Removing apps - Registry entries

hello,

Due to certain issues, I recently had to uninstall a flight sim program (FSX), and the addons I installed alongside it. However, the way in which some of the addons are installed/uninstalled is quite poor. For example, the entries in the start menu remain, some files are left on the drive, which have to be deleted manually. One program doesn't have an uninstall option, and the folder must be deleted manually.

Once I'm done uninstalling everything, is there anything I need to sort out in the registry? I've heard some programs don't take care of registry entries upon uninstalling.

I'll be reinstalling again to the same folders/drive. If there are entries left behind in the registry, will they simply be used again, or will the be a build up of new entries?

I did think about installing one of those registry "cleaner" programs, but they've always caused more grief than anything else.

Thanks,

Odai.

EDIT: Apologies, this probably shouldn't be in the hardware forum.

I use this program, revo uninstaller. It runs the apps uninstaller and then it searches the registry and folders for files left over. There are alot of apps which leave things behind, I had a few before that did nothing except delete the shortcuts and start folder, the whole app was still there though. Theres also a portable version of this if you don't want to install it.

CCleaner does it for me, go for the Slim build.

hello,

Thanks for those links guys.

Unfortunately, the uninstaller isn't much use right now as the programs which I've already uninstalled (but am worried they've left behind stuff) don't show up in the list anymore. Also, the programs that don't have an option to uninstall do not show up either.

I wouldn't be concerned if re-installing to the same folders would re-use the registry keys that were left behind, is this a possibility?

If an application does not have an uninstaller, you may delete the application manually and then clean the registry using CCleaner.

hello,

Thanks.

But even if I left the unused keys to clutter up the registry, they'll still be overwritten when I re-install the applications to the original folders, right?