In my Add/Remove Programs list, I've tried removing Zone Deluxe Games from my PC, to no avail. Every time I try to remove it, it asks for the installation CD in order to uninstall. The problem is that Zone Deluxe Games was pre-installed on my PC, and therefore has no installation CD. I'm running Windows XP Media Center Edition (Professional).

I do know that on my old system that ran Windows ME, I was able to remove entries shown in the add/remove programs list by editing the registry. Apparently it doesn't work the same with XP.

How can I rid my PC of this annoyance? Am I stuck with it?

Kind Regards,
Daniel aka siouxdax

Uninstall Programs Manually

Just because Windows XP has the Add/Remove Programs feature it doesn't mean your application will appear in the list. Furthermore, even if it does appear, it's no guarantee that the uninstall feature will work. When you run across one of these situations the items listed below will help in getting rid of the application. Be aware that these steps may not remove everything associated with the application and can impact other applications on the computer. Have a backup or restore point and use caution.

*

Find the directory for the application and delete all the files in the directory. Delete the directory. e.g. click C: under My Computer then Program Files etc.
*

Open regedit (start/run regedit) and navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE and find the folder for the application. Delete the folder.
*

Open regedit and navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE and find the folder for the application. Delete the folder.
*

To remove the application entry from Add/Remove Programs (if present) open regedit and navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion\Uninstall and find the folder for the application. Delete the folder.
*

Some applications have Services attached to them. If this is the case, navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Servic es, locate and delete the service.
*

In Windows Explorer, navigate to the individual user settings and delete program references. Common places to check would be:

C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs and delete relevant entries.
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Startup and delete relevant entries.
C:\Documents and Settings\%YourUserID%\Start Menu\Programs and delete relevant entries.
[Do this for each User ID listed]
C:\Documents and Settings\%YourUserID%\Start Menu\Programs\Startup and delete relevant entries.
[Do this for each User ID listed]

If no entries were found in the previous step and the application launches automatically, navigate to
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows
and delete the entry.

A good free Registry Cleaner here: RegSeeker

It is a good idea to backup your Registry before cleaning. This is a good free tool for that:

[ERUNT] Registry Backup and Restore for Windows
http://www.larshederer.homepage.t-online.de/erunt/


[ERUNT Download URLs]
http://www.aumha.org/downloads/erunt.zip
http://www.aumha.org/downloads/erunt-setup.exe


[Installing & Using ERUNT]
http://www.winxptutor.com/regback.htm
http://www.silentrunners.org/sr_eruntuse.html
http://www.larshederer.homepage.t-on...runt/erunt.txt


....................................

Altering system files; & or modifying the registry can be risky and D-A-L.com and its members cannot accept liability for any adverse effects caused by following advice freely given on this site.

Thanks so much for the wealth of information! Much appreciated!

WAIT! WAIT! WAIT!
There is proper way to do this without going into the registry!!!

TIP:
I highly recommend that you print this out so that you can go step-by-step.
Even copy/paste it into a wordpad or notepad before printing it.
Your screen will be too busy to see this and also do the uninstall.
This just seems complicated. Take your time and go step-by-step.


Here we go...
First create a system restore point, in case something goes horribly wrong.
Start menu | All Programs | Accessories | System Tools | SYSTEM RESTORE
Name the restore point: "b4 removing zone games"

TIP:
I recommend creating a restore point whenever you make some major system change such as a major install or uninstall.
I usually just name the restore point "OK", since you can look at the time of the restore point to see which was the most recent.

Back to those pesky Zone Games...
Now use the Windows Components Wizard.
You can find it on the LEFT side of the Add/Remove Programs control panel.
(You can/should close the 'Add/Remove' control panel once the Component Wizard is running.)

NOTE:
Do not fool around (checking or unchecking boxes) in here.
You will be affecting your system.
YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!
Do ONLY the following...


The first item should be: "Accessories and Utilities".
Do NOT uncheck the little box.
Just click on the line.
The first line will now be highlighted (darkened).
Now click the "Details" button at the lower right of the wizard.

A sub window will appear - showing two items: Accessories and games.

Hightlight the GAMES line.
click the "Details" button.

The GAMES window will appear.

UNCHECK "Internet Games"
(It probably has a big "Z" icon next to it.)

Now click the "OK" button and that small window will close.

Click "OK" again and the second window will close.

You are back at the main window for the wizard.
Click "NEXT".

The wizard will run and your components will be reconfigured.
You will see that it will delete files.
Don't be scared. Let it finish.

Now click the "FINISH" button.
You will be back at your desktop now.


Let's delete the start menu item too...
Click the START button...
START | All Programs | Accessories | Games

Hover the pointer over "Zone.com Deluxe Games".
Right-click on "Zone.com Deluxe Games".
Select DELETE from the menu which appears.
(BTW: This sort of menu is called a "context menu".)


Now (if you like) you can also delete the folder containing the game programs.

The short path...
C:\Program Files\Zone.com
(why would anyone want to cause confusion by naming a folder with a ".com" suffix?!!!!)

OR Do this...
Double click the "My Computer" icon on your desktop.
Double click the C harddrive icon.
Look for the "Program Files" folder and double click it.
Look for folder named "Zone.com" and delete it.

Now go do something productive like:
Take a walk...
...or find Jesus.