How to Remove Programs Stuck on Windows XP

Slow loading on computers is often due to unnecessary files on your hard drive. Many of these unnecessary applications on your Windows XP operating system are loaded onto the hard drive by the store who sold the computer. The higher the number of programs that exist on Windows XP, the more a computer crawls. Deleting programs and Desktop icons from Windows XP is relatively easy with the following steps.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Deleting a Program Through Systems Tasks Window

1. Open "My Computer" from your "Start" bar.

2. Select "Add or Remove Programs" under the "Systems Tasks" window.

3. Click on the "Change or Remove Programs" button.

4. Highlight which program you wish to delete and hit the "Remove" button.

5. Hit the "Yes" button on the "Are you sure you want to remove [the program you've selected] from your computer?" popup window.

Deleting a Program Through Program Files

6. Open "My Computer" from your "Start" bar.

7. Double click on the "Local Disk (C:)" icon under the "Hard Disc Drives" section.

8. Select the "Program Files" folder. A message may possibly appear with "This folder contains files that keep your computer working properly." Ignore this and click "Show the contents of this folder."

9. Find the program you wish to delete.

10. Open the folder and see if you wish to keep any of the items contained within the folder. If there is an application you wish to keep, right click on the others and select "Delete." If you'd like to delete the whole folder, right click on the folder itself and select "Delete."

11. Click on the "Yes" button when the "Are you sure you want to send this folder and all its contents to the recycle bin?" popup window appears.

Removing Shortcut Icons From Desktop

12. Right click on the icon you wish to remove.

13. Select "Delete."

14. Hit the "Delete Shortcut" button on the popup window.

15. Click on the "Yes" button when the "Are you sure you want to send this folder and all its contents to the recycle bin?" popup window appears.

Tips & Warnings

• Deleting a Shortcut icon does not remove a program. It removes the image only.
• If you delete a file that you did not mean to, you can remove it from the "Recycle Bin" if you have not emptied the trash.
• Investigate the programs/folders you wish to delete to ensure you want the entire file deleted.