Curious

[survivalhero]

I was wondering if Windows leaves traces in hidden folders of what you've installed and or uninstalled onto a computer and if so where would that folder be hiding?

[BipolarBill]

Any file that is created for you or by you is left behind in pretty much any program. Uninstallers only remove what was put in by the installer - leaving the program folder and user data behind. These are safe to delete.

Sloppy uninstallers leave crap in C:\Program Files\Common Files all the time. Norton is nortorious for this.

Trial versions of well-written programs deliberately leave behind a "key" in either the Registry or a folder so that a record of your having used it remains - in case you think you can uninstall their program after the trial period and then reinstall for another trial period.

Nothin' fer nothin', as they say.

[DeathWish187]

Doesn't CCleaner clean that shit up?

[BipolarBill]

It only cleans registry keys that point to missing programs. A special key for identifying the fact that you used a trial version of a certain program doesn't have to point to an actual installed program in Windows-speak. It is designed to be found by an installer routine only. Registry cleaners would leave this sort of key because it is not officially an "orphan".

[electric]

i have noticed that disk cleanup in Vista does a good job
not unlike XP and actually cleans your drive of unwanted files

[survivalhero]

Thanks for the support I found most of the files in hidden folders etc etc which completely wiped out info that anything had been installed. Thanks again.

[BipolarBill]

I feel so relieved that I was able to help another member to break a legally binding contract.

[survivalhero]

Wasn't anything illegal

[BipolarBill]

Good - I can sleep now.