# Suspended software de-installation

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suspended-software-de-installation/498771>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [June 5, 2009, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suspended-software-de-installation/498771 "2009-06-05T03:00:08Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\
**Post date:** [June 5, 2009, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suspended-software-de-installation/498771/1 "2009-06-05T03:00:08Z")

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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?

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**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\
**Post date:** [June 5, 2009, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suspended-software-de-installation/498771/2 "2009-06-05T03:09:51Z")

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

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**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\
**Post date:** [June 5, 2009, 8:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suspended-software-de-installation/498771/3 "2009-06-05T08:19:10Z")

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

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**Author:** ![Blake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9a28c/32.png) [@Blake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blake)\
**Post date:** [June 5, 2009, 9:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suspended-software-de-installation/498771/4 "2009-06-05T09:23:56Z")

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> [@Xema](#):
>
> Certain files connected with the old software cannot be deleted - I get messages that they are in use.

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](http://ccollomb.free.fr/unlocker/). See what is using the software, and if it’s nothing critical shut it down. Then delete the files.

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**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\
**Post date:** [June 5, 2009, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suspended-software-de-installation/498771/5 "2009-06-05T14:39:41Z")

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