The ability to install and remove software from a computer is integral to efficient use of your hardware. If a hard drive gets too full, the computer will have difficulty running existing applications and processing user commands, creating a slow and frustrating experience. Similarly, if an application becomes corrupt or stops working, it must be removed as part of a proper troubleshooting routine.
But how do you uninstall software in Windows 7? With previous versions of Windows it was as simple as finding the Add or Remove Programs section and clicking the program you wanted to uninstall, but Windows 7 offers an entirely different user interface and operating system browser.
Fortunately, finding and removing software is still a simple process that can be accomplished in a few minutes:
1. Verify that you really need to uninstall an application or program. Sometimes the install process can take several hours on a slower computer, and you will not have the chance to undo an uninstall.
2. Log into your computer using the Administrator account, then click the Windows Start icon in the left side of your bottom taskbar and select Control Panel from the right-hand menu. Click Programs from the icon list, then Programs and Features.
3. Browse the list of programs until you find the one you need to uninstall, then click on it. If you are having problems getting the program to run properly, consider choosing the option to Change or Repair the program instead of uninstalling, as this can often fix many minor corruptions. Otherwise, click Uninstall and wait for the progress bar to finish.
4. Restart your computer so that all associated program files can be removed from your hard drive. Check your Programs menu to ensure the application is no longer listed and your hard drive to confirm the appropriate disk space was freed.