Using Add or Remove Programs to Clean Up Your Computer

These are some instructions for using Microsoft Windows' built in program management software to remove unneeded programs and spot other programs that need to be updated.  When I am working on people's computers, I will often go through this list as part of my standard cleanup procedure.

Windows XP

To start "Add or Remove Programs" in Windows XP, click on Start, Control Panel, Add or Remove Programs.  Because these menus can be customized, it is possible that you may need to select options worded in slightly different ways or located in slightly different locations.

Windows Vista

To start "Programs and Features" in Windows Vista, click on the Windows Circle in the lower left corner of the screen, then click on Control Panel, then click on either Uninstall a program or Programs and Features.  The last option will depend on how your configuration options are set.  Because these menus can be customized, it is possible that you may need to select options worded in slightly different ways or located in slightly different locations.

Programs I Usually Remove

This is an alphabetical list of programs I usually remove along with my reasoning for not wanting it there.

• Acrobat.com - This is installed with Adobe Reader 9 and puts an icon on the desktop that link to, you guessed it, acrobat.com.  As far as I can tell this is completely useless and rather annoying.
• Activation Assistant for the 2007 Microsoft Office Suites - This program comes on systems that include a trial version of Microsoft Office.  It simply provides a link to a website where you can purchase the full version.
  
• Adobe Acrobat Reader (really old versions) - Installing the latest release of Adobe Reader automatically uninstalls other recent copies (6 or later).  However, if you happen to have versions older than that on your system, you'll want to manually remove them.  And let me tell you, Adobe Acrobat Reader 3 causes a lot of problems if it tries to automatically open a file on a current Windows operating system.
  
• Adobe Download Manager - This program is installed by various Adobe software, like Flash, to download the installers from the website.  Adobe likes it because it can resume interrupted downloads.  I like to remove it because 1) it is just taking up space on my system, 2) once the Adobe software is installed it will probably never be used again, and 3) if I ever do need it again it has probably been updated from the last time so the new version will be downloaded anyway.
  
• Adobe Photoshop Album Starter Edition - This software was automatically installed by Adobe Acrobat Reader version 7.  Most people don't even know they have it on their computers.  I usually remove it unless it is actually being used because it is just taking up space.  The software has been discontinued by Adobe.  If you are looking for similar software that is up-to-date, I usually recommend Picasa.
• ALOT Toolbar - Like a fish needs a bicycle.
• ASK Toolbar - I second that motion.
• Banctec Service Agreement - Unless you are a lawyer.  Then you can leave it on and read it every morning over breakfast.
  
• Bonjour - This is networking software for accessing printers and files stored on a Mac computer.  It is automatically installed with an iPod.  If you don't have any Mac computers at your house and don't use iTunes to stream music over the network you can safely remove it.
• Corel Photo Album - This software came pre-installed on most Dell computers several years ago.  It is one of those annoying programs that run for free for the first 30 days and then tries to get you to pony up a wad of cash to unlock their "premium" features.  Unless someone has actually grown fond of Corel Photo Album, I usually uninstall it.  If they need a photo organizer I typically recommend Picasa.
• Dell Driver Reset Tool - This program ships with a lot of new Dell computers.  I've never seen it do anything useful and I certainly don't want it messing with my drivers.
• Dell Picture Studio - If I want to browse my pictures I'll use the Windows Picture Viewer.  If I need anything more I'll use Picasa.
  
• Dell Support - Like I really want a piece of software trying to offer me support!
• Dell System Restore - Ditto.
  
• DellConnect - It never ceases to amaze me how much software is installed by the major hardware manufactures that do absolutely nothing useful.
• Digital Content Portal - The last thing I need is another "portal" between me and my digital content.  This is another one of those "freebees" that comes with most new computers.
  
• Digital Line Detect - Another useless program that comes with most new systems.  By the way, the technical name for such programs is crapware.
• Google Desktop Search - Oh how I hate desktop search programs.  Let me count the ways.  Unless people are actually using it, off it goes.  You'll be amazed how much faster the computer runs.
  
• Google Toolbar - How many toolbars does it take to browse the internet?  Usually at least one less than I have.  Saving the world from one toolbar at a time!
• HP Backup and Recovery Manager - I've never been a fan of letting OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers) handle backups.  In Windows XP I would recommend using Windows XP Backup.  In Windows Vista I would recommend Windows Backup and Restore Center.  In both cases I would store the backup on an external hard drive.
• HP Help and Support - Is that supposed to be funny?
  
• HP Share-to-Web - This one is filed under the printer-companies-should-stick-to-building-printers-and-not-bloatware category.  There was a period of time when HP shipped this software with about every printer that included a scanner.  Turns out it likes to fight with Windows and throws such a hissy fit if it doesn't get its way that it practically shuts your system down.  You, mister share-to-web, go straight to the circular filing cabinet.
  
• Java (older versions) - Java is a program a lot like Flash that is used on the internet for animation, audio, video, and other things.  Java is a funny program because when newer versions of the program are installed it keeps the older versions.  You don't have any need for these older copies of the program (unless you happen to be a computer geek who spends your free time coding version specific Java programs).  As time has passed Java has changed their naming semantics, so sometimes it can be a little hard to figure out what the current version is.  (Hint: you don't want anything with a 1_4 or a 5.0 in it.)  Check the Programs I Update section below to make sure you have the most recent version of Java.
• Learn2 Player - Did you know that at one time Sony actually offered to remove all the junk they preload on your computer.  First they would put it on.  Then they would charge you $50.  Then then removed it before shipping you the computer.  I'm just saying!
• Microsoft Plus! Digital Media Edition Installer - Microsoft Plus has been discontinued by Microsoft.  This shipped with a lot of new computers years ago.  I've never seen anyone actually use it.  Running discontinued code is always a poor decision from a security standpoint.
  
• Microsoft Plus! Photo Story 2 LE - Microsoft Plus has been discontinued by Microsoft.  This shipped with a lot of new computers years ago.  I've never seen anyone actually use it.  Running discontinued code is always a poor decision from a security standpoint.  (Besides, isn't Microsoft Plus! an oxymoron?)
  
• Modem Helper - My modem don't need no stinkin' help!
  
• MSN Toolbar - What do these companies have with toolbars?  If I wanted to see their adds all over my screen I'd paste them up with sticky notes!
• My Web Search (Smiley Central) - Beware the evil behind the smile!  In fact, beware anything that wants to add "smileys" to your computer.  This is a piece of adware that, when left unchecked, downloads all its buddies and eventually turns your computer into a mutant alien hulu commercial.  Any decent antispyware program will detect and remove it.
  
• Net Waiting - This program is used when you have a dial up connection on a modem.  It allows you to temporarily suspend your internet connection while taking a phone call.  Search your soul.  Do you really want to use dial up networking?  I didn't think so.  While you're at it, you might want to take a screw driver and remove the entire modem from the system as well.
  
• Safari - Safari is a web browser built by Apple.  A while back Apple pulled a dirty trick and automatically installed Safari on every Windows computer running iTunes.  Unless people are actually using Safari, I uninstall it.  Safari has had a dubious history of security flaws and having any browser that you don't regularly use and keep up to date is a security nightmare.
• Search Assist - Really?  Because I can't find Google on my own?  I don't think so!  Stinkin' adware.
  
• URL Assist - This is a program that ships with most Dell computers.  Presumably it redirect error message in my web browser to their ad pages.  I've never left it on long enough to find out.  It's definitely not a needed program and I don't like anything messing with my web traffic.
• Viewpoint Media Player - This company somehow convinced almost every computer manufacture to preinstall their media player during a stretch of about 10 years (some still do).  Think about it.  When was the last time you watched anything using the Viewpoint Media Player.  And to top it off, I just read that it also likes to install its own toolbar.  Oh, you are so gone!
• Windows Search - Same as Google Desktop Search.  If you think one of these programs slows your computer down, try having both installed at the same time!
  

Programs I Sometimes Remove

This is an alphabetical list of programs I sometimes remove.  These programs are useful to most people who have them, but sometimes I find people who somehow got these installed on their system but never use them and are unlikely to ever do so.

• Apple Mobile Device Support - These are the drivers for iPods.  If you don't have an iPod, you can safely remove this.
• Apple Software Update - This is the auto-update program for all Apple software.  ***Do not remove this if you have any Apple software installed on your system.***  If you desire to remove all apple software from your system and have already taken care of everything else, you may take this off.
• Google Earth - Several years ago when Google Earth came out almost everyone in the world downloaded a copy and spent about two hours checking out how cool it was.  And then they totally forgot about it.  If nobody is actually using Google Earth I usually remove it.
• Google Updater - If all the other Google software has been removed, this is just icing on the Cupcake.
  
• HP Imaging Device Functions - The next five items are software developed by HP for manhandling their printers.  You probably don't want to remove them if you currently have an HP printer.  However, if you used to have an HP printer which died a calamitous and somewhat suspicious death underneath the wheels of your SUV, do yourself a favor and get rid of the software.  HP leaves it there, just in case you ever decide to come back to them.
  
• HP Photosmart Drivers - You know, I often see HP computes shipped from the factory with all of the HP printer software pre-installed.  What?  Did they really want their computers to run that slowly?
  
• HP Photosmart Essential - Ditto
  
• HP Solution Center - You have got to be kidding me!
  
• HP Update - Printers remind me of the quote by Winston Churchill, "Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time."  From time to time I try out other printers too.  If you ever find one that is better, please let me know.  By the way, you can tell how "streamlined" their software is when you uninstall it.  On some older systems, removing it can take longer than a baseball game in overtime.
  
• iTunes - This is software produced by Apple for playing songs, movies, and syncing with iPods.  Usually people who have this on their computer use it frequently, but if they don't know what it is and never use it I tend to take it off.
• Kodak EasyShare - Kodak's software development team makes HP's engineers look like a model of efficient coders.  If EasyShare was a naturally occurring substance, it would be about as biodegradable as enriched uranium!  However, not only is the software used to manage your pictures, it also includes the necessary camera drivers.  Because Kodak is too cool to just use the USB Mass Storage driver like (almost) everyone else.  So, if you suffer from a Kodak camera infection, you'll just have to live with the software.  But if your camera experiences the same fate as your printer, feel free to clean it off.
• MSN (Microsoft Network) - If nobody is actually using MSN, I remove it as fast as you can say lickedy split.  If they are actually using MSN, depending on the situation, I might have a conversation with them about their options.
  
• Sonic Update Manager - The Sonic Update Manager can be licensed by a host of other companies to provide updates for their software.  Two examples are Corel Photo Album (listed above in the Software I Dispatch With section) and the Roxio CD Burning Suite.  It also updates itself.  If this is being used to update a piece of software that is currently on your system, I would recommend keeping it.  If, however, you have removed all the software it was maintaining, please, do me the favor of getting rid of it.  (For some reason, I find the way this program performs its updates to be rather annoying, mostly because it asks permission to check for an update, instead of checking and only bugging me if there is something to install.)
  

Programs I Update

This is an alphabetical list of programs I update to the newest version.  Most of these updates include fixes for security flaws that were discovered after the program was released.  Viruses and other malware (bad programs) often infect computers because they are running older versions of these programs.  Clicking on the name of the program will take you to the web page that lists the current version.  ***Be careful when installing these programs.  They often try to install other things that you don't want, like web browser tool bars.  Be sure to uncheck the option for these extra items unless you really do want them.***  Information about any auto-updater is listed after the program name.

• Adobe Flash Player - Flash is used by almost all web pages for moving graphics, video, and audio.  There are two versions of Flash.  The plugin is used for Firefox and any other browser besides Internet Explorer.  The ActiveX version is used for Internet Explorer.  If you use both browsers you need to make sure both versions are up to date.  Visiting the link with Firefox will automagically give you the download page for the plugin; visiting the link with Internet Explorer will automagically give you the download page for ActiveX.  Keeping flash up to date is very important for internet security.  Flash periodically prompts you to auto-update when your computer boots.  However, because most people click the ignore options, I find that it is frequently out of date.  It is often difficult to tell which version of flash you are running.  The easiest way is to visit the Flash and Shockwave Test Site.  When you visit this site, if you don't have Shockwave, it will try to auto-install.  If you don't want Shockwave, or don't know what it is, make sure you say no.  Make sure you visit this site with all the web browsers that you use on your system because you can get different results with each browser.
• Adobe Reader - Also known in previous versions as Adobe Acrobat Reader, this is the free version of Adobe Acrobat.  Adobe Reader displays .pdf documents, which almost all computers need.  It includes an auto-update function which runs periodically when the program is started.  However, it only gets updates for the major number (the first number in the version).  Hence, Adobe Reader 7 won't auto-update to 8 and 8 won't auto-update to 9.  Additionally, people often close the auto-update without letting it run.  Moreover, the version that can be downloaded from Adobe's website is almost chronically out of date.  So as soon as you install it you will need to run the update from within the program by clicking on Help, Check for Updates.
• AVG (Anti-Virus Grisoft) Free - The paid version of AVG will autoupdate across major version numbers (7.5 to 8 to 8.5).  The free version doesn't.  Instead, it pops up annoying windows trying to make people think they have to pay for the upgrade.  Such isn't the case, and as long as you qualify under the terms of use, you may download the current free version from their website.  On install, I always deselect all references to link scanners, web scanners, toolbars, spam filters, firewalls, and anything else along those lines because, let's face it, antivirus companies should never be allowed to make such things.  And Grisoft is definitely no exception.  I also disable the daily scan of every single file on my computer.  It's already scanning every file ever time I open it.  Why would I want to destroy the functionality of my computer for two hours every day when there is no real benefit?
  
• Java - Java is a program a lot like Flash that is used on the internet for animation, audio, video, and other things.  It is another one of those programs that prompts the user to update but often gets ignored.  Java is a funny program because when newer versions of the program are installed it keeps the older versions.  See the section on Programs I Usually Remove for more information about getting rid of the old copies.
• Mozilla Firefox - Firefox is an open source browser the kicks the patootie out of Internet Explorer.  I would recommend it for almost everyone.  Firefox autoupdates without asking the user, so it is almost always up to date.  If for some reason they disabled the autoupdate feature I always install the latest version.
  
• Mozilla Thunderbird - Thunderbird is an open source email client originally made by the same organization behind Firefox.  Thunderbird has the best spam filtering technology of any of the email clients of which I am aware (way better than offerings from such programs as Outlook and Outlook Express).  Just like Firefox, Thunderbird updates without any user interactions (except for a prompt about restarting).  Therefore, it is almost always up to date.
• OpenOffice - OpenOffice is basically Microsoft Office with a $250 rebate.  It includes an autoupdater, but it is a little klunky.  The current version of OpenOffice does a good job of cleaning up previous installations, which is a lot more than could be said for earlier versions.  (P.S.  Feel free to send me a check for $250.)
  

Updating Apple Software on Windows

Apple has their own software update program for Windows that installs with any recent version of iTunes, Quicktime, Safari, and anything else they make.  It's possible if you have an old version of Quicktime installed you might not have Apple Software Update.  In that scenario, upgrading to the latest version of Quicktime will both bring you up to date and install Apple Software Update for future automatic updating.  You can find Apple Software Update in the list of Programs under the Start menu.  It should be in the root menu (not inside of a folder).  Like most of the other automatic update software, Apple Software Update prompts the users to install the updates.  I've found that many users consider this an annoyance and just close the window, leaving them unprotected against any security flaws fixed by the update.

Updating Microsoft Software

Keeping Microsoft Windows up to date is probably the most important thing you can do for the security of your computer.  Microsoft's updating system works a little different on XP than Vista.  In XP, click on Start, Programs, and Windows Update or Microsoft Update (depending on your options).  This will open an Internet Explorer windows that directs to a website that Microsoft uses to upgrade your system.  In Vista clik on the Windows Circle (in the bottom left hand corner of the screen), Control Panel, and Check for Updates or Windows Update (depending on your screen).

Once the update program loads, you can expand the number of programs that Microsoft updates (if you haven't already done so).  By default, Windows uses Windows Update, which only installs updates for the Microsoft Windows Operating System you have installed.  There is a beafed up version called Microsoft Update which also updates Microsoft Office and other Microsoft software installed on your system.  To enable this in XP, click the Go button next to the New! Get Microsoft Update today! banner.  In Vista, click the Get updates for more products link.  If you don't see these links, you already have Microsoft Update.

You should also set Microsoft Update to automatically check for updates and either install them automatically or notify you that updates are available.  In XP, you can do this by clicking the Pick a time to install updates or Turn on Automatic Updates link on the Windows Update web site.  In Vista you can do this by clicking the Change settings link on the left of the Microsoft Update screen.

Microsoft updates are devided into several general categories:  High Priority (security related), Software (non-security related), and Hardware (driver updates).  The automatic updater will install any items listed as high priority.  You may manually install items from the Software category, which often add new features to programs already on your computer.  Installing hardware drivers from the Microsoft Update website is generally considered a bad idea.  95% of the time it works just fine, but sometimes there are problems with the process and you can end up with non-functional drivers on your computer, which means that some of your hardware stops working.  Unless you enjoy fixing driver problems you might want to leave this section alone.

There are several items that Microsoft Update offers which I am not interested in installing.  You can hide these updates so they don't appear in the list.  In XP this is accomplished by clicking the plus next to the update and selecting the box next to Do not show this update again.  In Vista you can do this by right-clicking on the update and selecting Hide update.  That works for everything except Silverlight, which Microsoft is desperate to get you to install and always appears the next time you scan for updates no matter how many times you have tried to get rid of it.  When will they ever learn?

The following is a list of updates I avoid installing

• Microsoft Silverlight - Silverlight is an attempt to recreate Adobe Flash.  It is used for animation, audio, video, and (potentially) ads on the internet.  However, the last thing we need is another proprietary web standard.  Instead, both Silverlight and Flash will probably ultimately be replaced by open web standards.  Modern browsers are beginning to adopt a standard called HTML 5 that should make them obsolete.  Hasten the day!
• Windows Search - Hello?  If I wanted my computer to run slow I would download a virus or something!  Windows Desktop Search is supposed to make searching for files faster by indexing your entire hard drive.  But almost no one actually uses it to search their computer for files.  It would be like strapping a swimming pool to the space shuttle.  That's a lot of dead weight.
  
• Windows Live Essentials - Do I look like I need another toolbar?  Read my laser lips: Go Away!  Windows Live Essentials installs a billion links to Hotmail (and every other Windows Live service), so you can find one whenever you need one.  No thank you.