How to Uninstall Roxio

Many people have had problems with Roxio's CD/DVD burning software. The most frustrating problem may be that so many can't uninstall the program from their computers. You have to remove all components of the Roxio program to free it completely from your system. This includes the program itself, all its files and its registry keys. There are uninstall software programs that can make this a little less of a headache.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

1. Disable the startup applications. Go to MSCONFIG by typing it in the "Start" menu's "Run" command. Go to the "Startup" tab. Then click on "Disable All," "Apply" and "OK." Click the "Restart" button.

2. Download and install the Windows Installer Clean Up Utility if you have any problems removing the program, like receiving a certificate file error. Go to "All Programs" in the "Start" menu to find the Clean Up Utility program and open it. Select all entries that start with "Roxio" or "Sonic" and click on the "Remove" button.

3. Reveal the hidden files on your computer. Go to "My Computer" in the "Start" menu and select "Organize - Folder and Search Options." In the "View" tab, select the hidden folders option and click "Apply."

4. Locate and delete all file folders with Roxio in the name. In "Program Files," delete the "Roxio" folder. Then open "Common Files" and delete "Roxio Shared" in that folder. In "Users - (your username) - App Data," delete the "Roxio" folders in the "Local" and "Roaming" folders. Empty your Recycling Bin.

5. Remove Roxio's registry keys Input "regedit" in the "Start" menu's Search field and open the "HKEY_CURRENT_USER" folder. Open the "Software" folder and delete the "Roxio" folder inside that one (right-click the Roxio folder and select delete). Delete the Sonic folder if there is one.

6. Switch from the "HKEY_CURRENT_USER" folder to the "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE" folder. Delete "Roxio" (and "Sonic") in the "Software" folder contained here as well.

7. Restart your computer.

Tips & Warnings

• If you re-install Roxio, you need to re-enable the startup applications. After installing, return to the MSCONFIG window, choose "Enable All" and then restart. You might get a "file is in use" message while deleting the Roxio file folders. Locate that file and drag it to the desktop. You can remove this file after you restart.

• Protect your registry by exporting a copy it before deleting the Roxio keys. Input "regedit" in the Start menu's Search field, click File in the upper left hand corner of the Registry editor's File menu, select "Export" with the "All" range selected and save it somewhere on the hard drive with a chosen name.

Resources

• Microsoft Windows Installer CleanUp Utility