For most Windows users and most times, installing and uninstalling programs works just fine and without problems or error messages. It can however happen that users receive error messages or notifications at times. This can be because a program won’t uninstall via Window’s Uninstall a program control panel applet, won’t update even though it is installed properly on the system or won’t even install on the system for no apparent reason.
While it is usually relatively easy to resolve uninstallation issues, for instance by using a third party software uninstaller like Revo Uninstaller, the same cannot be said for installation problems, especially if the programs do not throw error messages or hint at the problem during the installation attempt.
Microsoft has released one of their Fix-It tools to “diagnose and fix program installing and uninstalling problems automatically”. A Fix-It is a small portable program that Windows users can run to resolve and repair issues on their operating system semi-automatically.
The Microsoft Support page, which is also the page where the Fix-It can be downloaded, lists the following issues that are repaired by the application:
Removes bad registry key on 64 bit operating systems.Windows registry keys that control the upgrade (patching) data that become corrupted.Resolves problems that prevent new programs from being installed.Resolves problems that prevent programs from being completely uninstalled and blocking new installations and updates.Use this troubleshooter for an uninstall only if the program fails to uninstall using the windows add/remove programs feature.
Windows users who run the program can select to let the program handle both the detection of problems and the fixes, or to let the user apply the fixes manually after issues have been identified.
The second option gives more control over the process and is usually the better choice.
The type of problem, installing or uninstalling related, needs to be selected in the second step. If uninstalling is selected, a list of all programs that are currently being detected as installed is displayed. There is also an option to select Not Listed if the program that is causing the uninstalling problems is not listed here.
If the program is not listed, users can still uninstall the application by entering the program’s product code represented as a string GUID.
Windows users who have problems installing or uninstalling software can download the Fix-It from the official Microsoft Support website.
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About the Author: Martin Brinkmann is a journalist from Germany who founded Ghacks Technology News Back in 2005. He is passionate about all things tech and knows the Internet and computers like the back of his hand. You can follow Martin on Facebook or Twitter.Author: Martin Brinkmann, Tuesday August 16, 2011 - Print This PostTags:fix it, install programs, microsoft fix it, uninstall, windows software
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