. Generally, it works for OGA v1.7.0102.0, OGA v1.7.0105.35.0 and OGA v1.7.0105.35.0 v2.0.48.0.

Tip: To determine which is the exact application ID for Office Genuine Advantage installed on your system, run registry Editor (RegEdit), and navigate to the following registry key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurentVersion\Uninstall

There are many registry sub-keys that resembles the product ID above. Go into each and everyone of the registry sub-branches to look for and locate DisplayName REG_SZ value data which matches or similar toOffice Genuine Advantage or OGA.

After uninstalling OGA properly, it’s wise to clean up and remove all trace of OGA from the system. Run the following commands to delete all registry entries and system files, if still present:

REG DELETE HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\Word\Addins\OGAAddin.Connect /f
REG DELETE HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\Excel\Addins\OGAAddin.Connect /f
REG DELETE HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\Powerpoint\Addins\OGAAddin.Connect /f
REG DELETE HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\Outlook\Addins\OGAAddin.Connect /f
DEL %SystemDrive%\Windows\System32\OGAVerify.exe
DEL %SystemDrive%\Windows\System32\OGAEXEC.exe
DEL %SystemDrive%\Windows\System32\OGAAddin.dll
DEL %SystemDrive%\Windows\System32\OGACheckControl.dll

User who want an automated solution to remove Office Genuine Advantage can download the OGA Uninstaller, a batch script that automatically run all of above commands.

Download this batch file

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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