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This is the place to look for answers to frequently asked questions about software.
These questions are generic. If you have a question about specific software please check with the manufacturer of your product. Web addresses of many software companies are listed on the Links page.
If you do not see the answer to your question there, please send an e-mail outlining your question or problem. We will try to respond promptly to your enquiry. Please note that the e-mail response service is only available to Bits & Bytes Computer Services' customers. Others may be asked to pay a fee.
How do I uninstall a program?
What is a Beta program?
What is a Freeware program?
What is a Shareware program?
How do I safely uninstall programs?
Uninstalling programs and applications incorrectly is a leading cause of windows problems where windows is looking for files that no longer exist on the system. If a system critical file has been deleted your computer may not even start. In the days of DOS, most programs kept their files together in their directory structure. Uninstalling these programs usually meant just deleting the files and
directories. Windows programs however are much more sophisticated and in most cases share common files with other programs on your system. Deleting files and/or directories willy nilly can render other applications inoperable.
There are three ways to uninstall programs from your system. The first method is to see if the application you are using has its own uninstall program. If it does then that is the best method to use, after all it knows where it put all the files.
The second method is to go to the "Add/Remove Programs" icon in the Control Panel (Start/Settings/Control Panel). Most programs and applications designed for windows will be "registered" here. Double click on the icon and the first tab will be "Install/Uninstall." Look down the list to see if the application you wish to remove is listed. If it is, then highlight the program's name and click on the "Add/Remove"
button.
Caution: In both of these methods, the uninstall routine may prompt you to confirm deletion of a certain file (usually these files fall in the shared category.) If the listed file is in the windows directory or windows sub-directory such as windows/system, my advice is to leave it alone. Better to have a file on your system that is no longer required than deleting a file that is also used by other programs and
applications.
Only if neither of the first two options exist should you contemplate simply deleting the files and directories from your system. To play it safe, make use of the recycle bin. After using this method, re-start your system and make sure that all is normal. If it is, then you can empty the recycle bin.
Finally while on this topic, there are several uninstall programs available on the market that keep a record of program installations and they keep track of shared files. These programs are ideal for uninstalling applications safely.
A beta program is one that is still in the devlopment stages. The program has been developed to the point that it is about ready for release but not all problems may have been identified and/or fixed. Many software writers release beta versions for public use so that people will use the software under a variety of conditions. Feedback to the writers by the users assist in product development and
problem identification. It is also used as a marketing technique in that people get to use a program for free (with time restraints sometimes imposed) and it is hoped that if they like it, they will buy the finished product.
Freeware, as its name implies is totally free. Writers often distribute software in this fashion to get feedback on their efforts and to gauge support and/or market demand for the product. Hobbyists also write programs and freely distribute them just for the experience of writing and developing software. This is not as crazy as it may sound. Almost everyone has heard of Doom, the shoot-em-up game that
was freely distributed via the internet. It was free. It was also very successful. The writers of the original program then released another version. This time it was sold in retail outlets as a boxed version. Instant success. Instant wealth. Aah! the joys of free enterprise.
Shareware is a marketing and distribution technique employed by many software writers to encourage people to use their product. It is rather like take a car for a test-drive before buying it. Personally, I would like to see ALL software distributed in this fashion. I don't know how many times I have wasted money on software that does not live up to its claims. You know what I mean, the box states the
software will do something and when you get it home and install it, you find that either it does not come close to doing what you wanted, or you find it so difficult finding the right steps you need a six-month course in its use. If software was released as shareware and customers got to test the product first, I am sure that software developers would be far more cautious in their claims and would write better
programs to begin with. It has been my experience that there are lots of shareware products that in many respects out-perform their retail boxed cousins. I have purchased several programs that were released as shareware. If I like the program and wish to continue using it I buy it, otherwise it is deleted and it doesn't even get to see the recycle bin.
Anyway back to the question. Shareware is released freely for people to try. If the user likes the program they are encouraged to buy the product from the developer. To encourage users to purchase the product, many shareware programs are self-limiting. They either have a time limited restraint of about 30 to 60 days at the end of which the program will simply stop working, or some features of the program are disabled
until a password or 'key' is entered after purchase.
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Last Updated:
January 26, 2002
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