Orphan files in registry???

[Ken]

Awhile back I was installing some program or other, and for some reason along with this program, Symnatec Corporate edition (which I had previously uninstalled) reinstalled itself. It shows up in my Add/Remove Program list, but when I attempt to uninstall it, I get a box that pops up saying that it cannot uninstall because there is a missing .msi file, it defaults to look in:
C:\DOCUME~1\Dad\LOCALS~1\Temp\~SMI5B8B\SYMANT~1.MSI\
.... there is a choice to browse because it cannot find the file, so I did a search with Explorer to see if I could find it and direct the uninstall program to that location, but to no avail. I have also tried to reinstall the prog, and it won't let me do that either, the error message is "An error occured that prevents this installation from completing." I would like to install a free Antivirus program that comes with a year of free updates (E-Trust at http://www.my-etrust.com/microsoft/ ) but it will not install because it says I already have an antivirus prog installed. Is there a way to clean up this mess? I am not familiar with messing with the registry, but is this where the problem might lay? that there are some remnants in there? Any help/advice (as long as it is good advice! LOL!) would be appreciated.....

 

[Kokopelli]

There are a couple of methods for removing something from the registry. The easiest and least volatile is to google for a free program called, "EasyCleaner." Download it and install it on to your system. It's pretty straight forward and may pick up the key. If it doesn't, only other method I know is to remove it manually. However, it's also the most volatile. If you do it and mess something up, you're on your mate.

From the desktop, click "Start" and then select "Run."
In the Run command, type in "RegEdit" and click "Ok."
When your registry window opens, press "CTRL+F" on the keyboard to open the Find option.
Type in the key you're looking for, (e.g. SYMANT~1.MSI) and click "Find Next."
When it stops on the entry, just tap the "Del" key on the keyboard and use the "CTRL+F" command again to search for the next.

Good luck.

 

[MsDe]

Any time one dances in the registry it's a good idea to make a backup first, imo. Here's the directions from Symantec. Microsoft also has directions but they're operating system specific, so it would be best to search Microsoft's Knowledge Base for the OS you're using.