# easy way of removing system games from XP? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 4, 2003, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/easy-way-of-removing-system-games-from-xp/146660 "2003-01-04T21:17:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![scm1001](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c4cdca/32.png) [@scm1001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scm1001)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2003, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/easy-way-of-removing-system-games-from-xp/146660/1 "2003-01-04T21:17:37Z")
I have just got my first PC (from a lifetime of macs). I find I am wasting too much time on freecell etc (current record 25 games in a row without a loss). However I would get much more work done without them. Any way of cleanly removing them from the PC? ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2003, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/easy-way-of-removing-system-games-from-xp/146660/2 "2003-01-04T21:21:27Z")
Go to the Add/Remove control panel, choose ‘Windows Components’, select ‘Accessories & Utilities’ and click the ‘Details’ button. Uncheck ‘Games’ … ---
**Author:** ![scm1001](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c4cdca/32.png) [@scm1001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scm1001)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2003, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/easy-way-of-removing-system-games-from-xp/146660/3 "2003-01-04T22:13:38Z")
thanks, will have a go. ---
**Author:** ![scm1001](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c4cdca/32.png) [@scm1001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scm1001)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2003, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/easy-way-of-removing-system-games-from-xp/146660/4 "2003-01-06T14:22:56Z")
still a problem jasg you are right it is easy to uninstall by unchecking the box when I am feeling virtuous. It is jusy as easy to reinstall it by checking the box again when I feeling lazy. It seems to be in the system somewhere even if it is not in the games section. I need a more permanent drastic solution ---
**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2003, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/easy-way-of-removing-system-games-from-xp/146660/5 "2003-01-06T15:47:04Z")
If you remove that component that it should be removed from your system: reinstalling it requires you to insert the Windows CD-ROM again. There’s nothing you can do to remove the option to install it. You could always try willpower rather than relying on the PC. ---
**Author:** ![scm1001](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c4cdca/32.png) [@scm1001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scm1001)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2003, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/easy-way-of-removing-system-games-from-xp/146660/6 "2003-01-06T16:16:09Z")
it didn’t require me to reinsert the system file - I suspect that XP is so bloated it has most of these files within it already. If I had will-power I wouldn’t have emailed this to you 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Number](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/number/32/242_2.png) [@Number](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Number)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2003, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/easy-way-of-removing-system-games-from-xp/146660/7 "2003-01-06T17:50:46Z")
Open the file **c:\windows\inf\sysoc.inf** in Notepad. Scroll down until you see the following line: **Games=ocgen.dll,OcEntry,games.inf,7** Add the word HIDE between the last two commas so that it reads like this: **Games=ocgen.dll,OcEntry,games.inf,HIDE,7** This should prevent the Games heading from appearing in Add/Remove Programs. Of course you’ll have to forget how to reverse the process, but that would be true of any method short of destroying the PC. ---
**Author:** ![slortar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@slortar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slortar)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2003, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/easy-way-of-removing-system-games-from-xp/146660/8 "2003-01-06T17:58:15Z")
In my experience it doesn’t help. If I’m going to waste time, I’ll even resort to playing with icons if I have to. I’m so weak. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![scm1001](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c4cdca/32.png) [@scm1001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scm1001)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2003, 10:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/easy-way-of-removing-system-games-from-xp/146660/9 "2003-01-07T10:26:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Number \* > \*\* Of course you’ll have to forget how to reverse the process, but that would be true of any method short of destroying the PC. \*\* Destroying the PC, oooh yesss dedicated computer hater