Deleting registry keys for uninstalled programs

Actually I have three questions...

Is there any danger in deleting registry keys (and subkeys) for uninstalled
programs?

ie. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Copernic

Need the subkeys to Copernic be deleted first or will deleting the Copernic
key take care of it all?

Should I make a ".reg" file first?

Thanks for any help

ALWAYS back up the Registry before editing, using scanregw:
Click Start Run, type scanregw and click OK. Say yes when it asks if you want to
back up the Registry.

Additionally, export to a .reg file the particular main key you plan to delete or
modify.

If you are quite sure you have correctly uninstalled the software first, you can
delete the key for it, such as in the case of the Copernic key you cited. Deleting
the key deletes all its sub-keys.
--
Glen Ventura, MS MVP Shell/User, A+
http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm


"pauper58s" wrote in message
...

Actually I have three questions...

Is there any danger in deleting registry keys (and subkeys) for uninstalled
programs?

ie. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Copernic

Need the subkeys to Copernic be deleted first or will deleting the Copernic
key take care of it all?

Should I make a ".reg" file first?

Thanks for any help

"pauper58s" wrote in message
...

Actually I have three questions...

Is there any danger in deleting registry keys (and subkeys) for
uninstalled
programs?

Yes. When editing the Registry, there is always a danger.
However, in this specific case, you should be OK

ie. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Copernic

You know that you installed Copernic's Agent (or whatever),
and you know that you uninstalled it, and now you know
that it left some Registry entries behind.

How you found that out I don't know, but it may get you into trouble
some day if you decide to delete other keys that you feel
should not be there, as there is a lot of stuff in the Registry
that you will eventually feel that way about.

Many people do, and then show up here complaining of "accidents".

Need the subkeys to Copernic be deleted first or will deleting the
Copernic
key take care of it all?

Either way, although I tend to be painstaking and do them individually.

Should I make a ".reg" file first?

How dangerously do you like to live?

Thanks for any help

I commend you for seeking it FIRST. You should be fine.

Thanks alot glee for your quick reply!
I'll git er done!

"glee" wrote:

ALWAYS back up the Registry before editing, using scanregw:
Click Start Run, type scanregw and click OK. Say yes when it asks if you want to
back up the Registry.

Additionally, export to a .reg file the particular main key you plan to delete or
modify.

If you are quite sure you have correctly uninstalled the software first, you can
delete the key for it, such as in the case of the Copernic key you cited. Deleting
the key deletes all its sub-keys.
--
Glen Ventura, MS MVP Shell/User, A+
http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm


"pauper58s" wrote in message
...

Actually I have three questions...

Is there any danger in deleting registry keys (and subkeys) for uninstalled
programs?

ie. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Copernic

Need the subkeys to Copernic be deleted first or will deleting the Copernic
key take care of it all?

Should I make a ".reg" file first?

Thanks for any help

I uninstalled Copernic several weeks ago and it was the only one that I found
that still had remnants in the registry. I double checked the "Add/Remove
Programs", Windows Explorer and "Find Files" - found nothing. However, I did
find the copernicagentbasic.exe file in my download folder which I forgot to
delete. That's done now and I will proceed with caution.

Thanks Hugh

"Hugh Candlin" wrote:


"pauper58s" wrote in message
...

Actually I have three questions...

Is there any danger in deleting registry keys (and subkeys) for
uninstalled
programs?

Yes. When editing the Registry, there is always a danger.
However, in this specific case, you should be OK

ie. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Copernic

You know that you installed Copernic's Agent (or whatever),
and you know that you uninstalled it, and now you know
that it left some Registry entries behind.

How you found that out I don't know, but it may get you into trouble
some day if you decide to delete other keys that you feel
should not be there, as there is a lot of stuff in the Registry
that you will eventually feel that way about.

Many people do, and then show up here complaining of "accidents".

Need the subkeys to Copernic be deleted first or will deleting the
Copernic
key take care of it all?

Either way, although I tend to be painstaking and do them individually.

Should I make a ".reg" file first?

How dangerously do you like to live?

Thanks for any help

I commend you for seeking it FIRST. You should be fine.