Suspended software de-installation

A software de-installation (under WinXP) “hung” for 20 minutes, so I canceled it. The cancel hung for 15 minutes, so I killed that with Task Manager.

All further attempts to delete the software fail, with messages that this can’t be done because an installation is suspended. Certain files connected with the old software cannot be deleted - I get messages that they are in use.

Googling produces references to cases of suspended installation, but nothing useful to do. Any ideas?

Have you tried rebooting into Safe Mode and deleting it from there?

If all else fails you could try reinstalling the software again then doing a fresh uninstall. That often does the trick.

  1. Install Spybot S&D, switch it to advanced mode and open the system startup tool. Uncheck any files connected to the old software. That should cure the problem. If not then

  2. Install Unlocker. See what is using the software, and if it’s nothing critical shut it down. Then delete the files.

Thanks for the replies. Safe Mode worked, but Unlocker looks like a “must have” tool.